Running KDE Neon on HTPC since June'ish 2016 with a semi-functional KODI/tvheadend for on-the-air TV. Just did a fresh load of KDE Neon 5.12.1 yesterday and thought I'd try MythTV. The MythTV install worked but was a bit difficult, so I'm trying to recall the load history. On the Alaskana Linux experience scale I'm more Cheechako than Sourdough, so would appreciate suggestions to improve mistakes in memory, or typos, or to improve the process to make this install easier next time.

Thank, Kurt

Advice seems to be to not to use Wayland yet, so installed Nvidia drivers.

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$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo ubuntu-drivers devices
$ sudo apt-get install nvidia-384
## problems - "Unable to fetch some archives" error
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install --fix-missing
$ sudo apt autoremove
## try again
$ sudo apt-get install nvidia-384


Ran the Nvidia config to create xorg.conf. Since this HTPC uses a 1080p TV the new drivers send all the fonts to a very very small size. Adding the "dpi" option to xorg.conf fixes this problem. Used "xrandr --dpi 96" in terminal to temporarily make the GUI readable again.

## Where to add "dpi" option in xorg.conf to stop small fonts
Section "Monitor"
# HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
Identifier "Monitor0"
Option "DPI" "96x96"

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$ sudo nvidia-xconfig
$ cd /etc/X11
$ sudo cp xorg.conf xorg.conf.bck
$ sudo nano xorg.conf
$ sudo reboot


Download firmware for Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2200 capture card, install, restart, and look for "Phiips Semiconductors SAA7164" to show up in pci list.

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$ cd ~/Downloads
$ sudo cp NXP7164-2010-03-10.1.fw /lib/firmware
$ sudo reboot
$ lspci | grep -i Philips


Check current Ubuntu version of MythTV (.28), add repository for version .29, and install MythTV. Selected "No" for run MythTV on other computers to keep things simpler.

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$ apt-cache policy mythtv
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mythbuntu/0.29
$ sudo apt-get update
$ apt-cache policy mythtv
$ sudo apt-get install mythtv


Ran mythtv-setup and error message said "sudo" required to update groups. Restarted session.

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$ sudo mythtv-setup
$ kill -9 -1


MythTV and current user groups didn't seem to update correctly, so checked groups and memberships. Note "video" is required member of mythtv group for tuner card to work.

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$ getent group
$ groups
$ groups mythtv


Didn't bother to check who should be member of which group, so added both.

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$ sudo usermod -a -G mythtv theatre
$ sudo usermod -a -G theatre mythtv
$ kill -9 -1


Ran mythtv-setup but database password was wrong, so harvested password from mythtv config file. Updated password and exited without running mythbackend or mythdatabasefill. Note: menus use <ESC> and save sequence.

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$ sudo less /etc/mythtv/config.xml
$ mythtv-setup


Moved mythtv storage files from root partition (40GB) to /home partition 400GB) where there is more room for recordings.

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$ cd ~
$ mkdir mythtv
$ sudo chmod -R 775 /home/theatre/mythtv
$ cd /var/lib/mythtv
$ ls
$ sudo mv */ /home/theatre/mythtv/
$ cd /home/theatre/mythtv
$ sudo chown -R mythtv:mythtv /home/theatre/mythtv
$ ls


Ran mtyhtv-setup to configure card, eit, scan channels, setup storage subdirectories, etc... Ran mythbackend and mythfrontend in seperate terminals to look for error messages. Terminal output seemed to look ok and live TV worked.

Terminal 1

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$ mythbackend


Terminal 2

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$ mythfrontend
## exit frontend GUI, then
$ killall mythbackend


Setup backend service to start at bootup, tested frontend again, and rebooted.

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$ update-rc.d mythtv-backend defaults
$ mythfrontend
$ sudo reboot


After reboot started frontend and found error messages like "all tuners are currently busy". Forced systemd to check status of service after 15 seconds. Allows tuner firmware time to load???

## add this as third line of [service] section in mythtv-backend.service.
ExecStartPre=/bin/sleep 15

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$ cd /lib/systemd/system
$ sudo nano mythtv-backend.service


After reboot created frontend link on taskbar. Set some config options for Nvidia card in frontend GUI.

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$ aplay -l | grep -i NVidia


Used trial & error to see which Nvidia audio option worked.

Audio - Setup>Audio>Audio Output = ALSA:hw:CARD=Nvidia,DEV 7
Video - Setup>Video>Playback>Current Video Playback Profile = VDPAU High Quality

Many more options such as commercial skip to examine.