[clug] Freevo experiences

[Warwick Mitchell]

On Tue, 6 May 2003, Antony Wuth wrote:

> Brad Hards (bhards at bigpond.net.au) wrote:
>
> > I'm looking at setting up a Freevo style config, and wondered if anyone had
> > good/bad experiences with TV input and output cards (especially anything from
> > local suppliers). Also interested if anyone has had success with particular
> > remote control designs.
>
> On TV cards, I have found that just about all the cards I see are based
> on the bt878 chipset (or bt848 if its older) Interestingly the different
> manufactures seem to pick and choose tuners across batches (ie the same
> card comes with different tuners at times) basically I have always
> managed to get a bt878 based card to work. As far as I have found there
> seems to be little difference between them.

I picked up a Winfast2000 (i think that's it) at the computer markets a
few months ago for about $95. It's based on the bt878 and works well. Of
course it supports FM as well.

> For IR I use a (dumb) serial dongle of my own design, it is roughly
> based on a few different designs freely available on the 'net. The
> Software it uses in lirc (http://www.lirc.org/) As a bonus you can get
> the dongle to transmit to control your other devices. I currently have a
> few of the devices being tested & am willing to either send you the
> PCB pattern, sell you a PCB or sell you a complete device should that be
> easier for you.

The winfast comes with a remote control and IR receiver. Works well with
lirc, which works well with mplayer. Not sure if you could use another
universal remote with this IR receiver though if the remote that came with
it wasn't to your likeing.

	Warwick