I want to use either Freevo or MythTV to be able to have a Tivo-like clone. I get different television channels from cable and on my antennae (for local broadcasting).

I am new to this and still trying to learn the terms, so talk to me like an ape--because I am--so that I know the terms.

A few questions:

1) What is the cheapest video capture card or USB-connected device (assuming that's the right term) on ebay/elsewhere you recommend to be able to keep cables connected to my card such that I can set up scheduled recordings that either come in from cable or the antennae? In other words, if I go away on vacation, I'd like to be able to have scheduled recordings--some that come in on cable and some that come in on the antennae.

2) I would you use coax to connect the cable to an input on the device, correct? Or is there a better way?

3) If the card I choose has a "composite" input:
a) this is synonymous red/yellow/white combo cables, correct?
b) I should be able to pipe in VCR input here, correct? (My thinking is that I might be able to backup old VHS tapes by playing them into this input. Tell me if I'm off here.)
c) I should be able to pipe in what I take off of an antennae (for local broadcasting), correct?

4) What about getting the video back out to a TV? Is this possible? I don't know much about this at all.

Some addition background information: I currently have my Linux box directly connected to my cable modem, and a 200 GB hard drive that's not doing much. I have plenty of slots and USB ports. MPEGs and AVIs and other standard video seems to run fine on my Linux box.

I am open to any ideas you have. Thanks in advance!

I've tried two different digital TV cards here in the Britain and I can't get either of them to work. I wish I lived in the states as then I could use http://www.pchdtv.com/