just a thought about xbox 360

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dragon12

24 posts

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#19084 4-Feb-2008 20:45

ok here we go and i apologise in advance

i have an xbox360 and i am using it on a lcd computer screen and it rocks but i want to connect the pc to the xbox 360 and then to the monitor and have tv running from the pc to the xbox 360 through a tv card

so i want to have the pc in another room running with a tv card in it and microsoft media centre. what is the best way to run the pc to the xbox 360 so i can use it as an extender adn will there be noticable delay?

i also want to have it so i can record tv onto the pc through the xbox 360. is this possible and how would i do it and could i control it from the xbox 360 like i have been told?

is it also possible to have sky on this setup? i have been told we ahve a weird signal or something and that tv tuners cant do it but hey worth a try right

so what i wanna do is ahve sky hooked up to this circuit so i can record sky onto the pc and jsut be able to run the pc all the time and turn the tv on through the xbox 360

is this possible and how would i do it and what materials would i need to do this

if someone can set me in the right direction it would be much appreciated as this setup would rock but it will take alot more computer knowledge then i have

cheers guys cant wait to hear your responses

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939 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#108571 4-Feb-2008 22:18

Why I have the strangest feeling of Deja Vu, I'm not sure, but anyway.

I assume that what you want is for a headless computer (ie, no mouse/keyboard/monitor) to be in one room (Let's call it room A) while you have the Xbox 360 in another room (Let's call this room B).

You want to watch TV on the LCD screen in 'room B' via the Xbox 360 which is acting as a Media Center Extender. The Media Center Extender will be connected to the computer in room A, and the computer in room A will also have Sky hooked up to it.

Is the above correct?

If it is.... Yes it is possible, you'd need to set up the Vista MCE computer with Sky in 'room A', this isn't hard but does require patience. You'd then need to run some ethernet cable between the Xbox 360 and the computer (I suggest a router to make it slightly easier) and finally configure the Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender.

In order:

1) Build computer.

2) Configure MCE to work with Sky.

3) Connect computer and Xbox 360 together.

4) Configure Xbox 360 to act as a Media Center Extender.

Again, if this is correct, let us know so we can help you set it all up. If it isn't, could you please try to tell us also.

dragon12

24 posts

Geek

#108636 5-Feb-2008 11:27

the setup you have said is perfect. i want a headless computer in room a and lcd monitor and the xbox 360 in room b. however as for the sky box is it possible to have it in room b connected to the xbox 360 and run to the pc because there will be a problem changing the channels if the sky is in room a wont there?

also do i have to have a vista computer? i really dont want to have vista. so i need to install vista on my pc with MCE and a tuner card in the pc. what would the best tuner card be?

munchkin

939 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#108660 5-Feb-2008 12:54

Vista would be recommended, as it is the easiest way to obtain MCE. You can buy XP MCE 2005 here if you'd like, but I feel that Vista is better in terms of both stability and widescreen support.

The Sky decoder does need to be connected to the computer - this is so that the computer can record TV shows etc, I'd definitely recommend that you try to get the EPG working to make channel changing easier. Having the decoder connected to the computer makes no difference when you're using MCE from an extender - it works and acts as if you're sitting in front of the computer (It wouldn't work if you tried to connect it to the Sky decoder, this can't be done)

To get the Sky signal into the computer, you'd need something along the lines of this, a Hauppauge PVR 150 MCE. This includes the remote and accessories that change the channel on the Sky decoder. The remote does work with an Xbox 360, too, meaning that you don't hve to buy the remote ofr the Xbox 360 (if you don't have it already).

The TV recordings use roughly 1.5GB per hour at the lowest quality setting so make sure that you get lots of storage if you're building a computer for this. If you're re-using a computer that you already have, what are the specs of the machine? You'll want something with a little bit of 'grunt'.

Once you have everything together, it isn't hard to get Sky working with MCE, and then to get he computer working with the Xbox 360. The most difficult part will be getting the guide working. The software that you'll need is called XMLTVNZ, it's donationware but really is the only option available; thankfully it is an excellent piece of software that does the job perfectly. You can get XMLTVNZ from www.reven.co.nz. Make sure you join the forums too, the guides that can help you set it up are there as well as a great community of people (many are from here).

Fossie

1240 posts

Uber Geek

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#108664 5-Feb-2008 13:08

Is it possible for the sky box to change channels through the rs232 port on the back?

munchkin

939 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#108670 5-Feb-2008 13:19

While i've never tried, I can imagine that it is entirely possible (I don't know for sure though, sorry). All you'd really need to do is find what codes can be sent/received, and then the particular format of each code (these would be that hard parts) and then code a small app that sends them - if one doesn't exist already.

Fossie

1240 posts

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#108673 5-Feb-2008 13:25

Because I could imagine using a the xbox controller or normal remote, and then using media centre to change the channels by running a little script could be easier than running an infrared receiver to the tv room?
Although I have never set this up before, I have had nothing but problems with my hvr-900 and media centre.

munchkin

939 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#108677 5-Feb-2008 13:32

Sorry, I'm a little confused, are you talking about Dragon12 running an IR receiver from the TV/Xbox 360 to the computer?

This wouldn't have to be done as the '360 has an IR port on the front that accepts input from a Media Center remote. When operating as an extender, you can change the TV channel 'through' the '360, which changes the channel on the computer over the network.

Sorry If I have completely missed the point, I'm currently suffering from that word that means you have really bad sleeping habits/Can't sleep at a normal time.

Edit: Insomnia!

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Fossie

1240 posts

Uber Geek

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#108679 5-Feb-2008 13:36

Whoops, completely forgot about that. My bad. How does your setup change the sky channel?

munchkin

939 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#108683 5-Feb-2008 13:50

Me? I have TCL service and 3 MCE machines in my flat, one with 2 analogue STBs, one with a digital STB and one for Freeview (This is also a video server). I have my 360 set up as an extender to the machine with 2 analogue STBs so that we can record/watch 3 subscription channels in the same room.

In other words, all the computers are connected directly to the STBs with IR blasters - the '360 essentially takes over one of the analogue boxes when we watch TV on it, but it acts as if it were a computer, so no different in terms of use.

I've also set it up so that all recorded shows are available on any TV (or on the various laptops with VLC). Flatmates know how to use it all now [read as 'make it go'], so it isn't too bad.

Fossie

1240 posts

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#108686 5-Feb-2008 13:53

Ah, Very nice.

munchkin

939 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#108688 5-Feb-2008 13:57

Thanks, I tend to think of it all as one of my electronic babies.

dragon12

24 posts

Geek

#110682 14-Feb-2008 19:55

ok i have new problems. hey what is new lol
this is what i have done. i have connected my laptop straight to my xbox 360 using an ethernet cable. my laptop is running xp mce and they connected all good untill i got this error:

console is unable to negotiate a lease with your dhcp server

now i do nothave the interent on my Laptop im just trying to get a connection and then later on im going to upgrade and do things to make my media centre the mack daddy but i cant get it working at the momment
what am i doing wrong adn what is the fix/ do i need the net to get it working?

please help guys

cheers

munchkin

939 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#110707 14-Feb-2008 21:37

Do you have a router that you could connect the laptop and the Xbox to? it would make things a lot easier.

If you don't, you'll need to manually assign them both an IP address. I'll get to this tomorrow, (Unless someone else does first) I'm a little busy now.

dragon12

24 posts

Geek

#110794 15-Feb-2008 12:13

hey mate. well everything is working now
i think my firewall and internet security was blocking it so i tried reinstalling everything again with firewall off and bingo it worked

now i have been hearing things on the grapevine that you can get a codec for MCE 2005 or a plugin to play divx and avi files through the xbox 360. at the momment they cannot read them
any ideas how to get around this?

munchkin

939 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#110798 15-Feb-2008 12:37

You can watch Divx files when you're viewing them from a computer share, not through Media Center. Right click on the folder that you want to share in XP, click properties and then click the sharing tab to share the folder. Make sure that you also click permissions and add 'Everyone' to the list of users who can access the files.

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