Well, it looks like since the DVRs at the new cable company are on indefinite back order, we’ll be making the switch fully to Myth TV for all our DVR / media center needs.
It won’t be a big move, since we’ve really been using the Myth box for everything lately anyway, just because it can do so much more than a regular DVR. Now that I think about it, I don’t think I ever posted about how we’ve been using Myth TV for quite some time now, and how enjoyable it has been.
It’s difficult to explain how much is gained by making the switch from regular TV watching to using a DVR, and I’d say the same thing about switching from a “regular” DVR to Myth - there’s almost too much good stuff to cover it all. Here are some highlights, though:
- Much better commercial skipping - While cable company and corporate owned DVRs actually take measures to prevent you from being able to skip commercials, Myth offers a free, open system that exists only to serve the needs of its users, and as such has excellent features like intelligent commercial skipping. This is a high point for me not only because it works well (no need to fast forward or press any buttons, it just skips them for you), but also because it’s a prime example of the difference having an open system makes. Some DVR manufacturers have actually removed commercial skipping functionality from their systems in the past, in spite of the users’ desires, whereas on Myth there is a world community that is always working on adding new and more efficient commercial detection, to make it even better and thwart attempts to prevent skipping.
- (Virtually) unlimited media library - This is a big one for the kids as well as us (or at least me). Unlike a traditional DVR, a Myth system can be expanded to store as much data as you want, and in whatever format you want. And that includes not only recorded programs but content from any source (ripping your whole DVD library, etc.). I’ve got every single episode of many of the kids favorite cartoon series (which they love), as well as doing the same for shows I enjoy. If I want to pick a random Twilight Zone episode at any moment and watch it, I can, because every single one is on there. Same goes for any other show.
- Web based scheduling - In case I happen to be away from home and realize I’ve forgotten to set up something to be recorded, I can remotely connect and view the whole schedule and pick which shows I want to record, set recording options, etc.
- Transcoding - You can schedule custom jobs to be run on any newly recorded content, which can copy / convert the recording to any number of formats that you’d like. This would be useful for syncing to other portable devices (video iPod, etc.)
- Frontend/backend architecture - You can serve any number of front end systems (using very basic PC hardware) from a single backend system where all the shows are stored, allowing you to view content from any room you want.
There are lots of other features as well; too numerous to mention. It can hold and play all your music, if you’ve got a home theater type setup. You can run emulators for many popular console and arcade games, so you have a virtually unlimited gaming library as well. You can check their web site for more info and features.
I already ordered an HD capture card (since that’s the one thing my current setup lacks) and that reminds me of yet another bonus: this card (specifically made for Linux) has open driver software, and explicitly ignores the broadcast flag in HD content.
8 Comments
Does OTA Hd have the broadcast flag? I didn’t think it did and since you’ll have to use OTA to capture HD it doesn’t matter. Also, how are you getting the HD to your set, I’m thinking your going to buy an HD set now. Or you just want HD so you can get widescreen?
Either way I’m interested in your logistics because I’d love to have a box running Myth capturing all of the OTA HD content and downloading the stuff it missed. The problem would be is having a huge and load PC in our living room in order to get a cable to the set.
Who is your cable provider now? TW?
Any HD content *could* have the broadcast flag, because it’s part of the digital content (as opposed to the delivery system). The means of delivery (cable or OTA) doesn’t matter. Whether it *is* applied right now, I don’t know. I was under the impression that it currently isn’t, but that could change at any moment.
I’m not sure why you think that you can only capture HD via an OTA signal, but that isn’t the case. The card I’m getting supports OTA as well as all three major types of cable transmission (8VSB, QAM64 and QAM256, in case anyone is interested). The cable company *could* also encrypt the content on some channels, but most do not, and they are prohibited (by the FCC) from encrypting the local channels (the ones you would also get OTA) anyway.
I never would have thought I’d be schooling you on HDTV; thought it would be the other way around =)
We may or may not buy an HD set, but even if we don’t right now, I’d rather be prepared for when we do.
You don’t need a huge PC and it doesn’t need to be in your living room either, depending on how you set everything up. Lots of places (like System76) sell boxes that are basically the same size as a Mac mini that you can use for a low profile set top box.
Yes, it will be Time Warner.
The last time I check a cable card is necessary for you to receive an HD signal from Time Warner. That’s actually how most of the cable companies handle it. I really doubt they can push HD over an analog line and if they could I doubt even more they would do it.
So you’re not schooling me ;), I doubt the card you bought has cable card support so I’m thinking the only way you’d get HD is through an OTA signal. Unless I’m missing something and TW sends digital cable unencoded or makes a CC unnecessary.
As for the broadcast flag, I don’t really care too much about it
yet.
OK, I don’t want to get into explaining in depth why I’m right and you’re wrong, so I’ll let you do the googling on your own to find out about the many, many people who are capturing HD over their Time Warner (and other) cable service, not OTA. I definitely checked into this before I ordered the card.
I’m not quite sure what you mean by “analog line”. The physical cable line that comes to your house brings you both analog and digital content, just like the phone lines can bring you analog voice service and digital data service (DSL). HD is an aspect of that digital content that is delivered.
Second, (as to whether they send digital cable “unencoded”), I covered that above. As I mentioned above, the card I’m getting decodes the 3 major types of cable transmission used in the US. If, by “encoded” you mean encrypted, then no the card itself will not decrypt an encrypted signal. However, (like I also said above) most cable in the US is not encrypted, and it’s actually illegal for them to encrypt the basic channels (the ones you can get OTA).
Well, “The last time I check[ed] a cable card is necessary” so let’s just find out and see.
So if it works like you say, the card is just going to pick up the HD channels channels 950 and up from TW if you’ve subscribed to them, I’m going to get a dual HD tuner and look into a system.
The problem I still see is the box. Hiding it isn’t a solution because you can’t get the HD to the box without running a very long cable to keep HD and that all depends on max length of an HDMI or DVI cable not being limited to say 15ft. And I really don’t want to buy a small box just because I don’t want to pay the $10 a month for a rental HD box.
Anyways, just post about how it works out and I’ll check it out when I come over.
Jared please check your email. Sorry to leave the message here but I need some info before being able to help tomorrow.
Thanks, Dave.
Dan - Right; let’s wait and see whether I’m wrong and all the people on newsgroups and forums, etc. who say they’re doing it right now are lying.
As for the setup, I’ll let you know how it goes. The box isn’t an issue for me, and I think it should be even less of an issue for you, since you already have a big batch of cables and boxes in your setup. Even without buying a whole new system you could get a smaller case that would take up no more space than your current DVR. You might have to replace some other components if you didn’t have any that run quietly enough, but the point is you could easily replace your current DVR with a Myth system that takes little or no additional space, so I don’t see that as a problem.