Hey All, this is my first time attempting to build a HTPC and i was wondering if you could be kind enough to tell me what you think of my build. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know if you see any incompatibility between parts and with Mythdora (OS im currently planning on using).

What i got: Just got new HD LCD TV, and i currently have timewarrner/brighthouse digital cable (may upgrade to a hdtv cable box)

What i want to do: I would like to watch and record tv at the same time. I would like the ability to record HDTV, the channels im interested in recording are mainly networks (abc, cbs, nbc, mtv, vh1, cw, etc)

so without further ado here is my potential HTPC build (links to parts avaiable via teh google doc):

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=d9g2z37_34fthfw7

case: Black SilverStone HTPC Computer ATX Case SST-LC17-B
mobo: GIGABYTE GA-MA69G-S3H AM2 AMD 690G HDMI ATX
psu: Rosewill RD450-2-DB 450W,ATX12V v2.2 Power Supply
cpu: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+(65W) Windsor 2.2GHz
ram: 2x Komusa 1GB DDR2 800 PC2-6400 - free shipping:komusa-ddr2
video card: GeForce 7600GS
tv tuner: AVerMedia HDTV MCE A180 whitebox
HD: Maxtor 6H500F0 500GB SATA2 7200rpm 16MB Hard Drive
dvdrw: Lite-On LH-20A1S SuperAllwrite SATA OEM DVD Burner


Do i need to get 2 tv tuner's if i want to record and watch at the same time
can someone suggest a good HD dual tuner that works with linux?
if i want to record 2 shows and watch at the same time do i need 3 tuners?

if i do have a dual or 3 tuners how do i get the single coax cable running from the cable box to all three inputs (splitters?) Thanks in advance for all the help.

I'm all for HTPCs, but if your only objective is to have DVR functionality on one TV I'd just get a DVR from the cable company.

1. Before you do any of this, you need to verify what stations you can get from your cable provider via unencrypted QAM. The Avermedia A180 is QAM/ATSC capable (not NTSC) and will only be able to pick up digital stations your cable company transmits via unencrypted QAM. You can find a local cable AVS forum to find out what others near you pick up via unencrypted QAM. In many cases you only get the local networks in HD via unencrypted QAM (ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, FOX). If you bought a QAM capable TV you can scan using it's QAM tuner to see what stations you get.

2. For every different stream you want to record you will need a separate tuner. So if you want to record 2 different shows and watch a third through your HTPC box then you will need three tuners. Or you could watch the third show on the signal from your TV or cable box while recording three things with the three tuners.

3. You don't want to connect the coax out from your cable box to the TV tuner cards. what you would do is install a coax splitter (2,3, or 4 way split depending on how many sources you want to connect it to) on the coax cable coming from the wall and then run coaxes from that to your cable box and tuners.

4. If you don't get all the stations you want via QAM (and from your list VH1 and MTV are the most likely not be available via QAM) you can probably get them via NTSC (if a non QAM tuner in your house can tune these stations without a box you can get them with an NTSC/analog tuner). I would recommend the PVR-150 (PVR-500 is a dual tuner) for this. Depending on the model of your cable box you can also look into recording digital streams directly from the cable box using firewire (works well for me) which allows me to get more channels that aren't available via QAM in digital formats.

4. The only dual tuner HDTV tuner card (really it is a digital tuner, but all HDTV is transmitted digitally, but not all digital transmissions are digital) is the HDHomerun which is a network device that doesn't need to be installed inside your computer. I've heard good things about it.

5. Any particular reason you are going with the A180? I have one, and it was one of the lesser expensive cards and works well for me - I'm just curious. I don't use mythdora, but if you want an easier install i'd pick digital cards that are known to work well with it. I don't know which ones those are. The A180 may fit that bill.

6. Your build looks compatible to me from a general linux standpoint, but I don't know much about mythdora.

I went with the A180 based on another forum for compatible linux tv tuners... Thanks so much for all your insight and help..

I still dont get the cable to tuner setup (i probably just dont understand how cable works lol)

so i get a coax splitter that takes the cable from the wall and one route to my cable box, and the others goto the tv tuners on the HTPC. If this is the case how do i get the picture to my tv

do i go cable box to TV
or
do i go HTPC graphics card to TV

I like mythdora a lot and think it is one of the easiest paths out there to get MythTV up and running. But there is still a significant learning curve.

You don't by any chance have an older computer laying around to play with, do you? If so, I would recommend getting an inexpensive tuner card (DVICO Fusion HDTV5 Lite is my favorite, but the Avermedia cards are even cheaper); no need to buy a new card, there are lots available on eBay every day. Then try installing Myth and playing around with its basic record and playback features, just on a normal computer monitor. That will go a long way in letting you know whether it's worth the time and effort to build a full-blown HD-capable HTPC.

I'm all for HTPCs, but if your only objective is to have DVR functionality on one TV I'd just get a DVR from the cable company.

The main reason for doing this is yes to have DVR functionality, but i would like one that i can control (storage, etc) and to have a media center box to watch movies, play music, and use the internet. The only option i saw to do all this was to build my own box. Thanks

I like mythdora a lot and think it is one of the easiest paths out there to get MythTV up and running. But there is still a significant learning curve.

You don't by any chance have an older computer laying around to play with, do you? If so, I would recommend getting an inexpensive tuner card (DVICO Fusion HDTV5 Lite is my favorite, but the Avermedia cards are even cheaper); no need to buy a new card, there are lots available on eBay every day. Then try installing Myth and playing around with its basic record and playback features, just on a normal computer monitor. That will go a long way in letting you know whether it's worth the time and effort to build a full-blown HD-capable HTPC.

If there is a linux learning curve thats no problem i have been running a linux (ubuntu - i know its for n00bs) and a OS X system for a while now. but thats still a good idea so i can fine tune what i need to actually get.


the hdhomerun is looking better and better now that ive looked into it

i have been running a linux (ubuntu - i know its for n00bs)
the hdhomerun is looking better and better now that ive looked into it
I haven't used ubuntu, but I think Fedora (the base for MythDora) is just as friendly.

I like what I've read about the hdhomerun also. If I were starting from scratch, I'd be very tempted.

The primary Myth features I use are as a DVR, movie library, and picture gallery. The browser in Myth is pretty minimal and even HDTVs are not that good for viewing the web, IMHO. MythWeather was nice, back when it used to work.

Thanks again for all the help

I went with the A180 based on another forum for compatible linux tv tuners... Thanks so much for all your insight and help..

I still dont get the cable to tuner setup (i probably just dont understand how cable works lol)

so i get a coax splitter that takes the cable from the wall and one route to my cable box, and the others goto the tv tuners on the HTPC. If this is the case how do i get the picture to my tv

do i go cable box to TV
or
do i go HTPC graphics card to TV

You have it right. I would hook both up to your TV using DVI/HDMI or VGA or component inputs depending on what input connections your tv has, then switch inputs when you want to watch the cable box, or HTPC. The key thing to note is the cable box doesn't supply the signal to the tuner cards. The cable line does and the tuner cards tune the channels like the cable box does (but without the ability to decrypt encrypted stations).

If there is a linux learning curve thats no problem i have been running a linux (ubuntu - i know its for n00bs) and a OS X system for a while now. but thats still a good idea so i can fine tune what i need to actually get.


the hdhomerun is looking better and better now that ive looked into it

Why not install myth on ubuntu? It's relatively easy and there are great howto. I have myth installed on 2 Ubuntu edgy machines and 3 ubuntu feisty machines. And Ubuntu is not just for noobs :)

Also I've heard good things so far about mythbuntu (which is based on the upcoming release of ubuntu - Gutsy), the ubuntu equivalent of mythdora. It's still in early development however.

I haven't used ubuntu, but I think Fedora (the base for MythDora) is just as friendly.

I like what I've read about the hdhomerun also. If I were starting from scratch, I'd be very tempted.

The primary Myth features I use are as a DVR, movie library, and picture gallery. The browser in Myth is pretty minimal and even HDTVs are not that good for viewing the web, IMHO. MythWeather was nice, back when it used to work.

If I were bulding from scratch again, I'd probably go with the HDhomerun. Would have saved me from having to buy a full ATX board and larger case to accomodate all the tuners I wanted...

I really like the mult-room streaming, mythweb for scheduling my recordings over the web, the gallery and mythvideo. I agree the browser is not useful, so I just fire up firefox and pull out the wireless keyboard for that. And the music plugin doesn't do it for me either. I also use the UpNP server to stream to a couple of non myth devices.

Mythweather is fixed in the latest version of myth in the ubuntu repos. But the mythweather plugin for mythweb doesn't work for me again yet.

Tell me if i got this right...

After much thought i think im going to go with the hdhomerun therefore i will have no tv tuner card in my actual htpc

so this will be the setup:
*note: house is 2 stories (upstairs has internet and router) HTPC & TV will be downstairs

*keep in mind downstairs with the tv is a timewarrner cable box


1. out of the wall comes 1 coax cable -- to a coax splitter -- and both goto the hdhomerun inputs

2. the hdhomerun is connected to my wirelss router

3. downstairs have cable from wall going to cable box -- and from cable box to tv.

4. HTPC downstairs will recieve hdhomerun via wireless (if need be i can run a wire)


im thinking that this setup will allow me to:

a. record 2 tv stations (whatever channels i get with just the cable from the wall) at the same time via hdhomerun

b. watch all channels on my tv via the normal cable box while hdhomerun is recording 2 different shows

c. from the tv access the HTPC for media which includes the recorded hdhomerun shows.

questions:

1. from the tv/htpc downstairs will i be able to schedule the hdhomerun recordings and or record 1 channel while watching another live channel.

2. what is a good wirless card/linux compatable to get.

Thanks again for all your help.

Tell me if i got this right...

After much thought i think im going to go with the hdhomerun therefore i will have no tv tuner card in my actual htpc

so this will be the setup:
*note: house is 2 stories (upstairs has internet and router) HTPC & TV will be downstairs

*keep in mind downstairs with the tv is a timewarrner cable box


1. out of the wall comes 1 coax cable -- to a coax splitter -- and both goto the hdhomerun inputs

2. the hdhomerun is connected to my wirelss router

3. downstairs have cable from wall going to cable box -- and from cable box to tv.

4. HTPC downstairs will recieve hdhomerun via wireless (if need be i can run a wire)


im thinking that this setup will allow me to:

a. record 2 tv stations (whatever channels i get with just the cable from the wall) at the same time via hdhomerun

b. watch all channels on my tv via the normal cable box while hdhomerun is recording 2 different shows

c. from the tv access the HTPC for media which includes the recorded hdhomerun shows.

questions:

1. from the tv/htpc downstairs will i be able to schedule the hdhomerun recordings and or record 1 channel while watching another live channel.

2. what is a good wirless card/linux compatable to get.

Thanks again for all your help.

I would go wired instead of wireless. In the past I had trouble getting SD video over 802.11b, let alone HD. I haven't tried newer wireless (g/n) so others may disagree. Look at it this way...no Linux wireless hardware to buy and figure out how to get working!

Someone mentioned earlier that it would be good to check what channels are actually available via QAM from your cable company. TimeWarner around here it's just the local OTA digitals. Maybe check the local forums here at AVS to find out what is exactly available. Maybe your new TV has a QAM tuner? That would also tell you what the HDHomerun will be able to tune.

So you might want an analog tuner in the HTPC too so you can record basic cable.

I would go wired instead of wireless.
I'll second that.

My Myth box is wireless, but it only needs the network to get listings and support MythWeb. The HDHomeRun box you are planning to use will be sending almost 40Mbps when both tuners are running, which means you'll need 802.11n, which means routers with bleeding edge drivers.

I think planning to send traffic (for up to two 19Mb/s streams) from an HDHR to a backend over wifi is somewhere between wildly optimistic and asking for trouble. I recommend running a cat5 cable between the backend and HDHR if at all possible, perhaps a switch connecting them together in the basement or second NIC in the backend directly connected. Wifi will probably be fine for listing data download.

For a while I had two APs set up as a bridge between my Tivo and office; it was fine for surfing tivowebplus but not always reliable for heavy streaming-type traffic (and that's one SD stream). The APs were maybe 30 feet away from one another through a doorway, and there are at most 2 other APs in range. I got a spool of superflat cat5, ends, and crimper, and used about 100 feet winding around doorways and baseboards. Now I have 2 gigE switches connecting the office to backend, Tivo, xbox360. Much better.

EDIT: me three, apparently...distracted while composing this lovely reply.

Just had another thought on the networking issue.

If the HDHR is only going to feed your HTPC, then it doesn't need to be connected to the rest of your home or the Internet. So you can put the HDHR down next to your HTPC and connect them with Cat 5 Ethernet, and use a separate wireless card in the HTPC to talk to your upstairs router and retrieve listings from the Internet.

If the HDHR supports static IP configuration then you only need a crossover cable to connect them. If the HDHR requires DHCP, then you can either (a) run a DCHP server on the HTPC or (b) buy a cheap router to put between the HDHR and HTPC.

Thanks for answering all my questions I think i am all set