Turn your PC into home theater computer server

WinTV-PVR 150 and MCE version What's the difference?

WinTV PVR-150

This is the one I use...
RF Coax for TV ANT or CATV
S-Video
Composite Video
Stereo Audio using 1/8 Y RCA L/R adapter

WinTV-PVR-150MCE

Same as above except it has FM and RCA L/R Stereo Connections

If you hook your PC directly to TV using your Video Card S-Video out and your sound card audio out to your TV RCA Left/Right using 1/8 Y Stereo RCA L/R Adapter is another to watch your DVDs.

Very nice setup you have there

Do you know if there is there a version of the MediaMVP that can connect to HDTVs?

Thanks.. Yes it's coming out soon and it will support Component Video as well as HDMI. I am looking forward for that myself..

Tipstir (or anyone else i suppose);
I was thinking of the Haupauge WinTV HVR3000 to go in to my new HTPC build. Am also thinking of running XP Media Center 2005 on it too, instead the appropriate Vista alternative.
Any thoughts on this? Can't see any info that says the HVR3000 is fully supportive of and by XP MCE 2005 (some others do).
I also wonder if its worth looking at normal XP and using Media Portal instead. But whatever i use i want to take full advantage of a remote control and possibly a wireless media centre keyboard, so they all need to be compatible.
Your advice is appreciated, thanks

Media Center has MHN support for media devices streamed over the network XP Pro doesn't have that feature.

I have one set setup using wireless keyboard and laser mouse from logitech connect to PC running MCE 2005 to HDTV. If setup correctly you can use the mouse or use the Hauppauge 45-button remote instead of the mouse.

Note: Make sure you have enough cooling fans in the system since these Hauppauge do tend to get very hot when they start to do heavy duty in recordings. They won't crash just they get hot and the case should be kept cool. If you decide to get more than one card look at bearless turbo fans last longer.

Thanks dude. I will only be wanting the one card, as long as i get a dual tuner one, like the HVR3000. Am looking forward to starting this project. But i have a date with Mickey Mouse on wednesday.....when i fly out to Disney for 2 weeks.......woohoooo! So will start looking into it again after that.

I don't wanna close this thread though as i need all the info/advice i can get, so please feel free to continue posting your HTPC stuff in here. I'll still be asking questions.

k.jacko said:

I don't wanna close this thread though as i need all the info/advice i can get, so please feel free to continue posting your HTPC stuff in here. I'll still be asking questions.

Click to expand...

This is a sticky it won't be close, so it will be always open..

New! MCE 2007 Skin Theme for Media MVP



This a design I've come up with for those of you who use the Media MVP connected to your SDTV 4x3 mode or HDTV 16x9 mode.



There is a small emulator that displays this on the PC side is what I use to take the screen shots with.

Can be downloaded from here:
http://hosted.filefront.com/tipstir

Instructions..
1. Download
2. Then run the installer
3. That's it and you can start using the MCE 2007 skin theme on MVP.

More images on the Gallery

helius version of Media MVP off Ebay

$41 to $43 plus shipping - I had bid on two of these I got them this week..

You get all what you see below.



rear with RF coax


I did try the RF coax to a 13" Color TV and it work great the PQ was very good. Normally you don't get RF coax as the retail Media MVP doesn't have that feature. This was made for the helius company only.

bottom showing the firmware

New Blog - for Tipstir!

I've put together a blog it will have all my media creations and all the network tweaks for wired/wireless and trouble shooting technics to help your network along better...

http://tipstir.blogspot.com/

Removed

Removed by tipstir

Hauppauge MediaMVP Server Software Skin Theme Releases

MCE 2007 v1.05 was released today
Download it from here:
http://files.filefront.com/mce2007+mvpexe/;8848640;/fileinfo.html

Hauppauge SageTV MediaMVP Skin Theme released today
Download it from here:
http://files.filefront.com/hsagetv+mvpexe/;8853530;/fileinfo.html

Running Network Streaming Media Music Server

I've been testing a few and found this one works the best... Plus it's for free and easy to setup with security! I run a web server with internal web page and have all PCs both wired and wireless able to access number of sites and maintain the Network through Router, Wireless Access Points and Wireless Drop Bridge. I've added Vibestreamer works nice.

http://www.vibestreamer.com/

Running Network Streaming Recorded Media Server

For streaming recorded media from your cable tuner you can use VLC with any media web server like the free one from SageTV WebServer works great too. But SageTV is required to use. I can access that off my network to view all recorded media off the SageTV Server/Recorder. VLC can work the same way without SAGETV but if you have it works out great!

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Wow...so this is turning ur pc into tivo basically right???

I am building a gaming rig...but after looking @ this thread...i woud be happy if a simple how to type doc was put together for rookies lol

Someone like my father would be amazed by this stuff

How does this work

Myzz617 said:

Wow...so this is turning ur pc into tivo basically right???

I am building a gaming rig...but after looking @ this thread...i woud be happy if a simple how to type doc was put together for rookies lol

Someone like my father would be amazed by this stuff

Click to expand...

I write reviews on hardware and software.. This should help you out..

My review on Hauppuage PVR-150 Tuner Cards (lots to read plus show how)
http://www.epinions.com/content_172320853636

My review on Hauppauge MediaMVP
http://www.epinions.com/content_160603278980

Really it's not that hard to do..

You can buy one from already built or build it yourself ( rather this way)
Need basically 3 Tuner Cards (CATV Analog or CATV Digital or SATV)
3-way Coax Splitter
3x R6 Ultra Coax Cable 6 ft
PC should be 2GHz as the min
PC should have 1GB of DDR or better RAM
PC should have 320GB or (500GB or 1TB if you like to record and don't delete you recordings)
PC should have a Video Card that supports S-Video, DVI or HDMI
PC should have a Sound Card that supports Analog, Digital Coax/Toshilink
PC should have wireless keyboard and laser mouse or remote control
PC monitor should have either 16x9 HD 1440x900 or better

You can start off simple and move up... When I did this back in 2004 there were a lot of rebates so adding more tuner cards were easy. I also stream the media down to the TV from the PC. Using Hauppauge MediaMVP boxes.

Now to really get into this you'll need software..

PVR - free ?

or

PVR - pay for.. (SageTV) You're better off with the one you pay for, the free ones can be a bit of a pain in the neck to deal with or CTPVR is good.

SageTV
www.sagetv.com

CTpvr
www.ctpvr.com

If you need help just post it here...

Radio Shack 15-2146 Universal Remote Control

15-2146
Voice Prompt Universal Remote from Radio Shack by UEI

Backlight Off


Backlight On


I've tried two different remotes one from URC group and now with UEI for Radio Shack for only $14.97. What you get for your $14.97 is a backlight, 58-button remote, learning mode with macro buttons, auto search code lookup, manual pre-program codes, 6-in-1 devices: AUX, DVD, CBL/SAT, TV, VCR, AUD and a female voice prompt which walks you through each step. Now when it comes to computerize voice devices I must have it! But this one caught my eye as I was in the market for some sort of universal remote to replace my 5 remotes in two rooms and 3 or 4 in the other rooms in my house.

I had purchased the above after doing a lot of research after trying out 3 URC-R6 series (crappy) then moving on to the Logitech Harmony 659 $100 bucks for that one ouch! I never open that one up and it will be going back later this week.. Voice Prompt Universal Remote was easy to setup and program. To use the learning mode was so easy a child could do it. Okay in this case it's me.. ;D

Just press and hold setup then when you here the voice then press the [5] then press [1] and the device key you want say in this case [Aux]. Make sure the old remote you had is lined-up going head to head with this remote. Press the button voice remote you want to use let's say [power] then wait for the LED to flash, now press/hold the [power] on the older remote until the female voice says "Success!" Now try out the button and see that it works. Well so far it works.. The voice prompt even checks with you to see if everything is a.o.k :thumbup:

I must say after getting my Trutech PLV1615T U - 15" Thin LCD SD/HDTV to work with this remote was so easy after I had use the learning feature and some macros. Hauppauge MediaMVP was another one to deal with. Got it working and it’s much better than the 45-button remote I had use from Hauppauge. With the URC brand it worked then forgot the codes. UEI worked like it was suppose too.

UEI - M780 Digital Cable DVR Universal Remote


I also have Motorola DCT 6200 SD/HDTV Single Turner but that uses UEI Digital Cable HD M780 universal remote so since I already have UEI Voice Prompt remote shouldn't work? Yes it does! Just had to learn it PVR Menu and M1 which I are the macros for On demand and DVR List. Everything else works like a charm!

Since all my test on this remote worked so good. I also tried out my Motorola DCT 6412 and DCT 6416 and both worked. Yesterday I drove myself to two different Radio Shack stores and picked up 4 more 15-2146 for a total of five! Hey they work so good I'll do the entire house with them.

UEI - Female Voice Prompt Universal Remote for Radio Shack


There is a review on this remote by me here: http://www.epinions.com/content_406503722628

Tested

Network Media Streaming
5x Hauppauge Media MVP - use learning mode with macros...
2x Helius Media MVP - use learning mode with macros...

Dolby Digital/DST Surround Sound Recievers (default) AUD is setup for Pioneer - use learning on 3 macros
1x Pioneer VSX 608D
1x Pioneer VSX 509S
1x Pioneer VSX 490

DVD/Recorders - pre-codes and learning mode macros
1x LiteOn DVD/DVD Recorder LW-5101
1x Toshiba DVD 5-DISC
1x Philip Divx DVD/Player

Digital Cable Boxes with or without SD/HDTV and DVR - used pre-codes and learning for two macros
1x Motorola DCT 2000
1x Motorola DCT 6200
1x Motorola DCT 6412
1x Motorola DCT 6416

TV
1x Trutech PLV1615T U - 15" Thin LCD TV - learning mode and macros
1x Daewoo 13" TV - pre-code
1x Quasar 13" TV/Combo - pre code
1x Panasonic 36" TV -pre code
1x Pansonic 27" TV - pre code

Major Changes in this Release v1.10 HSagetV Skin for MVP

Important Note: This is for Hauppuage Software Server and for those who use this software with SageTV instead of the SageTv MVP Client.

What's New!

I've re-coded the code so you can see the following changes.
Change the format of the Main Menu to what you see below:
Changed the order of selection to: SageTV Recordings, Music, Radio Photo.
Setup which will open the correct menu per your selection.
No more jumping around the menus. That's been fixed now.



1. SageTV Recordings
2. Music
3. Radio
4. Photo
5. Setup

Note: For now on all new skins themes will start off with SageTV Recordings (all others will have Videos, Music, Radio, Photo, Setup in that order). This theme has active menus as black text instead of white so you can read what you have selected. Thats for this theme right now. Everything else will follow this format.

Next version 1.15 will have Photo instead Pictures labeled when you select Photo. Setup will have all menu active text in black. Right now you have some that are. I am still working on it but you can use this theme right now as-is...

Direct download for v1.10 here:
http://files.filefront.com/hsagetv+mmvp110exe/;8881473;/fileinfo.html

Below was taken from the next v1.15 not released yet...

StageTV Recordings


Music


Radio


Photo


Still working on Photo and Setup....

Alright. thanks tipstir...thats enough to keep me busy 4 a while since my game rig is not built yet..Will make a check list and add the additional accessories after my build...as for the monitor i have 2 Hp 1740's. Should I up grade to a HD LCD? If so any recommendations?

No you should be okay.. Are you planning on recording and watching recorded media on the PC or on the TV? The way I have it setup I can watch all recorded tv shows on the PC, TV or stream the media onto wireless laptops or wired desktop too. Most users just hook the PC to the TV. Some leave the PC in a closet and just use it a media recorder server. Remote into the box to check on things if needed. That's pretty much how I do it also.

v1.15 Released!

Direct download here!
http://files.filefront.com/hsagetv+mmvp115exe/;8919474;/fileinfo.html

StageTV Recordings



What's New!
16x9 Support Added to skin mods
Changed OSD to match the theme, this is my style as you'll soon see.

Note: I've added support to 16x9 skin ratio.. Don't worry if you have 4:3 it will still display the skin like normal
If you got 16x9 turn on. With 16x9 SD/HDTV Widescreen you might see the image wider? Still working on that idea!
My goal is to get more images for Pictures and more rows for Videos instead of 6 down say 12 down. Right now it's just 6.

STill have to work on Photo and Configure but it works..

HD Streaming Router WZR2-G300N Replacement

Well as you know I have 7 Media MVP well the other day this week my router started to drop packets so that now meant time to find another router. So I decided to stick with the trusted Buffalo Routers, but to stay in line with the norm, I did get a N wireless router.



They have this labeled as a speed demon, well they aint kidding... I just ran some WAN to LAN test on www.speedtest.net and I got these results...

try #1.



try #2.



Also prior loading times with the MVP took forever with my 8MB of RAM 4MB Flash wired router. Now this new N has 16MB and 4MB of Flash, but it has high speed features for HD streaming and wireless up to 300Mpbs.. With the 54G mode I get 125Mbp. But you got to use their network devices to get those results though. Now all media is loads faster. I use to wait for 353 pages with 6 lines per page per TV screen to show Music files. Now it 1, 2, 3 it on the screen. Everything looks quicker. Those 3 ANTs with my two Buffalo WHR-54G-HP Access Points makes the place wireless at strong excellent rating..

I'll write a full review on post it on www.epinions.com later after all testing.. So far so good. I had to make some changes on my infrastructure. The old way with the NICs are gone the new way with the NICs is here to stay. So if you have some network streaming problems you might want to try out the popular WZR2-G300N.