Understand the situation

Dedicated system

Understand that this MythTV computer is going to be an appliance, like a telephone, or a VCR. You should not think of it as a "dual boot" system -- to reach its maximum potential, the system will be "on" all the time, running the MythTV software all the time. So no Microsoft Windows on the MythTV box. Likewise, this is not the best way to learn about using Linux for general purpose computing. It's job will be to record and play-back TV programs, not write letters to relatives or do your taxes. (Visit your local Linux User Group for help with that kind of thing.)

System erasure

Understand that there should not be any data or programs that you consider valuable on any of the disks in the computer you bring. Not only will we not be responsible for keeping your files safe, we do not have the time to "dance around" anything that you would like to retain. The plan is to wipe out everything already on the computer, and replace it with MythTV.

No warranty

Although we have done a lot of testing, investigation, trials, etc. we can not guarantee any type of success with an individual system. You may bring a system to the InstallFest and walk away with a set of cold iron. If you follow our instructions we feel confident that this will not happen, but there are no guarantees. After all, these are computers.

Likewise, while we will certainly try to help out, we cannot promise to be there to provide technical support after the fact. If it works fine for six months and then abruptly stops working, we might not be able to help. If you need professional support, buy a mass-market DVR and pay the monthly support fee.

_THIS PROJECT IS UNDERTAKEN STRICTLY AT YOUR OWN RISK._

(Of course, unlike, say, a VCR, if something does happen, you have a good chance of being able to fix it yourself.)

Hardware Requirements

We realize that these requirements may not fit what you have laying around the house, but we don't see the point in building a box that isn't going to work.

General

A 600 MHz Pentium III with at least 256 MB of RAM is the minimum for standard definition programming. High definition programming needs more power: 2 GHz Pentium 4 or faster, with at least 1 GB of RAM. You may need more CPU/RAM if you are running multiple tuner/capture cards, or are doing "extra" stuff on your MythTV box.

You will need lots and lots of disk storage. The more, the better. Standard definition recordings consume about 2.5 gigabytes/hour. High definition recordings consume from 6 to 12 gigabytes/hour. Fortunately, it is easy to add more storage in the future, by adding internal disk drives, external USB drives, or even "network attached" storage.

Due to the "always on" requirement, you may want to consider systems that are lower in electrical usage or audible noise output.

For more information, including a list of hardware suppliers both Internet based and local, please see the GNHLUG MythTV page.

Internet connection

You will need to have an Internet connection. MythTV downloads its EPG (Electronic Program Guide) data via the Internet, so it knows when to record which shows. If you have cable Internet or DSL with a router, you can plug your MythTV box into that. If you just have a single PC hooked up to your cable/DSL feed, you may need to obtain such a router. (It is possible to use the MythTV box as a router, but that is beyond the scope of this effort. For the cost (typically around $50), it's often easier to just buy an off-the-shelf router.))

If you only have dial-up, it is possible to add a modem to a MythTV box and configure it to dial the Internet periodically to download EPG data, but that is likely to be -- you guessed it -- beyond the scope of this effort.

(You may want to consult your local Linux User Group (outside of this InstallFest) if you need assistance with this kind of thing. Recording TV is just one of the many things Linux can do.)

Tuner/capture devices

The tuner/capture cards we are recommending are known to work with MythTV, and we have actually installed them and tested them before. Others may work, and we may introduce these over time, but in order to increase the likelihood that everyone goes home with a working unit, we have to limit the possibilities to known quantities.

We can recommend any of these:

• pcHDTV HD-5500 PCI card
• SiliconDust HD Home Run external Ethernet-attached tuner

Also known to work are the Hauppauge WinTV PVR series cards (particularly, the 250 or 500 models). However, be warned that Hauppauge has apparently recently started packaging HVR-1600 cards in PVR-150 boxes, with no indication of the change. The HVR-1600 does NOT work with MythTV. We recommend staying away from Hauppauge unless you are very certain you are getting the right model.

Remember that MythTV can handle several tuner cards, but each one takes a certain amount of CPU power to have it working at the same time. If you use multiple tuner cards, you will have to have a splitter to allow you to hook your one feed (cable line or antenna) to the various cards.

If you want to watch "live TV" though the MythTV box, the system will use a tuner card to do that. So if you want to record two other shows at the same time you are watching a third program, you will need three tuners.

Video output card

Think about the video output card (AKA display adapter) that you will be using to view MythTV. We recommend GeForce 6000-series video cards. They come in both AGP and PCIe, can be found in fanless varieties (for quiet running), and are relatively inexpensive.

We are assuming your TV either has VGA or DVI inputs, or that you will be using a computer monitor as your "TV" for MythTV. Getting any TV-out (composite, RF, S-VHS/S-video, component, etc.) working is beyond the scope of this effort.

Remote controls

You can control all of the functions of MythTV with a remote control. In theory, any remote supported by the Linux Infrared Remote Control project should work. We've can recommend these:

• Streamzap PC Remote
• ATI/NVidia/X10 RF USB remote
• The remote that comes with some of the Hauppauge WinTV PVR packages
• Logitech Harmony series
• One-4-All universal remotes
• Windows Media Center remotes (these are also packaged with some tuner cards)

Again, others may work, but we know these work.

Some of the above remotes include an IR or RF receiver, which plugs into the MythTV box via USB. For those that do not, you will need a separate IR receiver. Fortunately, most tuner cards include one.

Already assembled

Your system should already be assembled, and at least power-on correctly. Please do not show up with a bunch of loose parts in a cardboard box and ask for a screw driver. We would like to step everyone through the software installation and get people home on time, so we ask that you have all the hardware installation done ahead of time. If you do not know how to take a PC box apart and stick some boards into it, please find a friend, relative, neighbor, or local PC shop that does. It would be good to turn on your system afterwards and see if your existing operating system works. If you do not have an existing operating system, don't worry, we can help with that.

If you get your system to the InstallFest and a board is not seated right, we will get out a screwdriver to help you. It is just that we cannot do this for everyone, and we will frown on people showing up with a system that doesn't even turn on yet.

Other Requirements

Register for the event

Please use the following form to register for this event:

http://www.gnhlug.org/forms/myth1.html

We know no one likes filling out forms, but we need some advanced knowledge for planning purposes. That means we need to know what hardware you will be bringing and what cable provider you use. We also are limited in space, and so have to keep track of how many people will be coming.

The information you submit will be used ONLY in the support of the operations for this event. The only communications you will be receiving from us will be about this event. We will not be selling, giving, or otherwise providing your info to any third-parties. We will not even be adding you to any GNHLUG mailing lists (you can do that yourself).

If you sign up, then cannot make it, please let us know, so we can have someone else take your place. Our contact info is on the main MythTV InstallFest page.

Sign-up with Zap2it

We need you to sign-up with Zap2it, in advance. You can do so by clicking the following link:

https://www.zap2it.com/services/site/registration/show-createprofile.register

This information needs to be done so you can get free Electronic Program Guide data -- information about the programs that you would like to record. It is simple and takes just a few minutes. Understand that GNHLUG does not control what Zap2it/Tribune does with that registration, so make sure you read and agree to their policies, too.

Pack a lunch

While there is a cafeteria at the New Hampshire Technical Institute, this is the weekend and its hours are limited. You can assume that you will be at the school over the lunch hour, and sooner or later you will get hungry. There is a soda machine available, but you may also want to bring a few (non-alcoholic) drinks too.

Get there on time

Again, we would like to step everyone through at the same time. This allows people to help each other, and make sure that we finish in a reasonable time. We have families too, and they like to eat supper at a particular time. We expect the InstallFest to be over at 5 PM. With luck, many will leave sooner.

What we provide

We will have analog VGA monitors, USB keyboards, USB mice, and power strips, and IEC power cords, so you should not bring any of those. If your card has a DVI connector, try to bring a DVI-to-VGA adapter, as we may not have enough to go around.

We will also have OTA antenna and cable feeds available for testing. These may not be the same feeds you have in your area, but we will be able to help you set up your box for your home situation before you leave.