Revision as of 17:48, 26 February 2009

Hardware used

• MB: Asus M2NPV-VM
• CPU: AMD Athlon X2 4000+
• RAM: 3GB 667MHz Patriot
• HDD: Seagate 160GB SATAII
• VGA: Onboard VGA (128MB), using UI2 without alpha blending
• DVD/RW: Pionner 112
• Hauppage PVR-150-MCE
• Onboard audio
• Onboard NIC(Gigabit) for internal network
• Realtek 10/100Mbit NIC for external network
• Case: Antec NSK2400 + PSU LC Power 550W
• Fiire Chief remote - dint try Follow me options

Here is a picture of my house setup[1]

Currently running one Core/Hybrid, with LinuxMCE 0710, just for testing purposses, on Philips 20" connected with VGA, and one Compaq PResario 700EA as a Media Director with no Screen attached to it. After installing with no problems, i had random crashes with my Core. After messing with xorg.conf (and i am a complete Linux newbie, learned a lot surfing this wiki) and changing the driver used for VGA (i manually entered nvidia), crashes seemed to disapper. Autodetection of PVR-150MCE didnt work so a did a manual install, scanned for channels and all seems to work for now. Didnt bother with scheduling and recording, just watched Live TV and everything seemd to work fine.

Media directors and Orbiters

I am using laptop Compaq Presario 700EA (got it for 50$, used, battery dead, but it does its job:) ) as a Media Director in a living room, with UI1, using PXE boot. Couldnt find option on LinuxMCEDVD to install as media director only, so i went for PXE boot. I rarely turn of this MD so i dont mind booting it for like 2 mins.

First orbiter is Fiire Chief. Completely plug and play, had no problems with it. Only objection is a cursor "flashing", kinda hard to navigate with it jumping up and down in UI2 menu. HAd read that maybe its the battery problem, will deal with it later.

Second orbiter is Nokia N95, using JAVAMO, over Bluetooth. Its kinda slow, but it does its job. Instalation was simple, had to change one file with a new one and after it all worked.

I am in a process of getting a Nokia 770 tablet, when i get it i will test it and write a feedback.

Update (01.11.2008) Got Nokia few days ago, had little problems making it to work (Nokia 770 is also Linux based, since i am a Linux newbie, didnt know what to do:) ). Followed the instructions from here [2] and after a few nights figuered it all out. It aint so hard after I had all the stuff necessary in one place. KDE desktop is a good for flashing your Nokia with necessary images (i used 2006 OS, NOT hacked one), i couldnt flash Nokia from my PC box, Nokia sotfare installer was giving me error, saying my PC clock isnt syncronized. Make sure to check the box THIS ORBITER USES WI-FI when adding a new ORbiter, and to set your swap on Nokia to at least 48MB and you wont have any problems using it as Orbiter (when swap is set under 48MB i had problems in Video, got stuck and resterted the application). Here is a picture of my Nokia 770 running as an orbiter [3]. Resolution is 640x480, couldnt find Nokias original resolution (i think it is 800x480). Will try to update that. Picture isnt the best quality but soon i will document it all with a good video.

Update (06.11.2008)Found out how to change to Nokias resolution, follow the instructions from here [4], in 3. step its all explained.

Update (26.02.2009)Ordered WebDT 366 over ebay for 145$ with shipment to Croatia. I have been waiting to get my hands on it. I was thinking of using it as WebORbiter and still use it under Windows CE, for web browsing, emails and stuff, but LinuxMCE guys came up with PadOrbiter. Basicly its a "OS" for WebDT, making WebDT 366 the real Orbiter, not using WebOrbiter or Windows CE Orbiter software, but the one i ordered has Windows CE on it. I ll lookup and see if there is any way to transfer it to my unit. Tkmedia on linuxmce forums can get you webdt 366 with preloaded PadOrbiter.

Here is a Youtube video of using a floorplan feature [5]. On my Core/hybrid I dont have speakers so thats why i dont have sound. Spekaers will be added in near future.

IP Cameras

Got my hands on D-Link DCS-900 for about 135$ [6]. Followed the instructions to set it up using Motion wrapper and after a few clicks it works like a charm. I can use it on any Orbiter, Media director, even acces it from Web Oriter over the Internet. Camera has no zoom or Pan/Tilt options. Will try to create some Respond to Motion events, to try and see will LinuXMCE notify me on any orbiter when it detects movenent on camera.

Problems and errors

• Core crashes randomly and for undetermined reasons. I have been suspecting NIC, read on this wiki about Realtek chipset not functioning properly. Since i am Linux newbie i dont know where to search for some system logs...Anybody can help on this?
• I would like to access my File server (see my Home setup, File server is running NASLite OS) which is in other subnet, dont know how to manage that. I dont want to put it in LinuxMCE subnet because my other PCs require its contest.
• Fiire Chief remote seems to be kinda hard to operate; cursor "jumps" up and down and its not easy to navigate menus with it, using UI2.
• MythTV shows picture in 4:3 format. My setup is 720p which is clearly 16:9 format. Dont know where the problem is, and seems that MythTV doesnt have apsect ratio option, to change ratio during live TV. Maybe the problem is in my cable provider who servers me 4:3 format media.

Future improvements

• Hoping to update my networking to 1GB very soon, in process of buying 2 10/100/1000 switches.
• In process of managing a few MDs, low noise, hopefuly fanless, diskless
• Adding HVR-1110 tuner card (it has analog and digital tuner) to see how Core can manage 2 TV tuners at once, one for recodings and other for LiveTV
• Home automation MAYBE, since there arent many modules for Europe and my power lines are very crappy (i live in a 110 year old flat)
• VOIP MAYBE, since there arent providers here in Croatia..more interested in intercom service, which i still have to explore.

Update (26.02.2009)

• In process of closing a deal for Cisco 79070G phone. Nice touchscreen is ideal for another orbiter and VOIP functions i still have to figure out.
• In process of uploading new picture of House setup, and some new videos of LinuxMCE

Total investment in LinuxMCE

• The Core / HYbrid--->had it from before so cant really tell. Around 750$
• Fiire Chief and extra dongle--->180$
• Nokia N770 over ebay--->130$
• Camera D-Link DCS-900--->135$
• WebDT 366 over ebay--->145$
• Compaq Presario 900EA--->50$
• Few switches, UTP cables, RJ-45 connectors...--->75$

Overall around 1500$ over a period of 18 motnhs. Not much i guess:)