Fire ComcastTV - configure MythTV

Time to proceed with configuring and testing MythTV.  So far MythTV is loaded and installed. The underlying mysql db is working (I think).

On a side note, documentation is classic liniux.  Whatever your question, the answer is out there somewhere.  Sadly, much of what is out there is plainly wrong or dated and no longer relevant leading to much wheel spinning and wasted time.  Additionally, parameter descriptions are sadly lacking and often just plain missing leading to a good deal of guesswork and "leave it alone and hope the default is OK even though I've no idea what it means."


Start with General configuration per section 9.1 in http://www.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO.pdf

• Host Address Backend Setup is OK so make no changes.
• Local Settings are OK so make no changes.
• Miscellaneous Settings seem OK.  No changes.
• EIT Scanner Options OK.  No changes.
• Shutdown/Wakeup Options OK.  No changes.
• Backend Wakeup settings OK.  No changes.
• Backend Control settings OK.  No changes.
• Job Queue (Backend-Specific) settings OK.  No changes.
• Job Queue (Global) settings OK.  No changes.
• Job Queue (Job Commands) settings OK.  No changes.
• UPNP Server Settings OK.  No changes.
• Myth Database Logging settings OK.  No changes.
• Mythfilldatabase settings hopefully OK.  No changes.

Capture cards

• Capture Card Setup
• Define HDHomeRun DTV tuner box.  Use Device ID in Available Devices (arrow keys to select)
• Ditto second HDHomeRun tuner.

Video sources

• I'd previously registered with SchedulesDirect and paid the $20/year fee.
• Configured things per section 9 directions.

Input connections

• Followed directions per section 9 carefully.

Channel Editor

• Per directions wait on this till database if filled.

Storage Directories

• They all seem to be set to /var/lib/mythtv/... depending on content
• For the moment leave alone until the other DK are mounted per section 6 and the relevant section 9 instructions

System events

• Doesn't appear to be anything that needs doing here.  Leave alone.

Continue

• Exit mythtv-setup
• Popup wants to stop backend but it's already stopped.  Say no.
• Popup wants to run mythfilldatabase.  Say yes.
• Much configuration stuff happens.  All appears well.  Looks like it's downloading tv guides alongside other things.
• Somewhat uncertain about properly configuration.  Run mythtv-setup again.  Get very different screen.
• All appears well.  ESC to exit.
• mythfilldatabase runs again
• run mythbackend
• Seems to be running as an application.  Should be setup to run as a boot time daemon. 

Configure mythtv front end

• Section 10 contains documentation
• Applications/Sound & Video/MythTV Frontend
• comes up and seems to be live
• Watch TV to see if HDHomeRun is doing anything.  Get very broken and pixilated image but there is some kind of life.
• Kill VNC and go to actual machine since we're asking Amazon to do MUCH MORE than it's capable of.
• On Amazon TV is playing but there are two 'screens' one stacked above the other.  ESC to stop playing.
• Try configuring weather.  Zip code search doesn't seem to work.  City name search works.  Can find Boston.
• Manage recordings seems to be where recordings happen.
• Program guides seem to work.
• Setup scheduled recording for PBS Newshour.  Take defaults for everything.
• Screen is hard to use with current colors.  Setup Appearance to MythCenter.
• Try to fix stacked Watch TV.  Setup TV General doesn't seem to help.  Leave for now.
• See if MythWeb works.  http://192.168.1.179/mythweb/ takes us there!  Things seem generally to work.
• Try a recording.  There may be some directory issues.  Install windows sharing service so can share mythtv directories.
• All seems well.

Update Sudbury to run mythtv frontend

• Deinstalled all mythtv components on Sudbury
• Load new install of mythtv frontend
• Deleted the mysql database when new mythtv frontend proved incompatible with legacy db on Sudbury
• All is well

Get player working on AsusLaptop driving tv

• Can see share but nothing on the XP will play it.  Perhpas it's a job for transcoder.
• Played around a bit with XBMC which WILL play the file (so codec is installed)
• MythTV for windows here, http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/MythTV_on_Windows
• Points to website here, http://members.iinet.net.au/~davco/, with downloads here, http://members.iinet.net.au/~davco/
• Downloaded a build of MythTV frontend for windows (0.23.1).
• Errors with version issues of backend/frontend
• Determine that my backend is 0.23.0+fixes24158-0ubuntu2
• Uninstall 0.23.1
• Download 0.23-fixes & install & setup & test
• Doesn't run.  Brings up mythtv-setup and immediately aborts.
• Tested HDHomeRun working.  It is.
• Much mucking about.  It looks like I need to install ubuntu 11.04 with the appropriate mythtv or install ubuntu 10.04 on Dell 410.  Better choice is 11.04 since I can't seem to get a  10.04 mythtv for windows.
• Another alternative is to upgrade ASUSLAPTOP to windows 7 and attach 1 TB drive there.
• There is also some chance that WMS was running on a laptop and had the tuner tied up.

To DO

• Check turner tomorrow with WMS down.
• Install ubuntu 11.04 everywhere.  Install mythtv 11.04 as appropriate.
• Dual boot ASUSLAPTOP with ubuntu 11.04 and windows 7.
• Mount 2nd 160 GB drive and fix up place for video storage per section 9 guidelines.
• Clean up and properly configure storage directories in mythtv storage groups
• Setup mythtv backend to run as a daemon at boot time.
• Configure VNC so that I can always get to the machine.
• Setup mythnettv properly
• Finish mythtv-setup now that DB is connected.
• Finish freenas install
• Build new TV PC
• Improve antenna
• Setuup VNC to work without a loged on user