Best Home Entertainment/Media Center Edition Setup

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sbiddle

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#59442 1-Feb-2007 08:01

I use GBPVR myself as well.

I have a PC sitting in the lounge running GBPVR on XP with a Hauppauge MCE150 TV card and Microsoft remote. I only use this for storing recorded TV - my main server has all my music, video & photo collection on it primarily because I can then access them 24/7 from anywhere as my PVR is in S3 sleep mode if not in use to save power (GBPVR can bring the PC out of sleep mode to record TV and then go back to sleep) and this is currently hooked up to a 40" Philips Rear projection TV.

GBPVR is very cool - espeically the new version with the YouTube plugin. It's quite easy to get addicted to it sitting in front of the TV and picture quality is surprisingly good for many videos even played on the big screen.

lchiu7

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#59479 1-Feb-2007 12:57

Since we are talking about configurations. this is mine

GBVVR running on a Shuttle PC with Hauppauge PVR250 connected to TCL digital cable box over composite. Shuttle connected to home network (and Internet) via 802.11a connection to Belkin A+G router. (used A before G became more common and anyway, no worries about 2.4GHz cordless phones), USB-UIRT to control cable box and Girder to control all PC functions with Harmony 880 remote control.

GBPVR can access all content on my server over the wireless so can view video content both recorded on the PVR and also downloaded. Display device 56" JVC-DILA RP set connected via DVI to HDMI.

Girder and Harmony make the unit usable for everybody in the family including my wife so that works out well.

Main room - Samsung HD841 DVD SACD and DVD-A player connected to Sanyo projector and 100" screen. Also a Pinnacle 1000G media player that can access all content on the file server (video, audio and photos). Connected to home network using a Netgear 802.11g wireless bridge. Probably need to get another Harmony in that room since I use 3 remotes now.

To do - install Hauppauge PVR-USB2 device to connect to Freeview box in case TCL don't provide Freeview over the cable. Also would allow ability to record two channels at once - say pay TV off the cable box and Freeview off the DVD-T box. Also how to work out to get the Shuttle to sleep so it wakes up when recordings are due - haven't worked out that part yet.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

sbiddle

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#59482 1-Feb-2007 13:37

lchiu7: Also how to work out to get the Shuttle to sleep so it wakes up when recordings are due - haven't worked out that part yet.

Is your BIOS set to S3 power saving mode? What other options are there in the power options on a Shuttle BIOS?

euanandrews

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#59546 1-Feb-2007 21:36

Something that is frustrating my Home Entertainment network project is being able to buy a device to connect the network to the TV...
I'm wanting to find a dvice that HD compliant at the least...
The 4 suitable devices I have found so far are all not available in New Zealand...

The D-Link DSM-510 High Definition Media Player
The D-Link DSM-520 Wireless HD Media Player
The D-Link DSM-750 High Definition Draft N Media Player
The HP z565 Digital Entertainment Center

Any other ideas/alternatives/supppliers?

The Netgear EVA8000 Digital Entertainer HD
The Avocent MPX1000 Reciever

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