HTPC Build (Blu-ray, PVR etc.)

smtgra011 said:
One last thing to check is whether the decoder allows itself to have it's channels changed via ir blaster.

I'm pretty sure the hd pvr can't and I'm dubious about the dual view. I've got the 1110 and that ones fine which is useful since it means I only need one remote. Check out the mceguide forums, the answers probably there.


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Thanks, I was actually just researching this...How would it work If i had to use 2 remotes anyways?

If i changed the channel on the DSTV using the DSTV remote, would it show the correct EPG on Media Center for the channel?? (once i bought the mceguide premium guide)
 
First prize is the following:
You change channel using the mce remote.
It tells the computer to change channel, so the epg changes.
It also sends a signal through the ir blaster to tell the decoder to change channel.

If this doesn't work then you'd have to change channel on the decoder with the dstv remote, then, in order to have the epg in the right place, change channel on the Pc using the mce remote.

Problem is, if you have to use scenario 2 then you're not gonna be able to schedule recordings, which is one of the pluses of a htpc.


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:/ man this stuff is confusing... Thanks for the above though, that makes sense.. But if i can't change my dual view with remote blaster it's gonna suck
 
It's confusing at first but there are some good forums out there, mceguide and the dstv subforum here are good local ones.
A week of solid reading will have you up to speed (and if you're anything like me you'll have changed your mind 5 times in that period ;0)

Take your time, do your research, it's very worth it at the end of the day.


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Hmm.,.I'm thinking internal Hauppage Collossus now..http://store.hauppauge.com/hardware2.asp?product=colossus

Thoughts?

colossus_diagram.jpg
 
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And the mind-changing begins ;)

My only concern is the channel changing, hopefully someone can clear that up for us.

Edit: Been doing some light reading on the mceguide forum and it appears that the dual view might be ok. It seems that it's the PVR's that have the major problems changing channels. Might be worth signing up there and asking to get get a definitive answer.
 
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:P Thanks! I was under the same impression. I have signed up but never receive the confirmation mail, so waiting for a response from the admin.

Will keep looking around on the forums there though.
 
smtgra011 said:
A week of solid reading will have you up to speed (and if you're anything like me you'll have changed your mind 5 times in that period ;0)

Take your time, do your research, it's very worth it at the end of the day.

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Indeed! I've been going through the same process.... AMD E-350 Brazos ITX setup vs AMD 880G or Intel H55 uATX. Antec Fusion Remote chassis vs Silverstone Grandia chassis + Hauppage MCE remote.

I might even give up and grab an Acer Aspire AS1410 netbook for R4,000. It has an Intel 4500MHD and HDMI port, so just hook up an external optical drive, Hauppage MCE remote and an external 1Tb HDD. Voila! A mobile media-player/NAS! :D
 
Ok here we go, revised components:

Components:
Case - Antec Fusion Remote Silver
PSU - CoolerMaster SilentPro 500w
CPU - Intel i3-2100T SandyBridge (35W TDP)
CPU Cooler- Is a diff one from stock needed? If so, Scythe Big Shuriken ??
Mobo- GA-H67MA-UD2H-B3 1155 Socket MicroATX
RAM- 2x2GB 1333MHZ DDR3 Corsair XMS TW3X4G1333C9A
SSD - (For OS) 64GB Corsair CSSD-V64GB2-BRKT Nova
Storage - 2TB Western Digital Caviar SATAII 64MB Cache 3.5-inch
Optical - LG WH10LS30 Blu Ray Burner/Rewriter
Capture Card - Hauppauge Colossus Internal PCIe card (which has HD in and out)
Graphics Card - Asus 1GB Radeon HD 5450 Silent DDR3 with Low Profile Bracket
OS - Windows 7 32/64 bit
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fxit_man said:
Thanks guys! Very helpful!

@dexster - where did you get your fusion case from? Last i checked it was +-R1800? Silver or black? So how are you controlling it in that case? What are your specs? Do you think I would need more than 4GB? If not, should I stay 32bit?

Thanks and sorry for all the questions..

Cheers
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Got my case from Frontosa. Black, was around R1400. Controlling it using a Logitech Edge keyboard.

Go 64bit, drivers are available for all codecs, can't comment on your capture cards as I don't have one. 4Gb is plenty for an HTPC.
 
Do yourself a favor and get the proper MCE remote from microsoft....
it works on all media centers...that run on XP that is...and it has the remote blaster....
so you change the channel on MCE and it will send the right infrared to your PVR.

But be carefull....like i said there is a delay...that other guy did not come back as he said there is no delay but i can guarantee there is.
 
drukkie said:
But be carefull....like i said there is a delay...that other guy did not come back as he said there is no delay but i can guarantee there is.
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There is a delay, about 2 or 3 seconds. But what are you watching live TV for? Why watch something when Multichoice tells you to? As soon as you get out of the live TV mindset, the delay is no longer there, because you are no longer changing channels!

Also, if I am watching something that has to be watched live (sport) then I do not press the "i" button on the DSTV remote (that's packed away in the cupboard. The DSTV decoder in the server cabinet along with the Media Centre in the garage), but rather on the media centre remote, then you get the pretty Media centre style info bar, and not that horrid grey/yellow puke that Multichoice offer up - so again it becomes a non-issue.
 
Haha ok thanks for the input guys. Appreciated.

As far as I know the Hauppauge In my revised components list has a remote with blaster so that should be good? I'm planning on running Win7, I just hope the blaster works with the dual view decoder :)

I'm in UK at the moment so I might as well pick up the Hauppauge Colossus here.
 
Hey fxit_man, nice build you got going there :D

I'm thinking of getting the Colossus capture card too, I want to distribute HD DSTV around the house using Media Portal TV-Server (which supports the Colossus). Thinking of using HD Fury to connect HDMI from the DSTV to the component in on the Colossus and then loop the component back to the TV.

Am I missing anything here? The HDFury should deal with the issues with HDCP, and allow me to record the HD signal etc, right?

I just want a capture card for HD signal coming from the DSTV (which in unfortunately only via HDMI) that I can use with Media Portal. Any other suggestions?
 
jprestonnaidoo said:
Hey fxit_man, nice build you got going there :D

I'm thinking of getting the Colossus capture card too, I want to distribute HD DSTV around the house using Media Portal TV-Server (which supports the Colossus). Thinking of using HD Fury to connect HDMI from the DSTV to the component in on the Colossus and then loop the component back to the TV.

Am I missing anything here? The HDFury should deal with the issues with HDCP, and allow me to record the HD signal etc, right?

I just want a capture card for HD signal coming from the DSTV (which in unfortunately only via HDMI) that I can use with Media Portal. Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...

Thanks man :)

From what I have heard yeah, the HDFury will work. Also heard these Grex things work too, but dunno how that would work if the DSTV only has HDMI out. http://www.xdimax.com/grex/grex.html

The only thing that bugs me is the delay or "buffer" that all these Media Center apps use... I don't want a bloody play buffer!! Why don't they give us the option of disabling..It's about 2-3 seconds, i.e. when you change the channel, it takes 3 seconds to show on the media center..And if you alt-tab between Media Center and the TV etc., this buffer increases as long as up to 5, 6 seconds!!!

I tried to get Mediaportal up but it was way too confusing, even though they said it has Colossus support.. When I got my card I literally had to beg Hauppauge to release their Media Center drivers..Which took them a while and there's still loads of room for improvement..

Oh and BTW, the local MCEGuide does not work with the Colossus... Which SUCKS to be honest.. MCEGuide has no idea either.. They should really try and add support for the card.

That means whenever I want to record something in Media Center, it see's it as a "manual recording" as it doesn't have any Guide Data, and instead of just start recording when I press the button, it asks me to set a start date/time, end date/time etc.. By the time you set all that up, the thing you wanted to record is over..

So those are some of my niggles/irritations..

BTW. You said you wanted to "loop" the component back to the TV.. Well, the Colossus only has Component Pass through, so it only outputs what is inputted to it. i.e. It will not output what you see on the TV screen really, as firstly that will differ by 2-3 seconds because of the buffer, and it will only output the video feed you input to it, not the Media Center interface etc.. So you would have to output via the onboard HDMI out which I have done.

I have contemplated buying a separate SD TV Tuner card just for my SD Dual View, so I can get the guide working at least..

Hope that helps
 
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