Windows Media Centre - remote and tv tuner

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TheYak

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Morning everyone.

So, now that I have my brand spanking new PC, I have a PC available that I want to set up as a Media Centre PC.

I need two things though: a remote ('cos I'm a lazy sod!), and a TV tuner card (because I'd like to run the PVR through MC as well).

For the remote, I was looking at this. It mentions there that you can control your PVR from this remote as well. That'd be freakin' awesome (one remote for everything!), but being the eternal pessimist that I am, I have to ask if anyone can vouch whether this IS actually possible? I'm SICK of having to muddle through seventeen remotes every time I want to change something (hence the change to MCPC), so if I could control the whole caboodle from one remote, I would be in Utopia!

My second question is about TV tuner cards and it might be relevant, but I'm going to pose the question like this anyway. Correct me if I'm confused, please.

I would like to set the MC PC up to stream DSTV to the network, so I can watch TV from the study. Does anyone know whether this is possible and what TV tuner card is the best one to get? I.e. one that works with MC and that will allow me to stream over the network? Like I said, I'm not sure whether the TV tuner card has any relevance to streaming, so correct me if it doesn't, please. I'd still like to get a decent card though, so can you guys suggest a good one?

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
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Hi Mr TheYak - long time no speak.

Anyway, I'd suggest going for the Hauppage PVR-150 - it comes with a MCE remote. Try that first, if it doesn't work, get a proper Microsoft MCE remote (try www.sybaritic.co.za for example). Most of the remotes are the same though. I got one with my second tuner and haven't really tried it yet (still using the Microsoft one)

Regarding streaming, I do this as well. You can use VLC for in the house stuff but for me, Adobe Flash Streaming works better. Flash Media Server is free for up to 10 connections and Adobe Live Encoder is also free. Works very well for what you need. To change channels remotely is tricky, I use VNC for that.

This is probably not an optimal solution (MythTV better etc) but it works for me!
 
Rather go for the PVR-500 - it has two tuners.

I'd recommend you run Win7RC1 over Vista for the media center
 
gripen said:
Hi Mr TheYak - long time no speak.

Anyway, I'd suggest going for the Hauppage PVR-150 - it comes with a MCE remote. Try that first, if it doesn't work, get a proper Microsoft MCE remote (try www.sybaritic.co.za for example). Most of the remotes are the same though. I got one with my second tuner and haven't really tried it yet (still using the Microsoft one)

Regarding streaming, I do this as well. You can use VLC for in the house stuff but for me, Adobe Flash Streaming works better. Flash Media Server is free for up to 10 connections and Adobe Live Encoder is also free. Works very well for what you need. To change channels remotely is tricky, I use VNC for that.

This is probably not an optimal solution (MythTV better etc) but it works for me!
Click to expand...

Hey dude! yeh, it's been a while! :) Yeesh, that tuner card is a bit pricey, but if it's worth it, I don't mind paying at all.

I checked Sybaritic for it, and they say there that it does not come with a remote? I think this remote should do the trick though?

Will I be able to control my PVR from Media Centre if I use that tuner? Or does that depend on the remote, not the tuner card?

I'm a little dof when it comes to this stuff. Never really paid much attention to it, but the irritation factor with my MVIX media player has gotten enough for me to make a plan :)

Plus, it'll be really cool to watch DSTV on my PC :)


xrapidx said:
Rather go for the PVR-500 - it has two tuners.

I'd recommend you run Win7RC1 over Vista for the media center
Click to expand...

I will be running Windows 7, yes. I saw something about streaming somewhere along the line there. I need to go and read up a little bit more though.

I don't see the PVR-500 on Sybaritic. Any idea where I can get that?
 
A friend of mine might be able to sell me his PVR-350. Would that work with MC?

Scratch that. He's still using it and I need it NOW! :)
 
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I have the PVR 350 and I have to say that the 7RC media center sucks!
Vista worked better with this card, I have the latest driver too but it needs a new driver for 7... And then there is the DRM package that Microsoft forces you to download before using the PVR!

I'm happy with mythTV thanks.
 
I'm running Win 7 RC1 with Media Center. It's a bit prettier but quite a mission. I've had some GFX driver issues with Win7 so not sure if that has anything to do with my Hauppage. The picture is definitely a bit jerkier than Vista even with the proper drivers.

Yeah all the green button remotes will work. Like I said, get the tuner and see if it comes with a remote. Sometimes it doesnt even say. I know the Frontosa OEM comes with a remote.. So get the tuner, then look for a remote (Otherwise, like me, you end up with 2 remotes)

Hooking up a DSTV PVR to MCE is out of scope I think. MCE is a PVR. Try www.mceguide.co.za forum maybe for some help? I only have a DSD 990 and use MCE as my PVR. I'm also not sure if the "IR blasters" support the PVR...

I have no idea about standard streaming. For reasons I can't explain here, I need to be able to run multiple concurrent streams (i.e. for more than 1 room in the house) so for me flash works nicely.

Running DSTV on the PC is cool, I don't do it any other way (haven't for a long time). Plus, MCEGuide kicks the DSTV guide in terms of navigation with MCE. However, it can be out of date some times...
 
Just updating information as I find it.

On the product page for the PVR-150, it says:

Control your satellite or cable TV set top box with IR Blaster. Change the channels automatically when watching or recording TV from a set top box.
Click to expand...

So I think that might be exactly what I'm looking for? grip, is that remote a full MC remote, or do you not know?

Sorry for the spam, but I'm really excited about getting this all sorted out :)
 
The remote comes with an IR Blaster. The PC can change channels via the IR Blaster. As long as it has a green button or says MCE anywhere and includes an IR Blaster you're good. I only have the official Microsoft MCE one which I use and haven't tested the others but they should work fine.

The IR Blaster is key, it allows me to change channels remotely. I've streamed DSTV over ADSL remotely and changed channels from afar :)

Sounds like the remote is what you are looking for yes.
 
For me the big thing, since I'm also thinknig about this....

Is finding a TV Tuner that has HDMI inputs and is HDCP compliant so that I can get the HDPVR to output its signal through the HTPC
 
Aqua_lung said:
I have the PVR 350 and I have to say that the 7RC media center sucks!
Vista worked better with this card, I have the latest driver too but it needs a new driver for 7... And then there is the DRM package that Microsoft forces you to download before using the PVR!

I'm happy with mythTV thanks.
Click to expand...

Compare to Windows Vista Media Center - 7 Rocks - its faster on my side, libraries are better, graphics are better, its easier to manage, etc, etc.

Before using what PVR? I wasn't forced to download - Microsoft only prompt you to install it, you can click "No", which has no effect on recordings in SA.
 
ToxicBunny said:
For me the big thing, since I'm also thinknig about this....

Is finding a TV Tuner that has HDMI inputs and is HDCP compliant so that I can get the HDPVR to output its signal through the HTPC
Click to expand...

That should be interesting - I haven't been able to find something like this yet. :(
 
Aqua_lung said:
I have the PVR 350 and I have to say that the 7RC media center sucks!
Vista worked better with this card, I have the latest driver too but it needs a new driver for 7... And then there is the DRM package that Microsoft forces you to download before using the PVR!

I'm happy with mythTV thanks.
Click to expand...

So can you control your PVR through Media Centre then? I don't mind downloading DRM for recordings I do from the PVR. It's okay. I'm not planning on recording that much from PVR anyway (not like DSTV has anything worth recording for the most part!). I just want to be able to change channels through media centre and not have to faff around with other remotes.

gripen said:
I'm running Win 7 RC1 with Media Center. It's a bit prettier but quite a mission. I've had some GFX driver issues with Win7 so not sure if that has anything to do with my Hauppage. The picture is definitely a bit jerkier than Vista even with the proper drivers.
Click to expand...
What's a mission about it? To get it set up, or to use it? Mission is baaad. I don't like mission. Mission frustrates me when I am trying to relax and watch some telly :)

gripen said:
Yeah all the green button remotes will work. Like I said, get the tuner and see if it comes with a remote. Sometimes it doesnt even say. I know the Frontosa OEM comes with a remote.. So get the tuner, then look for a remote (Otherwise, like me, you end up with 2 remotes)
Click to expand...
Okay, cool. I'll get the tuner card now and go hunting for a remote this weekend if it doesn't have one. Or... *gasp* I'll change the channel by hand... but just for the weekend, until I can find a remote! :)

gripen said:
I have no idea about standard streaming. For reasons I can't explain here, I need to be able to run multiple concurrent streams (i.e. for more than 1 room in the house) so for me flash works nicely.
Click to expand...
And have you tried using the native streaming from within W7 MC? I'll read up a bit more on it tonight and give you guys some feedback if I find anything worth feeding back on.

gripen said:
Running DSTV on the PC is cool, I don't do it any other way (haven't for a long time). Plus, MCEGuide kicks the DSTV guide in terms of navigation with MCE. However, it can be out of date some times...
Click to expand...
I'll definitely check out MCEGuide, thanks man! Very excited about getting all of this up and running! Woohoo!

Yeh... i'm a hopeless gadget geek :)
 
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You can control the PVR from Media Center, you attach little infrared senders to the PVR - you then setup media center with a specific IR control table which changes the channel on the PVR - I however don't think you're able to record (or watch) from the HD channel on the PVR.
 
gripen said:
The remote comes with an IR Blaster. The PC can change channels via the IR Blaster. As long as it has a green button or says MCE anywhere and includes an IR Blaster you're good. I only have the official Microsoft MCE one which I use and haven't tested the others but they should work fine.

The IR Blaster is key, it allows me to change channels remotely. I've streamed DSTV over ADSL remotely and changed channels from afar :)

Sounds like the remote is what you are looking for yes.
Click to expand...

Awesome! I'll contact Sybaritic and ask them about that model and whether it comes with a remote.
 
Are you using MCEGuide? I couldn't be bothered with setting up the guide channel by channel. So I've just set up the SuperSport channels and MNet for now.

Is there not an easier way?

xrapidx said:
Compare to Windows Vista Media Center - 7 Rocks - its faster on my side, libraries are better, graphics are better, its easier to manage, etc, etc.

Before using what PVR? I wasn't forced to download - Microsoft only prompt you to install it, you can click "No", which has no effect on recordings in SA.
Click to expand...
 
No - not using MCEGuide - doing it myself - but currently there is no way (that I know of), or from what I've managed to find online - to do the mapping automatically.

It'll probably get fixed in time - I remember reading on some Media Center forum that they expect it to be soon.

I had to do it three times this weekend after stuffing up the guide :p
 
Okay, so it looks like I'll be getting these two:


http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/product_info.php?cPath=110_308&products_id=14226

and

http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/product_info.php?cPath=137&products_id=7847

According to Graeme from Sybaritic, that should do exactly what I want to do.

Next question: I have dual view set up on my decoder. Would it be possible for me to run both of the "channels" through the tuner card so different people on the network can watch different channels?

Yeh, I know, I'm getting ridiculous now! :P
 
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