build your own Tivo box

[Listener]

This is way too complex for me, especially since I don't know very much about Linux, but if you ever wanted to build your own broadcast-flag-free DVR, here's how:

http://www.mythtv.org

[swolt]

... and this is why I think linux users are retarded. Not ALL linux users, but all the ones I've met.

I have four different programs on my windows PC that does everything MythTV does, all four also free, but I don't have to run linux  to make it work.

Silly *nix people making things so overly complex.

[Listener]

... and this is why I think linux users are retarded. Not ALL linux users, but all the ones I've met.

I have four different programs on my windows PC that does everything MythTV does, all four also free, but I don't have to run linux  to make it work.

Silly *nix people making things so overly complex.

Well, if you can build a triple-tv-input DVR out of a windows box, I'd buy it.

I think the reason these people prefer Linux is because it doesn't have Windows Media Player and the possibility to be affected by DRM or the Broadcast Flag.

I really don't think it should be this complicated, but I guess sometimes some things just are.

[swolt]

... and this is why I think linux users are retarded. Not ALL linux users, but all the ones I've met.

I have four different programs on my windows PC that does everything MythTV does, all four also free, but I don't have to run linux  to make it work.

Silly *nix people making things so overly complex.

Well, if you can build a triple-tv-input DVR out of a windows box, I'd buy it.

I think the reason these people prefer Linux is because it doesn't have Windows Media Player and the possibility to be affected by DRM or the Broadcast Flag.

I really don't think it should be this complicated, but I guess sometimes some things just are.

I've never done triple but my current setup is dual. DRM is easy to get around and WMP can be uninstalled.

I didn't mean to bash all linux users. I've written my own software just because I wanted to instead of using a free program. I understand the mindset, "why write my own software? why NOT!"
What I hate is the elitist bastards who write software for linux and then act like you can't do it on windows or osX. I've read about MythTV before and this guy seems like that.

[Listener]

I've never done triple but my current setup is dual. DRM is easy to get around and WMP can be uninstalled.

I didn't mean to bash all linux users. I've written my own software just because I wanted to instead of using a free program. I understand the mindset, "why write my own software? why NOT!"
What I hate is the elitist bastards who write software for linux and then act like you can't do it on windows or osX. I've read about MythTV before and this guy seems like that.

Well, I have a bunch of Windows boxes and laptops just sitting around waiting to be cannibalized.  I suppose I ought to start looking into doing this with Windows.  I don't ever really plan to burn TV shows to DVD (although I suppose it's conceivable), but I have an external DVD burner I can hook up so it's not like it would be difficult.

How fast is the Windows box you're running this on?  I have a feeling that would be my only problem; I can buy two or even three TV cards and figure out the programming and stuff, and hard drives are cheap.

[swolt]

I'm running a P4 3.0Ghz.

I installed one for a customer on a P3 1.0Ghz and it ran ok but was a little choppy if anything else was open.

If you have a couple of machines laying around you should look into building a cluster. There is a linux distro that comes cluster ready and it's pretty easy to use.
My friend and I built one once using 10 486's and it out benchmarked my P3 667

[Listener]

I'm running a P4 3.0Ghz.

I installed one for a customer on a P3 1.0Ghz and it ran ok but was a little choppy if anything else was open.

If you have a couple of machines laying around you should look into building a cluster. There is a linux distro that comes cluster ready and it's pretty easy to use.
My friend and I built one once using 10 486's and it out benchmarked my P3 667

You know way more stuff than I do.

I would be using this machine as DVR only.  I guess I wouldn't need a monitor, since it would go straight to the TV (which has a supervideo input somewhere on the back).  I need three inputs, though, so I would think I'd need a faster machine.

[swolt]

hmmm, I am finding this very interesting. Why 3 inputs, do you want to be able to record three shows at once?

What hardware do you have? I'll poke around a bit and see what can be done with older hardware.

[Listener]

hmmm, I am finding this very interesting. Why 3 inputs, do you want to be able to record three shows at once?

What hardware do you have? I'll poke around a bit and see what can be done with older hardware.

You'll probably see my e-mail shortly.

Three inputs because there are certain times and days when we record three shows at once... for example, until it ended, we recorded on Sunday nights:  9pm - Desperate Housewives, Strong Medicine, Family Guy

We never watch ANYTHING live.

[swolt]

what kind of output does it need to have? Mine goes right to my TV, but my TV is in the same room. Do you want to be able to record from a remote at the TV or record from another PC?

[Listener]

what kind of output does it need to have? Mine goes right to my TV, but my TV is in the same room. Do you want to be able to record from a remote at the TV or record from another PC?

TV output.  It's just going to be a computer that sits next to my TV.  My main PC is a laptop.

I just want to be able to use it as a DVR.  Record all my shows to the computer, save them, and watch them later.