MythTV (as Re: Mac Mini as PVR/DVD burner/Freeview)

[David Greaves <david@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi

New to the list so apologies if this is old news :)
It's also not Mac Mini based so I changed the subject.

If you're up for a bit more of a challenge then MythTV is an excellent
(and free) PVR solution (www.mythtv.org)
Knoppmyth (www.mysettopbox.tv) aims to offer an install from 'CD' solution.
There's an info site at www.mythtv.info

Anyway, it's linux based rather than Windows so it may be rather
different to what you're used to - but it's worth it.

Also, although it needs some geekiness to set up(!), it is a total
doddle to use - really. Very high WAF.

Features:
* 100% Free (no subscriptions, nothing apart from disk space)
* Totally configureable, expandable (records loads of channels)
* Full PVR feature set (live TV, scheduling for all uk channels,
parental controls)
* Infra red control
* DVD player(s)
* Weather info
* RSS feeds for news etc
* Photo album
* Videos (from the web or digital cameras or ...)
* Music manager (of course!)
* One box or central server with remote 'frontends'

My system runs in an Antec Aria case too, Hauppage PVR350 connected to
my sky box and a cheap projector.
The recording quality is easily good enough to play back on a 300"
screen! (whereas SVHS never could)
We eventually extended it to a second box in the bedroom - a tiny PC
which just plugs into the scart socket of the TV.
It's nice watching telly in the lounge and stopping it, going to bed and
finishing it off before going to sleep.

Anyway Paul, I hope that helps.

David

Simon Ryley wrote:

> I've got an Antec Aria cased pc running GBPVR software. 
(www.gbpvr.com)
>
> GBPVR is donation-ware, so you can try for as long as you like before
> you have to shell out.  Its well supported, easy to set up, supports
> Freeview and the like, and can do all the nice Tivo/sky+ things such
as
> pause live tv, rewind live tv etc.  It has a web server so you can set
> recordings when you are out and about, and uses xmltv and the radio
> times website to provide its EPG update every night automatically. 
Its
> also very easy to use, with a large clear display similar to the one
> media centre uses.
>
> HTH
>
> Simon
>
> >
> > On 31/3/05 11:36 am, "paul118295"
<nospam.cornet@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Has anyone in the list had experience using a Mac Mini as a
home
> > media centre?
> > > it could
> > > be set up as a PVR (a la TiVo) using the eyeTV with Freeview
adapter
> > (Elgato
> > > EyeTV410) and
> > > also play and record shows that I like on the DVD burner. My
only
> > concern is
> > > the potential
> > > complexity to operate for non-geek users around the house
(aka the
> > wife). Has
> > > anyone
> > > tried such a thing?
> > >
> > > What other options exist of a one box solution to do
> > PVR+Freeview+DVD burner?
> > >
> > paul
> >