MythTV? HTPC?

[george graves]

Anyone set up an MythTV box (HTPC)?

I'm looking for*not* paying for cable, and getting only news and PBS over the air. Everything else I'll hulu and enjoy. Things that aren't available, I'll snag on torrents.

I'm wondering how it's working for you. What's your HTPC set up?

[TurboJake]

I did it. Used WMC, then MythTV, then something called MediaPortal. None of them were up to my taste and usually required a keyboard for any torrenting. Tried the VNC route and it just got too cumbersome for me.

My HTPC is now called a ps3
Look at a program called PlayOn!
;)
(A roku can use it too)

As for torrents, Use PS3 Media server. Works fantastic

The computer that I am on is the media server. It streams to the PS3
EZTV.it will become your magical friend too

My TV auto off's with my PS3. My TV's Usb service port has the reciever, powered subwoofer, and a few misc other things on an EcoStrip. Ps3 turns off. TV turns off automatically. Kills power to subwoofer and receiver. Saves lots on power, and I only use one controller.

http://www.ecostrip.com/

http://www.buy.com/prod/blu-link-universal-remote-control-for-playstation-3/q/loc/111/211579086.html

EDIT: Also. Make sure you have a wireless N with gigabit ethernet, and wire the PS3 to it. It's biggest downfall is the wireless G it has.
SECOND EDIT: ALSO! Sign up for playons mailing list. I waited and got it for 10 dollars a year until I decide to stop.

[James Crivellone]

My current HTPC:

E8500 C2D
4GB Ram
2 X 1.5TB WD Green Drives
1 X 2.0TB WD VBR DVR Drive
Ceton 4-Tuner Cable Card Tuner
Windows 7 Ultimate / Media Center.

From there I record live tv, netflix, and sync my usenet collection.

I don't even own a cable box anymore, its awesome (I know you said you don't have nor want cable)

[5Toes]

^ is 3tb really necessary? Hahahahaha

[z31maniac]

^Yeah, HD content sucks up a lot of space.

[StereoInstaller1]

^ is 3tb really necessary? Hahahahaha

I am shocked he only has 3TB, I expected triple that.

[TurboJake]

I am shocked he only has 3TB, I expected triple that.

Thats where I'm sittin.
Ish

[mrsleeve]

I am shocked he only has 3TB, I expected triple that.

I thought the very same thing

[pureaudio]

Core i3 2100 sandy bridge
4GB ram
Windows 7 using media center
Dual head HD tv tuner (brand is slipping my mind)
HD antenna
2 1TB WD greens mirrored

Netflix, hulu, HD locals and stuff I download... Gets me everything I want except mindless crappy tv surfing.

I've been doing the tv computer thing for a long time, ever since xp media center edition came out. I have tried a lot of others but I always go back to Windows, it just does it better in my opinion, especially recording live tv.

I just upgraded my setup and while my storage is severely lacking, the rest of my setup runs flawlessly.

[equate975]

I've used pretty much all of the HTPC media players, they all suck.

The main problem with free ones is it's a total PITA to keep your channel guide working, you constantly have to manual update and fuck with it.

Oddly enough, windows media center is the best HTPC setup I've used. There are hacks to get hulu and other programs working. I would checkout media browser, it does a good job at sorting out downloaded movies and TV for you.

http://www.mediabrowser.tv/

[Chrisv006]

My HTPC...

Win 7 Media Center based (Netflix streaming does not work on myth, at least it didnt last time I looked into it...)
6TB (Hundreds of movies/tv shows :))
c2d 2.4ghz (I dont even remember which chip)
2gb ram
gigabit eithernet (important if you network stream or transfer a lot)
HD4320 HDMI (with audio) out to my reciever then onto the TV
RF remote (important if you want to hide the box in a basket or closet)
OTA Digital tuners with attic mounted antenna(s).


We have been cable free for a while, love this setup so much. Nothing is as powerful as a real computer for a media center (can play virtually any type of file you throw at it with the right codec packs). Look into a plugin called Media Browser. Have the whole setup in a nice leather box with some holes in the side and rear with 1 fan for ventilation. Can not hear or see a thing...Has kept the 2 year old out so far.

Edit - Post above me mentioned Media Browser too! Also, With my current CPU I can play anything under a 10gb 1080p rip with no shuddering issued at all...I find the sweet spot to be files in the 7gb range, quality is awesome and its pretty storage efficient.

[TexasTerp]

I'm not cable free in the house but happen to not have it in my room. here's my setup..

Windows 7 Home
XBMC Media Center
Netflix, Hulu Plus, XBMC Plugins, etc..
4x 2TB Samsung 5900rpm drives
2x 2TB WD 7200 rpm drives
1x 250GB WD 10,000rpm drive
2.1Ghz AMD Phenom Tri-Core (Overclocked to 2.8Ghz)
8GB DDR3 Ram
EVGA GeForce 1GB 64bit Video Card for HDMI output.
46" Samsung LCD 1080p tv

Still working on the system, next up is a pair of Axiom Audio M22 Wall Mount speakers. I'm running a basic LiteOn BluRay drive so that I can rip ISOs directly. Hacked in a couple plugins for XBMC to utilize PowerDVD10 as an external Bluray player.

I don't watch much tv, I'm a movie collector so I spend a ton on space, the average Bluray disc sans menus, etc is about 25-30GB. I have about 300 Blurays and 200 DVDs. I also have about 600GB of Music. I personally like the "Green Drives" (5900rpm) from Samsung and WD, they are cheap ($79 for 2TB) and are great for movies. I don;t have any read issues even though I'm running 4 of the HDDs from a port multiplier and 6.0GB/sec eSata connection.

I'm working on modifying a 500w power supplies to handle up to 10 HDDs. going to create a separate enclosures for all my HDDs eventually and remove them completely from my desktop case. Right now I have 2 eSata connections for 4 HDDs, and 3 internal HDDs

[raleigh29]

The easiest software I have used to start off is Boxee.

Check it out

[Asbradley21]

MythTV is good, although can be buggy at times.
I use Boxee and XBMC with a combination of Usenet/torrents and family member's Netflix and HBO GO subscription. With a good torrent or usenet set up you can have shows downloaded and ready to go automatically as soon as they are released.