Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Have some spare hardware knocking about - can I put it to HTPC use?

  • 08-11-2007 4:04pm
    #1
    seamus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭


    As it says, I'm going to be decommissioning my current home server this week and I think the bulk of the hardware can still be put to use. I want to put together a small machine to sit under the TV that only needs a remote, no messing with mouseses or keyboards. The machine can either act as a PVR or for streaming media from the main server - music and video mainly.

    What I'm thinking is that I can get my hands on a relevant linux distro (like Mythbuntu), buy a tuner card, a remote control and its associated hardware, and a nice neat case, bundle it all together and I'm laughing.

    My only concern is the TV. I've only got SCART, RGB-in, or S-video. S-video's not an issue, but I'd like to play the sound through the TV. Is there such a thing as SCART on a video card? {Edit: Turns out that you can get S-Video + Audio to SCART, so that's that one solved}

    If I go ahead with it, I may also put together the steps for it as a guide to be stickied for newbies to the scene.

    Anything I'm missing?


Comments

  • #2
    SouperComputer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,949 ✭✭✭SouperComputer


    All I will say is that if you are using linux, doing away with a keyboard and mouse is MUCH harder than windows. The ircrc files have to be configd for EVERY app you use, including the windoer manager of choice. With windows, its just another HID.

    As you already figured out, SCART isnt a problem. All you need is a SCART adaptor with 1x SVideo and 2x Audo inputs. SCART is directional, so be sure that the adaptor is either the correct direction (into the TV) or that it has a direction switch. Then all you need is a SVideo cable and a 3.5 headphone jack to 2x RCA/Phono lead to connect your soundcard to the audio on the TV.


  • #3
    seamus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    SouperComputer wrote: »
    All I will say is that if you are using linux, doing away with a keyboard and mouse is MUCH harder than windows. The ircrc files have to be configd for EVERY app you use, including the windoer manager of choice. With windows, its just another HID.
    Interesting to know, thanks. XP or Vista MCE may be less of a headache (and easier for the other half to use).
    I've not used either of them though - I'm assuming they can be set up to boot into a menu screen that lets you navigate via the remote, a little like DVDs?


  • #4
    SouperComputer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,949 ✭✭✭SouperComputer


    seamus wrote: »
    Interesting to know, thanks. XP or Vista MCE may be less of a headache (and easier for the other half to use).
    I've not used either of them though - I'm assuming they can be set up to boot into a menu screen that lets you navigate via the remote, a little like DVDs?

    Well you can set you MythFrontend to fire up on login, then configure autologin.

    MythTV is definately a LOT more work than MCE or mediaportal. It took about 2 months of tweaking (read fixing) with MythTV to get near the same WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) as media center. In the end she got fed up with the lack of integration, as did I. The good thing about it is that the scheduling is pretty powerful and its very scaleable. As a standalone DVR its pretty good, unbeatable IMO, but we needed much more than just a DVR, as do most people. I have setup MythTV for people in the past, but ive prettymuch skipped the plugins and had them use the TV portion only


  • #5
    BigEejit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,739 ✭✭✭BigEejit


    seamus wrote: »
    Interesting to know, thanks. XP or Vista MCE may be less of a headache (and easier for the other half to use).
    I've not used either of them though - I'm assuming they can be set up to boot into a menu screen that lets you navigate via the remote, a little like DVDs?
    Yeh I found that every linux htpc requires lots of fiddling ... great if you are well versed in linux, PITA if you are not. MCE2005 works well and can be setup to kick off at startup (as can Vista version) so yes, once you set up you can hide or remove the keyboard/mouse and use remote only.
    Vista version looks a lot slicker, but has higher hardware requirements as well. Saying that, I have it running on a 2.4ghz p4 with 1GB ram and an old Ati 9800pro. Now I dont use that Pc for anything else so ymmv if you want to use it for other stuff as well.


  • #6
    SouperComputer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,949 ✭✭✭SouperComputer


    TBH, I would regard myself as pretty linix proficient. MythTV is just a bear, theres not two wasy about it. I meant to add above that the WAF I achieved after two months with MythTV was matched and bettered with VistaMCE is two hours!!

    That said, my wife is used to MCE since 2004, so I knew I would be an uphill battle getting her to worth with MythTV.


  • Advertisement
Advertisement