building a linux-based, roll-your-own TIVO-style system

[Trevor Smithson]

Hi

Was wondering if anyone here has built their own, PC-based, TIVO-style
box. I'm thinking of trying to use an old HP system of mine as the
base system...it's an old slimline "corporate" model, so it would fit
in with my A/V system.

The problem is that oldness...the processor is only 450Mhz. But, if I
get a TV tuner card that can do onboard encoding, I don't think that
will be a problem. The system already has ~160MB of memory,
that should be more than enough. It has a 20GB hard drive, I'll have
to either replace that or add another drive...I want the total drive
space to be at least 200GB, considering how cheap drives are these
days. That big a hard drive could be a problem as well, it may
(probably?) conflict with the BIOS.

I am not going to put a DVD player or writer in the system, as I want
to keep costs down and already have those components elsewhere.
I would also like to be able to play MP3s, but since I do not want to
have a keyboard or mouse with this system, only if it can be done
without a mouse/KB.

And I would much prefer to use linux to keep the price down...if I
can use that HP system, I'm hoping the only costs I would have would
be the hard drive, for about $50 after rebate, and a hardware-based
TV tuner card, for about $50 to $75 I think.

If I have to buy a new processor/motherboard/case, I think I would
be better off buying a stripper Dell model and going from that.

Ideas or comments would be appreciated.

 

[philo]

Hi

Was wondering if anyone here has built their own, PC-based, TIVO-style
box. I'm thinking of trying to use an old HP system of mine as the
base system...it's an old slimline "corporate" model, so it would fit
in with my A/V system.

The problem is that oldness...the processor is only 450Mhz. But, if I
get a TV tuner card that can do onboard encoding, I don't think that
will be a problem. The system already has ~160MB of memory,
that should be more than enough. It has a 20GB hard drive, I'll have
to either replace that or add another drive...I want the total drive
space to be at least 200GB, considering how cheap drives are these
days. That big a hard drive could be a problem as well, it may
(probably?) conflict with the BIOS.

<snip>

the (older) 450mhz machine's bios probably will not recognize the 200gig
drive.

but to avoid buying another machine...you can simply get a pci controller
card...

linux should support most of them out there...

also...if you have a smaller HD that the bios recognizes...
you could load linux onto it...as once linux is installed...
it will be able to "see" the 200 gig drive...even if your bios
does not

 

[Will Dormann]

Hi

Was wondering if anyone here has built their own, PC-based, TIVO-style
box.

Sure... MythTV.

The problem is that oldness...the processor is only 450Mhz.

Do yourself a favor and get a faster system. With a capture card that
does hardware encoding, the capture aspect would be fine. But unless
you have an nvidia card that supports XvMC acceleration under linux,
you're not going to be able to play back full resolution TV. The
commercial flagging process will be hideously slow, and the UI will
probably be quite sluggish.

 

[T Shadow]

Sure... MythTV.



Do yourself a favor and get a faster system. With a capture card that
does hardware encoding, the capture aspect would be fine. But unless
you have an nvidia card that supports XvMC acceleration under linux,
you're not going to be able to play back full resolution TV. The
commercial flagging process will be hideously slow, and the UI will
probably be quite sluggish.

I have a PIII 450mhz with AIW128pro running W2K. It can do PVR in a LQ
setting even though it's my internet computer and isn't clean(AV,etc). At
this setting CPU is <80%. Unless Linux is a problem and I already had the
hardware and time I'd try it since I enjoy that kind of thing. If I were
buying new I'd(have) set up for HDTV.
YMMV

 

[JAD]

are you very proficient with Linux?
If not that can be the MOST frustrating thing about what your intending.
Windows with an ATI - ALL IN WONDER vidcard takes the frustration out of the
'tivo' scenario.
The software ATI provides, does just about everything for you.

 

[Trevor Smithson]

Moderately proficient--I've run linux for 5-6 years now on a second
system, but I'm still no linux sysadmin.

 

[Trevor Smithson]

<snip>

the (older) 450mhz machine's bios probably will not recognize the 200gig
drive.

but to avoid buying another machine...you can simply get a pci controller
card...

linux should support most of them out there...

also...if you have a smaller HD that the bios recognizes...
you could load linux onto it...as once linux is installed...
it will be able to "see" the 200 gig drive...even if your bios
does not

Yes, the 450Mhz system has a 20GB hard drive installed and working
properly. I was hoping that if I put another driver on that IDE
chain, linux would recognize it.