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Build Your own "Set-Top" Box
slakdrgn writes "I'm looking into building my own set-top box using Linux. Unfortunately I've only been able to find Windows programs for this, for certian reasons (cost mainly, I like to stay legal ;), I can't go to windows for this. My current setup is a Duron 700 with 512MB ram and a TNT2 w/TV Out, how would you go about building your own set-top box? I've searched all around, would like to build something using a simple UI with a nice remote control. I've tried adapting some car audio programs with no luck." We've dealt with
cases for set-tops, now what about stuff to put into it (hardware) and the code that will run on it (software). For those of you who have done this, what suggestions would you like to give for those who will follow in your footsteps?
MPlayer www.mplayerhq.hu can play pretty much anything if you run on x86 and the version about to be released even plays real media.
I use asfrecorder or asfr+ try this mirror for recording streaming programmes like from www.byutv.org
I believe mplayer will record from tv cards
But... you might want to join openmovie which aims to make a complete media system based on some of the above components
When you have questions like these never underestimate searching freshmeat.net
blog.sam.liddicott.com
Apart from the well-known Tivo, one project for set-top boxes that springs to mind is the "Video Disk Recorder" project - available from the following site:
http://www.cadsoft.de/people/kls/vdr/index.htm
From the "Features" Link:
* Operation entirely via DVB card's On Screen Display and infrared control (LIRC/RCU) or keyboard
* Support for multiple DVB cards (up to four, at least one full featured card with video out required) and "conditional access" (CICAM)
* Channel groups
* EPG display by channel or by time ("What's on now/next")
* Timers: Programming via EPG or manually, priority/lifetime model, single-shot or repeating timers which use EPG subtitle info as recording's title additionally
* Recording storage on disk: Automatically splitting of recording into files (2GB), support for multiple storage directories (may be spread over multiple disks), support for hierarchical storage
* Support for multiple audio tracks and Dolby Digital
* Instant recording
* Playback modes normal, pause, fast forward/backward (multi speed), jump to specific location, jump 60 seconds
* Support for editing recordings (with I-frame accuracy: ~1/2 second)
* Multiple language support
* Support for executing system commands and displaying output on screen
* Network support (SVDRP): Manage timers and recordings via telnet
* Automatic shutdown/wakeup (with certain mainboards)
* Support for automatically executing commands upon recording start/end and editing recordings
* Support for MP3/DVD/(S)VCD/DivX playback and DivX recording via patches
--
Red.
As has been said before, for those who have no objections about using Windows, the best package on the market right now both in terms of hardware and software is the ATI All-in-Wonder 8500 or All-in-Wonder 7500 line of products. It includes an integrated Guide+ functionality not unlike the Guide+ program guide integrated into many newer TV's, it includes an excellent and full-featured remote control that runs on RF and so has no line-of-sight issues, and its Multimedia Center software runs very well and stably atop Windows 2k/XP and provides simple but well-made functionality. The DVD playback performance of its tweaked and hardware-iDCT-accelerated Cinemaster engine is the best I've seen, and that includes my hardware DVD decoder card, the REALmagic Hollywood+. In fact, ATI cards are a favorite in the AVSforum home theatre website in part because of their DVD quality, despite a recent gamma issue which has been fixed.
1 4
Read about it here, compared against other cards:
http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1609&p=
I know the question was about Linux functionality, but for anyone who just wants the best set-top solution he can put together himself, without concern of what OS it runs, the ATI A-i-W 7500 or 8500 is the answer. The A-i-W 7500 is even available at Best Buy for around $179-$199, and includes all the relevant features of the 8500DV, just with the 7500 core and without the integrated Firewire port, and with a conventional tuner instead of a silicon tuner.
It won't help the original questioner, but maybe it will be of use to someone...
Chasing Amy
(We all chase Amy...)
"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws"-Tacitus
2) MPEG2 decoding. The REALmagic Netstream2000TV fits the bill. No fan on the card either.
3) DVD drive. A DVD read/writer would be nice, but pricy, and a combo DVCROM/CDRW drive convenient.
4) Progressive Scan Component Video output. This is standard with the Netstream2000TV. It also handles TV output (probably via svideo and composite outputs). The earlier Netstream2000 only had SVGA (i.e. component) outputs.
5) Dolby Digital and DTS decoding. The Netstream2000TV has an SPDIF output for this.
6) SPDIF and analog two chanel audio to feed the TV would be nice when you don't want to fire up the whole theater system. Motherboard audio should be fine. This causes a bit of a wrinkle since you probably have to select which digital audio input to use on the reciever. Analog audio could go to the TV when you don't want to fire up the whole theatre system.
7) OSD. The Netstream2000TV allows for SVGA overlay, so you could use the motherboard's video. Not the best for games, but adequate for an OSD or browser.
8) 100BaseT Ethernet. Duh!
9) Wireless keyboard and mouse. Duh!
10) TV tuner/video input for PVR functionality. This is actually tough, because now you're adding another PCI card: two is about the max in an STB and you might want a high-fidelity card. Furthermore, with cable, antenna, SD, and satellite inputs, you probably won't find a tuner for all of them. However, the REAMmagic DVR might be the ticket instead of the Netstream2000TV. This encodes and decodes MPEG2 video. You only have SVGA output with this card, though, so you need a TV with component inputs. So, you could couple this with any receiver (VCR as a tuner, satellite receiver) with video output. The issue would be encoding quality (and you'd lose direct MPEG2 recording that you'd have with a DirecTIVO, for example). Dunno if you could capture component video or only composite. So, I wouldn't expect PVR quality to be all that great.
11) IR output. You want to control those outboard components, like VCR, Cable STB, and satellite receiver, right? There should be plenty of hacks to add circuits off of serial and/or parallel ports for this.
Now, I've pushed the Netstream2000TV rather heavily here (I own a Netstream2000, but no REALmagig stock, nor am I employed by them), but damn, it looks like a nice card. The Netstream2000 even came with some Linux software, but the good bits were binary only.
I think the combination of a VIA C3 processor, Netstream2000TV, and combo DVDROM/CDRW drive, would make a kick-ass STB. Add a hard disk if you can stand the noise. About the only thing remaining to worry about would be power supply fan noise.
You could've hired me.