Building a Multi-Channel PVR System?

Dr.Ruud asks: "What would be good ways to build a multichannel VCR? Think of a cluster of 4 PCs, each having 4 TV-cards (with MPEG-hardware on each) and (if necessary) a separate harddisk per TV-card, and maybe a 5th PC that controls the others, holds a DVD-writer and any other necessary hardware. Could it be done in a simpler and cheaper way? See also linuxtv.org, linuxmedialabs.com and of course SouceForge-vcr-projects like Freevo." What would be the best way to go about cutting down the number of machines such a cluster would need? Could this be done by building an all-in-one-wonderbox without it getting really expensive?

Comments

Re:One-channel-first, please?

[Malcontent]

Why do morons get modded up so high?

" Word to developers - what you've done so far is great, but if you want to unseat MSFT, you've gotta make it so that Grandma can install it."

Tivo is not made by Microsoft. Before you go on a rant about how much oss sucks at least get your facts straight.

Your grandma is STUPID. She did not install her tivo, she did not install her windows. If your grandma is so stupid that she can not install windows why should she be allowed to install linux? Do you have any idea how much easier to install linux must be to allow somebody as clueless as your grandma to install it. Can she even turn on the god damned computer and stick in a CD without fucking it up? I don't think so.

"I'd say a (set of, for each supported motherboard-chipset/video-chipset combo) binaries ought to be a design goal, and I might even go so far as to say that distribution as an ISO wouldn't be out of the question."

I am so sorry that I have shackled your hands and feet for so long. Here let me undo those handcuffs so that you can get right on with this project. I know you have the brains to do it and I know you have the time (hell just stop posting here for a week) and it will be no time before you make a nice set of binaries for me to use. Of course you might have to put up with shit from people who complain about how hard it is to use or how ugly it looks but don't pay them any mind they are probably lazy ass idiots.

Finally even after being unshackled and using these OSS products you are still dissatisfied I would urge you to ask the authors for your money back.