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How to make your Windows Media Center a real HD machine - Page 4

post #91 of 103
5/16/11 at 10:11am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Pierce View Post

Don't forget that I'll be renting a single cablecard to drive the tuners for about $5 a month. That's $1.25 per tuner on the Ceton and $1.67 per tuner on the SD. So I'm getting a much better deal on an ongoing basis! :D



OK :)  So, in about a year and a half, you catch up :)

 

I'm currently using 2 Ceton now, been very happy with that as a solution.  The bigger issue with the Ceton for me is that because it's internal, it means a bigger HTPC case (mini-ITX is almost right out) and it also means I have to have 4 SDV adapters piled up in my livingroom.  The possibility of the SiliconDust is that I can move it to my electrical closet where my WHS and networking all exists, so that it's "out of sight"  a much higher WAF... which has one of those unspeakable price tags.

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Ceton Infinitv4 Digital Cable Quad-tuner Card
post #92 of 103
5/17/11 at 7:46am

As I'm noodling on this, and waiting for my stars to align, I thought that my perfect system would use one of those cases with the integrated ~7" screens. This sort of dealie: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/touch-screen-htpc-case,2505.html

 

The goal would be an information screen, dimmable (to not distract from TV & movies) with say a clock and current activity. But the real use would be for when we want background noise (music or TV), with the (energy hogging) Plasma off. The mini screen would presumably show the current channel, or music playlist or web service, making it easier to control with the main screen off.

 

Though, if I really want to push it, skipping the little screen and instead having some sort of iPad access with the big TV is off would be neato.

 

Have you done such a thing? Does 7MC support that config so it's worth considering, or should I forget it as it's too messy to get right?

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post #93 of 103
5/17/11 at 10:34am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF View Post

As I'm noodling on this, and waiting for my stars to align, I thought that my perfect system would use one of those cases with the integrated ~7" screens. This sort of dealie: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/touch-screen-htpc-case,2505.html

 

The goal would be an information screen, dimmable (to not distract from TV & movies) with say a clock and current activity. But the real use would be for when we want background noise (music or TV), with the (energy hogging) Plasma off. The mini screen would presumably show the current channel, or music playlist or web service, making it easier to control with the main screen off.

 

Though, if I really want to push it, skipping the little screen and instead having some sort of iPad access with the big TV is off would be neato.

 

Have you done such a thing? Does 7MC support that config so it's worth considering, or should I forget it as it's too messy to get right?


Ok.   It does.  I have set people up with them and waffled about it.   On one hand, they are very friendly, and their interface with WMC7 is pretty awesome.. iMon software does some cool things that allow you to put out lots of information to that screen while you do something else.

 

HOWEVER, the big reason that it is so cool is the reason why it's a downfall to me.   A 7" screen 9'+ away isn't doing me much good but cool lights or display during a movie, which is why I normally try to dim all my components lights down.   I sometimes think of these cases as Geek Cases.

 

HOWEVER, you bring up the iPad.  There is a tool that I use on my iPad for my Media Center that comes in incredibly handy: VMC Remote.    I also have remote potato and a few others, but VMC remote allows me to search, index, organize and control the menus and system off my media center using my iPad.  I can assemble playlists, organize orders, add to song playlists, stop/start, increase volume, etc. anything MC can do, I can do it from my ipad with VMC Remote.   The light version is free.. the full version is I think $2.99.   Well worth it.

 

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post #94 of 103
5/17/11 at 3:40pm

Yeah...and the $300 premium just for a bit of convenience when the TV is off might not make sense...especially if there's an iPad solution.

 

I'm a big fan of hard-button remotes (love the Harmony One), but this might push me to use iPhone / iPad remotes in addition. Controlling music from the office would be handy.

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post #95 of 103
5/17/11 at 4:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF View Post

Yeah...and the $300 premium just for a bit of convenience when the TV is off might not make sense...especially if there's an iPad solution.

 

I'm a big fan of hard-button remotes (love the Harmony One), but this might push me to use iPhone / iPad remotes in addition. Controlling music from the office would be handy.



Yeah, that's it for me.   I like the ability to be in my kitchen, flip over to my Media Center remote on my ipad and change my current music playlist .. comes in handy.. especially when you need to skip something kid-inserted.

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post #96 of 103
5/28/11 at 7:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mattCR View Post

John:

 

I didn't get a response to the last PM I sent, so I hope that helped.   But what resolution are you setting at?   Realize, TMT will want to lock into 1920x1080 or 1280x720.  But if you exit it should autoreset back.


 

Hi Matt;

 

 What PM are you referring to?  I sent you a PM on May 8th at 07:54 PM and do not show having received anything from you since then.  I've been out tooling around Europe for the past week so I'm just getting settled back into my normal routine.  

 

I output to a Sanyo PLV-Z5, so my native resolution is 720P.

 

John

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post #97 of 103
5/28/11 at 7:39pm
Thread Starter 
I had just pm'd asking if you were using ati app drivers or bare.
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post #98 of 103
5/29/11 at 2:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Dirk View Post




 

Hi Matt;

 

 What PM are you referring to?  I sent you a PM on May 8th at 07:54 PM and do not show having received anything from you since then.  I've been out tooling around Europe for the past week so I'm just getting settled back into my normal routine.  

 

I output to a Sanyo PLV-Z5, so my native resolution is 720P.

 

John



 



Quote:
Originally Posted by mattCR View Post

I had just pm'd asking if you were using ati app drivers or bare.

 


Here's my current version info from CCC.
 
Driver Packaging Version 8.85-110419a-118907C-ATI
Catalyst Version 11.5
Provider ATI Technologies Inc.
2D Driver Version 8.01.01.1152
2D Driver File Path /REGISTRY/MACHINE/SYSTEM/ControlSet001/Control/CLASS/{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}/0000
Direct3D Version 7.14.10.0833
OpenGL Version 6.14.10.10750
AMD VISION Engine Control Center Version 2011.0419.2218.38209
 

 

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post #99 of 103
5/30/11 at 4:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mattCR View Post



 

As you've probably figured out, playing the same BD converted to MKV is a bit easier ;)  But, if you can, run a Belarc scan (www.belarc.com) and attach it to a private message here.  I can load it up and see what it looks like.  :)


Hi Matt;

 

I have actually not had any experience with MKV, but since joining in on this discussion I'm giving it serious thought.  While I'm getting most of my movies via Netflix these days, I do have a personal DVD collection nearing 600 titles and I own about 50 Blu Ray's.  Now that I'm using my HTPC for TV and music, I am very intrigued by the idea of migrating my movies, however I'm discouraged by the time I expect the migration would take.  On the positive side, I have 2 Pioneer DVD-F727's that I could presumably sell if I was able to migrate to a HTPC-based platform for movies.

 

Any information on transferring DVD's/BD's to HDD would be much appreciated.  I'm looking at a Drobo for storage.

 

Thanks

 

John

 

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post #100 of 103
8/2/11 at 11:33am

Very helpful thread, and one I plan to re-visit in the coming months as I start to plan out a whole-home DVR/HTPC. 

 

To start getting things figured out, I contacted my local cable company the other day inquiring about the availability of an M-Card.  I was surprised when they resopnded that they were unable to provide me with one at this time.  Has anyone else run into this issue?  I subscribe to a relatively small cableco (I live in a small town near Cedar Rapids, IA), which might be part of the issue. 

 

Anyhow, I responded that "I was allowed to self-install a set-top box last year, so I assumed _______ must be working to the August 1, 2011 deadline specified in ruling FCC 10-181 -- specifically, the amendments to Part 76 of Title 47, Subpart P (Competitive Availability of Navigation Devices), Section 76.1205 (CableCARD Support).  This date appears in Paragraph (b), sub-paragraphs (1), (2), and (4).  Perhaps you are instead working toward the November 1, 2011 deadline for providers who have not historically allowed self-installs?".  In retrospect, I hope I didn't come across as a jerk -- I genuinely did make that assumption.  And if the cableco is somehow unaware of the FCC mandate, I wanted to educate them.  I guess I'll see how they respond.
 

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post #101 of 103
12/29/11 at 9:23pm
Thread Starter 

There are some major updates to my list (on page one) planned soon; and I'll post a review of the new SiliconDust CableCard tuner also. 

 

(I received the new popcorn hour, but have run into a major problem so that review will be delayed until I sort that out)

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post #102 of 103
1/4/12 at 11:57am
Wow... I'm new to the forum, new to thinking about HTPC, and am just totally blown away by the fantastic information and Q&A gathered here. Thank you - everyone - for contributing to this thread and keeping it going for total newbies like me to stumble across. This is extremely helpful.
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post #103 of 103
1/4/12 at 3:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jlondon75 View Post

Wow... I'm new to the forum, new to thinking about HTPC, and am just totally blown away by the fantastic information and Q&A gathered here. Thank you - everyone - for contributing to this thread and keeping it going for total newbies like me to stumble across. This is extremely helpful.


Welcome!!! - This is without a doubt the best forum of its kind.  I've been a member for many year as have lots of us.  You will find expertise on a wide range of topics, and we all get along perfectly.  I think you'll be happy here.

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Ceton Infinitv4 Digital Cable Quad-tuner Card
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Other Diversions › Computers and HTPC › How to make your Windows Media Center a real HD machine