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FAQ

Q: What is the current version?

A: The current stable version is 0.20. At Lug Radio Live we are demoing the development version which will be released as 0.21

Q: When is the next stable release?

A: There is no set release date for MythTV stable builds. They are released when they are considered ready to be released. v0.21 is now under development and will likely be ready later this year.

Q: How much disk space do I need?

A: The short answer is as much as you can afford. If, however, you're not made of money, here are a few guidelines:

 * Video recorded via a PVR x50 typically comes in at 2GB/Hour
 * Standard Def DVB will typically be 1.2-2GB/Hour
 * High Def video will be somewhere between 3.5GB and 7GB/hour

Q: Does MythTV run on Mac OS X?

A: Yes, but most recording devices will only work under Linux, so by default only the frontend is compiled. 

Q: Does MythTV run on Windows?

A: The short answer is not really, although some work has been done to allow MythTV to run under cygwin. If you want to watch Mythtv recordings on Windows there are various third party programs which will connect to a MythTV backend.

Q: Which Linux distribution should I use?

A: If you are already comfortable with Linux then it's probably best sticking to the distribution you know best. If, however you're a Linux novice then the best bet is to go with one of the following three options:

   1. KnoppMyth. This is a version of Knoppix bundled with all of the stuff needed to get Myth up and running.
   2. MythDora. This is a custom based version of Fedora that will install MythTV for you. Everything that you need is right on the disk along with some extras.
3. Ubuntu The latest releases of Ubuntu feature full support for MythTV.

Q: Can MythTV record from Freeview, Cable and Satellite?

A: In the UK, depending on the hardware you have installed MythTV can record Terrestrial Analogue and Digital (DVB-T).

Mythtv is able to directly record Digital Satellite (Sky) and Cable (Virgin) but encryption and customer T&Cs here in the UK prevent those being a valid option. To record from Cable or Satellite you can connect your Set-Top Box to a capture card and use an IR blaster to change channels. 

Q: Can MythTV record and play High-Definition TV?

A: In the UK, No. Mythtv can record HDTV from Digital sources and with a powerful enough CPU it can even play it. However in the UK there are no Free-To-Air HDTV sources. Capture cards connected to a Set-top Box cannot record at such high resolutions.

Q: What hardware do I need?

A:
 * CPU: 500Mhz (Backend) 1Ghz (Frontend)
 * RAM: 512Mb
 * HDD: See "How much disk space do I need?" above.
 * Graphics: Nvidia GF4 or above is recommended.