[olug] MythTV + PVR150 + IR Blaster

[Benjamin Watson]

Thanks for the tip Rob, I'll definitely look into it.

I've never attended a Linux install-fest myself, but I think a good
topic of conversation and hands-on project would be setting up an HTPC
using some of the more popular Myth-based distros (e.g. LinuxMCE,
Mythbuntu, Mythdora, KnopMyth, or plain old Ubuntu with Myth meta
package).

I certainly see the benefits of an HTPC setup over the COX DVR service.

In the meantime, I'm going to play around with that RF modulator
anyways as I've got to figure out a way to connect a PC to some older
"plain Jane" TVs that only have a coax input.

Ben

On 9/24/07, Rob Townley <rob.townley at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 9/24/07, Benjamin Watson <bwatson1979 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > With regards to HTPC stuff, how are you guys connecting PC A/V out to
> > TVs?  I've dabbled around with LinuxMCE, Myth, Mythbuntu, etc. but my
> > problem is actually watching the stuff on a television rather than a
> > PC monitor.
> >
> > Most of the TVs I own are older and do not have HDMI or VGA inputs.
> > They typically have coax, S-Video, RCA, or component.  In one trial, I
> > connected the S-Video output of my TV-tuner card directly to the
> > S-Video input of my TV and the picture was horrible.  I finally dug up
> > an old RF modulator I had for the days of connecting old console
> > systems to TVs, but have yet to try it.  So, I figured I'd ask what
> > you all are doing to get acceptable video quality to show up on your
> > television sets.
> >
> > Ben
> >
> > On 9/22/07, Jeff Hinrichs - DM&T <jeffh at dundeemt.com> wrote:
> > > On 9/19/07, Jon Larsen <relayer at levania.org> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I'm using a separate IRBlaster to control my digital cable box.  I
> > > > purchased it from irblaster.info for $15.  It hooks into an RS-232 Serial
> > > > port.
> > > >
> > > > I used a lirc how to document which had instructions to configure both
> > > > the IR Receiver from my pvr-250 and the serial irblaster.  You may need to
> > > > read a couple different howtos' and merge them together.
> > > >
> > > > I used this as my howto.
> > > > http://www.eggshellskull.com/lirc/blaster/index.php
> > > >
> > > > I am using Fedora Core 6 and the ATRPMs repo for the mythtv files.
> > > >
> > > > If you have a built-in irblaster function, I assume you'll need to use i2c
> > > > to talk to it.
> > > >
> > > Thanks, I got it figured out.  I followed the directions about getting
> > > lirc and blaster set up before installing mythtv
> > > https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Install_Lirc_Feisty
> > >
> > > That worked out fine.  Then the mythtv install went swimmingly.
> > >
> > > Are you using Mythdora or Fedora w/ MythTV?  I tried a Mythbuntu
> > > (alpha based on 7.10) and  MythDora 4 and neither were a satisfactory
> > > experience for me.  I ended up sticking with Ubuntu 7.04 and
> > > installing the MythTV meta package.  I already had a SchedulesDirect
> > > account as I was using GBPVR before MythTV.  I liked GBPVR as an
> > > application but using Window$ as a platform was a real Achilles heel.
> > > All of the problems I had with the former had to do with deficiencies
> > > in the underlying OS.
> > >
> > > With you myth install are you using xine for previously recorded
> > > files?  I think I am going to try using VLC as the external player.
> > >
> > > -Jeff
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>
> S-Video Out To TV should have better video quality. On my screwy tv,
> S-Video input is terrible as well until i power cycle the television,
> then it is great.  Since you had it directly connected, that would
> rule out a dvd player macrovision scrambling.   You may want to look
> to see if there are TV input options that will give you a better
> signal from S-Video.
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