Master Will

More MythTV

2006-12-12T21:56:17Z

MythTV rocks !! It would be hard to go back to just watching TV without being about to pause or rewind, or better yet - only watching programs that I want to watch (commercial free).

Of course, everything is not perfect: there are still niggling problems like plugins that freeze the GUI while they are searching the drive or fetching data from the internet (eg. MythWeather).

Now that we have switched to using the MythTV box for everything (TV, DVD, Videos, Music) my poor XBox hasn't been touched. I might have to actually buy a game to play on it. The upside is that we need only one remote control - simple.

Technical details are on my MythTV Page

Bruised and Sore

2006-05-16T00:51:36Z

Last night's fighter training was the best that we have had for quite a while. I attribute it to the adrenaline and enthusiasm remaining from May Crown. We had a visiting fighter, Nathen Blacktower, who I believe is from Aneala (Perth). My body is bruised and I have aggravated my wrist again. There is even a localised bruise on the back of my shield arm, I have no idea how that could have happened.

Armoured fighters (7):

Billy
Gwynfor
Sui
Nathen
Will
Everard
Bad Adam

Sui and I have been video taping the training sessions so that we can analyse the form of ourselves and the other fighters. I will see if I can get some DVD's made to hand around so that we can all improve.

After serving as Reeve for several years, and then seneschal for more than 3 years, I have finally handed over the office to Everard. It is very rewarding to see the group grow to the point that I am comfortable to step back and let others take over. This is the first time in Arrowsreach history that there are no Saarlanders as office bearers.

Onward and upward !!

Back In Australia

2006-02-08T11:27:43Z

Just arrived back from Canterbury Faire in New Zealand. Still haven't unpacked, too tired, must read my email first.

The Southern Guard folks know how to put on a great event. It felt like a small kingdom event in Atlantia with all the activities close by, the teenages hanging out in a little group, and everybody saying 'm'lord' to each other as they pass by.

Summer Hollidays

2005-12-28T00:26:07Z

Christmas should be a time of peace and relaxation with the family. Why do people have to get stressed and annoyed with one another... Oh well, it will be over soon, and life will continue on as normal. Perhaps I can create a better environment for next years gathering.

My wife wants to make a 12 Century bed for festival, but she doesn't want a rope bed. It's great when she comes up with the idea, does a quick bit of research on the net, and then expects me to just build it. Of course, she has done all the hard work...

Finding time for SCA coding

2005-09-13T06:04:02Z

Time seems to flash by these days. It's been hard trying find the right balance between SCA, coding, mythtv, Linux user groups, and my wife. So far I have managed to squeeze it all in, and still find to write here.

Our little Shire is picking up pace after moving to a larger hall. The attendance is growing, and we have been having some associated growing pains. From my prospective it is now a matter of keeping the momentum building, smoothing out the personality differences, and delegating as much as possible.

Most people don't know, but I have a secret team designing and building a new online marshal's database for Lochac. The hardest part is getting people together at the same place at the same time. We're getting there.

The MythTV box is cruising along. I've been looking a the TV commercial skipping features, and EPG updating from the Digital TV stream. Next is building a remote control receiver that can learn a remote control buttons of existing remotes - no need to have another remote control cluttering up the coffee table.

Linux Set Top Box - Hardware

2005-07-12T09:20:47Z

I'm in the process of building a Linux Set Top Box (PVR) for my brother's family. The current range of Digital Set Top Boxes leave a lot to be desired, and you can't buy a TiVo over here in Australia, well, not unless you ship one over and hack in a PAL modulator.

PC Hardware
$95 ASUS K8V-X motherboard
$102 AMD 754 Sempron 2600+
$65 ASUS 5200 AGP with TV-out
$181 Seagate HDD 8M IDE 250GB
$165 Antec Overture II Case
$50 RAM 512GB Generic
$74 Pioneer 109 Black DVD-WR x16
$190 2x Twinhan Vision DTV capture cards
------
$922
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So far I have discovered that AMD Sempron processors only support "Cool n Quiet" power saving features if they are 754 pin layout and 3000+ speed. If I had found that out before purchasing it, I would have paid the extra $30 for the 3000+.

The Seagate HDD failed within the first few days, with lots of bad sectors everywhere and growing. Got it replaced on the spot at the computer shop.

The Antec case is very quiet, and it's the CPU fan that makes all the noise. I wish I had Cool n Quiet ! I was initially quite shocked at how loud the power supply fan was, until I discovered that unplugging the PS fan speed monitor cable from the motherboard shut it right up. Not sure why. The case is very big, probably too big for most TV cabinets, a tower might have worked just as well. The PS fan blows out the bottom of the case so you can't put it on the carpet.

Next task is to install the software...

400km Weekend

2005-06-16T11:11:05Z

Spent last weekend at the Farm in Yea shooting at rabbits and catching yabbies with the kids. Had my first lesson in fly fishing which I must have another go at - I had better talk to Craig "Ironbeard" about that.

Then it was down to Drouin for Mistress Portia's birthday. I don't think that I was much help to Sui stoking the charcoal fire, but I did get to play Dark Zone again.

My current project is to build a MythTV Set Top Box with dual digital tuners. Last week I visited Mark Williamson to see his setup with dual VisionPlus DVB-T cards. Sweet !!

Day One on LiveJournel

2005-05-29T14:02:53Z

I guess this is it. After lots of prompting by Jade and Sui I have taken the plunge into LJ.

Great, so now you get to see what I do and think on a daily basis. If you follow this journal, you will find a mixture of SCA politics and Linux tinkering.