I am currently a user of SageTV but I am fusturated by their lack of updates, bug fixes, new features, etc. I've been trying to migrate to MythTV but unfortunately my PVR250 is based on the Conextant c8800 chip which does not have stable Linux drivers. So I am shopping for some new hardware.

Question 1: Anyone care to comment on either the WinFast TV2000 (Conexant 878A based) or the WinFast TV2000 Expert (CX2388X based) Are they compatible with KnoppMyth "out of the box"? How is the video quality? How about CPU usage?

Question 2: How well supported are ATI video cards? According to various articles I've read they currently have the best HDTV output (with a DVI-Component adapter)

well actually sticking with your pvr250 is your best option. you may have to upgrade the drivers from the ones that come with the latest version of knoppmyth, but all pvr250's are supported. the two other cards you mentioned are problematic.

As for the ati I have also heard that the dvi component converter is the best hdtv output anywhere, unfortunately it is in no way shape or form supported in linux. You will not even with lots of tinkering be able to get it to work as ATI has not released any documentation for that functionality, nor have the felt compelled to incorporate it into their proprietary linux drivers.

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

Xsecrets

1. WInfast. But you 250 should work. You may just need to update the ivtv drivers.
2. Avoid ATi like the plague
3. Check the forum for various hardware advice.

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cesman

When the source is open, the possibilities are endless!

Thanks for the quick responses.

My PVR250 is the so-called "roslyn" model which is not supported by ivtv. According to the url below there does exist an alpha driver that I will try out. In the meantime, I decided to order a WinTV model 401. Hopefully I'll be able to get both working.

http://ivtv.writeme.ch/tiki-index.php?p ... edHardware


As for the HDTV output, any experiences with the Personal Cinema NVIDIA cards?

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 163&depa=0

the personal cenema cards will only work like any other nvidia card in linux. the tvtuner part doesn't work, and if there is anything special for hdtv (not aware of anything) it won't work either.

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

Xsecrets

Sadly this WinTV 401 card also does not work. It seems to be based on another unsupported Conextant chipset that uses the cx88 driver. It is detected but all I get is green. I think I am giving up on MythTV until there are some better drivers out there.

In the meantime, SnapStream's Beyond TV seems to have most of the features I want.