Mythbox update. After not working on configuration for awhile I set up the web interface which took about 5 minutes. The web interface is great, and easier to use than programming with the remote.

Pictures: [link]

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Next up, configuring automatic starting of everything and finding a time when it isn't recording to reboot and see if everything works.

Does anyone sell preconfigured MythTV boxes?

I think so, (I've thought about doing it myself, but then I think about support and dealing with the upcoming DRM issues and... no) but I don't know who exactly.

I think TiVO or the like is the way to go if you want something that just works out of the box and you don't have to ever screw with. OTOH, if you already have some computer parts sitting around and don't mind doing the configuration, then MythTV is pretty cool.

Would you characterise the MythTV install as hard? How many hours did it take you?

I have a TV question. Flatscreens--LCD or plasma? Brands? Models? Horror stories?

Okay, more than one question, less than one verb.

No, it's not hard to install if you have a good guide and use a package manager to do most of the setup.

It's hard to say how long it took, because I did everything in little bits. But I would estimate about 8 hours starting with the hardware all assembled. That would include getting and installing Fedora Core (or whatever distribution). It will vary quite a bit depending on the speed of your internet connection and hardware.

You can probably do it in 45 minutes with the KnopMyth distribution since it does everything for you.

If you have trickier hardware, it could take a lot longer figuring out drivers and stuff.

I'll file that away as a project for a rainy day.

Thanks!

Here's the Fedora guide I used:

[link]

It's a really good guide.

Gud, the main thing that's always kept me from doing a Myth box is that it lacked the neato TiVo trick of learning what I like and grabbing recommended stuff for me - is that still the case?

I'm pretty sure it doesn't do that.

That was what I thought, but if it did, it might get me off my duff to do some work on the perfectly myth-capable machine I already have... thanks for the info.