[vdr] Re: Linux - VDR - beginner questions

[Andreas Mair <Andreas.Mair@linogate.com>]

Hi,

> Hi all,
> I am a absolute beginner about Linux and the  VDR.
> The reason why I start my interesting in linux is the VDR Project.
> So after collecting many infos I will start to build my own VDR.
> I will kill my W95 System with PII 233 MHz ( from ALDI ) with onboard
> soundcart.
> OS will buy Linux Suse 8.x. - OK ?
> At first use the IDE - CD-Rom and a SCSI HDD - later integrate a DVD-Rom
> and a bigger IDE-HDD.
> After my training with Linux and the tools I will buy me a DVB-S Card- but
> with one? ( I am confiused aboute FW. Lewel and so on)
>
> So now my few questions.
> is the basic Hardware OK ?

Hardware depends on your needs: for basic VDR it should be ok.
If you want to use the MPlayer patch to play e.g. DivX its far too slow, I 
guess DVD playback needs more CPU power too.

> Is it possible to "play" with the VDR-Packed without a DVB-S Card?
> witch is the preferred dvb-s card with fw-levels

I have a Hauppauge DVB-s rev2.1 (works ok) and a Siemens DVB-s rev1.3 (works 
ok, if only I could get my SCART RGB out to work). You can get new Siemens 
boards at ebay, you will need them if you want to build a SCART adapter to 
use RGB output instead of the supplied composite output. You'll have to build 
a digital output adapter too if you need it. The Hauppauge board has already 
connectors for digital output but you can't get RGB output from it. It also 
has a remote control that works with current DVB drivers (you will need 
another remote control unit if you want to use all keys supported by VDR).

> How can I check if my System able to nvram weck up by clock. Mainboard have
> lan-wakeup and wackup on ring ( signal on com-port)

Take a look at http://sourceforge.net/projects/nvram-wakeup/
and see if your Motherboard/BIOS is supported.

> Is for the Systemstart a consel a need or is it the possible with the
> TV-set as console ( for the final phase I will integrate the LINUX-VDR in
> my living room)

If everything is running correctly you'll need no monitor. But you'll never 
know: you can do anything remotely (if you have some home network) if your 
VDR box starts network. If it hangs earlier (e.g. BIOS) you'll need some 
keyboard and monitor. Therefore I got a cheap used VGA-TV-adapter that allows 
me to use my TV-set as VDR monitor.

> Thanks in advanced to all for any hits, links, sw-lib
> regards
> Stephan
> stephan_sem@web.de

Regards,
Andreas