HTPC - Part 3 - Base O.S. aka Mythbuntu

Been using myhttv for a while now although I have been using Mythdora distro.

I have decided to experiment with Mythbuntu as the base O.S. for the following reasons:

• MythTV installed along with O.S.
• Scaled down O.S. without a lot of bulky apps
• Lot's of support forums
• Like MythWeb interface...See potential
• MythTV is FREE!!
• MythTV is a TV caputre component I feel needed in any HTPC setup

Install process high level

1. Download Latest Mythbuntu - http://www.mythbuntu.org/downloads
2. Decided to use 32bit version. ead a few posts that had issues with 64bit
3. Installed using ALL default(although I added MythNetvision later so you may add now. Kinda kewl app)
4. Setup Static IP
5. Setup Mythbuntu with the following ref. http://www.mythbuntu.org/wiki/mythbackend-setup
6. Note: Carputer card setup was tricky. Capture card section refers to a very common error when using Houppouge cards. I t suggests using "MPEG-2 Encoder Card " but the latest version has the right card listed as "IVTV MPEG-2 encoder card"
7. Most setting are default but I did input Static IP settings in the General section in case I add ontoher frontend later.
8. MythNetvision kewl. I used the following to setup - http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/MythNetvision

HTPC - Part 2 - The Hardware

Hardware

Intel Pentium 4 641 Processor (3.20-GHz, 2-MB L2 cache, 800-MHz FSB)
Memory - 1 GB
Video Card: omboard shared memory
Capture card: Hauppauge WinTV PVR2 USB
80 GB hard drive - More to be added later (Will blog on the process)

HTPC - Part 1 - Idea

OK...Taking a little different tack....

Build an HTPC from scratch. (Kinda)
Here the plan:

1. Install Mythbuntu as base O.S. and application. This will allow for capturing live TV and I really like the mythweb interface. (Want to find a way to stream over Web interface but...Later)
2. Install SABNZBD - This will be a base for downloading TV show etc...from newdeamon with connections to newzbin
3. Install SICKBEARD - Inernet PVR for finding latest shows from TVDB.com -> looking up in newzbin -> and send NZB file to SABNZBD
4. Install MiniDLNA server - this will allow media to be shared over home network
5. Install CouchPotato? - Find and download movies
6. Experiment with different frontends (XBOX, Boxee, MythTV frontend, etc...)

Maybe more....