[outleradam]

My setup which I am working on:
I have one of these cheap E-Machines http://www.walmart.com/ip/eMachines-EL13...w/15062989
It runs XBMC and MythTV. MythTV records using 1 input on my HdHomeRun and XBMC displays TV using the other input. I would like to switch over to using the XBMC PVR FrontEnd for my TV viewing pleasure and leave MythTV to it's recordings.

I want to make improvements.

First up, I need a quicker tuner card. When I say quick, I mean my HdHomeRun takes about 3 seconds to change the channel when flipping through. It is a long delay. What would be a good card to go with for TV tuning with capabilities of 1080i?
Now keep in mind that my box has only a small PCI express port and the size is only 1/2 of a standard full din PCI. It's like 1/2 din. So I'd need PCIexpress 2x or USB2 interface.


Part 2.. this leaves accessing the new hardware. My HdHomeRun is supported by XBMC directly. This new unit most likely would not be supported. So, Should i use my pre-existing MythTV setup, TvHeadEnd, or some other option for live-tv only access in XBMC under Linux?

[poofyhairguy]

I am in the same boat as you- I currently use my HDHomerun and would like to enjoy the PVR branch.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a solid ATSC USB Tuner for Linux. The few that exist all seem to exhibit problems when I search for them on the TVHeadend thread. This list is here:

http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/ATSC_USB_Devices

But I wouldn't waste my money on any of them.

There are a few PCIe tuners, but another problem is that TVheadend is REALLY targeted towards Europeans. Compared to MythTV (for ATSC) it is lightyears behind. But if you really want PVR functions today PCIe is about your only bet. Here is the list:

http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/ATSC_PCIe_Cards

Personally I still think the HDHomerun is a good option in the future, and there are three directions for its use:

1. YaPVR- this project uses VDR as the backend for the XBMC PVR (instead of TVHeadend). The distro has built in HDHomerun drivers for VDR. Unfortunately though no developer for this project uses ATSC, so who knows where the exact support level is. I hope to try it out soon.

2. A driver is being made for the HDHomerun to make it compatible with TVheadend:

http://www.silicondust.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9153

I compiled it recently and TVHeadend could see my ATSC HDHomerun, but I could not pull up channels yet. But the driver is brand new, hopefully it will get fixed up soon and put into packages.

3. MythTV is eventually gonna probably be a backend to XBMC's PVR. It is already being worked on. I don't see how this can't eventually happen, MythTV is too popular.


But none of those options work today, so my advice for today is: either get a PCIe card (and then PLEASE let me know how it works) or wait till HDHomerun support settles in the next six months.

[outleradam]

That's the problem. HDHomeRun is too slow for use. You can compile the XBMC head with some of the changes which were made recently and get MythTV to work for live TV. The problem is that it is still too slow because HDHomeRun takes 3 seconds to change channels.

I need something faster, and it needs to be PCIe2X, or USB

[poofyhairguy]

I need something faster, and it needs to be PCIe2X, or USB

If you really want to get away from the HDHomerun, as I said stick to PCIe cards.

Here is the one I have considered greatly:

http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Ha...V-HVR-1250

For that one I like that "No firmware is needed for ATSC/QAM functionality." I also like that the driver in in the kernel.

Here is another I have considered:

http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Ha...V-HVR-1800

[outleradam]

This looks like it's the right height. http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Ha...V-HVR-1250

What do I do for mounting? I've never worked on one of these slim computers before. It looks like a standard PCI back-panel, but it's a 1/2 height PCI slot.

[poofyhairguy]

This looks like it's the right height. http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Ha...V-HVR-1250

What do I do for mounting? I've never worked on one of these slim computers before. It looks like a standard PCI back-panel, but it's a 1/2 height PCI slot.

The best thing to do is just buy a card with a low profile (that is what those cards are called for future reference) bracket from the get -go:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hauppauge-WinTV-HVR-...897wt_1141

PLEASE, PLEASE if you get one let me know how it works. I would love to try out the PVR branch....

[outleradam]

Thank you. I am asking for this for christmas for me, to install for my wife.. I don't really watch much TV myself, but maybe i'll start once it's quicker.

I'll let you know.


btw.. I didn't know if you knew what I was talking about so I uploaded this picture from my phone, but you responded right away already.