MythTV

[Athfar]

Has anyone tried it... I wouldn't mind learning some linux seeing that my windows box is constantly peged at 90% CPU or so because of sagetv and all the other "server stuff" I have running.

[mikejaner]

I've tried it. It crashes alot, and has a slow GUI.

[SprDtyF350]

I have also tried it. It is really hard to setup if you are not a Linux guru. I mean like all night to setup, and then all you have to do is miss one little step and you have a mess. It has a million different settings that most of which I didn't really know what they were for. I didn't really care for any of the GUI themes. They all just looked kinda old to me. It also records in a goofy format that is difficult to use anywhere else. They do have an export plugin but I thought it was a hassle.
As much as I would like to get away from Windows and use something else this was just way more trouble to me. I suppose if you had a good handle on Linux it would not be such a pain, but Sage does pretty much what Myth does, is very stable for me, and a ton less trouble to setup.

I did have it working with the IVTV driver for the PVR250, Lirc for the remote, and everything else but I was a crazy person when I was done. It was a fun way to spend time in the middle of winter but I think I will pass.

[Mike Young]

Name says it all.

[centralohioguy]

I thought it was too hard to use so I deleted it.

[michelkenny]

You have to deal with all the fun things that come with linux, such as messing with configuration files, drivers for your capture card (you may even have to compile yourself), more configuration files, weird problems with no error messages, etc. And one small change down the road can bring your linux install down to a halt, vs. with Windows at least you can set it up from scratch in no time.

[dagar]

At the time (over 2 years ago), Freevo was nice and compact (ok, very limited ) and I ran Freevix (now dead from what I can see) on my Epia M10k.

[zz5]

I tried out MythTV a year ago. I wouldn't really mind all the work that goes into getting MythTV to work. The problem I have with it is that you had to use Alpha drivers for the Hauppauge cards. Even if you get it all figured out, it still might not work unless you get just the right hardware.

[aperry]

I could never get the "special" modes from my ATI DVI-Component adapter to work correctly in Linux. Did not want to limit my HD RPTV to S-Video.

[dbfresh23]

MythTV isn't bad if you know linux well enough. It's actually got me thinking of going back to it now that it is mostly running on the Roku Photobridge and supports PIP.

[dagar]

ATI drivers for Linux have been historically half-baked.

[src666]

MythTV is fantastic, if the install goes smoothly and all of your devices (from the motherboard to the drive controller to the capture board) have good, recent drivers available.

Otherwise, it is a nightmare on greased wheels. I spent 2 months early this year trying to get MythTV set up and working, using no less than 4 linux distros (including those that are "pre-packaged" for Myth). I finally gave up, installed Sage one afternoon, and have been (mostly) happy ever since.

As I said above, Myth is great - if everything works. If not, prepare to become a linux guru just to figure out why it isn't working, and plan on becoming a linux god to get it fixed. And don't expect much help from the Myth community. After posting a very polite, thorough request for help with my problem, I was told that the developer is of the mind "I wrote this for me. If it works for you, fine, otherwise you are on your own." I was also told that if I expected help from the community, I had better become a participant - meaning I needed to document something, or contribute code, or become an active beta tester.

If you really want to work with Myth, my advice is to duplicate exactly a known working hardware configuration. If you just want to play around with Myth and learn linux and hack away at things, have a ball.

If you want something that just works, you have to go to Sage, WMC, etc.

[waynedunham]

Well said src666 ! That's pretty much what I found as well.

[dagar]

I found the best place to get any Myth questions answered is by some of the linux guys in the HTPCnews forums Linux section. I saw the same kind of attitude in numerous posts on the Myth use groups (which is unfortunate.)