Particulars

What is all this?

To find out what MythTV is and what it can do for you, check out the GNHLUG MythTV page and the official MythTV web site. The really short version is that it's free software suite for Linux, designed to automatically record TV shows, and play them back at your convenience.

An "InstallFest" is where the more experienced (that would be us) guide the less experienced (you) though the process of installing and configuring some software (MythTV, in this case). Because this is a "mass installation", it has to be more "standardized" than what FOSS people may be used to having. This is to try to get the maximum number of people successfully installed at one time. Due to limited time and man-power, we have to limit the number of options to those which have been shown to work in the past.

GNHLUG has held a pilot "InstallFest" at the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, and has had a measure of success. We are now opening it up to members of GNHLUG and selected students of NHTI, on a modified First-Come-First-Served (FCFS) basis. This is a modified FCFS because we want to be fair to both NHTI, who has graciously worked with us to put on this event and is making their facilities available, as well as our own members. In the future we hope to open it up further, to even more of the public, and to make it "Real Easy" to build one of the MythTV systems.

Requirements

There are several things you will need to do, both with your hardware, and in terms of sign-up. Please see the MythTV InstallFest Requirements page and go through them all. The short version is:

• Know what you're getting into
• Understand that THIS PROJECT IS UNDERTAKEN STRICTLY AT YOUR OWN RISK
• Bring compatible hardware
• Register with us in advance
• Sign-up with Zap2It in advance
• Get there on time

Again, please read the full list of requirements.

Due to limited time, man-power, and space, anyone who fails to do this may be turned away at the door. Sorry!

The event itself

MythTV Demonstration

We will start the InstallFest with a brief demonstration of MythTV itself, for those people who have never seen it (or another DVR, even). This will help solidify in people's minds why they are doing the steps as they go through the installation. This will also help individuals determine when they are satisfied with their "install", instead of waiting for everyone else to finish installation and leave.

Installation and configuration

We will be installing Fedora Core 6, a Linux operating system distribution. On top of that, we will install software packages for MythTV. Then we proceed with the configuration of the MythTV software. Some of the steps will be the same for everyone. Where needed, we will provide guidance and assistance for you particular combination of tuner cards, TV source, and so on. This is part of why we need people to register with us, and sign-up with Zap2it, in advance. We need to prepare, too.

After the InstallFest

With any luck at all, you will take home a MythTV box that starts up and tries to connect to your TV and Internet feeds. We assume you will be able to do hook-up all the wires and such at your home.

We expect that we will be able to help you get set-up before you leave the "InstallFest" with the information that you have filled out in the form on the web. But you may find that you have to re-configure your system. This is what the pad of paper is for.

In closing

Remember: Check the requirements. No warranty. THIS PROJECT IS UNDERTAKEN STRICTLY AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Thanks to all the people who helped to make this possible.

May the remote be with you!