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1. First things first.

1.1 What is MythTV?

MythTV is a GPL licensed suite of programs that allow you to build the mythical home media convergence box on your own using Open Source software and operating systems.

MythTV has a number of capabilities. The television portion allows you to do the following:

Other modules in MythTV include:

1.2 QuickStart

Custom mini-distributions are available to make it easier to install MythTV. A mini-distribution removes many of the "general purpose" workstation / server software packages that may be installed by default if you use one of the big-name OS packages.

See http://mysettopbox.tv if you'd like to install a custom version of Knoppix optimized for MythTV.

See http://linpvr.org/ if you'd like to install MythTV onto a VIA Epia M machine.

See http://bit.blkbk.com/ if you'd like to install MythTV on a Xbox.

See http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/ for instructions tailored to RedHat's Fedora Core distribution.

1.3 Upgrading from previous versions

The upgrade from previous versions should be transparent. Any changes to the database structure should be applied automatically.

It is strongly recommended that you back up your database before installing a new version of MythTV.

See Saving or Restoring the database for instructions.

1.4 How to obtain this document

This HOWTO document is maintained at the primary MythTV website: http://www.mythtv.org by Robert Kulagowski mailto:rkulagow@rocketmail.com.

NOTE: Please note that I am NOT the author/programmer of the MythTV application! I can not give you personalized installation support. If you are having issues installing MythTV you should examine the archives, or post your question to the MythTV-users mailing list.

This document is available as a single-page HTML document at http://www.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO-singlehtml.html or as a PDF at http://www.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO.pdf.

This HOWTO is for MythTV v0.18.1

1.5 Document conventions

The following conventions are used throughout this document.
boldface - used for program names.
typewriter - used for program paths.
emphasis - Pay attention here.

Pay more attention.

Ignore at your own peril.

1.6 Mailing lists / getting help

It's recommended that you join the user list at http://www.mythtv.org/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users. The developer list is at http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-dev. Please keep the developer list strictly for development-related issues.

Searchable archives for the lists are available at http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/.

1.7 IRC

There are two IRC channels dedicated to MythTV which can be found on irc.freenode.net

The mythtv channel is where the developers discuss code. It is not a user-support channel. Please don't ask non-development related questions there.

Really. Even if there's no one in the mythtv-users IRC group or everyone seems to be ignoring you.

1.8 Bugzilla

If you feel you need to contribute to a bug database, use the MythTV Bugzilla at http://www.mythtv.org/bugs/.

1.9 Contributing to this document

Contributions to the HOWTO are welcome, especially if you find a grammatical or spelling error, or if the wording of something is just plain confusing.

If you'd like to make a new contribution, feel free to email it to me mailto:rkulagow@rocketmail.com, but as the maintainer I retain the right to edit or choose not to use your submission.

If you would like to submit an update or contribution, please send it as either SGML or as plain text. NO HTML. The source used to create the HOWTO is in SGML / Linuxdoc. See the Linuxdoc HOWTO at http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Howtos-with-LinuxDoc.html for information on the linuxdoc format itself, or look at the mythtv-HOWTO.sgml file as an example.

Do not be afraid of SGML. A quick look at the source of this HOWTO will show that it is not difficult, so at least try to submit as SGML.

SGML patch files are the easiest. Run a diff -u origfile newfile > doc.patch and mail it to the address above.


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