MythTV Update: Just Images

I finally posted a few images of the hardware work on my textamerica account. As you can see, my daughter Abigail was actively involved.

MythTV Update 3: Remote Works

After much battling, I finally got my remote control to work. It seems the PVR-250 Model 980 comes with the same remote as the PVR-350. If you look underneath the batteries, you'll see the model number is A415-HPG.

I followed the instructions in this thread, and was able to get it up and running. HURRAY!

/etc/lirc/lircd.conf

 #
 # this config file was automatically generated
 # using lirc-0.7.0(any) on Sun Nov 28 20:25:09 2004
 #
 # contributed by
 #
 # brand:   Hauppauge 350
 # Created: G.J. Werler (The Netherlands)
 # Project: Mythtv Fedora Pundit-R www.mythtvportal.com
 # Date:    2004/11/28
 # model no. of remote control: Hauppauge A415-HPG
 # devices being controlled by this remote: PVR-350
 #
 
 begin remote
 
   name  Hauppauge_350
   bits           13
   flags RC5|CONST_LENGTH
   eps            30
   aeps          100
 
   one           969   811
   zero          969   811
   plead        1097
   gap          114605
   toggle_bit      2
 
 
       begin codes
          Go                       0x00000000000017BB
           Power                    0x00000000000017BD
          TV                       0x000000000000179C
           Videos                   0x0000000000001798
           Music                    0x0000000000001799
           Pictures                 0x000000000000179A
           Guide                    0x000000000000179B
           Radio                    0x000000000000178C
          Up                       0x0000000000001794
          Left                     0x0000000000001796
           Right                    0x0000000000001797
          Down                     0x0000000000001795
          OK                       0x00000000000017A5
           Back/Exit                0x000000000000179F
           Menu/i                   0x000000000000178D
          Vol+                     0x0000000000001790
          Vol-                     0x0000000000001791
           Prev.Ch                  0x0000000000001792
          Mute                     0x000000000000178F
          Ch+                      0x00000000000017A0
          Ch-                      0x00000000000017A1
           Record                   0x00000000000017B7
          Stop                     0x00000000000017B6
           Rewind                   0x00000000000017B2
          Play                     0x00000000000017B5
           Forward                  0x00000000000017B4
           Replay/SkipBackward      0x00000000000017A4
           Pause                    0x00000000000017B0
           SkipForward              0x000000000000179E
 
          1                        0x0000000000001781
          2                        0x0000000000001782
          3                        0x0000000000001783
          4                        0x0000000000001784
          5                        0x0000000000001785
          6                        0x0000000000001786
          7                        0x0000000000001787
          8                        0x0000000000001788
          9                        0x0000000000001789
           Asterix                  0x000000000000178A
          0                        0x0000000000001780
          #                        0x000000000000178E
          Red                      0x000000000000178B
           Green                    0x00000000000017AE
           Yellow                   0x00000000000017B8
          Blue                     0x00000000000017A9
       end codes
 
 end remote

/home/mythtv/.mythtv/lircrc

 # lircrc.example.HauppaugeSilver-nativelirc
 # 2005-01-27, Russell Salerno
 # mailto:rsalern5@optonline.net
 # Save this file in ~/.mythtv/lircrc
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = Off
     config = Esc
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = Go
 # Swap the PiP windows
     config = N
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = 1
     config = 1
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = 2
     config = 2
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = 3
     config = 3
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = 4
     config = 4
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = 5
     config = 5
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = 6
     config = 6
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = 7
     config = 7
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = 8
     config = 8
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = 9
     config = 9
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = Back/Exit
     config = Esc
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = 0
     config = 0
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = menu/i
     config = M
 end
 
 # Below are keys used with the Hauppauge Silver remote
 
 begin
    prog = mythtv
 # This is the Red key
 # We'll use it for "Delete"
    button = Red
    config = D
 end
 
 begin
    prog = mythtv
 # This is the Green key
 # We'll use it for "Information"
    button = Green
    config = I
 end
 
 begin
   prog = mythtv
 # This is the Blue key
 # Use it for the sleep timer
   button = Blue
   config = F8
 end
 
 begin
   prog = mythtv
 # This is the Yellow key
 # adjust video
   button = Yellow
   config = F
 end
 
 
 # Note the "repeat =" strings in the volume and channel.
 # This means that if you hold down the key, every nth instance will be
 # passed.  This depends on your system, so you may want to increase or
 # decrease this and see what happens.  repeat = 1 is probably too
 # fast.
 
 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = vol-
   repeat = 3
   config = F10
 end
 
 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = vol+
   repeat = 3
   config = F11
 end
 
 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Ch+
   config = Up
 end
 
 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Ch-
   repeat = 3
   config = Down
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = Up
 # This is the "up" on the central diamond
     repeat = 3
     config = Up
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = Down
 # This is the "down" on the central diamond
     repeat = 3
     config = Down
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
 #    button = Vol-
     button = Left
 # This is the "left" on the central diamond
     repeat = 3
     config = Left
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
 #    button = Vol+
     button = Right
 # This is the "right" on the central diamond
     repeat = 3
     config = Right
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
 # Middle button on the diamond
     button = Ok
     config = Return
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = Mute
     config = F9
 end
 
 begin
    prog = mythtv
 # Change focus for PiP (to change channel in the other window)
    button = Blank
    config = B
 end
 
 begin
    prog = mythtv
 # Toggle PiP on/off
    button = Full
    config = V
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = Rew
     config = Left
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = Play
     config = P
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = FFW
     config = Right
 end
 
 begin
   prog = mythtv
   button = Record
   config = R
 end
 
 begin
    prog = mythtv
 # Teletext
    button = Stop
    config = T
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mythtv
     button = pause
     config = P
 end
 
 begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = Replay
 # Use for backwards commercial skip
     config = Q
 end
 
 begin
    prog = mythtv
    button = Skip
 # Use for forward commercial skip
     config = Z
 end
 
 #MPlayer
 begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = Off
    config = quit
 end
 
 begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = MENU
    config = osd
 end
 
 begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = Rew
    config = seek -10
    repeat = 1
 end
 
 begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = FFW
    config = seek +10
    repeat = 1
 end
 
 begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = Replay
    config = seek -60
    repeat = 1
 end
 
 begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = Skip
    config = seek +60
    repeat = 1
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mplayer
     button = Pause
     config = pause
 end
 
 begin
     prog = mplayer
     button = Play
     config = pause
 end
 
 begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = BACK
    config = quit
 end
 
 begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = VOL+
    config = volume +1
    repeat = 1
 end
 
 begin
    prog = mplayer
    button = VOL-
    config = volume -1
    repeat = 1
 end
 
 begin
    prog=mplayer
    button=Mute
    config=mute
 end

MythTV Update 2

Forgot about all my paranoia about the model 980 card, the thing works out of the box with the newest release of KnoppMyth. It was a piece of cake. I've got it up and running and recording TV now with the standard install. Now it's tweak time! :)

MythTV Update 1

Well, I think I have all the components now to get this thing working. I found an article on how to get myth working with the model 980 card here:

http://www.byopvr.com/Sections+index-req-viewarticle-artid-13-page-1.html

I ended up and went over budget a little bit because I chose a more expensive case than I really needed. I really liked the small form factor case, and it was worth going ~$100 over budget. The AOpen EZ18 case with built in motherboard is awesome. It's got an nVidia MX onboard video that can support 2 (count them, 2) monitors, and 1 S-Video out. It also has built in firewire, and a nice little flip down fronts that obscure an optical drive that's color doesn't match.

AOpen EZ18 [$159.99 after $20 mail-in rebate @ NewEgg.com]
AMD Athlon XP 2600+ [$77.99 @ NewEgg.com]
Corsair 512mb PC3200 RAM [$39.50 @ NewEgg.com]
Maxtor 200gb HD [$69.99 w/free shipping @ Outpost.com]
Hauppauge PVR-250 Model 980 Video Capture/Tuner Card [$125.99 w/free shipping @ Buy.com]

I managed to time a few of my purchases just right to get some great deals. My advice is just watch for deals. Two days after my PVR-250 arrived, buy.com had a dual tuner hauppauge for just $5 more than I paid. I was a bit dismayed, but oh well. I think I hit some great deals on the AOpen box & the hard drive. I'll eventually replace the 250 with a dual tuner, especially if I can find a deal like buy.com had last week. The downfall of going with the SFF case is that it only has 1 PCI slot. So my second tuner either has to be on 1 card, or I have to go with a firewire device.

In order to install KnoppMyth, I had to borrow my DVD drive from my other desktop. I'll eventually put a DVD Burner in this case, but again, waiting on the right deal.

Total cost so far: $520.35*

* - I could have saved about $15 by not splurging on 2-day shipping and expedited handling on my newegg order. I was on vacation when I ordered it and I wanted to get it ASAP so I could tinker.

Starting my MythTV project

I'm finally going to do it. I've been looking at building a MythTV box for over a year now. I just never could motivate myself to take the first step.

Last week I purchased a PVR-250 Model 980 from buy.com, and just last night I saw a $70 200gb harddrive on Outpost.com, so I went ahead and bought that as well.

I've already discovered by reading in some forums that the PVR-250 I bought which I thought would be an easy match for Myth is a newer model chipset (980) and they (Myth coders) haven't worked out all the glitches with it yet. Hopefully the great open source coders that are working on Myth will have it solved by the time I get all the hardware in place. The PVR-250 is the most widely used card of Myth users, so I think they'll be on top of it fast. I was trying to avoid the MCE chipset because I read about problems with it, but it seems those are all resolved now. The issue currently is around the 980 chipset that I just bought. Oh well, my first miscalculation, I'm sure there will be more to come.

I still need to buy a case, motherboard, processor, ram, and video card (output). I'll keep you up to date on my progress.

Hacking Defined

I found an interesting site just the other day. It's called Hacking Defined. They do a nice demo of cracking a WEP key in just a few minutes here:

http://whoppix.hackingdefined.com/Whoppix-wepcrack.html

I've seen a similar demo done on From the Shadows StashBox 3.0, but this attack was super fast.

How to become a millionaire

I found this very nice presentation the other day. It was very inspiring. I think all I really need to do to become a millionaire is try. I just have to get off my lazy butt and do it. :)

http://marshallbrain.com/million.htm

Digg

I'm still working on ways to balance life and blogging. :) In any case, I've added my diggs to the right column. Digg is a very neat site that I've been reading for sometime now. I don't even read Slashdot anymore.

Digg stories bubble to the top based on how many people are interested in them. So when I digg a story (and it shows up in my right column) I basically +1 the story's score. So not always the most recent news is front page, sometimes it takes a few days to bubble to the top.