I have been using Windows Media Centre for many years on my HTPC (4 years old, 2Gb RAM) running Vista Ultimate 32bit. I have my standard Sky Receiver connected to my HTPC, and use an unsupported EPG (shall rename nameless) for all program listings. I also have a Media Extender. I use WMC for music, photos, video and TV. This has run flawlessly, but now I am contemplating biting the bullet and investigating the options for HDTV. My aging TV has died and the time has come to get a new full HDTV.
I can hopefully achieve an upgrade without replacing the HTPC. I would appreciate any resources and advice on how to proceed. I have not kept up to date with Sky connection with regard to HDTV. My end goal is to have a hires TV that can display photos/video in hires as well as TV when available. Maybe this is not even possible.
My Approach 1.Connect new HDTV. At this stage I would expect that I can view WMC in full HDTV resolution, including my photos and video (including Blueray). Possibly I will need additional RAM. I will also need to revisit the graphics adapter capabilities first.
2.Install Windows 7 Home Premium and mimic current functionality. My biggest concern here would be the EPG. What should I use? And should I go for 64bit OS?
3.Verify Media Extender (Linksys DMA2100) operation. I am assuming that this will continue to work (but not in high def).
4.Now this is where I venture in to the unknown... how do I get HDTV into my Media Centre? Or can I?
Really need more idea of what hardware is in the HTPC to be able to recommend. Certainly all of the things you have said you want to do are do-able dependant on the HTPC hardware.
Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64
Nety: Really need more idea of what hardware is in the HTPC to be able to recommend. Certainly all of the things you have said you want to do are do-able dependant on the HTPC hardware.
I just had a look, and discovered that I bought my HTPC 5 years ago! I cannot find the specs for it, but without opening it I found that it has an Intel Pentium 4 3.4GHz CPU, 2Gb RAM, Radeon X300/X550 display adapter. There is also a Hauppage tuner card but I don't use the tuner, I just capture the video from the Sky box. Given the age of the PC, I expect that it will need replacing.
I don't intend to replace the HTPC in the near future, but thought that if there was a simple path to HDTV then I would make any upgrades as required. I was hoping someone had already gone through what I was intending.
Seem my system has been working for such a long time, I have lost touch with what has been happening and what options are out there.
I guess the underlying question is how do I get Sky HD in to Media Centre?
I guess the underlying question is how do I get Sky HD in to Media Centre?
Assuming you have MySkyHDi (The only way to get HD Sky), you'll need a Tuner card that will accept composite input. The Blackgold cards have this, but it's a lot of coin to spend just for a composite input, altho they do have dual sat and dual DVBT tuners as well.
Lounge: WIN7 HOME x64 HTPC - E6420 2.13Ghz - 4Gb 800MHZ PATRIOT RAM - ASUS HD5670 1GB ASUS P5B-VM MOBO - LG BLU-RAY DRIVE - BG3595 TUNER - 1.5TB STORAGE PANASONIC 42" FULL HD PLASMA - PIONEER VSX1019AHK RECEIVER - WHARFDALE DIAMOND 10 SPEAKERS
Man Cave: XBOX 360 MODERN WARFARE 2 EDITION - PANASONIC 37" PLASMA - SONY MONSTA 5.1 SURROUND SYSTEM
Rollux: Assuming you have MySkyHDi (The only way to get HD Sky), you'll need a Tuner card that will accept composite input. The Blackgold cards have this, but it's a lot of coin to spend just for a composite input, altho they do have dual sat and dual DVBT tuners as well.
Thank you. I get the impression that this not a common requirement, and most people use mySkyHDi for recording. However, what I am after is definitely possible, albeit expensive.
It looks to me that I will need to do a lot more research, and start by updating my TV...
Cheers! This is exactly what I wanted. I had considered just using mySky but would miss being able to watch TV (live and recorded) in other rooms. I was not sure if I had any options anyway. Many thanks.
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