[UbuntuDallas] Video issues

[Juan Collao]

Well, I had read that MythTV is actually a really good program, but I
also read that may people had a hard time installing it. I did notice
that MythTV is part of the Ubuntu Software Center and that was
encouraging because most of those programs work well, but I also noticed
that MythTV had two parts: backend and frontend. So the question
becomes: How do I install both in a way that makes them work well
together? There has to be a reason they don't come together in one
package. What steps should I have to take then to install both parts
successfully?

Also, a previous message provided this suggestion:

If you're running digital, I believe you should be able to cat
/dev/<videodevice>    >   filename.mpg
and then play back that file with most any software.

Yes, I would be running digital, but I'm not sure I understand what this
command would do. Also, what would my videodevice be?

I really would like to thank everyone for your thoughtful comments and
suggestions. The user communities are really the strength of Linux. If I
called Apple or Microsoft for help, I'm sure no one would talk to me
unless they had my credit card on file. I'm sure I will be able to
figure out this TV issue some day, which by the way, would be the last
thing on my list of "must have" applications for my computer. I'm happy
to say that I have been able to get everything else to work great.

Regards,

Juan

-----Original Message-----
From: Marc Randolph <mrand at pobox.com>
To: collao at sbcglobal.net
Cc: ubuntu-us-tx-dallas at lists.ubuntu.com
Subject: Re: [UbuntuDallas] Video issues
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 20:07:25 -0600


On Sat, Feb 6, 2010 at 7:44 PM, Juan Collao <collao at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> Funny how you mentioned that you were not able to Sync your Windows mobile
> device with Linux. I got mine to work with Synce. Their user mailing list is
> very helpful too. If you have Ubuntu and Evolution, it works great. Check it
> out:
>
> http://www.synce.org/moin/
>
> Now as far as MythTV, I read that some people have been able to get the same
> type of TV card to work with it; however, I'm kind of intimidated by the
> installation procedure for MythTV. I'm not that experienced with Linux and I
> have already wasted a ton hours trying to make some things work. Besides, I
> agree that since one of my programs picks up the TV card, somehow Linux can
> detect it, I just need to find out how to point the right device to the
> right program. I had read somewhere that there is a way to configure video
> devices, but I just don't know how. I'm sure that at some point I will get
> it to work. I will be sure to let you all know.

It's true that MythTV can be finicky at times.   Many pieces of
hardware work so well it's hard to believe it's Linux, while other
things can turn into black holes.  I wasn't necessarily recommending
trying MythTV, although with the mythbuntu-media-centre package, is it
quite easy to configure now-a-days (disclaimer: I help out on the
mythbuntu team).

Regardless if you are considering MythTV or not, I would encourage you
to research the analog vs. digital portions of your configuration as I
described in my previous email.

   Marc
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