Mailing List Archive

> On my TIVO box I have both composite out and coaxial out. I have the
> composite attached to a TV and the coaxial runs around the house to another
> TV. I'm able to watch the same show on either set or on both sets at the
> same time, which meets my needs. Is it possible to build a Myth box with
> this capability? What hardware and software would I need?

This is a graphics card issue really. You should be able to use a high quality shielded svideo cable out the back of your graphics card and run that to your TVs, but quality will degrade with distance.

However, another option is to use multiple myth boxes. Myth has seperation of front end and backend duties so you can have a second lightweight PC to run your second TV if you wish. (and a network cable between them).

I don't know of any video cards that support RF (coaxial) output directly.
Most have at least S-Video or composite (RCA-plug), and possibly component,
RGB, SCART, or DVI.

Your best bet would be to get an external video distribution box that would
be capable of splitting the signal to multiple destinations (TVs) with
different cabling options. Search the list archives; I'm pretty sure some
products like this have been discussed.

Of course, if you have a little more cash to burn, you could just put
together an inexpensive frontend unit for each TV. You could probably put
together a PC powerful enough to be a frontend for about $200-$400 USD, if
you're not overly concerned about noise, size or power consumption, and
don't require the ability to watch/record more then one LiveTV stream at
once.

-Joe C.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mythtv-users-bounces@snowman.net
> [mailto:mythtv-users-bounces@snowman.net]On Behalf Of Jon Hoyt
> Sent: Friday, April 11, 2003 12:22 PM
> To: MythTV List
> Subject: [mythtv-users] Newbie TV out question
>
>
> On my TIVO box I have both composite out and coaxial out. I have the
> composite attached to a TV and the coaxial runs around the house
> to another
> TV. I'm able to watch the same show on either set or on both sets at the
> same time, which meets my needs. Is it possible to build a Myth box with
> this capability? What hardware and software would I need?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jon

A simple solution I haven't seen mentioned, is to buy an inexpensive RF
Modulator. These have been around for decades and start at about $25 or so.
They take a video/audio input and "modulate it" out as RF (coax). Check
Radio Shack, or local electronics superstores. In fact, here's the Radio
Shack model for $29:


http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CT
LG%5F002%5F004%5F007%5F000&product%5Fid=15%2D1214

See ya,
JC

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jon Hoyt" <jon@efn.org>
To: "MythTV List" <mythtv-users@snowman.net>
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2003 12:22 PM
Subject: [mythtv-users] Newbie TV out question


> Hello,
>
> I just recently came across Myth while searching for an alternative to my
> TIVO box. Despite the fact that I have no Linux experience (or computer
> building experience for that matter), I have been bitten by the Myth bug
and
> am planning to build a dedicated box once I've read enough and gained some
> understanding. So, this is probably the first of many questions and I
thank
> you in advance for your patience.
>
> On my TIVO box I have both composite out and coaxial out. I have the
> composite attached to a TV and the coaxial runs around the house to
another
> TV. I'm able to watch the same show on either set or on both sets at the
> same time, which meets my needs. Is it possible to build a Myth box with
> this capability? What hardware and software would I need?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jon
> ``````````````````
>
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users@snowman.net
> http://lists.snowman.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>
>

> Most have at least S-Video or composite (RCA-plug), and possibly component,
> RGB, SCART, or DVI.

Please let me know if you find one with RGB output. I don't believe such a card exists, but I will grab one like a shot if someone finds one!