I'm about to start a Myth build... (see associated thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1036042)). I've been doing some reading, and I have a few questions.

1) Do most people use a universal remote or wireless keyboard/mouse combo to control the Myth frontend?

2) I'd like to use our existing Harmony 880 for day-to-day control of the Myth frontend, but is that realistic? Will I be able to navigate the interface effectively using only a remote? I will also have a BTC wireless keyboard/mouse for tasks that require it.

3) Can I use the IR receiver for the KWorld ATSC tuner to control MythTV? My guess is no. Under that assumption, I'm considering this serial IR receiver (http://www.irblaster.info/receiver.html?gclid=CN-6gpn-yYsCFSY3YQoddS2D_g). It works, but I'd really prefer a 3.5" drive bay mounted receiver that connects to an internal USB stub without paying a lot. Is there such a thing? I'm sure a DIY project is possible, but I'd rather not.

4) What's the preferred way to play back Myth files on Windows PCs? Is Live TV available? I'm looking at Tapeworm/VideoLAN or Windows Media Player, MythWeb/VideoLAN, and MythTV Player.

5) If I have two ATSC tuners, I can record two things at once. Can I watch the live feed for either tuner while it's recording? I got the impression from some FAQ that to watch Live TV while two things were being recorded required a third tuner. With my DirecTivo, if both tuners are recording, I can still watch Live TV as long as it's one of the two programs being recorded.

6) Can you start watching a program that's currently being recorded and comercial skip your way to Live TV as you can with DirecTivo?

Thanks,

Jim

1) I use both. My wife won't touch a KB and uses only a remote.

2) If the 880 has plenty of buttons, it should work OK. I use OFA URC learning remotes with lots of buttons. Enough to put the whole KB on it if I want. About $15.

3) Don't know about the Kworld receiver. I use a serial on one frontend and a USB on the other. Both work OK. Here's a complete receiver and remote for cheap. It works fine too.

http://tekgems.com/Products/tg-pbr.htm

4) I don't use windows at all, but I think there's a frontend project for it.

5)You can watch any recording once it starts recording. FF to live or back, or whatever. You would need a third tuner to watch a different channel.

6)Yes, if you set up immediate commercial flagging on it. If you set the frontend for automatic commercial skip, it will automatically skip all commercials without user intervention. That's how I set my wifes up. I prefer to manually skip them. It will skip all of them, not just 30 seconds or whatever. If you don't flag the recordings you can also configure the jump for any time you want. 3 minutes work good for me.

1) I use both- basically have to if you want to do email/generic web browsing if you leave the Myth Front End. But in the Front End, I would use a remote, but an IR keyboard is fine too.

2) Can't speak to the 880, but I know the Harmony's are well regarded. The Myth Front End is designed for use with a CE style remote.

3) Don't know if the Kworld 115 IR sensor receives codes from any random remote. I've been using the Fast Media serial port receiver with great results, and it works with just about any IR remote. Search "fast media remote" at ebay, Partsparadise store.

4) There's a Myth Front End for Windows, but i don't plan to run Windows any more ;)

5) Don't know. I think you might be able to start watching a recording in progress after a minute or two, though.

6) Yes- at least in live Watch TV mode, just press the Pause button, walk away, come back in 15 minutes, then un-pause to continue watching "live" and skip through commercials. I would assume you could do the same for a scheduled recording in progress, but I haven't tried it yet.