I have read many post about hardware. As a linix virgin can anyone recommend the best (most compatible) hardware for a backend system that will be configured with a PIII 500Mzh, two tuner cards connected to two DirecTV receivers and a 300G harddrive?

well if it's a true backend (doesn't need a remote) then you can use the pvr500 two tuners one card.

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Xsecrets

As I understand, there are two main benefits from PVR's 1 - recording programs for future viewing and 2 - controlling live TV (pause and Rewind) After evaluating these two options I have determined my objective. Does anyone have any recommendations as to how I should set this up?

1 - Control live TV on all four TVs (with DirecTV receiver) in the house.
2 - Record programming from all four TV's in the house, to be stored / saved on the backend.
3 - Watch and Control recorded video stored on the backend, from any of the four TVs in the house.
4 - Do all the above with a remote control in each of the four TV areas listed above.

I think I am getting hung up on not understanding the function/purpose of the frontend. Does the frontend allow you to stream A/V from the backend and control the playback or does it simply allow you to stream from the backend?

the frontend is what you see in the screenshots. it does everything you see, if you have a seperate backend it is more or less a place to hold the media and control the tuners (somewhat at the request of the frontend/s)

_________________
Have a question search the forum and have a look at the KnoppMythWiki.

Xsecrets

If you mean you want all 4 TVs to display the same thing all the time, then you'll need one computer with at least one tuner and some type of RF remote. I don't have much RF remote experience but this would work: http://www.weaknees.com/rf_remote_details.php in conjunction with a hauppauge remote.

If you want each TV to be independant you'll need 4 computers (3 frontends that connect to the backend and one that is a frontend and a backend). You'll also need to run ethernet cable between all 4 boxes with a switch (most broadband routers use a switch) because streaming mpeg2 video to more than one box is going to be too much for wireless, plus wireless tends to drop out more often. You need constant, consistant connection. With 3 othe frontends running you should also seriously consider using a gigabit line from you backend to the switch so you should probably get a gigabit switch rather than using a 10/100 router/switch.

I you go with option A you'll save a boatload of money. On the other hand pretty much any PC with TV-out will work will work in option B for your frontends.

So if I want option B, then each of the frontends only need the following:
A frontend installation of KnoppMyth, a video out card and a remote control system like IR Blaster?

To understand more clearly, does the frontend installation allow for control of live tv and also allow control of media accessed from the backend?

Then to record a program to the backend from any room with a frontend, would I simply use the IR blaster to control the backend or does the frontend install allow me to control the backend that includes the tuner cards?

Each frontend will have complete access to the back end. Including: watching live TV, watching recorded TV, watching media (AVIs, mp3s, jpgs), programing the backend to record in the future. There is no function of MythTV that you will lose by having a separate front/backend.

Just make sure that your masterbackend is powerful enough to handle the task. In theory it could be required to stream four different recorded shows while recording two new ones. All at the same time. This will require a robust network like Thermopyle already said. Also you will need a fast harddrive. To support the multiple transfers.

I'm not sure which tuners would be better. At first I thought hauppauge tuners would help because they do the encoding with out taxing the CPU. But they only use MPEG-2 which requires a faster transfer rate (taxing your harddrive and network throughput). If you got a powerful enough CPU I think the best would be to record straight to MPEG-4. This will significantly reduce the hardrive and network access your backend will be exposed to.