Mythtv frontend on Xbox

[slinga]

Hey all,

I'm following this guide: http://www.controlaltdeleted.com/xbox/xbox..._your_xbox.html

Do I need a modchip? I'm assuming I do. Also, I know you can hookup Xbox via component, so does that mean I can watch HD programs? My friend is offering me a modded xbox for $75. I'm not going to play games on it, just want it as a frontend.

 

[lordofduct]

you technically don't need a mod chip... it needs to be modded. There is a soft mod technique, but the mod chip is a lot easier to remove.

Now I am suspecting you have a MythTV backend on another computer for recording purposes as a PVR. If not and all you want this for is to watch movies on a PC with out MythTV on it (or even with MythTV) you can use other software such XboxMediaCenter... which is a LOT easier to install. (so simple that all you do is drag and drop the XBMC files into its own folder in the the 'programs' directory using any FTP client).

 

[slinga]

I'm in the process of building a mythtv box. With the last of my scholarship money I bought an AMD 3200 + mobo. It'll be a few weeks before I see it, anything through school takes forever. I got most the parts picked out I want, hopeful by the time I get the mobo and cpu everything will be cheaper.

 

[kahuna]

I have a mythtv box. I can play games, watch satellite TV, HDTV, record stuff, watch xvid movies, listen to my itunes librarty, etc. The thing that they never tell you though is all the time youre gonna spend to keep it up and running.

 

[lordofduct]

what card do you use to get HDTV and satellite? or do you only get the free to air ones... I hate how I can only capture basic cable here in America.

 

[kahuna]

I use a skystar2 DVB card to get satellite and a Airstar HD5000 for HDTV. They are both made by technisat and both of them are well supported under linux.

The skystar2 can be used for FTA only, but I understand that there's a way to decrypt Dish Network's mpeg2 stream. See here:http://dvbn.happysat.org/viewforum.php?f=17. I use my skystar2 with a motorized dish to get FTA. I can get ESPN, CNN, lots of local network affiliates, network backhaul feeds (you can see what the news anchors are up to when not "on the air" not always a pretty sight!). There is a way to get a standard hauppauge PVR card to work with dish, directv, and cable boxes with a device called an irblaster. If your cable box has firewire that's an extra bonus because you won't lose any quality from the conversion from digital->analog>digital like you would with the hauppauge card and a cable box.

I use the HDTV card to record over the air HDTV broadcasts in ATSC. The HD5000 supports QAM also so you should be able to plug into cable and get your locals unencypted in HD that way. I believe that the cable company has to send down the local HDTV unencrypted for paying subscribers. I've heard of comapnies not doing this, so your milage may vary.