[kwlug-disc] Future of [Rogers] PVR (wrt HDMI)? Black boxes? MythBuntu?

[unsolicited]

I'm getting tired of my PVR's - can't get stuff off (directly)[1] from 
my Pioneer; (Windows) http://www.gbpvr.com/ is nice enough, but I'm 
getting tired of the futzing around (it calls api's that provide 
inconsistent controls - e.g. .avi works fine, .iso doesn't)[2] but 
works well with my Hauppauge remote; (windows) VLC gets painful as it 
does not understand the remote.

[1] Yes, I can write a DVD, then suck that DVD into my PC, but that's 
a PITA.
[2] .avi will step backwards 10 seconds, .iso won't. And it has to use 
api's to hold on to the remote - if it called out to another program 
(which won't understand the remote) ...

I can see the advantage of the black box (with HDMI out) that 'just 
works'. e.g. 
http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/index.php?pluginoption=productinfo&item_id=12, 
however: (1) the web pages talk the talk, and they are apparently 
headquartered in California, but discussions with support indicate 
they haven't directly tested their produce on NTSC. Questions on it 
resulted in referrals ... "but you can refer our USA forum moderator". 
[2] There is no HDMI in, no IR emitter to control a cable/satellite 
box, no mention of scheduling such as Schedules Direct ... in short, 
they are a repository and output device only. <sigh>

It would be de rigeur to have HDMI in (& passthru) to record to hard 
disk and play back at my convenience. i.e. a DVR (PVR). But it appears 
no such black box is available, anyone know any?

Looks like I'll have to dig into something like MythBuntu, even though 
there are only so many hours in a day.


Anyone know the state of HDMI in?


I'm anticipating Rogers will stop analogue transmission in the next 
year or two, so you're going to have to have a Rogers Digital Terminal 
box. So the DVR is going to have to have an IR emitter to control the 
Scientific Atlanta box. e.g. (8300HD) 
http://www.cisco.com/web/consumer/support/settop_8300hddvr.html or 
(3100HD) http://www.cisco.com/web/consumer/support/settop_2100_3100.html.


Anyone know the likelihood of Rogers being replaced by the internet 
(live/streaming TV) any time in the near future?


One web page I came across noted any device manufacture that offered 
HDMI in for recording would be buried and driven out of business by 
litigation. [Unless it comes out of China, I suppose. Only receivers / 
passthru or display devices permitted to have HDMI in.] So it's going 
to be home built boxes only.

Any HDMI in cards out there?


MythBuntu experience out there? Good / bad?


John mentioned MythDora not long ago. I'd currently feel better about 
a Debian based distro though.