LinuxMCE - User contributions [en]

Follow Me

2008-09-19T19:44:20Z

Behave:

Follow-me works in a number of different ways... the simplest does not require any fancy hardware beyond a Core/Hybrid and a 2nd MD. Start some media playing at the Core/Hybrid, click home and then select the media flloor plan. Now click the the big 'F' button and it will turn red. Now you have a number of options... you could change the room that you are controlling to the room that your 2nd MD is in... and the Media you had playing at your Core/Hybrid will start playing there! Change the room that you are controlling back to the Room that your Core/Hybrid is in again... and the Media will jump back to the Core/Hybrid again and continue playing. You can also do a similar trick from the Media Floor plan... if you have a floor plan graphic added. Again get the Media playing at the MD you are sitting at and then get the Media Floor plan up on screen (make sure follow-me is on in the Media Floor plan). Now move the highlight over to the MD that you want to move the media to and click once... next move the highlight to the Media playing list on the Media Floor plan (it will be the name of the media you chose to play). Click this media once... magically the media with 'move' to the MD you chose to move it to... and continue playing where it left off!

Now with a Bluetooth enabled phone the idea is to make this totally transparent... just turn on follow-me on the phone and move from the room your in to another room with an MD with a bluetooth dongle attached... and magically when the MD your moving towards can sense your bluetooth signal it will make the media move across to it. The problem is that Bluetooth signal are too powerful and lmce can't determine which MD you are closer to reliably. If it worked well this would be great because almost everyone owns a mobile and almost all of them have bluetooth (at least here in Europe thats the case). But it does not work reliably at all... believe me we have tried for a long time to make this work... it just doesn't (enough of the time).

The [[Fiire Chief]] remote does work... 100% of the time (or pretty close to 100%). Just add a Fiire dongle to all your MD's... then press 'follow-me' on the remote before you leave a room (to tell the system when you want pickup from in your media playback) then walk to the other room and press 'follow-me' again and the Media will pickup from the point where you pressed 'follow-me' in the previous room. This works so well you have to see it to understand how impressive it is... because it is damn impressive!

----
From the forum [http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=2030.msg12496#msg12496].

[[Category: Tutorials]]

MD Newbie Pack Slim I

2008-09-19T19:42:24Z

Behave: /* Remote */

[[Category: Hardware]]
[[Category: Newbie_Packs]]
[[Category: Media_Directors]]
{| align="right"
| __TOC__
|}

[[Image: Silverstone_Lc19-v1.jpg|thumb|200px|Silverstone LaCasa 19 Case]]

[[Image:MSI_7329.jpg|thumb|200px|MSI Media Live (7329) Motherboard]]

[[Image:FiireChief.jpg|thumb|200px|Fiire Chief Remote Control]]

''Note: Some of the components on this list may not be available outside of Europe. Look [http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Category:Newbie_Packs here] for other Media Director examples.''

= Status =
Confirmed working with 0704, 0710b3, 0710b4, 0710RC1

= Features =
* Small HiFi form factor
* Brushed aluminum front
* Clear design
* Plenty of outputs (component, HDMI, ..)
* low power usage
* UI2 capable (reported up to 720p)

= Components =
== Case ==
[[SilverStone LaCasa LC19]]

See [http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_spec.php?pno=lc20&area=usa website] for more details. Approx. $140.

== Optical (DVD) drive ==
Pioneer (Bulk) DVR-K06 Slim Slot-In
== CPU ==
AMD BE2400
== Cooling Fan or Heat Sink ==

Silverstone NT07-AM2 Fan
([http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_spec.php?pno=nt07-am2&area=usa website])
*For AMD CPU sockets up to 65W power
*Low profile
*Approx. $20 (April 2008).

Available in Europe only:

NORTHQ NQ 3393 Heat sink with fan
([http://www.northq.com/products/coolers/nq3393.html website])

or

Hiper HFC10820C1
([http://www.ciao.de/HiperFlow_HFC_10820_C1__2639455 German website])

== RAM ==
2xDDR2 PC800 1GB
== Motherboard ==
[[MSI Media Live Mainboard]]

See [http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=prodcpusupport&prod_no=1113&maincat_no=134&cat2_no=&cat3_no= website] for details.

== Remote ==
[[Fiire Chief]]

Fiire Chief

2008-09-19T19:38:30Z

Behave: /* Where to buy */

[[Category: Hardware]]
[[Category: Input]]
[[Category: Infrared]]
[[Category: Supported]]

[[Image:FiireChief.jpg|thumb|200px|Fiire Chief Remote Control]]

== Status ==

Supported by [[Fiire]] (LinuxMCE support) / [http://www.polywell.com Polywell Computers] (hardware).

== Bugs ==
Many users have reported "drifting" issues with the mouse pointer. This issue causes the mouse to move on it's own even when the remote is held still or placed on a table. This has been a long on-going issue with no indication it will be resolved.

== Features ==
* Wireless R/F gyro remote control specially designed for use with LinuxMCE.
* Universal I/R support for up to 3 legacy devices.
* Follow me function (requires additional USB dongles).

== Sales Pitch ==
The [[Fiire Chief]] controls both the [[Fiire Engine]] and the [[Fiire Station]]. It uses RF wireless, and has a range of approx. 50’. It is omni-directional and does not require line of site like an infrared remote. The FiireChief has all the traditional, legacy remote control buttons, as well as 3 specialized ‘gyro’ buttons in the middle that let you control every function using only those 3 buttons and gestural movements. It also has a built-in ‘follow-me’ feature. You can start media in one room, and when you want to move to another room, just take the remote with you and press ‘Follow-me’. Fiire is able to track each remote individually, so whatever media you started with that remote will follow that remote around the house. Your movies, TV and music effortlessly follow you as you move from room to room. And whenever you enter a room, the FiireChief instantly and automatically switches to control the devices in that room. So when you’re in the living room, the volume button controls the volume on the tv in the living room. Take the remote into the bedroom, and the volume button controls whatever tv is in the bedroom, whether or not it is the same brand as the one in the living room. The FiireChief is the only remote control you will need for every room in the home, and you don’t need to worry about which remote goes with which room since any remote can work in any room.

Additionally, the FiireChief has a universal i/r remote built-in with both pre-stored codes and learning. You can program up to 3 i/r devices to control with the ‘tv’, ‘aux’, and ‘cab/sat’ buttons at the top. In those modes, it acts like a normal, universal i/r remote.

The FiireChief includes one USB dongle which you connect to a Fiire Engine, Fiire Station, or other LinuxMCE PC running UI2.

== Compatibility ==
The device will register as a standard USB keyboard and mouse in recent linux kernels (tested in 2.6.25). However, there are still some buttons on the remote that will _not_ be registered by these drivers. To simplify detecting these buttons there is a ruby gem (install via `gem install gyruby`) called [http://rubyforge.org/projects/gyruby gyruby].

== Where to buy ==

[http://www.fiire.com/fiire-chief.php Fiire website].

== Adding Fiire Chief remote ==

Just plug in the USB dongle (do not press the button on it) whilst the orbiter is running. It will install the software on its own. Then press the Connect button at the bottom of the remote and wait for 5 seconds. A message will pop up in the top left of the orbiter saying Active or Connected.

You need to press that button to bind them after every reboot or reload of the router (or orbiter). The LED flashes when you press buttons or the gyro is detecting motion - it is very sensitive, so even the vibrations from music can cause it to continue lit even if you aren't touching it!

BTW, the gyro times out after a short while (to save batteries?) of no motion - hit the big hand button in the middle or the menu button above it to wake it up...

discussion at
http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=4086.0

Fiire Chief

2008-09-19T19:38:10Z

Behave: /* Status */

[[Category: Hardware]]
[[Category: Input]]
[[Category: Infrared]]
[[Category: Supported]]

[[Image:FiireChief.jpg|thumb|200px|Fiire Chief Remote Control]]

== Status ==

Supported by [[Fiire]] (LinuxMCE support) / [http://www.polywell.com Polywell Computers] (hardware).

== Bugs ==
Many users have reported "drifting" issues with the mouse pointer. This issue causes the mouse to move on it's own even when the remote is held still or placed on a table. This has been a long on-going issue with no indication it will be resolved.

== Features ==
* Wireless R/F gyro remote control specially designed for use with LinuxMCE.
* Universal I/R support for up to 3 legacy devices.
* Follow me function (requires additional USB dongles).

== Sales Pitch ==
The [[Fiire Chief]] controls both the [[Fiire Engine]] and the [[Fiire Station]]. It uses RF wireless, and has a range of approx. 50’. It is omni-directional and does not require line of site like an infrared remote. The FiireChief has all the traditional, legacy remote control buttons, as well as 3 specialized ‘gyro’ buttons in the middle that let you control every function using only those 3 buttons and gestural movements. It also has a built-in ‘follow-me’ feature. You can start media in one room, and when you want to move to another room, just take the remote with you and press ‘Follow-me’. Fiire is able to track each remote individually, so whatever media you started with that remote will follow that remote around the house. Your movies, TV and music effortlessly follow you as you move from room to room. And whenever you enter a room, the FiireChief instantly and automatically switches to control the devices in that room. So when you’re in the living room, the volume button controls the volume on the tv in the living room. Take the remote into the bedroom, and the volume button controls whatever tv is in the bedroom, whether or not it is the same brand as the one in the living room. The FiireChief is the only remote control you will need for every room in the home, and you don’t need to worry about which remote goes with which room since any remote can work in any room.

Additionally, the FiireChief has a universal i/r remote built-in with both pre-stored codes and learning. You can program up to 3 i/r devices to control with the ‘tv’, ‘aux’, and ‘cab/sat’ buttons at the top. In those modes, it acts like a normal, universal i/r remote.

The FiireChief includes one USB dongle which you connect to a Fiire Engine, Fiire Station, or other LinuxMCE PC running UI2.

== Compatibility ==
The device will register as a standard USB keyboard and mouse in recent linux kernels (tested in 2.6.25). However, there are still some buttons on the remote that will _not_ be registered by these drivers. To simplify detecting these buttons there is a ruby gem (install via `gem install gyruby`) called [http://rubyforge.org/projects/gyruby gyruby].

== Where to buy ==

'''WARNING: There have been MANY [[Fiire#Issues|on-going issues]] with Fiire products and support. Buyer beware!'''

[http://www.fiire.com/fiire-chief.php Fiire website].

== Adding Fiire Chief remote ==

Just plug in the USB dongle (do not press the button on it) whilst the orbiter is running. It will install the software on its own. Then press the Connect button at the bottom of the remote and wait for 5 seconds. A message will pop up in the top left of the orbiter saying Active or Connected.

You need to press that button to bind them after every reboot or reload of the router (or orbiter). The LED flashes when you press buttons or the gyro is detecting motion - it is very sensitive, so even the vibrations from music can cause it to continue lit even if you aren't touching it!

BTW, the gyro times out after a short while (to save batteries?) of no motion - hit the big hand button in the middle or the menu button above it to wake it up...

discussion at
http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=4086.0

Fiire Engine

2008-09-19T19:37:18Z

Behave: /* Status */

[[Category: Hardware]]
[[Category: Cores]]
[[Category: Supported]]

[[Image:Fiire_Engine.jpg|right]]

== Status ==

Will be supported by [[Fiire]] (LMCE support) / [http://www.polywell.com Polywell Computers] (hardware). This article is out-of-date and this unit has been replaced by a new product line.

== Features ==

* Software: LinuxMCE 1.1 (KU0704)
* User Interface: UI2 with masking
* Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+
* RAM: 1GB
* Internal Hard drive for operating system: 160 GB
* RAID storage for media: 6 external e-sata ports for external drives, or external drive cage. Drives and cage not included. Largest e-sata drive at this moment is 1,000 GB, for a total capacity of 6,000 GB or 6TB.
* Network: Dual Ethernet ports. Gigabit speed.
* Audio: Standard stereo audio
* Video: Via 890 chipset

== Sales Pitch ==

LinuxMCE supports 3 variations of the user interface, as shown [http://wiki.linuxmce.com/index.php/Main_Page#Screenshots here]. The [[Fiire Station]]s are designed to be LinuxMCE media stations, and use special graphics processors and video decoders to provide the highest quality video playback, and provide alpha blending done in the hardware. However, the video subsystem in the [[Fiire Station]] is not available for use in a standard PC platform. The [[Fiire Engine]], however, uses standard PC parts. At present, for standard PC’s, only certain nVidia provides support in their drivers for LinuxMCE’s UI2 with alpha blending. However, the nVidia drivers have some video artifacts particularly evident with 1080i content, and the drivers are not fully stable. Therefore, we have included a Via graphics engine, which, although it does not support alpha blending, does provide better video quality and is more stable. In the rooms where you want the full LinuxMCE experience with UI2 and alpha blending, use one of the [[Fiire Station]]s.

The [[Fiire Engine]] is intended to be primarily the back-end server, while the [[Fiire Station]]s are dedicated for media playback. Therefore the [[Fiire Station]]s have more a/v connections, including component video, and SPDIF coax and optical for digital audio and surround sound.

== Where to buy ==

http://www.fiire.com/fiire-engine.php

Where to Buy

2008-09-19T19:36:16Z

Behave: /* United States */

[[Category: Hardware| ]]
{| align="right"
| __TOC__
|}
This is '''not''' meant as an endorsement, but the question of where to buy certain things pops up regularly. Some of this equipment can be hard to find locally, so help out and add your own suppliers to the list if they aren't already there and either way feel free to add a line with your experience.

''Please add countries alphabetically, and append new stores to the bottom of the lists in order to keep things organized, thank you and good luck with that shopping list!''

== Africa ==

== America ==

=== United States ===

'''Fiire''' ([http://www.fiire.com/ english]) ''The'' remote, and also core/media director hardware.

== Asia ==

== Australia ==

== Europe ==

=== Belgium ===

'''IntelliHome''' Domotica Shop ([http://www.intellihome.be/ multi]/[http://www.intellihome.be/english/home.asp english]/[http://www.intellihome.be/nederlands/home.asp dutch]/[http://www.intellihome.be/francais/home.asp french]/[http://www.intellihome.be/deutsch/home.asp german]) Marmitek X10 Home Automation/Security Products, European shipping
* ...

'''Voipsolutions''' ([http://www.voipsolutions.be/ english]/[http://www.voipsolutions.be/language/fr french]/[http://www.voipsolutions.be/language/nl dutch]) All kinds of VoIP related hardware solutions.
* ...

=== Denmark ===

'''Seluxit''' ([http://www.seluxit.com english]) Z-wave products incl. [http://shop.seluxit.com/catalog/product_info.php?currency=EUR&products_id=30 multi-sensor] [http://shop.seluxit.com/catalog/product_info.php?currency=EUR&products_id=29 usb homecontroller]
* Not yet tested.

'''Innovus''' ([http://www.innovus.dk/ danish]/[http://www.innovus.eu english]) Z-wave products
* Not yet tested.

'''ElectronicHouseKeeper''' ([http://www.electronichousekeeper.com danish]) Their own line of Z-wave products
* Not yet tested.

=== Germany ===

'''DVBShop''' ([http://www.dvbshop.net english]) Everything you need for DVB (Cable, Sattelite or Terrestrial) digital television, worldwide shipping.

'''Zwave4u''' ([http://www.zwave4u.de german]) Z-wave products. Accepts Paypal.
* Not yet tested.

'''Merten''' ([http://www.merten.de german]) They have their own line of Z-wave products.

http://www.elektronetshop.de - Sells the Merten stuff, best price found on Sep 9, 2008

'''Duewi''' ([http://www.duewi.de german]) They have their own line of Z-wave products.
* No online shop.

'''Touchscreens''' ([http://www.fine-buy.de/]) They have some touchscreens, the 12.1" (http://www.fine-buy.de/shop/product_info.php?cPath=3_30_64&products_id=159) works fine: [[Egalax-Touchscreen]]

=== Italy ===

'''Z-wave Europe''' ([http://www.z-wave-europe.org/ italian]) Z-wave product list for Europe and website links.

=== Netherlands ===

'''ElekHomica''' ([http://www.elekhomica.nl/ dutch]/[http://www.elekhomica.nl/infopage2.php?language=nn english])
X10 and Zwave, even remote controlled curtainrail! EU shipping (curtainrail NL/BE only).
* Quick and painless delivery.

'''ALTERNATE''' Computerversand ([http://www.alternate.nl/ dutch]) [http://www.alternate.nl/html/productDetails.html?artno=NMZV62 airmouse] and lots of regular PC hardware,
* Usually slow on delivery.

'''iHabitat''' Home automation ([http://www.ihabitat.nl/ dutch])
[http://www.ihabitat.nl/html/global_cache.html gc100]
* A bit slow to respond to the inquiry, but fast no-nonsense delivery.

'''MyPowerShop''' ([http://www.mypowershop.eu dutch]) X10 and Z-wave products. Accepts Paypal
* Not yet tested

=== Norway ===

'''Tronika aka Smarthus''' ([http://www.smarthus.info/ norwegian]) Z-wave products incl. [http://www.smarthus.info/product_info.php?cPath=1_46_115&products_id=2248 usb homecontroller]
* Not yet tested

=== Sweden ===

'''Eliving''' ([http://www.eliving.se swedish]) Z-wave products incl. [http://www.eliving.se/product_info.php?cPath=21_29&products_id=72 usb homecontroller]
* Not yet tested

=== United Kingdom ===

'''Convergent Home Technologies - The Digital Home Specialists''' ([http://www.chtukltd.co.uk English])
* Core/Hybrids built & tested to order (AM2/nVidia, Intel)
* MD's built & tested (AM2/nVidia, AM2/ATI, Intel)
* Z-wave - full range of European units
* lmce-0710 software pre-installed & configured on all Core/Hybrids
* Full after sales support provided
* Will Ship Worldwide (but not currently to the US)

'''Let's automate''' ([http://www.letsautomate.com/index.cfm english]) ZWave home automation
* ...

Fiire Station

2008-09-19T19:34:59Z

Behave: /* Status */

[[Category: Hardware]]
[[Category: Media Directors]]
[[Category: Supported]]

[[Image:Fiire_Station.jpg|right]]

== Status ==

Will be supported by [[Fiire]] (LMCE support) / [http://www.polywell.com Polywell Computers] (hardware).

This article is out-of-date and this [[Fiire#Fiire Station|product is discontinued]].

== Features ==

* Software: LinuxMCE 1.1 (KU0704)
* User Interface: UI2 with alpha blending
* Processor: Via Eden 1.5 Ghz. Ultra low power 9 watt in the vertical mount version, and 20 watt in the set top box version
* RAM: 512MB
* Internal Hard drive for operating system: 40GB. All system drives in the FiireEngine are mounted for data storage.
* Network: Gigabit Ethernet
* Audio: Via Vinyl 6 channel audio, with line in, line out and mic. Standard set top box version also has SPDIF coas and tos-link for digital audio
* Video: Via UniChrome Pro II, with proprietary drivers and special alpha blended MPEG 2/4 and WMV9 acceleration
* IO: 4 USB 2.0 ports, 2 PS/2, 1 COM (COM port only on 1" version)
* Dimensions – vertical mount: 168 (h) x 300 (w) x 25.4 (d) mm
* Weight – vertical mount: 1200g

== Sales Pitch ==

The [[Fiire Station]] runs [[LinuxMCE]] and can be used as a standard medium-performance PC. However, it also has specialized video decoding hardware to provide the best video quality, and offload all video processing, including sophisticated 1080i de-interlacing, OpenGL 3D effects, and alpha blending, all in the video hardware. The end result is you get better video quality than the massive, high end Windows Vista MCE systems, which require very expensive, power-hungry, hot processors to do the 3D alpha blended effects in Aero and video playback in MCE. The FiireStation offers even better video and a smoother UI experience while drawing as little as 9 watts of power, about 1/20th what a Windows Vista Media Center PC draws. That translates to a couple hundred dollars a year in energy savings if you leave your Media PC on all the time.

The [[Fiire Station]] is available in 2 versions: A 1” thin vertical mount designed to hide behind a plasma TV, and a standard set top box.

The vertical mount version means for the first time ever, you can have a full HD PVR and media player solution without any visible set top box or exposed cables. It comes with VESA mount holes. Most flat panel TV’s have VESA holes in the back for attaching them to a wall mount. So if your flat panel TV sits on a base, and not a wall mount, the [[Fiire Station]] attaches directly to the back of the TV using the VESA holes. If your flat panel TV is mounted to a wall, the [[Fiire Station]] is thin and narrow enough to fit inside a typical wall mount and can be attached to the wall, the mounting bracket, or the back of the TV. The vertical mount version costs more because it uses specialized precision components with ultra-lower power consumption so that it is only 1” thick, has no fans or vents, and can be tucked away in the small space between a TV and the wall.

The standard set top box version has more room in it and extra connections, including component video and SPDIF for digital audio. The vertical mount version does not provide SPDIF connectors because flat panel TV’s do not have SPDIF inputs. If you are using this in an equipment rack and have a receiver with SPDIF, the standard set top box version is better. Plus, you can have a local DVD/CD player in the standard set top box version. For the vertical mount version, you can leave your CD’s or DVD’s in a jukebox attached to the [[Fiire Engine]].

== Where to buy ==

http://www.fiire.com/fiire-station.php

== COM Ports ==

As of May 1, 2008 only the 1" version had a serial port built-in. According to fiire customer service the set-top box version has an available serial port header and a DB-9 punch out. However, Polywell (the manufacturer of the fiire boxes) does not populate the DB-9.

According to customer service, the case of the 2" Fiire Station does not have a spot for a DB-9.

== Versions ==

According to fiire technical support a new generation of the Fiire Station and Engine are slated to be released to coincide with the release of LinuxMCE 07.10.