Media Center setup

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jimmy83

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Iam slowly getting some nice tech and setting a decent AV setup. I've got a 42'' Panasonic TV, XBOX 360, Kenwood AV receive(few years old now tho) and just got a Humax freesat PVR.

I would like to setup XBMC somehow, can anyone recommend the best way to do this with the gear I've already got?

Currently using my 360 to watch films/TV which streams from Win 7 PC, which is ok but the interface isn't great and the connection sometimes drops out.

Can anyone offer any advice? Thanks.
 
Best way to do it is to buy something like an Acer Revo and run xbmclive on it. Depending on the TV and its 24fps compatibility (if it's a later Panny, it should be OK) you should be able to stream blu-ray rips quite nicely.

#I know it isn't with the gear you already have, but xbmc isn't ported to the 360...
 
PS. I have 2 xbmc setups here, streaming from a wired PC nicely (I can also stream wirelessly to a number of PCs in the house, but none of those are running xbmc) and will be buying a third xbmc setup next week.
 
Not on the 360 you can't... Also, the original xbox (I have a modded one here if anyone wants it!) can only do SD decodes.
 
will need new kit then..

as above you can use an acer revo 3610 (the new model isnt as good aparently) which gets good reviews however i had a right ball ache getting mine to work stutter free so sold it and built an ITX system for slightly more moeny.
 
neil_g said:
however i had a right ball ache getting mine to work stutter free
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I reckon that's 'cos you were running Windows... Does take a little to get setup, but there are posts on the xbmc forum which help you. There's also http://www.openelec.tv/ who are packaging the software for an almost pain free experience.

I think I'm going with a passive shuttle system (based on the new Atom/ION2) with SSD for my new box. A bit more expensive than the Revo route, but it will be silent (and it is for a bedroom system so...)
 
arad85 said:
I reckon that's 'cos you were running Windows... Does take a little to get setup, but there are posts on the xbmc forum which help you. There's also http://www.openelec.tv/ who are packaging the software for an almost pain free experience.

I think I'm going with a passive shuttle system (based on the new Atom/ION2) with SSD for my new box. A bit more expensive than the Revo route, but it will be silent (and it is for a bedroom system so...)
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yeah maybe, it was better in the dharma beta 2 so hopefully theyll nail it in windows soon. it wasnt like it was maxing out any resource..

i need to replace the case on my ITX HTPC, it uses a 60mm fan and no one seems to make a quiet one.. :bang: i want my old passive ATX HTPC back.. :'(
 
Ok thanks for the ideas, I didn't really want to shell out for another bit if tech but looks like I may have too.

How much we looking at for a Revo? I guess only need a basic model, and then cat5 that to my Win7 C2D PC?

I do also own a HDMI laptop and dell mini OSX netbook.

TV is only 720p...can't remember the model no.

Apple TV sounds like a great option actually and would would great with my iP4 which is jailbroken and they have an XBMC app out for it actually. I know quite abit about jailbreaking etc, so setting things up should be pretty straight forward.

What are the pro's/con's to a Revo over apple TV?
 
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Think we are just on the right side of the forum rules so far but please remember no 'how to' or 'links to' info on breaking licences etc...
 
out of those 2 id go for a revo running XBMC, its going to have way more poke than the appletv, its easily upgradable/expandable, if/when you get a 1080 display you can output to that resolution etc, the revo has esata to bolt on a load of fast storage if you ever want it..
 
Oppps think what I've wrote is ok? Jailbreaking is fine to talk about isn't since the latest rulling?
 
jimmy83 said:
Oppps think what I've wrote is ok? Jailbreaking is fine to talk about isn't since the latest rulling?
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i think robert means the whole issue of backing up your media to playback on a media library. which, although is very similar to itunes etc letting you rip CDs to your ipod, is against the law for video.. discussing the how to do that bit would be against forum rules.
 
jimmy83 said:
How much we looking at for a Revo? I guess only need a basic model, and then cat5 that to my Win7 C2D PC?
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Yup. Cat5e to the PC, although all these mini boxes have either g or n wireless built in..

The "old" style revo is £228 at ebuyer: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/225754

The new style (i.e. ION2 based one) £222: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/236579


jimmy83 said:
I do also own a HDMI laptop and dell mini OSX netbook.
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You might be able to get away with running xbmc on the laptop - it'll depend on age and graphics hardware (most systems do the decode in the GPU). You could try it and see how good it is though: http://xbmc.org/download/

jimmy83 said:
Apple TV sounds like a great option actually and would would great with my iP4 which is jailbroken and they have an XBMC app out for it actually. I know quite abit about jailbreaking etc, so setting things up should be pretty straight forward.
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Have a look in the xbmc forums on AppleTV and support and make a decision then. The iphone app will control any xbmc system (I have the "same" app on my Android tablet).
 
As far as i am aware the New ATV will do 1080 but there is a lag with starting to play it.

720 is ok though.

£99 delivered VS £300 with the revo so that is one reason, but you get a PC in that as well...
 
PS. Any of the cheap (~£15) ebay MCE remotes can be used to control xbmc.
 
crashtestmac said:
As far as i am aware the New ATV will do 1080 but there is a lag with starting to play it.

720 is ok though.

£99 delivered VS £300 with the revo so that is one reason, but you get a PC in that as well...
Click to expand...

AppleTV2 FAQ from xbmc forum said:
Q: You say XBMC can do 1080p but it only display's 720p! You liar!
A: XBMC can decode 1080p video's but atm the ATV2 is limited to display 720p output only. Its still a question if this is hardware limited or software limited. Currently this has no priority.
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A quick look suggests there are other issues with ATV2 - but I don't have one to play with so don't know how much of a hassle or not it is. I do have a years experience of xbmc on a revo though and know it is a rock solid system and plays anything that I throw at it pretty much flawlessly.

If you need to know anything about setup etc... drop me a PM if you think it's too OT for this forum. My other hobby is single handedly keeping the UK IT component industry afloat by building lots of PCs (we have 8 PCs here, including 4 laptops...)
 
If you are thinking of buying the Acer Revo with Windows 7 as the OS, I would suggest looking at the media centre app that is part of Home Premium and add on the free Media Browser software.

I've got my media centre running it, as well as my office PC and it is a stunning interface to use, has some excellent themes and plugins (iPlayer, etc).

This should run fine on the Revo, and makes the whole HTPC experience a very nice one.

You may also want to look at the meta <browser> app to get all your cover art, backdrops, film/TV meta data, etc.

Just an alternative idea :)

Regards

Paul C
 
Psmeg said:
If you are thinking of buying the Acer Revo with Windows 7 as the OS, I would suggest looking at the media centre app that is part of Home Premium and add on the free Media Browser software.

I've got my media centre running it, as well as my office PC and it is a stunning interface to use, has some excellent themes and plugins (iPlayer, etc).

This should run fine on the Revo, and makes the whole HTPC experience a very nice one.

You may also want to look at the meta <browser> app to get all your cover art, backdrops, film/TV meta data, etc.

Just an alternative idea :)

Regards

Paul C
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if you go for media center id suggest upgrading the RAM. its not the lightest of apps.

but that combo is pretty much everything i use now on my ITX box, W7 ultimate with media center, mediabrowser plugin for films and meta browser to get all the artwork/film data/actors info yada yada.. the only other thing is i have Arcsoft Total Media Theatre 3 for blu-ray playback.
 
iplayer/imdb/tvdb allowing metadata browsing etc... all available for xbmc too (I use them daily). I have a single database which is shared across my xbmcs - updated in one place and then shared. I can even stop a movie downstairs and go upstairs and resume it from the plkace I left off...

A media player is a pretty closed system once you have it setup. IMHO, linux is the way to do that. My xbmc runs in about 300Mbytes (I have 2G shared with graphics installed). Plus, you don't have to pay extra for the OS ;)
 
The trick is getting the hardware to do it with the revo....
 
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