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.