User:Wierdbeard65 - Revision history

Wierdbeard65 at 16:36, 5 May 2012

2012-05-05T16:36:56Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 16:36, 5 May 2012
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	*Reliability		*Reliability
	*Ease of (basic) use.		*Ease of (basic) use.
			*Services "away from home" (For example, Android / iPhone / iPad access.)


	#AT&T U-Verse		#AT&T U-Verse

Wierdbeard65 at 16:35, 5 May 2012

2012-05-05T16:35:50Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 16:35, 5 May 2012
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	So without further ado, here we go!:		So without further ado, here we go!:
	==TV Provider==		==TV Provider==
			Points to consider:
			*Cost of basic service
			*Availability of channels
			*Possibility of integrating with a home-grown system
			*Additional "bundled" services (particularly internet).
			*Reliability
			*Ease of (basic) use.

	#AT&T U-Verse		#AT&T U-Verse
	##Advantages		##Advantages

Wierdbeard65 at 15:59, 5 May 2012

2012-05-05T15:59:52Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 15:59, 5 May 2012
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	=Current Position=		=Current Position=
	2 years ago, I moved with my family from the UK to the USA. We are now settled in Indiana (the city of Carmel in Hamilton County) but are about to move about 1 mile. Currently, we have no "home grown" stuff to speak of. We have AT&T U-Verse with 1 DVR and 3 additional STBs. Part of the move is to consider whther to stick with AT&T or move to a different provider, so that discussion will be had below. I am doing all this with virtually NO MONEY to devote to the project. Most (if not all) of the kit I am using has been scavenged from things being thrown out at work, or from fairs etc. I have made occasional purchases on e-bay! So, when offering solutions, please consider cost ;-) We are due to move on May 25th 2012, so the decision about provider is fairly urgent!		2 years ago, I moved with my family from the UK to the USA. We are now settled in Indiana (the city of Carmel in Hamilton County) but are about to move about 1 mile. Currently, we have no "home grown" stuff to speak of. We have AT&T U-Verse with 1 DVR and 3 additional STBs. Part of the move is to consider whther to stick with AT&T or move to a different provider, so that discussion will be had below. I am doing all this with virtually NO MONEY to devote to the project. Most (if not all) of the kit I am using has been scavenged from things being thrown out at work, or from fairs etc. I have made occasional purchases on e-bay! So, when offering solutions, please consider cost ;-) We are due to move on May 25th 2012, so the decision about provider is fairly urgent!

			When considering options, the following two factors are (almost) equally important:
			*Cost. Like I already said, I can't afford to be spending a lot of $$$ on this.
			*WAF/FAF. It has to just work. No ifs, no buts. Currently, we have an issue due to the need to change HDMI inputs between the PS3 and the U-Verse STB!!!
			*Time. We are a busy family. I'm keen to spend time on this as it's interesting and fun, but I have a full time job. The lawn needs cutting. The family need to go out...... You get the idea! ;-)

	=Decisions, Decisions=		=Decisions, Decisions=

Wierdbeard65 at 15:47, 5 May 2012

2012-05-05T15:47:02Z

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 If you have come here as a result of my posting in a forum, thank you for visiting. Please post replies back in the forum, though, so others can benefit. Also, if you see an outstanding question / issue below, please feel free to respond, but please do so via a forum as, again, that will give anyone else looking at the same issue a fair stab. ;-)
-==Current Position==
+=Current Position=
 years ago, I moved with my family from the UK to the USA. We are now settled in Indiana (the city of Carmel in Hamilton County) but are about to move about 1 mile. Currently, we have no "home grown" stuff to speak of. We have AT&T U-Verse with 1 DVR and 3 additional STBs. Part of the move is to consider whther to stick with AT&T or move to a different provider, so that discussion will be had below. I am doing all this with virtually NO MONEY to devote to the project. Most (if not all) of the kit I am using has been scavenged from things being thrown out at work, or from fairs etc. I have made occasional purchases on e-bay! So, when offering solutions, please consider cost ;-) We are due to move on May 25th 2012, so the decision about provider is fairly urgent!
-==Decisions, Decisions==
+=Decisions, Decisions=
 Obviously, there are a lot of choices to be made, and many will impact on others. I've tried to categorize them below and then provide links to where I have asked the questions. At the bottom of this page, I'm going to put a summary of the hardware (and software) I have installed. I will do my best to keep both the questions lists (and final answers!) and the system summary as up to date as I can ;-)
 So without further ado, here we go!:
-===TV Provider===
+==TV Provider==
 #AT&T U-Verse
 ##Advantages
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 ###HD is a paid extra on all channels.
 ###Only option with a home-grown system is to hook up their STBs to tuner cards.
 #Brighthouse Networks (Local Cable Provider)
 ##Advantages
@@ Line 34: / Line 35: @@
 ###Possible use of cable-cards directly in home-grown system. If not this, then maybe HDHomeRun?
 ###More internet bandwidth
 ##Disadvantages
 ###Difficult to get through to someone who understands what I'm asking in support!
 ###Two year contract, so I need to be sure
 ###MAY suffer from same guide-based issues as U-Verse, but since I don't have it...

Wierdbeard65 at 15:22, 5 May 2012

2012-05-05T15:22:17Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 15:22, 5 May 2012
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	###HD is a paid extra on all channels.		###HD is a paid extra on all channels.
	###Only option with a home-grown system is to hook up their STBs to tuner cards.		###Only option with a home-grown system is to hook up their STBs to tuner cards.
	#Brighthouse Networks		#Brighthouse Networks (Local Cable Provider)
	##Advantages		##Advantages
	###Provides HD content for some channels "FOC"		###Provides HD content for some channels "FOC"

Wierdbeard65 at 15:21, 5 May 2012

2012-05-05T15:21:03Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 5 May 2012
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	[[Category:User Setups]]		[[Category:User Setups]]
	~~Hi!~~		{{versioninfo\|810Status=Investigating\|810UpdatedDate=5th May 2012\|810UpdatedBy=Wierdbeard65\|1004Status=Investigating\|1004UpdatedDate=5th May 2012\|1004UpdatedBy=Wierdbeard65}}
	{{versioninfo\|810Status=~~Installing~~\|810UpdatedDate=~~1st~~ May ~~2010~~\|810UpdatedBy=Wierdbeard65}}		=A Reborn Newbie=
	~~Like a lot of others~~, I'm ~~building an MCE rig~~. ~~This page is a log~~ of ~~my wanderings through the joy of Media~~ and ~~Home Automation~~. ~~If what~~ I ~~detail here is of use~~ to ~~you~~, ~~you~~'~~re welcome~~. If ~~not~~, ~~then my apologies for taking up your time :-)~~		Ok, I'm looking to install "something" for my family. I'm not sure what! A couple of years ago (when 810 was still Beta) I was playing around with LinuxMCE. Then stuff happened and I went "off-net" for a while. I'm now back and a lot seems to have changed, so I feel like I'm back to being a Newbie again. If anyone knows how to reset by status in the forums, it might be wise.

	~~If you~~'~~d like to contact me,~~ I'm ~~also called Wierdbeard65~~ in ~~the~~ forums~~, feel free~~ to ~~PM.~~		Anyway, I'm now starting the whole initial investigation thing again. I'm posting questions in forums (both here and elsewhere) and trying to keep my notes (here) up to date :-)

	~~Before I started~~, ~~I posted one or two questions on~~ the ~~forums~~. ~~Links~~ to the ~~threads are:~~-		If you have come here as a result of my posting in a forum, thank you for visiting. Please post replies back in the forum, though, so others can benefit. Also, if you see an outstanding question / issue below, please feel free to respond, but please do so via a forum as, again, that will give anyone else looking at the same issue a fair stab. ;-)
	~~{\| border~~=~~"1" cellspacing~~=~~"0" cellpadding~~=~~"5" align~~="~~center~~"
	! ~~Link~~		==Current Position==
	! ~~Comment~~		2 years ago, I moved with my family from the UK to the USA. We are now settled in Indiana (the city of Carmel in Hamilton County) but are about to move about 1 mile. Currently, we have no "home grown" stuff to speak of. We have AT&T U-Verse with 1 DVR and 3 additional STBs. Part of the move is to consider whther to stick with AT&T or move to a different provider, so that discussion will be had below. I am doing all this with virtually NO MONEY to devote to the project. Most (if not all) of the kit I am using has been scavenged from things being thrown out at work, or from fairs etc. I have made occasional purchases on e-bay! So, when offering solutions, please consider cost ;-) We are due to move on May 25th 2012, so the decision about provider is fairly urgent!
	~~! Started~~
	\|-		==Decisions, Decisions==
	~~\| [http://forum~~.~~linuxmce~~.~~org/index~~.~~php?topic=8224.msg54471#msg54471 On~~ the ~~Edge]~~		Obviously, there are a lot of choices to be made, and many will impact on others. I've tried to categorize them below and then provide links to where I have asked the questions. At the bottom of this page, I'm going to put a summary of the hardware (and software) I have installed. I will do my best to keep both the questions lists (and final answers!) and the system summary as up to date as I can ;-)
	~~\| Intended to be "Final" confirmation of needs~~!
	~~\| May 25th 2009~~		So without further ado, here we go!:
	\|-		===TV Provider===
	~~\| [http:~~//~~forum~~.~~linuxmce~~.~~org/index~~.~~php?topic=8249~~.~~msg54900~~#~~msg54900 Between~~ a ~~rock and~~ a ~~hard place]~~		#AT&T U-Verse
	~~\| Discussion on merits~~ of ~~going 8~~.~~10 as opposed~~ to ~~sticking~~ to 7.10.		##Advantages
	~~\| May 29th 2009~~		###Existing system
	\|}		###Content already on DVR
			###Network infrastucture can be provided through the AT&T house (tv/cable) network
			###No minumum contract term (this is why I went with them in the first place!)
			##Disadvantages
			###Guide is not very helpful in that it doesn't track season / episode very well, making it difficult to watch anything "in order"
			###Series record is either "all showings" or "only first runs". No option to "record it unless you already have it".
			###Network infrastructure does not offer the option to insert a device (read:firewall) between the computer devices and the internet.
			###DVR has limited space and cannot be upgraded.
			###HD is a paid extra on all channels.
			###Only option with a home-grown system is to hook up their STBs to tuner cards.
			#Brighthouse Networks
			##Advantages
			###Provides HD content for some channels "FOC"
			###Possible use of cable-cards directly in home-grown system. If not this, then maybe HDHomeRun?
			###More internet bandwidth
			##Disadvantages
			###Difficult to get through to someone who understands what I'm asking in support!
			###Two year contract, so I need to be sure
			###MAY suffer from same guide-based issues as U-Verse, but since I don't have it...

Wierdbeard65 at 08:03, 1 May 2010

2010-05-01T08:03:59Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 08:03, 1 May 2010
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	[[Category:User Setups]]		[[Category:User Setups]]
	Hi!		Hi!
	{{versioninfo\|810Status=Installing\|810UpdatedDate=1st May 2010\|810UpdatedBy=~~[[User:~~Wierdbeard65]]}}		{{versioninfo\|810Status=Installing\|810UpdatedDate=1st May 2010\|810UpdatedBy=Wierdbeard65}}
	Like a lot of others, I'm building an MCE rig. This page is a log of my wanderings through the joy of Media and Home Automation. If what I detail here is of use to you, you're welcome. If not, then my apologies for taking up your time :-)		Like a lot of others, I'm building an MCE rig. This page is a log of my wanderings through the joy of Media and Home Automation. If what I detail here is of use to you, you're welcome. If not, then my apologies for taking up your time :-)

Wierdbeard65 at 08:02, 1 May 2010

2010-05-01T08:02:37Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 08:02, 1 May 2010
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	[[Category:User Setups]]		[[Category:User Setups]]
	Hi!		Hi!
	{{versioninfo\|810Status=Installing\|810UpdatedDate=1st May 2010\|810UpdatedBy=[[User:~~Wierdbeard65\|~~Wierdbeard65]]}}		{{versioninfo\|810Status=Installing\|810UpdatedDate=1st May 2010\|810UpdatedBy=[[User:Wierdbeard65]]}}
	Like a lot of others, I'm building an MCE rig. This page is a log of my wanderings through the joy of Media and Home Automation. If what I detail here is of use to you, you're welcome. If not, then my apologies for taking up your time :-)		Like a lot of others, I'm building an MCE rig. This page is a log of my wanderings through the joy of Media and Home Automation. If what I detail here is of use to you, you're welcome. If not, then my apologies for taking up your time :-)

Wierdbeard65 at 07:58, 1 May 2010

2010-05-01T07:58:45Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 07:58, 1 May 2010
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	[[Category:User Setups]]		[[Category:User Setups]]
	Hi!		Hi!
	{{versioninfo\|810Status=Installing\|810UpdatedDate=1st May 2010\|810UpdatedBy=[User:Wierdbeard65]}}		{{versioninfo\|810Status=Installing\|810UpdatedDate=1st May 2010\|810UpdatedBy=[[User:Wierdbeard65\|Wierdbeard65]]}}
	Like a lot of others, I'm building an MCE rig. This page is a log of my wanderings through the joy of Media and Home Automation. If what I detail here is of use to you, you're welcome. If not, then my apologies for taking up your time :-)		Like a lot of others, I'm building an MCE rig. This page is a log of my wanderings through the joy of Media and Home Automation. If what I detail here is of use to you, you're welcome. If not, then my apologies for taking up your time :-)

Wierdbeard65 at 07:43, 1 May 2010

2010-05-01T07:43:11Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 07:43, 1 May 2010
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Category:User Setups]]		[[Category:User Setups]]
	Hi!		Hi!
	{{versioninfo\|810Status=Installing\|810UpdatedDate=1st May 2010\|810UpdatedBy=[Wierdbeard65]}}		{{versioninfo\|810Status=Installing\|810UpdatedDate=1st May 2010\|810UpdatedBy=[User:Wierdbeard65]}}
	Like a lot of others, I'm building an MCE rig. This page is a log of my wanderings through the joy of Media and Home Automation. If what I detail here is of use to you, you're welcome. If not, then my apologies for taking up your time :-)		Like a lot of others, I'm building an MCE rig. This page is a log of my wanderings through the joy of Media and Home Automation. If what I detail here is of use to you, you're welcome. If not, then my apologies for taking up your time :-)