New Setup

Col_Loki · 15-05-2007 04:29PM #1

Hey Guys,

Firstly cheers for all the info ive picked up so far, some great info here.

Im just after ordering a 32" Acer LCD TV.... http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Acer_AT3220_32_inch_LCD_TV_EV.M2507.001/version.asp
And was on the Dell Outlet store and Picked up a PC....Im not a fan of dell but theres no way i could have built it cheaper (AMD64 3500+, 1gb DDR, DVD+RW,80GB HD, Small Slim Case C521, etc) for €350 delivered.

I have also ordered one of the MCE remotes after reading there pretty good.

When it comes to the TV/PC/Sat mix i get a little confused on a few points (on their own its a doddle). Ive a couple of questions which im unclear about....

1) I would like to be able to Wirelessly Stream Films/Audio from the main desktop (upstairs), DVD Playback is needed, Recording from TV input / Pausing TV would be nice but not essential. DVD decrypting would be fantastic.
I have been looking at what software to put on, was thinking XP but since there are solutions out there exactly fitted i think thats a waste.
Linux MCE - Looks fantastic & Features sound great, heard its unstable and awkward to install?
MythTV - Sounds like its more about the Pause TV/Record than Divx Playing/Wireless streaming?
Windows MCE - Suppose i could go this road but id prefer linux if possible.

Any recommendations?

2) Im a little confused about the Audio, i would like surround sound and was thinking about getting Surround Sound PC Speakers (or would ones that go into say a TV/DVD player be better).
Problem is getting the sound for the NTL Channels, would it mean i should be taking that input and putting it through the PC? (onto point 3)

3) Video/Audio in, i know i need a TV card for this just not sure how to go about it or what im looking for with NTL. The Dell has small PCI slots so USB might be an option....if not i will put it in somehow (not adverse to modding).

I wouldnt like to go too crazy on TV Card/Speakers (ive already spent over 1k) so if there is an advise that would be well appreciated.
And is HDMI a big difference over VGA?

Thanks.

SouperComputer · 15-05-2007 07:48PM

1. Forget LinuxMCE. Overhyped, unstable and a complete PITA to setup. TBH its makes me angry how much it promises, its really bad for the community IMO.

MythTV will do all that you require. Just keep in mind that wireless networks offer nowhere near their stated bandwidth, so streaming video to 2 or more clients simutaneously is often problematic.

Also from the standpoint of streaming, it can make windows MCE a much less viable option. Its really only designed to be distributed with extenders whereas MythTV you can use almost anything from Hauppage MVP's to apple TV, mini ITX and of course a bog-standard PC.

Am I right in assuming that the PC upstairs will be the backend of the network with the TV tuner card, and NTL digital box connected?

Soundwise, you can use whatever speakers you like. Its a prettu subjective thing. Needless to say the best way to go is to get a set of speakers that have an optical input. You can connect the NTL box either through analog or digital audio. IIRC the box does not support anything more than stereo.

You can get low profile PCI PVR cards, have a look through the last few threads for some linkage. Just be sure to check linux compatibility.

Col_Loki · 15-05-2007 09:16PM

1. Forget LinuxMCE. Overhyped, unstable and a complete PITA to setup. TBH its makes me angry how much it promises, its really bad for the community IMO.

MythTV will do all that you require. Just keep in mind that wireless networks offer nowhere near their stated bandwidth, so streaming video to 2 or more clients simutaneously is often problematic.

Also from the standpoint of streaming, it can make windows MCE a much less viable option. Its really only designed to be distributed with extenders whereas MythTV you can use almost anything from Hauppage MVP's to apple TV, mini ITX and of course a bog-standard PC.

Perfect, i will go with MythTV then.
Yea i know wireless can be pretty bad for multiple accesses, for the min it will only be one computer (by the TV that accesses it) so it should be ok.

Am I right in assuming that the PC upstairs will be the backend of the network with the TV tuner card, and NTL digital box connected?

The one upstairs will have the movies/sound , the one downstairs (attached to the TV) will have the NTL Digital hooked up.

Soundwise, you can use whatever speakers you like. Its a prettu subjective thing. Needless to say the best way to go is to get a set of speakers that have an optical input. You can connect the NTL box either through analog or digital audio. IIRC the box does not support anything more than stereo.

Ahh ok, the penny is starting to drop and things are becoming much clearer.

You can get low profile PCI PVR cards, have a look through the last few threads for some linkage. Just be sure to check linux compatibility.

Lovely will do!!

Ok so it looks like i know where im going now, which is great.

Thanks for the advise & tips, much appreciated.

Colin

Col_Loki · 15-05-2007 10:12PM

Ok im just having a look through the TV Cards now and theres just one thing i need to clarify before i actually buy.

There seems to be a few ways to connect the Video Output Coaxial/Composite/S-Video. The NTL Digital Box has a Coax cable coming out of it....So if i get a card like this one.... http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfull.asp?productcode=MME6510256 , and connect it through Coax, will that give me a Digital Signal (or Analog) and will it allow the PC to use the "teletext like" program guides?

I know i must sound like a total idiot, i have a few adapters so i can go with a Scart Adapter & hook it up through the Component Connections & Audio Jack, but i cant see a low profile card that will take it.

SouperComputer · 16-05-2007 12:38AM

For MythTV id go either the knoppmyth route or use the FC 6 guide here to get it setup. The latest MythDora (FC+MythtV) has been released and reviews are positive, haven't used it myself however.

So basically you will have the PC upstairs serving files through samba\windows filesharing. This will be mapped on the MythTV machine and you will have to setup the appropiate directories for each module such as MythMusic and MythVideo.

My advice, TBH, would be to make the MythTV rig your primary server for all media. Just use SAMBA to create windows shares which you can map to the computer upstairs.

Have a look a couple of threads down for your connection options for NTL digital. IIRC the PVR cards should have SVideo and or composite. Please dont use RF, you will make both myself and baby jesus cry! Your programme guide will be provided by MythTV, rather than the NTL box.

/edit, just looked at the linked card, it has Svideo, so no issues there.

Col_Loki · 16-05-2007 10:16AM

For MythTV id go either the knoppmyth route or use the FC 6 guide here to get it setup. The latest MythDora (FC+MythtV) has been released and reviews are positive, haven't used it myself however.

So basically you will have the PC upstairs serving files through samba\windows filesharing. This will be mapped on the MythTV machine and you will have to setup the appropiate directories for each module such as MythMusic and MythVideo.

Perfect i can manage that!!

My advice, TBH, would be to make the MythTV rig your primary server for all media. Just use SAMBA to create windows shares which you can map to the computer upstairs.

The main rig is in my bedroom where the NTL Broadband connection is, i really like having the main rig there as id prob use it twice as much as the one that will be beside the TV (I wouldnt like a Dell as my main rig).

Have a look a couple of threads down for your connection options for NTL digital. IIRC the PVR cards should have SVideo and or composite. Please dont use RF, you will make both myself and baby jesus cry! Your programme guide will be provided by MythTV, rather than the NTL box.

/edit, just looked at the linked card, it has Svideo, so no issues there.

I had a look at that thread but what im confused about is how to get the signal from the NTL box to the SVideo port on the TV Card.
I thought it didnt have SVideo over Scart (would have been my first way to try), and i dont see any nice SVideo out ports, and there are to Composite ports which i think are for R&L Sound.....that leaves the Coax cable (RF?).

If i got a card with Composite Connections, it would make life alot easier (from the way im looking at it)?

Thanks again for all the help.

subway · 16-05-2007 10:21AM

composite is the easiest - requires no adapters.
the rf ouput on the ntl box is an analog passthrough, so you cant tune in the digital channels that way.

in terms of sound, theres no point connecting the ntl directly to your speakers as you will be watching the time lapse stream on the media centre

SouperComputer · 16-05-2007 12:33PM

Just to clarify, your main rig in the bedroom is either alreay running linux for will be migrated so that you can run MythTV right? Is this where the NTL cable box is too?

Then the Dell in the living room will run as a MythTV frontend, also running linux?

Composite is dead handy. You will just need a 3.5mm jack to 2 RCA adaptor to get the sound into the TV card. You could use digital optical too.

The Svideo is attained by first of all getting a SCART to RGB adaptor\lead. You then pass the RGB signal through an RGB to Svideo converter. Convoluted but will give you the best image quality.

Col_Loki · 16-05-2007 12:56PM

Sorry.... The main rig is Running XP, im hoping to be still able to share the files somehow from XP -> MythTV Wirelessly......(i watch alot on the PC). The NTL Cable Modem is Upstairs, the NTL Digital Box is Downstairs (living room where the TV & HTPC will be).

That makes sense. I ended up going with a Scart -> Svideo & Stereo Output from here.... http://www.svideo.com/scartoutpro1.html
That means i can order the Low Profile Card listed above and i should be sorted out.

Quite a bit to know isint there.........

SouperComputer · 16-05-2007 01:28PM

OK gotya. So, more info for you........

Watching TV (even recorded) via a share wont work so well. MythTV uses its a mySQL database to keep track of the recordings and the names of each file is just a number. So browsing a share will be pointless.

However you can use MythStream and Mythweb on your HTPC along with VLC on your XP computer to watch shows that you want. Basically you open a webpage on the HTPC, select the recording you want to watch and open the stream with VLC. The other issue is that recoredTV is a fairly high bandwidh, so it will swamp your wireless network. You may find browsing the internet through the same wireless AP causes stuttering with the video. You can get MythTV to automatically transcode and compress your TV files, meaning less bandwide useage, this may help.

There are also some Windows frontends.....

http://winmyth.sourceforge.net/
http://sourceforge.net/projects/dsmyth
http://www.sudu.dk/mythtvplayer/
http://tapeworm.spurgeonwoods.com/

Theres a lot to know alright, what makes it extra tricky is that everyones situation and needs are different.

Be sure to keep us posted on how things are going.

I guess you might want to check for any potiental chipset or disc controller issues with the HTPC with linux before you start. Its unlikely there are any, but check anyway!

Col_Loki · 16-05-2007 01:43PM

Would Windows MCE be able to Access Shared Folders on the XP Machine, that might be an option.....ive 1tb of storage on it so its a pretty big thing that i would love to have working.

I will have a deeper look into that as a possibility. Ideally id like to have a NAS setup, but im just over budget at the min......so need to find another way.
Worst comes to worst, i can install XP Pro and use that i suppose.....

Will go in search of more information and keep ye informed.

Cheers, Colin

SouperComputer · 16-05-2007 10:17PM

Col_Loki wrote:

Would Windows MCE be able to Access Shared Folders on the XP Machine, that might be an option.....ive 1tb of storage on it so its a pretty big thing that i would love to have working.

Yup, just map the network drive as usual through windows, then within the MCE interface, add the directory where the files are and it will go through it and add the media to the library. You can also do this through Media Player as the libararies are shared. I think you would prefer the flexibility of MythTV to be honest. If you insist on using Windows, before you shell out for MCE or Vista, dont forget to look into GB-PVR and MediaPortal.

I will have a deeper look into that as a possibility. Ideally id like to have a NAS setup, but im just over budget at the min......so need to find another way.

Why not just have the HTPC act as your NAS? Its going to be turned on all or at least most of the time anyway.

Col_Loki · 16-05-2007 11:01PM

Why not just have the HTPC act as your NAS? Its going to be turned on all or at least most of the time anyway.

It only holds one HD, nice and small case but has its disadvantages.

Yup, just map the network drive as usual through windows, then within the MCE interface, add the directory where the files are and it will go through it and add the media to the library. You can also do this through Media Player as the libararies are shared. I think you would prefer the flexibility of MythTV to be honest. If you insist on using Windows, before you shell out for MCE or Vista, dont forget to look into GB-PVR and MediaPortal.

I just ordered a NAS Case & 400gb HD, that will be 720gb available to the HTPC which will do me perfectly for the mean time (i can add extra things onto it & expand space easily). Will save me shelling out for MCE/Vista and mean MythTV is back on the books.

New Setup

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