GBPVR Vs. MythTV

[rob_writer]

I'm sure this question is asked a lot, and I realise that asking this a board dedicated to GBPVR isn't likely to be unbiased, but I thought I'd ask peoples opinions anyway.

I set out to build a MythTV box, first out of my old desktop, and then to be transferred to a nice media centre case with a few new components. One of my TV cards isn't supported by Linux, so I stumbled upon GBPVR, and although the other TV card I own doesn't work with GBPVR, I'm now not sure which way to go.

GBPVR seems easier to set up, and I know my way around Windows a little better than I do Linux, but I intend to set up the box and then leave it alone, so I won't let a little initial hard work put me off.

How do the features compare? What is Windows/GBPVR stability like? How much support does each program have, and how do plugins compare? Anything else I should be aware of?

[McBainUK]

If you do a search for Myth TV you'll find some previous posts on the subject of Myth vs GBPVR (summary is linux is a sod to setup and can have anti-noob forum attitudes GB-PVR on the whole "just works" and has a very good community (this forum).

But, both are free so maybe the best advise is to try both out for a few days and see what you think...

[daphatty]

I agree with McBain. MythTV is suitable for those who are well versed in Linux and/or have some sort of sadistic desire to climb the Linux learning curve. GBPVR is very Noob friendly.

[elite]

What they said

I think a lot of us first tried myth, ran into problems and sometimes unfriendly/unhelpful support (probably because we were newbies to the linux world...)

GBPVR does seem to just work - and the support here from sub and the rest of the community is some of the most helpful and friendliest you'll come across ...

[petewxm]

Have a look here
http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...ght=mythtv

Cheers

Pete

[NI2O]

I have to say that as a "died in the wool" linux user for almost 15 years I find MythTV to be an absolute PITA to use and set up.

Agreed, the newer distro's such as Mythdora and Mythbuntu simplify things an awful lot but it still doesn't compare to GBPVR/XP's ease of install and setup.

I am an absolute windows noob and have managed to build 2 successful systems with MVP remote STB's with very little help from the forums.

Sure, MythTV has some great features that I wish GBPVR had such as video preview of recordings and selection of TV listings packages from Schedules Direct for the different types of capture cards one might have (digital cable and SatTV for example) but on the whole GBPVR has a great interface and pretty much "just works".

My wife pissed and moaned like you would not believe when I canceled our TiVo and replaced it with MythTV. Now that it's gone in favour of GBPVR she's a happy telly addict again.

Good effort Sub!

[zed]

... I wish GBPVR had ... selection of TV listings packages from Schedules Direct for the different types of capture cards one might have (digital cable and SatTV for example) but on the whole GBPVR has a great interface and pretty much "just works".
...

It'll do that. Set up a lineup on SD for your digital channels and another lineup for sat and assign them to the respective capture source. I forget the syntax you need to use but I'm sure it's covered in the wiki or elsewhere in the forum...

And I believe it's 'dyed' in the wool...

73...

[stefan]

And I believe it's 'dyed' in the wool...

Ah, that makes more sense to me. Not being a native English speaker, I don't recognize the saying. Dyed is a bit easier to grasp than died. At least in the context mentioned

[nitrogen_widget]

Mythdora gave me problems.
There just wasn't enough OS for a newbie like me to fix them.

PCLinuxOS mini-me Myth edition. This distro I would take a look at. I'm playing with it now.

It detected just about all of my hardware.
There are shortcuts built in for installing & removing Nvidia or ATI graphics drivers.

It allows you to install & configure your PC how you want then create an image of that PC for re-installing later or even booting up as a live CD based system.

So i'm a big fan of the OS.

As for the Myth part?
Myth's configuration process frustrates me to no end.
You need to use a keyboard or the remote control to navigate the different menu's.

you can't use a mouse because the pointer blinks in & out of existence.

Trying to use Myth without an EPG is literally more work than using an actual EPG. It's easier to create a schedules direct line-up with one channel & downloading it then editing that.

If i just want Myth to allow me to chose one of the 3 inputs on my my card I have to jump through hoops & many confusing menu's just so it won't complain about non-existent channels when I try to run it.

GBPVR's config app is a beutiful thing.
Everything is organized by tabs.
I can use my mouse.
I can skip the EPG itself & just simply create inputs in the channel guide for my card.


All in all the windows / GBPVR combo has been much easier to get up & running for me.

[RichDunc]

I have tried both. I work in the PC Desktop Support industry. I don't profess to being a Linux user. Matter of fact I am just the opposite. Everytime a friend tells me... "this new distro of Linux makes it even easier... Linix is soon to be the mainstream" ... I download it and try it again.... never fails all the work I have to do to get the linux to work properly...

Myth TV I tried. I own a Version of MCE, But I only like it because I can use a media extender on it. I worked with Myth for a while and as stated here the advise given to get Myth to work on those support forums was very much meant for "Linux people" you know the ones who decorate there bedrooms in penguins...

I finally found a program called "media portal" it was free and it kinda did what I wanted it to do... I thought it was what I was looking for .. UNTIL i stumbled upon gbpvr... Now I am here to stay. Great community and I I gotta tell you this product works right out of the box I would suspect in 96% of the installs. I donate to it when ever I get a little extra ebay earnings in my paypal account.