[vdr] Hardware project: MPEG2 decoder with ethernet adapter

[Tobias Haustein <haustein@aixmail.de>]

Hi folks,

I've been at a party with some techies last night and would like to discuss
the outcome here ;-)

A friend of mine showed me his prototype of an ethernet adapter for the C64
(well, there were crazy people on that party ;-). Over the next hour or so, 
this little piece of hardware developed to an idea for a new project.

We thought of putting an ethernet adapter together with an MPEG2-decoder
chip (e.g. an EM8300 or one of its better successors) into a very small case
that can be directly attached to a standard TV set.

This little device could have the following specs:

 Connectors:
  - 10 MBit/s ethernet connector (10BaseT)
  - stereo audio out connector (2 x cinch)
  - SPDIF digital audio out connector (cinch)
  - FBAS/CVBS video out connector (cinch)
  - S-Video video out connector (mini-DIN)
  - probably RBG video out connector
  - extension bus

 Features:
  - built-in infrared receiver
  - MPEG2 video decoder
  - probably MPEG4 video decoder
  - IP-based network interface with DHCP autoconfiguration
  - firmware upload through network interface

Using this device with an appropriate VDR plugin, one could easily hide the
VDR server somewhere (e.g. on the roof) and wouldn't need to build a full
featured but silent PC that can be placed in the living room or even worse
in the bedroom.

The extension bus could be used to connect infrared transmitters, an LCD
display or other stuff.

I'm not sure whether there is already such a device on the market and how
much it should cost. Anyway i'd like to learn what you think about such a
device!

Additionally, I'd be happy to hear about other MPEG2 decoder chips than
these from sigma designs, as well as any experiences with such chips
(hardware design, software and driver issues, support from the manufacturer,
pricing at low volumes (e.g. 500 pieces for the first charge)).

Ciao,

Tobias

-- 
Tobias Haustein

E-Mail tobias.haustein@aixmail.de


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