Home entertainment setup advice

Keeper said:
No need to switch lan cables.

Cs3xIxs.png
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And if there is only one cable running to the tv, a switch at the tv will work just fine
 
I personally would just run EVERYTHING off the hp though... just hide the HP in a cupboard.

Sell the Apple TV lol... or use it with another TV in some other room you don't use much.
 
Keeper said:
I personally would just run EVERYTHING off the hp though... just hide the HP in a cupboard.

Sell the Apple TV lol... or use it with another TV in some other room you don't use much.
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This would be the logical step for me too.

My second solution would be what you already did (an Android player that runs XMBC).

I wouldn't recommend running Plex on the Microserver, especially when using it with a Roku. The transcoder can use a bit of juice and it won't handle full 1080p transcodes.
 
Yeah, only one cable to the tv. Can you split it out?

Agree, perhaps the answer is hiding the microserver somewhere behind my setup.
 
And add a graphics card and ram. It's not the most efficient solution. Also he is averse to having a "big" pc in the lounge
 
With open elec you don't need to add ram.
 
ElecEng said:
It's not the most efficient solution.
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I disagree. it's elegant and simple.

4DlqgfB.jpg


No LAN lag when watching 38GB 1080p 3D MKV's since data doesn't go over the network at all, there is no streaming, it's straight over HDMI.
He just forked out R9K for the TV, surely he has R400 for a cheapo gfx card.
 
Intel nuc?

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small enough to glue to the back of the tv.

My next setup will be one of those, with a projector mounted to the ceiling.
 
You can use Plexconnect on the Apple TV without jail breaking it.

Bit of a trick to setup but no more complicated than jailbreaking and works really well.
 
Hi guys, thanks for all the input. I'm still waiting for the "Eureka" moment of clarity though... :p

Excuse the questions, but I have a few more -

Scenario 1

I move the HTPC to the living room. Still debating this as visually I would prefer to avoid the relatively large HP Microserver in the setup and, although fairly quiet, it is still audible.

I have the barebones HP MS with couple of HDDs running WHS 2011. I have it nicely setup with iTunes, share folders across home network and auto backups between PC and server and between HDDs on server with Syncback.

1) What would I need to add? Ram and gfx card and some sort of remote control option?

2) Do I install a windows XBMC interface in other words.

3) Can I still use a mini switch to break out the one LAN cable coming form my study router to the HTPC, Apple TV and PS3?

I would prefer to leave the ATV2 as Airplay is great and useful for streaming music to my Mission 5.1 speaker setup in living room via iphone/ipad.

Scenario 2

Leave HP MS in study and either put new HTPC in living room or interface similar to ATV2. The latter seems a challenge, the former the probable solution i.e. run proper XBMC on it.

I currently run automated copy of 2 x 1Tb HDDs for backup purposes, I could then put one in new living room HTPC and keep one in HP MS and keep mirroring them. Would that be possible cross OS e.g. Windows and OpenElec for instance?


PS Nice drawings Keeper! You're wrong about the ATV2 though, was really a fantastic little XBMC interface with minute footprint.

PSS Contemplating the PlexConnect option...but will probably not go this route.

PSSS The Intel NUC seems a bit expensive
 
undesign said:
PS Nice drawings Keeper! You're wrong about the ATV2 though, was really a fantastic little XBMC interface with minute footprint.
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Hehe you know I'm just having a laugh, I'm an Apple fan.

I've got the same TV as you, wifey is home and I'm going to install it now - i'll do some Hi-Def 1080p 3D MKV streaming tests through wifi tonight and report back to you, It could be an option for you and you wouldn't need to buy anything extra at all!
 
Keeper said:
Hehe you know I'm just having a laugh, I'm an Apple fan.

I've got the same TV as you, wifey is home and I'm going to install it now - i'll do some Hi-Def 1080p 3D MKV streaming tests through wifi tonight and report back to you, It could be an option for you and you wouldn't need to buy anything extra at all!
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Thanks bro, let me know how it goes.

Here's someone with exactly the same issue...seems quite a challenge to get proper 1080P to your TV -

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34&topicid=113410&page_no=1#745636


The two best candidates I've found so far for ready-made solution -

1) OUYA box - http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=178871

2) Intel NUC (per previous poster) is looking more and more enticing - http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Intel_NUC
 
I just installed a Raspberry Pi in one if my bedrooms with openelec and it's great. Even runs the Ace skin fine. Struggles a bit with Aeon Nox skin but plays everything I've thrown at it. Posters can be slow to load on infrequent occasion.

My setup at home has my microserver running Windows 7 in the lounge and everything else connects to it. It is completely silent and hardly an eyesore at all...
 
Why don't you want to go the Plex route?

I must somewhere be missing something, the TV has a Plex app that you can download, install Plex Media Server on the HP, add your media and let it run over night and everything sorted with a great looking interface?
 
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For a HTPC remote get a PS3 bluetooth remote , also get the version that has IR for controlling your basic TV controls. Then use PS3blumote to map the buttons the way you want, also natively supported by openelec. Works like a bomb and only around R300.
 
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