I have done a fresh install of latest (R5..??) KnoppMyth and all hardware was detected properly and install went without a hitch. Problem is it won't play DVDs and the Myth TV won't detect channels.

The DVD player (mplayer I presume) launches and the DVDROM spins up, but then it just exits abruptly without any indication of a problem. Is this a LAME issue or something to do with playing commercial DVDs?

My TV card is a Askey CPH050 with FM. Linux recognizes and appears to configure it during installation, but MythTV won't detect any channels nothing... I am using US -BCAST (over the air TV - I have no cabel).

Sorry if these are basic problems but I am new to this.

All I am after is a simple to use frontend for watching DVDs and TV no PVR stuff. Is this the way to go? I don't want to use Microsoft stuff.

http://wiki.videolan.org/Frequently_Asked_Questions#I_cannot_read_DVDs.21 You will find posts about it here referring to "pineapple", as there are legal issues in some countries.

Don't know anything about this card, but did you configure it in mythtv-setup? See http://knoppmythwiki.org/index.php?page ... WatchingTV
As you don't have cable, I assume you connected an antenna?

Don't blame you Knoppmyth/MythTV should give you what you are looking for.