Okay, I went with the Chaintech mb in the hardware list, got a refurbished one but it's like brand new [kinda' disappointed with this, as I read of someone's experiences in one the the Tier 1 posts who stated they abandoned the Chaintech to go with the Abit NF7-M].
First question, I have 2 sticks of dual mode memory [512MB] & 1 stick of single mode memory [512MB]; these *seem* to work okay together. Using an AMD Athlon XP+ 2600 with a PVR-350 & PRV-500 [took the 500 out just to try to get the thing going]. Also, I'm using the Antec 'desktop' box, and the way it's laid out, I have to place the HDD as master on IDE1 & the DVD as master on IDE2 [unless I make a cable, or buy a speciality one, there's no way a std cable with make it to both unit]. Will that cause a problem ?
I have Dish Network right now, so what do I hook up to the input of the 350 ?
I thought I could just hook up the composite output of one of the Dish boxes & set my tuner on channel 3 [which is what the box requires the TV to be on].
And the page where the IP addresses are set up; I guess this seems so straightforward to everyone, but what IP do I put there ? I tried the address of my Linksys router & that seemed to work as far as pulling down the stations the first time [just running 1 backend right now].
Aren't there any "instructions for total idiots" anywhere ?
I know this can't be that difficult.
I'm burning my iso's [latest KnoppMythTv] with Nero with another DVD writer; is there the possiblity that all the info isn't getting written to the CD correctlly, as I get a few errors along the way [will have to go a little slower to document them].
I'd be glad to just get things going with the 350 & once I have a little familiarity with the setup, then install the 500 too.
Any and all help appreciated.

if you are using this as a stand alone box both front end and backend Just don't touch the IP settings.

what you described with the sat box will work, however you will need an irblaster to allow mythtv to change the channels on the sat box.

_________________
Have a question search the forum and have a look at the KnoppMythWiki.

Xsecrets

Hi,
From what it sounds like is that you have an account with labs.zap2it.com for your listings. One channel that you may require is channel 3 if you plan to take your sat signals via rf.

In order for me to use the composite input on the pvr-350, I added a channel #1 in the mythtv-setup (freq id = 1) and now if I want something composite I simply "tune in" channel one.. I haven't seen anything better or even an option other than some different unused channel number. Maybe someone has a better method?

Both the rf and the video require set up as two different sources and then you need to assign the tuner0 to the rf source and the composite0 to your video source.

The two ip's should stay at 127.0.0.1 until later when things get fancy. That is the localhost "internal" network.

What version are installing? Latest being R5B7...? I don't know if there is any need for 1 gig of memeroy, I run 256 ~ 384 typical with no issues. Search the forum also for a ton of good to excellent help.

Mike

I've been fooling with this thing half the day and still no luck.
I'm just using the PVR-350 card right now, Nvidia FX5200 video card. I'm bringing the composite in from one of the Dish boxes, and I do need the tuner set on channel 3 right now; don't know what the deal is, the first install I entered the info for the PVR-350 & for video input, composite.
It actually worked the first time as far as seeing channel 3; now I can't get it to see anything !! I'd be jumping up and down if I could just get this thing to play the video on the monitor, but that's not working. The remote actually worked the first time around, but not now. I guess I really need a "MythTV for Dummies" book really bad !
And I'm using the latest distro of Knoppmyth. Possibly a Seagate 400GB PATA HD isn't helping things, but surely that's not a problem.
I'm wondering why I get these error messages at the end of install where it says "could not mount /mnt/hdinstall - trying /dev/hda1 instead"
But shoot, I don't even know where my video out should even be; I have a small TV in here that I could use, running a cable from the Dish box to my composite in on the PVR-350.
This thing is totally driving me nuts ! I can usually get anything to work if I fool with it long enough.
BTW, this is actually for a cable system; one reason I'm attempting to make this PVR, to quit paying Dish 77 bucks a month to lease their equipment & watch 5% of the stations I'm paying for !
Oh well, I guess there's tomorrow....maybe I should just back away from it for the day & get a fresh start & outlook tomorrow or Monday.
PS: I can't believe how hot the heat sink on the 350 gets; I'm putting a cooling fan on that thing without a doubt. I have it in this Antec "desktop" case, and there just isn't enough air circulation IMHO... Same with this silly
Nvidia FX5200 [yeh, I got one of the cheap ones, no fan, just a huge heatsink that you could fry eggs on]. Probably place a fan on it too.
Thanks.

Well, at last, it's working, although the remote ain't. Very small problem right now. Thanks for all the info & help.
BTW, even with the cable system I wanted to go with wireless remotes besides this one IR one that came with the 350.

Hi,
You are vague in your information and it makes it very diffacult to offer assistance.

My 350 and Geforce FX5200 have been running ~2 years as it came out of the box, not saying an extra fan won't be a benifit.

Mike

Probably a tad out of it at this point ! I just deleted the lirc... files & tried the mod [http://mysettopbox.tv/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4609] to get the silver remote to work, it didn't...for some reason when I went to move the lircd_prv150.conf to the /etc directory, it didn't exist. Everything seemed to go okay up to that point.
Slow going, but I'll get there.
Regarding what I'm trying to do is to have a system with a 350 & 500 and be able to record 2 program while watching a third. I have 3 TV's in the home & want to be able to control things from any TV [hence the rf remotes].
PS: Re the heat issue with the cards; engineers are known for getting things to work, and it usually ends there; JMHO, when something in my PC gets that hot, it's gonna' get cooled. I have concerns too because I'm using that small
Antec 'desktop' case, and I'm not sure how well the cooling's going to work period.

Finally up & running after a new install; even the 'dogbone' remote works.
Now to get it to work with a TV. Going is slow but well worth it.
I'll have to search the forum & read the wiki some more in order to accomplish what I'm trying to do [install a PVR-500 & be able to record 2 cable channels while watching live TV, controlled from any TV]. So, I guess that means some wireless remotes.
Thanks for all help & info.