Rebuild of HTPC with streaming focus - comments and suggestions please

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timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#104645 19-Jun-2012 12:56

Hi All,

I am onto my third HTPC, not so much of a technical upgrade (except for a new case) but a refocus. I use Windows Media Centre and would like to stay with that, although I am prepared to look at alternatives. The focus is on the ability to watch live TV, videos off my server, and streaming services. I use Unblock-is.com to watch US and UK shows. What I want to achieve is:

1) Watching live TV (this excludes XBMC as I dont want to worry about beta code). This works fine in MCE, I have both DVB-T and DVB-S2 cards. I also have Windows Home Server 2011 so archive off shows to that

2) Watch Netflix. I did have this working but now cannot get it back (ARGH!). I am trying more options tonight but would appriciate any input

3) Watch Hulu. This should be fine with the MCE Add in

4) Watch BBC. I can do this with the iPlayer add-in

5) Watch local videos. Currently I use Media Browser and Haali Splitter to play MKV files

6) Watch Vudu. Currently no option other that via a web browser

7) Watch Blu-ray disks. Not SO important as I usually rip them anyway to disk. Can be done with TotalMedia Theater 5, but not yet purchased.

So, I am interested in recommendations and comments as to the above. My biggest issue at the moment is Netflix not working in MCE.

Or should I be looking at other options? I did think of get PlayTV, however it was missing the EPG for some channels when I last looked.

I do have an Apple TV as well, but would prefer a single box solution.

Disrespective

1926 posts

Uber Geek

#643349 19-Jun-2012 18:27

1) You must have this sorted, it's easy to do in any case.

2) I had to fiddle with my location settings on the windows side under the time and location settings from memory. Then redoing the installation of WMC so that it picks up the Netflix add-on and installs it automatically.

I think I then moved it using Media Center Mender (aka Media Center Studio) so that it would be retained when I changed my time and location settings back.

3,4) Same as 1

5) I use/d media browser for a long time. I happily recommend it to others. I used the Windows 7 Codec Pack (www.windows7codecs.com) for the codec installation and it worked great first time.

Getting sub titles to turn on and off correctly based on language was a bit trickier as it requires setting up Haali's language priority but it is easy enough to figure out once in the menus.

6)You could try Kylo (http://kylo.tv/) for an integrated browser. I've never used it but seen it mentioned around the interwebs.

7) *shrug*

Also, what version Apple TV do you have? If it's a V2 i'd be keen to buy it. I have been trying to find one for my parents to use but haven't had much luck (not that i've looked in a while) I need a V2 to be able to jailbreak it. V3 isn't done yet.

timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#643381 19-Jun-2012 19:04

Yes, I have the tuner part already sorted - dual DVB-T and single DVB-S, which I use to download 7 days of guide data and use the Media Centre functionality to copy the guide data to the DVB-T channels.

Actually, you reminded me how I did it last time - I changed the region to USA then ran the Media Centre setup from scratch, telling it I was in the USA. This must have downloaded Netflix. Then I changed it back to NZ, added the tuners (the USA doesn't support DVB-T) and did the registry hack to change it back to USA so I didn't loose Netflix.

And yeah, Media Centre is VERY cool. I did have problems with it on my last media centre, but now its running well. What player do you use? I am looking at using TotalMedia Theater 5, which apparently can use things like madVR for the ultimate in tweaking!

I never thought of the subtitles, and I do watch foreign films, so I will have to sort that.

As for Vudu, I think that's just too hard in MCE :-(

And I do have a version 2, but sorry, like it too much to sell it. I sold my last one (same version) then had to buy another one a week latter! I have a US iTunes account and it makes a fantastic movie rental service. You get them instantly, they are in HD, and the price is decent.

I have been looking at Media Centre Studio, but as its out of development I was unsure. I wanted to change the menus and this is the best way I can find to do it, plus change the guide screen to have more channels.

What hardware do you run?

Disrespective

1926 posts

Uber Geek

#643528 19-Jun-2012 23:12

I was thinking that if you wanted to use Vudu then you could use an integrated browser rather than opening an external browser. That being said, a little trickery with a universal remote and WinHotKey is able to do the same thing I suppose.

I have an Apple TV V3 here but it isn't able to do what I need. The V2 on the other hand is. Silly Apple. This is getting off topic but would you consider a swap?

My HTPC machine is a quad core AMD with 4GB RAM but the server is a pretty low specced machine as all it needs to be is a headless data wh0re. I'm trying to get rid of the PC and integrate a smaller solution in both my place and my parents at the moment but is proving harder than I thought.

Yeah, Media Center Studio is out of development but there is a version out there which has been adapted to work with by placing some files in the app data folder. I'll see if I can hunt it down. It does still work but it has also borked a few things (not unfixable) as well heh. There's a missingremote post on using another app called media center valve to do similar things. Might be worth a look.

timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#643568 20-Jun-2012 07:20

I have an Apple TV V3 here but it isn't able to do what I need. The V2 on the other hand is. Silly Apple. This is getting off topic but would you consider a swap?

What wont the V3 do that the V2 can? Are you trying to install XBMC or something? I could well be interested in a swap as I dont plan to jailbreak mine.

Disrespective

1926 posts

Uber Geek

#643578 20-Jun-2012 08:30

Yeah, I want xbmc on it to stream some network shares. I'll pm you to take this away from the point of your post.

timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#643590 20-Jun-2012 09:02

Disrespective: Yeah, I want xbmc on it to stream some network shares. I'll pm you to take this away from the point of your post.

Ok, thanks, I will look out for the PM.

timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#643594 20-Jun-2012 09:06

Just an update for anybody reading this.

I installed Hulu Desktop last night, and the Media Centre Integration too, which gives a menu item for Hulu, but switches out to the Hulu Desktop app then back again to Media Centre when finished. A bit naff but it all works from the remote control.

Also got iPlayer working again, love this app, very well integrated into Media Centre, lets me use the remote, and far better than TunerFreeMCE, which has a real naff interface

Still dont have Netflix in Media Centre, looks like I will have to revert back to running setup and say I am in 90210 ;-)

All of this is why I am looking at my options. Currently I like the following:

1) Tivo for live and recorded TV. I can get the network pack to copy off recordings if I want
2) Apple TV or Roku or PS3 for all streaming options. Need to research this more and would appreciate any comments. I have an Apple TV2 with a US account, and setup my PS3 in the same way. Both have Netflix etc.