Build Home server with TV server

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haloo101

77 posts

Master Geek

#35314 8-Jun-2009 11:25

I want to build home server with TV server (freeview + analogue) from cheap(er) secondhand pc.
I know that I can use media portal.. Is there alternative for this
and what is the minimum spec for the pc..
Would onboard vid card work?
XP or Win 7 ?
Thanks

CYaBro

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#222627 8-Jun-2009 11:43

Are you going to use this server PC as the actual PC for viewing or will it just be a server and you will have another client PC for viewing TV?

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magu

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#222628 8-Jun-2009 11:44

To watch HD, you'll need a good graphics card. On-board card usually can't handle the HD feeds. Other than that, you can either go two ways (mainly):

- Windows 7 (which is in release candidate and free until mid-next year): has got a nice all-in-one media center that supports Freeview out-of-the-box.
- MythTV: the geek DYI way, very hands-on, and definitely not something to do if you just want it to work straight away. But it's free.

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." - Doc Emmet Brown

haloo101

77 posts

Master Geek

#222629 8-Jun-2009 11:46

I'll be using it as a server only ( serve tv ,recording, bittorrent)

haloo101

77 posts

Master Geek

#222631 8-Jun-2009 11:50

I guess i wouldn't need vid card for server.. but i am just thinking if there are other solution rather than mediaportal to serve tv

magu

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#222633 8-Jun-2009 12:03

If you want separate backend-frontend, MythTV would be the way to go.

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meesham

973 posts

Ultimate Geek

#222634 8-Jun-2009 12:06

You could look at 4TheRecord, it's a scheduler than can use a number of backends for the actual capturing of video streams, for example MediaPortal's TV Server or GBPVR. Nice thing is it comes with a web management console and Windows management GUI, so if your server is headless you can easily manage recording schedules and it'll stream the video. You can use something like VLC to view the streams from a client PC or the MediaPortal frontend.

http://4therecord.eu/?q=node/8

haloo101

77 posts

Master Geek

#222636 8-Jun-2009 12:12

magu: If you want separate backend-frontend, MythTV would be the way to go.

I have two windows clients. does myth tv support it

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magu

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#222640 8-Jun-2009 12:22

Nope. Linux only for MythTV. I guess you'll have to go with MediaPortal.

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." - Doc Emmet Brown

haloo101

77 posts

Master Geek

#222647 8-Jun-2009 12:36

I have pci-e tv card (1x i think).. does it fit to any PCI-e slot (e.g. graphic slot)

meesham

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Ultimate Geek

#222649 8-Jun-2009 12:39

Yes, a PCE-e 1x will work in a 4x or 16x, but a 16x won't work in a 4x. I currently have a PCI-e 4x SATA controller running in a 16x slot in my server.

haloo101

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Master Geek

#222654 8-Jun-2009 12:45

i think it would work then..
thanks guys ..

kiwijunglist

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#222663 8-Jun-2009 13:16

Go with mediaportal tvserver on the server
and run mediaportal on your client pc
for network connection standard wifi is not fast enough for streaming hd content
generally go with a wired network connection as tvserver can have issues occasionally with wireless networking (apart from the speed issue)

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

haloo101

77 posts

Master Geek

#222681 8-Jun-2009 13:58

i was planning to get 5 port switch anyway

kiwijunglist

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#222744 8-Jun-2009 16:42

if you go with mediaportal tv server on the server, and decide to use S3 resume when server is not in use, get the powerscheduler patch that detects network traffic.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

eXDee

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#222776 8-Jun-2009 18:06

meesham: Yes, a PCE-e 1x will work in a 4x or 16x, but a 16x won't work in a 4x. I currently have a PCI-e 4x SATA controller running in a 16x slot in my server.

Apparently a 16x will actually go in a 1x slot, providing the slot has one end open so it'll fit. Someone was using a graphics card for their 2nd monitor in the 1x slot i believe.