1. 1 An Introduction to Recording Broadcast Television With MythTV Jerry Moody jamoody@us.ibm.com

2. 2 Agenda Functions Functions Architecture Architecture Features Features Hardware Hardware Installing Installing Best Practices Best Practices Demo Demo

3. 3 My Background Linux hobbiest for 5 years Linux hobbiest for 5 years Backup server Backup server MythTV daily use for 4 years MythTV daily use for 4 years 2 years analog 2 years analog 2 years digital/analog mix 2 years digital/analog mix Nearly all TV viewing is time shifted Nearly all TV viewing is time shifted Currently building 4 th MythTV system Currently building 4 th MythTV system

4. 4 Functions Intended to be a full home digital media center Intended to be a full home digital media center Watch/Record/Play Broadcast TV Watch/Record/Play Broadcast TV OTA/Cable/Satellite OTA/Cable/Satellite Analog/Digital Analog/Digital Rip/Play/Burn CDs/DVDs Rip/Play/Burn CDs/DVDs Play internet audio/video streams Play internet audio/video streams Play digital picture screenshows Play digital picture screenshows Download/Play NetFlix Download/Play NetFlix

5. 5 Functions Also has hotel-like features Also has hotel-like features Phone messaging Phone messaging News feeds News feeds Local weather Local weather Simple web browser Simple web browser And security camera monitoring And security camera monitoring

6. 6 Functions The focus of this presentation is The focus of this presentation is Watch/Record/Play Broadcast TV Watch/Record/Play Broadcast TV OTA/Cable/Satellite OTA/Cable/Satellite Analog/Digital (NTSC/ATSC) Analog/Digital (NTSC/ATSC) Emphasis on Digital Emphasis on Digital Provide “works out of the box” information to get you up as fast as possible Provide “works out of the box” information to get you up as fast as possible

7. 7 Architecture Back End Systems Back End Systems Tuners Tuners TV listings database TV listings database Recording scheduler Recording scheduler Recorded shows Recorded shows Front End Systems Front End Systems Graphics card Graphics card Recording viewing Recording viewing On screen interface On screen interface

8. 8 Architecture Backend Master Backend Slave 1 Backend Slave n Frontend 1 Frontend 2 Frontend 3 Frontend n Network

9. 9 Architecture Backend Frontend

10. 10 Features Standard DVR functions Standard DVR functions Rewind/Pause “live” TV Rewind/Pause “live” TV Record/Playback recordings Record/Playback recordings Parental controls Parental controls Extremely customizable Extremely customizable Tuner/Channel/Program priority Tuner/Channel/Program priority Recording quality Recording quality Sometimes too may options to chose from! Sometimes too may options to chose from!

11. 11 Features MySQL Database MySQL Database Customization settings Customization settings Past recordings Past recordings Avoids re-recording shows you've already seen Avoids re-recording shows you've already seen Current recordings Current recordings Index to easily find the recording you want Index to easily find the recording you want Future recordings Future recordings Shuffles recordings to get highest priority recordings on the highest quality source Shuffles recordings to get highest priority recordings on the highest quality source

12. 12 Features Program Guide Program Guide Automatically updated via internet Automatically updated via internet “Requires” subscription to Schedules Direct service ($20/year) “Requires” subscription to Schedules Direct service ($20/year) Each tuner can have it's own source or share a source Each tuner can have it's own source or share a source Analog tuners only analog channels Analog tuners only analog channels Digital tuners only clear QAM channels (2-13) Digital tuners only clear QAM channels (2-13) STB firewire “tuners” all encrypted channels STB firewire “tuners” all encrypted channels

13. 13 Features Automatic Commercial Skip Automatic Commercial Skip Various heuristics used to determine where commercials start/end including Various heuristics used to determine where commercials start/end including Presence of network logo Presence of network logo Black screen detection Black screen detection Fast action, screen changes Fast action, screen changes 99% accurate on most programs 99% accurate on most programs Generates a cutlist to remove commercials for archiving Generates a cutlist to remove commercials for archiving

14. 14 Features Automatic Commercial Skip (continued) Automatic Commercial Skip (continued) Can be disabled on recording or playback either globally or program specific Can be disabled on recording or playback either globally or program specific

15. 15 Features Automatic Transcode Automatic Transcode Downgrade quality Downgrade quality High definition to standard definition High definition to standard definition Playback on lower resolution devices such as cell phone or PDA Playback on lower resolution devices such as cell phone or PDA Save space with minimal loss (depending on options) Save space with minimal loss (depending on options) Lossless “transcode” to remove commercials using cutlist Lossless “transcode” to remove commercials using cutlist

16. 16 Hardware Video Capture Video Capture Analog Frame Grabbers Analog Frame Grabbers Uses CPU for MPEG4 encoding Uses CPU for MPEG4 encoding Picture quality is so-so Picture quality is so-so Antiquated - avoid Antiquated - avoid

17. 17 Hardware Video Capture (continued) Video Capture (continued) Analog MPEG2 Encoders Analog MPEG2 Encoders Encoding done on card, uses very little CPU Encoding done on card, uses very little CPU PCI Hauppauge PVR 150/250/350/500 PCI Hauppauge PVR 150/250/350/500 PVR 150/250 contains one tuner/encoder PVR 150/250 contains one tuner/encoder PVR 350 contains one tuner/encoder and one decoder with TV-out (s-video, RCA composite) PVR 350 contains one tuner/encoder and one decoder with TV-out (s-video, RCA composite) PVR 500 contains two tuners/encoders PVR 500 contains two tuners/encoders

18. 18 Hardware Video Capture (continued) Video Capture (continued) Analog MPEG2 Encoders (continued) Analog MPEG2 Encoders (continued) PCI Hauppauge PVE 150/250/350/500 (continued) PCI Hauppauge PVE 150/250/350/500 (continued) No longer manufactured No longer manufactured Available used on eBay for $50-$75 Available used on eBay for $50-$75 Beware of cheaper cards using non-standard PCI brackets Beware of cheaper cards using non-standard PCI brackets

19. 19 Hardware Video Capture (continued) Video Capture (continued) DVB Tuners DVB Tuners Captures clear QAM MPEG2 directly from source Captures clear QAM MPEG2 directly from source No encoding required, uses very little CPU No encoding required, uses very little CPU Can record multiple streams on multiplex using a single tuner Can record multiple streams on multiplex using a single tuner FCC requires “local” channels (generally 2-13) be unencrypted FCC requires “local” channels (generally 2-13) be unencrypted

20. 20 Hardware Video Capture (continued) Video Capture (continued) DVB Tuners - PCI DVB Tuners - PCI pcHDTV HD-5500 pcHDTV HD-5500 One digital (hybrid) tuner One digital (hybrid) tuner Analog not supported by MythTV Analog not supported by MythTV $99 fom pchdtv.com $99 fom pchdtv.com

21. 21 Hardware Video Capture (continued) Video Capture (continued) DVB Tuners – PCIe DVB Tuners – PCIe Hauppauge HVR-1250 Hauppauge HVR-1250 One digital (hybrid) tuner One digital (hybrid) tuner Analog not supported by MythTV Analog not supported by MythTV $50 from newegg.com, amazon.com, et al $50 from newegg.com, amazon.com, et al

22. 22 Hardware Video Capture (continued) Video Capture (continued) DVB Tuners – PCIe (continued) DVB Tuners – PCIe (continued) Hauppauge HVR-2250 Hauppauge HVR-2250 Two digital (hybrid) tuners Two digital (hybrid) tuners Analog not supported by MythTV Analog not supported by MythTV New support in MythTV 0.22 New support in MythTV 0.22 $113 from newegg.com, amazon.com, et al $113 from newegg.com, amazon.com, et al

23. 23 Hardware Video Capture (continued) Video Capture (continued) DVB Tuners – Network DVB Tuners – Network Silicondust HDHomeRun Silicondust HDHomeRun Two digital (only) tuners Two digital (only) tuners Multiplex supported in MythTV 0.22 Multiplex supported in MythTV 0.22 Directly attached via LAN port or switch Directly attached via LAN port or switch HD requires 30 Mbps per stream HD requires 30 Mbps per stream 100 Mbps switch supports 2 streams 100 Mbps switch supports 2 streams $150 from newegg.com, frys.com, et al $150 from newegg.com, frys.com, et al

24. 24 Hardware Video Capture (continued) Video Capture (continued) Firewire (IEEE 1394) Capture Firewire (IEEE 1394) Capture Direct firewire connection to STB Direct firewire connection to STB Multiple STBs can be daisy chained Multiple STBs can be daisy chained Captures digital output of STB Captures digital output of STB STB does decryption, honors 5C protection STB does decryption, honors 5C protection FCC requires cable companies to provide STB with working firewire if requested but aren't required to advertise it FCC requires cable companies to provide STB with working firewire if requested but aren't required to advertise it

25. 25 Hardware Video Capture (continued) Video Capture (continued) Firewire (IEEE 1394) Capture (continued) Firewire (IEEE 1394) Capture (continued) Supported in MythTV 0.21 Supported in MythTV 0.21 Requires latest libiec61883 and libraw1394 Requires latest libiec61883 and libraw1394 $5 for firewire cable plus STB rental ($10/month) $5 for firewire cable plus STB rental ($10/month)

26. 26 Hardware Video Capture (continued) Video Capture (continued) HD Component Capture HD Component Capture Hauppauge HD PVR Hauppauge HD PVR Captures HD analog component output Captures HD analog component output STB does decryption STB does decryption The only way to bypass 5C protection The only way to bypass 5C protection Inputs to MythTV via USB 2.0 Inputs to MythTV via USB 2.0

27. 27 Hardware Video Capture (continued) Video Capture (continued) HD Component Capture (continued) HD Component Capture (continued) Hauppauge HD PVR (continued) Hauppauge HD PVR (continued) Requires IR blaster to change channels on STB Requires IR blaster to change channels on STB Supported in MythTV 0.22 Supported in MythTV 0.22 $200 from newegg.com, tigerdirect.com, et al $200 from newegg.com, tigerdirect.com, et al

28. 28 Hardware Video Display Video Display Analog Analog Any modern graphics card with TV-out will work Any modern graphics card with TV-out will work CPU does decoding CPU does decoding Outputs – component, s-video, composite Outputs – component, s-video, composite PCI Hauppauge PCT 350 PCI Hauppauge PCT 350 Contains on-board hardware decoder with TV- out (s-video, RCA componsite) Contains on-board hardware decoder with TV- out (s-video, RCA componsite)

29. 29 Hardware Video Display (continued) Video Display (continued) Digital Digital GeForce 6200 or better GeForce 6200 or better Avoid XvMC as it can be finicky Avoid XvMC as it can be finicky CPU requirements can be significant CPU requirements can be significant 2.8 GHz P4 or better 2.8 GHz P4 or better Dual processor recommended Dual processor recommended Outputs – HDMI, DVR, firewire Outputs – HDMI, DVR, firewire

30. 30 Hardware Hard Drive Hard Drive IDE, SATA, network IDE, SATA, network Analog – 2G/hr, Digital – 8G/hr Analog – 2G/hr, Digital – 8G/hr Watch capacity, I/O rate Watch capacity, I/O rate Sound Sound Supported via alsa Supported via alsa Stereo Stereo 5.1 Surround 5.1 Surround HDMI requires sound link to video card HDMI requires sound link to video card

31. 31 Hardware Remote Remote Supported via lirc Supported via lirc Extremely customizable Extremely customizable Many hardware options to choose from Many hardware options to choose from Streamzap PC Remote Streamzap PC Remote $30 from amazon.com, frys.com, et al $30 from amazon.com, frys.com, et al

32. 32 Hardware IR Blaster IR Blaster Required to change channels on STB without firewire Required to change channels on STB without firewire One end plugs into DVR (serial, USB) One end plugs into DVR (serial, USB) Infrared emitter gets tapped to STB receiver Infrared emitter gets tapped to STB receiver DVR tuners stay on channel 3; STB does all the tuning DVR tuners stay on channel 3; STB does all the tuning Similar to most VCRs Similar to most VCRs Require one to one STB to tuner card Require one to one STB to tuner card

33. 33 Hardware IR Blaster (continued) IR Blaster (continued) Only a handful of options available Only a handful of options available Command IR II Command IR II Supports 4 STB independently via 1 USB Supports 4 STB independently via 1 USB $125 from commandir.com $125 from commandir.com

34. 34 Hardware Network Network Separate frontend/backend, network attached drive/tuner (eg, HDHomeRun) Separate frontend/backend, network attached drive/tuner (eg, HDHomeRun) 10 Mbps for analog 10 Mbps for analog 100 Mbps for digital 100 Mbps for digital Supports 2 streams Supports 2 streams Programming Guide updates Programming Guide updates Any network (including wireless) Any network (including wireless)

35. 35 Hardware Example Systems Example Systems Analog Analog 800 MHz Pentium 3 processor 800 MHz Pentium 3 processor 256M memory 256M memory (1) PVR350, (2) PVR500 (1) PVR350, (2) PVR500 (2) IDE 500G drives (2) IDE 500G drives Simultaneous 5 recordings and 1 playback Simultaneous 5 recordings and 1 playback 10% CPU 10% CPU

36. 36 Hardware Example Systems Example Systems Digital Digital 3.0 GHz dual core E8400, 3G memory 3.0 GHz dual core E8400, 3G memory (2) HD-5500, (1) HDHomeRun, (1) STB via firewire, 1(1) PVR500 (2) HD-5500, (1) HDHomeRun, (1) STB via firewire, 1(1) PVR500 (6) SATA 1G drives (6) SATA 1G drives Simultaneous 7 HD and 2 analog recordings Simultaneous 7 HD and 2 analog recordings 2% CPU for all recordings 2% CPU for all recordings 40% CPU for one HD playback 40% CPU for one HD playback

37. 37 Installing Source(www.mythtv.org) Source(www.mythtv.org)www.mythtv.org Packages Packages Fedora Fedora Unbuntu Unbuntu Debian Debian OpenSUSE OpenSUSE Mandriva Mandriva Arch Linux Arch Linux

38. 38 Installing Distros Distros Mythbuntu(www.mythbuntu.org) Mythbuntu(www.mythbuntu.org)www.mythbuntu.org Unbuntu 0.10 base Unbuntu 0.10 base For those who like being on the bleeding edge For those who like being on the bleeding edge KnoppMyth(knoppmyth.net) KnoppMyth(knoppmyth.net) Knoppix 6.0 base Knoppix 6.0 base For the Linux geeks who like to tinker For the Linux geeks who like to tinker

39. 39 Installing Distros Distros MythDora(www.mythdora.com) MythDora(www.mythdora.com)www.mythdora.com Fedora 10 base Fedora 10 base Fedora 12 planned for Jan 2010 Fedora 12 planned for Jan 2010 For the “just want it to work” crowd For the “just want it to work” crowd

40. 40 Installing Logs Logs /var/log/dmesghardware messages at boot /var/log/dmesghardware messages at boot /var/log/mythtv/mythbackend.log /var/log/mythtv/mythbackend.log /var/log/mythtv/mythfrontend.log /var/log/mythtv/mythfrontend.log

41. 41 Best Practices Filesystems Filesystems ext3 – old standby ext3 – old standby JFS – much better at deleting large files JFS – much better at deleting large files Avoid LVM Avoid LVM Single drive failure results in loss of all recordings Single drive failure results in loss of all recordings No control over I/O performance (drive overload) No control over I/O performance (drive overload) Instead use Storage Groups for multiple drives Instead use Storage Groups for multiple drives Puts each simultaneous recording on a different drive to distribute I/O Puts each simultaneous recording on a different drive to distribute I/O

42. 42 Best Practices Connect UPS for orderly shutdown on power failure Connect UPS for orderly shutdown on power failure Avoid substantial reboot delays by maintaining “clean” filesystems Avoid substantial reboot delays by maintaining “clean” filesystems touch /forcefsck touch /forcefsck Use MythTV defaults unless pressing need to customize Use MythTV defaults unless pressing need to customize Setup minutely checks for backend running Setup minutely checks for backend running Auto restart as needed Auto restart as needed

43. 43 Best Practices Database is critical component Database is critical component Backup nightly and before any customization change Backup nightly and before any customization change Optimize nightly for improved performance and to correct any errors Optimize nightly for improved performance and to correct any errors Have multiple database backups on different drives Have multiple database backups on different drives Keep a log of all customization changes to identify cause/effect days/weeks after change Keep a log of all customization changes to identify cause/effect days/weeks after change Backup/restore recording history (only) on migration Backup/restore recording history (only) on migration

44. 44 Best Practices If continuous operation is a priority (utility mode) If continuous operation is a priority (utility mode) Avoid system updates/changes Avoid system updates/changes Limit system use to MythTV only Limit system use to MythTV only Eliminate single points of failure Eliminate single points of failure Run multiple separate frontends/backends Run multiple separate frontends/backends Backup archive recordings Backup archive recordings Redundant MythTV systems Redundant MythTV systems Digital for normal day to day operation Digital for normal day to day operation Analog for “critical” backup recordings Analog for “critical” backup recordings

45. 45 Documentation Good overview and general help Good overview and general help www.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO.html#toc www.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO.html#tocwww.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO.html#toc www.linuxis.us/linux/media/howto/Linux-htpc/ www.linuxis.us/linux/media/howto/Linux-htpc/www.linuxis.us/linux/media/howto/ > index.html Multiple Links Multiple Links www.mythtv.org/wiki/External_Links www.mythtv.org/wiki/External_Links

46. 46 Documentation Tuners Tuners www.mythtv.org/wiki/ www.mythtv.org/wiki/www.mythtv.org/wiki/ > Tuner_Card#Cards_that_work Remotes Remotes www.mythtv.org/wiki/Category:Remote_Controls www.mythtv.org/wiki/Category:Remote_Controls FCC requirements for active firewire FCC requirements for active firewire hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/ hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/ > FCC-03-225A1.pdf See pg 50 section 4 See pg 50 section 4