How to build a Media Center?

[Velenoso]

Hey guys,

I am thinking of starting a project to build my own media center.

I am sick and tired of multichoice decoders, the new tivo doesn't work in this country and it would be a good project to improve my somewhat limited technical skills.

So, I would like it to do the following:

Be able to connect to a DSTV decoder, but if possible, somehow completely bypass their crappy software.

Be able to record, pause, etc

Fit into a reasonably good looking slim case, that can go under the TV.

Be controlled entirely by remote control, no keyboard and mouse.

Be able to possibly support USB devices (flash, external hdd, etc)


How possible is this? Has anyone had any experience building one?

I understand I need a PVR card. Unfortunately that's as far as my understanding goes.

Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[quovadis]

You need:
1x HTPC Chassis (Home Theatre PC - really optional but looks like a component system)
1x Hauppauge PVR 150 (Links single view decoder to PC via Svideo/Composite Video - Comes with Remote and IR Blaster for changing channels on decoder)
1x Motherboard, CPU, Memory, Hard Disk etc (Your choice)
1x DVD (If you wanna watch dvds or bluray player etc)
1x Windows 7 Home Premium (Windows Media Center is included)
1x Subscription to MCEGuide (www.mceguide.co.za for DStv Listings)

The above should allow you to completely control movies, videos, audio, dstv with full PVR functionality etc. If you need assistance PM me

 

[mh348]

The Series 1 Tivo's work here in SA with full functionality. We get full guide data. I don't even use use the DSTV Remote, the Tivo lists all the Channels/Program and its much easier to navigate than the DSTV Menu.

http://tivoza.nanfo.com/tivoza/wiki/images/7/75/Tivo03.jpg

Check the TivoZA site for more info
http://tivoza.nanfo.com/wiki/index.php/Quick_Tour

 

[greg_SA]

If you use a single view DSTV decoder with a capture card (Hauppauge PVR 150) then you can't watch something and record something else at the same time.

 

[mh348]

If you use a single view DSTV decoder with a capture card (Hauppauge PVR 150) then you can't watch something and record something else at the same time.

Check this site www.africomputers.co.za

its one of the tivoza members, selling a pre-built media centre, also using the same Hauppause card.

 

[ipodmusicman]

If you use a single view DSTV decoder with a capture card (Hauppauge PVR 150) then you can't watch something and record something else at the same time.

Thank goodness the DSD1110 has dualview capability so buy a second DSD1110 and a second Hauppauge PVR 150 and you should be able to record a one channel while watching a different one? I am hoping that Media Center is capabile of this.

 

[Mier]

Very important is to make sure your HTPC is as silent as possible. Therefore, get a good quality, silent PSU and a fanless graphics card (I'd recommend a Geforce 9400GT http://uk.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=60agdX0HRAPwMyAQ&templete=2 ). If your case allows, get a fanless CPU cooler as well. I dropped the voltage on my case fans from 12v to 5v to reduce noise (keep an eye on temperature). (I have a thermaltake DH101 case).

And if budget allows: http://uk.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=wIxyLFT9vTWHLHk8&templete=2

 

[Goobie]

Also have a look at GBPVR. It is free.

I use it with my homebuilt PVR which has dual analog tuners (only SABC and ETV) allowing me to record one channel and watch another, pause/rewind live TV and automatically remove advertisements from recorded shows. I use a hauppauge MVP as frontend but the software is ideal for HTPC use. Oh, and I also have TV guide (EPG) functionality that is automatically downloaded and updated once a week. Can't imagine life without my PVR.

 

[ipodmusicman]

I am considering putting together a media center by resurrectiong my Pentium Celeron 2.6 GHz PC that is lying in my cupboard collecting dust.

I am not planning to do a full fledged media center, but mainly for the purpose as a DVR. Wanna playback content that I recorded on the DSTV PVR to the PC for archive purposes. I have a PVR-150 already which is a good start.

I am also going to use it to send/receive audio to other computers in the house possibily using software called Airfoil. (www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/)

For playback of cotent I'm going to get a dedicated media device.

 

[Velenoso]

The Series 1 Tivo's work here in SA with full functionality. We get full guide data. I don't even use use the DSTV Remote, the Tivo lists all the Channels/Program and its much easier to navigate than the DSTV Menu.

http://tivoza.nanfo.com/tivoza/wiki/images/7/75/Tivo03.jpg

Check the TivoZA site for more info
http://tivoza.nanfo.com/wiki/index.php/Quick_Tour

I've seen that, the problem is, that Tivo (series 1) does not support HD? I have the series one in the states.

Thanks for all the responses guys.

Where would I find a nice looking small case. I wanna build it myself!

 

[cfvh600]

This dreambox clone on bidorbuy apparently has a smartcard reader built in:

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/16167921/DREAMBOX_DM518S.html

Hmmm wonder if it will work with a multichoice smartcard.

 

[grapjas]

I'm busy setting up mine at the moment.
I went for the "Antec New Solution series NSK2480B" chassis think I paid about 1100 bucks for it from frontosa.
Like someone else mentioned earlier it really is important to get one thats very quiet.
For a graphics card I got the "Asus EAH4350 silent/Di/512MD2" again mostly because it's heatsink only so very quiet. Been using it for a week now and it handles everything i've thrown at it quite well. It was under 400 bucks from frontosa.
The Ram, CPU and hard drive is up to you. ( I went with 2 gigs and a core 2 duo and it seems to be more than enough).
For a remote I'm using a mini keyboard and mouse combo from logitech (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848&cl=za,en). The cheapest I could get it was 1100 bucks from pcbunny.co.za.

 

[Mier]

Smaller, low profile cases are nice, but personally I wanted a full height case. Reasons why I didn't buy a low profile case inlcude:
You will be more limited with the expansions cards (TV capture, graphics cards etc.) that you can install.
Better airflow in a full height case = less fan speed = less noise.
HDD expansion (e.g. I can install up to five HDD's in the thermaltake dh101.)
Fanless CPU cooling tower will be too high.


I would recommend that you spend more on a case now and buy the rest according to what you can afford. However, don't waste money on a case with integrated screen. A good quality case will last you many years, since you are only replacing / upgrading the insides.

As a side note, there are reports that the Hauppauge cards currently have some issues with more than 2GB of system RAM installed. Probably just a driver issue, but 2GB should be more than enough.

 

[Velenoso]

Smaller, low profile cases are nice, but personally I wanted a full height case. Reasons why I didn't buy a low profile case inlcude:
You will be more limited with the expansions cards (TV capture, graphics cards etc.) that you can install.
Better airflow in a full height case = less fan speed = less noise.
HDD expansion (e.g. I can install up to five HDD's in the thermaltake dh101.)
Fanless CPU cooling tower will be too high.


I would recommend that you spend more on a case now and buy the rest according to what you can afford. However, don't waste money on a case with integrated screen. A good quality case will last you many years, since you are only replacing / upgrading the insides.

As a side note, there are reports that the Hauppauge cards currently have some issues with more than 2GB of system RAM installed. Probably just a driver issue, but 2GB should be more than enough.

There is absolutely no way I can have a full sized PC case in living room. It would look like ****, I'm already having issues with a PS3 being there. I would preferably like it to be the same size or smaller than a PS3.

I'm tring to do as much research as I can before I go out and buy the equipment... Remember, I don't want a mouse and keyboard... Will I be able to control the entire thing with the Hauppauge remote?

 

[mh348]

There is absolutely no way I can have a full sized PC case in living room. It would look like ****, I'm already having issues with a PS3 being there. I would preferably like it to be the same size or smaller than a PS3.

I'm tring to do as much research as I can before I go out and buy the equipment... Remember, I don't want a mouse and keyboard... Will I be able to control the entire thing with the Hauppauge remote?

See my second post above, check the specs there and just google the individual items, the case used there is quite small, also for the remote have a look at the Logitech Harmony Series remotes, you should be able to control all your devices with that one remote.

 

[Nod]

Freevo Media Centre.

Imagine a world where the tv guide is liquid, where the time slots are organised to suit your schedule. Imagine a place you can store all of your music, movies and photos for you and your family to enjoy. Imagine having access to all your games, podcasts, upto the minute weather and news reports. Imagine doing all of this for free. What a wonderful world that would be...

Freevo is an open source HTPC media centre software integrating PVR / DVR funtionality along with music, video, gaming, home automation and more. It is written in python and uses existing popular software such as mplayer, xine and vlc. Primarily aimed at the Linux platform it is also possible to run on OSX and for the determined on Windows. It is the main mythtv alternative.

 

[Mier]

There is absolutely no way I can have a full sized PC case in living room. It would look like ****, I'm already having issues with a PS3 being there. I would preferably like it to be the same size or smaller than a PS3.

I'm tring to do as much research as I can before I go out and buy the equipment... Remember, I don't want a mouse and keyboard... Will I be able to control the entire thing with the Hauppauge remote?

Agreed, the WAF plays a major part. I was only suggesting that you don't want to skimp on the case, because you may regret it later. Alternatively, you can turn any existing pc into a Media Center and place only a Media Center Extender in you living room (I use a xbox in my bedroom as a MCE extender) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Center_Extender

You will use the MCE (Hauppauge) remote 95% of the time, but sometimes you will need a mouse and keyboard. I have a USB mouse that I keep in a drawer and I plug this into the USB port on the frontpanel when I need it. Of course you will also need a keyboard for installation and configuration. I do most configuration via my desktop pc using remote desktop. Some cases also ship with a more eleborate remote control that has a mouse and some keyboard functions included, but I find it very cumbersome to use.

BTW. this is what my set up looks like
http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/showphoto.php/photo/10886/ppuser/28362

 

[Nerfherder]

Velenoso... the PS3 is a media centre FYI.

 

[Mier]

But it's not a PVR, is it ?

 

[EchoZA]

BTW. this is what my set up looks like
http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/showphoto.php/photo/10886/ppuser/28362

Where did you get your case from? and what price, my current system is a little big (Coolermaster Stacker II) but I need something with plenty space for HDD's