HTPC, WINDOWS MEDIA CENTRE, DSTV, TOP TV

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HTPC, WINDOWS MEDIA CENTRE, DSTV, TOP TV SETUP GUIDE

I want to setup a HTPC and being a novice at this (I have good IT experience) I have done hours of research on the internet about this topic. All I seem to find however is lots of problems (and their solutions). What I am however looking for is a complete setup guide of where to start and how to put everything together. Can somebody please tell me if a guide does exist somewhere or alternatively want to assist in putting such a guide together. My idea is to put a guide together that supplies information on the following:
Hardware requirements (including suggestions on the best hasle free harware)
Software requirements
Hardware setup (ie what cables should be connected where, linking of different DSTV/TTV decoders etc)
Software setup (setup for best results, additional software required eg program schedules etc)
Possible pitfalls, solutions and suggestions.

All help with this project will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for any help
 
Last edited:
Windows 7 has some serious DRM with it's media center, I can't watch Dstv on it. just a warning.
 
Thank you for the warning. Will try to find solutions (can anybody help?) and include in the setup guide. I was reading elsewhere that DSTV has started rolling out protection on recording of their content. Is your problem due to Windows or this protection? Does the DSTV protection mean that recordings will no longer be possible?
 
Some discussion already going on regarding recordings from TTV here

Newer motherboards are now already incorporating HDMI, DVI outputs and the focus is now on HD Content, not that we would be getting full HD broadcasts anytime soon.

Suggestions as to which GFX cards, ie. lower cooling requirements (no fan) heatsinks etc would certainly add value.

Been thinking of this for a while too, hopefully we could get some feedback from the more experienced soon ;)
 
theres a wide range of hardware for your htpc. will u go intel or amd? as for d connections you can get urslf a dual tuner with 2 rf inputs or u can use the rca and s-video. there are pros n cons. rca n s-video u might not be able to record due to maceovision but rf you can. if using windows 7 make sure u download playready and install with its updates then it will allow recordings on rf not sure about s-viedeo and rca since my stb is far from my pc hence the rf.
 
also they did something about building an htpc on pc format some time ago with hardware, cpu and quiet fans suggestions. will dig it up and post some brand names.
 
I have TopTV and tried to run it through MCE 7 nothing works protection stops you from recording but this was only on the RF Out will test the rest tonight.
 
Astound said:
Some discussion already going on regarding recordings from TTV here

Newer motherboards are now already incorporating HDMI, DVI outputs and the focus is now on HD Content, not that we would be getting full HD broadcasts anytime soon.

Suggestions as to which GFX cards, ie. lower cooling requirements (no fan) heatsinks etc would certainly add value.

Been thinking of this for a while too, hopefully we could get some feedback from the more experienced soon ;)
Click to expand...

Looking at the post thus far it seems that there are more problems than answers (this was my experience searching the internet thus far as well). It thus really seems that a comprehensive guide would serve a great purpose. I really hope that the "experienced" will get in and assist with compiling this guide.
 
Romito said:
also they did something about building an htpc on pc format some time ago with hardware, cpu and quiet fans suggestions. will dig it up and post some brand names.
Click to expand...

Thanks for advise thus far. Will be really helpful of you could dig up the post with the hardware details.
 
Romito said:
theres a wide range of hardware for your htpc. will u go intel or amd? as for d connections you can get urslf a dual tuner with 2 rf inputs or u can use the rca and s-video. there are pros n cons. rca n s-video u might not be able to record due to maceovision but rf you can. if using windows 7 make sure u download playready and install with its updates then it will allow recordings on rf not sure about s-viedeo and rca since my stb is far from my pc hence the rf.
Click to expand...

From what I could establish thus far is that connecting via RF you loose the stereo sound for example (did I get this correct?). Question also is how do one connect DSTV PVR (both channels)?
 
dinkd said:
here is a nice walkthrough for an all inclusive HTPC running xbmc

http://lifehacker.com/5391308/build-a-silent-standalone-xbmc-media-center-on-the-cheap

you can pick up the acer revo from expansys with a 500gb hdd, hdmi out and digital audio out too for R4089

http://www.expansys.co.za/d.aspx?i=189803

all you need after that is a windows media centre compatible remote and you sorted :)
Click to expand...

Not sure if we shuld look at all media centre solutions out there or stick to WMC. In other hand maybe we should look at something that works 100%. Lets hear from the guys on the forum however.
 
I tried hooking up my TopTV with RF through MCE 7 and it gave me bad quality and seconds after viewing MCE gives warning that my video drivers does not want to play the encryption, something in that line... Tried the AV cable to my tv card but could not set it up cause of MCE 7 not continuing if you dont have the correct IR receiver... will try other software tonight like XBMC and MythTV tonight and over the weekend...
 
Thank you for everybody that has contributed to this topic thus far. It is now quite clear to me that this is a minefield and that putting a comprehensive guide together is rather essential to help all our novices out there. With all the problems listed so far we have not even started at the basics and I am now even further confused as to where I must start (ie what hardware, software, connecting it together etc). It would really be nice if we can get the guys out there with working systems to give us some feedback and assist in compiling the guide. I really hope we can achieve this.
 
My system works, but i don't pull in any signals from external sources such as satellite, since i have DStv-HD and that means HDCP and I don't have the time or energy to figure out how to crack open HDCP.
 
Setup plays everything and no problems with any files.

2.5ghz Dual Core
4GB ddr800 ram
Asus p5kpl/1600 motherboard
2x 1TB
1x 250gb running Windows 7 Ultimate + xbox media centre
Blu-Ray 10x drive
HD 4850 ati - single hdmi cable to lcd TV
Latest 10.2 catalyst driver
Realtek ATI HD audio driver.
PowerDVD 10 Ultra + ATI stream accelerator
AverTV M106 TV Tuner + no probs with dstv or anything
BluCloner 2 + Blu ray to HDD software for ripping BD's
Eset 4 Antivirus
Spybot search and destroy.
 
finding drivers for this card was a mission and a half, i googled my ass off.
 
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