User:Freymann

About Me

First, a brief history:

Hello. My name is Gerald Freymann and I live in Ontario, Canada.

I first attempted a LinuxMCE installation in March 2008, using 7.10 B4. My core machine worked like crap, one media director was OK but had a bad PVR card and the second media director caused me grief with the video card and I gave up, rather frustrated, confused and extremely disappointed.

Afterwards, I set up a 3 station MythBuntu system in a day, and have been tinkering with it and learning more about MythTV since then. I'm happy to say that I was able to get my MCE Transceivers working under MythBuntu. See: [1]

I then tinkered with the X10 equipment I bought but never got to use with LinuxMCE, and quite happily, did very well integrating X10 under MythBuntu both through on-screen menus and remote buttons. See: [2]

From MythBuntu 7.10 to 8.04, I've enjoyed the system and I've learned a heck of lot more! but have been keeping tabs on LinuxMCE, as it was my system of choice in the first place, I just needed another way to play with it without pressure or time constraints.

So, in mid-May I purchased yet another system that I figured would replace the MythBuntu core, but before I did that, I wanted to load LinuxMCE 7.10 RC2 on it, just to see how things have progressed since the 7.10 B4. I was very fortunate this time around, as things just worked! I freely goofed around, not caring if the system came crashing down, and other than tinkering with network cards that caused a fresh reload, this version just seems to work.

Now I'm thinking the new box will become my new LinuxMCE Hybrid/Core and I'll change the other two stations over to LinuxMCE, and be where I wanted to be a few months ago. Kewl!

I thought I would take this opportunity to document what equipment I am using, and what worked, and what didn't.

System

Prices are in CDN Funds and most don't include shipping, taxes or mail-in rebates.

Core

Hybrid/Core -- June 2008 -- WORKS!

• $279.99 -> AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4600+ Socket AM2
• 1 x AMD Original AM2 CPU Fan (a little noisy, not too bad)
• 1 x ECS nVidia GeForce6100SM-M Motherboard
• 2GB DDR II 667 Memory 240 Pin (Kingston?)
• 1 x LG 20X IDE DVD RW + Dual Layer optical drive
• disabled on-board nVidia GeForce 6100 as I couldn't use VGA output
• Realtek ALC660 6-channel HD Audio
• Onboard 10/100 Network Card (connected to my main wired/wireless Linksys Router, which is connected to DSL modem)
• 6 x USB 2.0 Port, 1 Parallel, 1 Serial
• 1285 Deluxe Black Tower Case
• 450 Watt Power Supply
• $ 99.99 -> Hitachi 500GB Serial ATA HD, 7200/16MB/SATA-3G (Main OS and initial installation on here)
• $ 79.99 -> WD Caviar 500GB Serial ATA HD 7200/16MB/SATA-3G (Media drive in LMCE file structure)
• $ 24.99 -> D-Link DGE-530T 10/100/1000 Mbps PCI Network Adapter (for the inside Network)
• $ 48.99 -> EVGA GeForce 7200 GS 256MB (will take up to 512MB) PCIe Video card
• $102.02 -> Hauppauge WINTV-PVR-150 MCE BNDL MPEG2 w/REMOTE
• $ 45.00 -> TP-Link TL-SG1008D 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch (connected to internal nic in Core, rest of the internal LAN connects here)
• $ 39.99 -> Logitech Cordless Desktop LX310 (keyboard/mouse)
• $ 58.83 -> USB-UIRT
• $ 69.59 -> Gyration Motion Sensing Remote Control (GYR3101US)

This is my main Core/Hybrid located in the Basement.

It is connected to a no-name 26" LCD HD TV from Wal-Mart via HDMI at 720p, with a DVI to HDMI cable. I have a Bell ExpressVU 4700 Dish Receiver with SVideo output connected to the PVR-150 input with Left/Right RCA Audio cables. I have an old cheap stereo that you have to control manually that the Core's sound output feeds on AUX input. The USB-UIRT controls the dish receiver with one IR dongle stuck to the front and the IR Blaster seems to have no problems controlling the TV.

Networking

-> various additional network cabling

• $17.99 -> 2 x 25 FT CAT5e 5e Computer Ethernet Network Internet Cable
• $ 6.99 -> 50 FT CAT5e CAT 5e Computer Ethernet PS3 Internet Cable
• $ 6.99 -> 25 FT 8M CAT 6 Network Patch Cable
• $ 3.99 -> 10 FT CAT5e 5e Computer Ethernet Network Internet Cable

Automation

-> various X10 equipment

• $46.09 RCA X10 ActiveHome PC Interface (CM11A)
• 6 x dimmable lamp modules (LM465)
• 2-way transceriver module (RR501)
• $42.70 -> KR22A, LM15A, AM466, WS12A

In development

-> Newly ordered, but not yet here

• $117.66 -> 2 x USB-UIRTS (sold my original 2, had to buy 2 more)
• $139.18 -> 2 x Gyration Motion Sensing Remote Control

These items have arrived and one each is installed on my hyrbid/core (basement) and living-room media directory.

Media Director

MEDIA DIRECTOR -- March 2008 -- WORKS!

• $169.99 -> AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4200+ Socket AM2
• AMD Original AM2 CPU Fan
• ECS nVidia GeForce6100-SM-M Motherboard
• 1GB DDR II 667 Memory 240 Pin (Kingston)
• nVidia GeForce 6100 2D/3D Graphic Engine, up to 256MB Memory (disabled in favour on PCIe Video card)
• Realtek ALC660 6-channel HD Audio
• Onboard 10/100 Network Card (connected to Gigabit Ethernet Switch)
• 6 USB 2.0 Port, 1 Parallel, 1 Serial
• 1285 Deluxe Black Tower Case
• 450 Watt Power Supply
• $121.99 -> Hauppauge WINTV-PVR-150 MCE BNDL MPEG2 w/REMOTE
• $ 39.99 -> Logitech Cordless Desktop EX110 (keyboard/mouse)
• $ 54.99 -> EVGA GeForce 72000 GS 256MB (will take up to 512MB) PCIe
• $ 58.83 -> USB-UIRT
• $ 69.59 -> Gyration Motion Sensing Remote Control (GYR3101US)

This is my living-room MD.

There is an IDE 500GB HD and IDE DVD/CD ROM on this box. I will likely pull the drive out and replace it with an older 40GB IDE hard for use as local swap.

It is connected to a Toshiba 32" CRT TV via SVideo in from the nVidia 7200 SVideo out. I have a LG Surround System here for audio (Left/Right RCA sound out from MD goes to AV-1 Input). I have a Bell ExpressVU 2700 Dish Receiver connected to the PVR-150 via SVideo and Left/Right RCA sound jacks. The USB-UIRT is controlling the Dish, TV and Stereo. One IR dongle is stuck to the front of the LG Stereo, and it just blasts the IR which reaches the Dish and TV.

Comments and Experiences

Non Working core

Hybrid/Core -- March 2008 -- FAILED TERRIBLY! -- RETIRED

• • • These parts have been moved to the new hybrid/core

• $34.91 -> Diablo X-Man Silver Gamer Case, Coolmax 400W V2.01 Power Supply
• $360.06 -> EVGA nForce 650i Ultra Socket 775 Motherboard
• EVGA GeForce 8400 GS, 512MB RAM, PCIe w/DVI-TV-OUT
• Samsung 18x DVD RW SH-S183L SATA LS OEM
• Seagate 250GB Serial ATA w/NCQ 7200/8MB/SATA-3G
• Crucial 1024MB PC5400 DDR2 667 MHZ (2 pieces, for 2GB RAM)
• Intel Pentium D 925 3Ghz DT 800FSB Socket 775
  • • $102.02 -> Hauppauge WINTV-PVR-150 MCE BNDL MPEG2 w/REMOTE
    • $79.99 -> WD Caviar 500GB Serial ATA HD 7200/16MB/SATA-3G
• $29.99 -> Sony DRU190A 20X DVD Burner EIDE
  • • $39.99 -> Logitech Cordless Desktop LX310 (keyboard/mouse)
• $48.99 -> Gyration GO 2.4 Air Mouse, Refurbished (now on new core)
• $30.99 -> Linksys Etherfast 10/100 5-port Switch

Other Non Working items

Items that didn't work:

• $ 9.99 -> Trendware 32 Bit 10/100/1000 Copper Gigabit PCI Network Card.

Car PC

• MINI ITX Media Center PC/Car PC FULLY LOADED -- March 2008 -- Ok as a MythTV 7.10 Frontend
• $210.00

This neat little machine was able to boot up into UI1 on 7.10RC2, and when I added the specific video drivers for the via video (which was quite easy actually), I could play back videos (with the occasional freeze, making it not so good) and TV playback had a green screen, picture off kilter, with lines through it. So basically... no good.

So I loaded MythBuntu 7.10 onto the internal drive and it is now talking to the LMCE core.

I did a NFS mount to my second "media" drive in the core, and mapped the video, audio, and pictures directories in mythtv to the LMCE core, and basically, this machine is working as it was before under MythBuntu 8.10, with some very minor exceptions.

For $210, this is actually a pretty decent little HTPC.

• • Complete system with power adapter
• Via EPIA-SP 1GHZ with TV output
• 512MB DDR Memory
• 80GB Western Digital Scorpio HD
• LG DVD-ROM Slim
• 2 additional USB 2.0 ports (4 total)
• Dimensions: 12” x 10 ½” x 2”

Motherboard Specs:

• Model Name • VIA EPIA SP13000G
• VIA EPIA SP8000EG
• Processor • VIA C3™/ VIA Eden™ EBGA processor

• Chipset • VIA CN400 North Bridge

• VIA VT8237R-Series South Bridge

• System Memory • 1 DDR266/333/400 DIMM socket

• Up to 1GB memory size

• VGA • Integrated VIA UniChrome™ Pro AGP graphics with MPEG-2 decoder /MPEG-4 Accelerator

• Expansion Slots • 1 PCI

• Onboard IDE • 2 X UltraDMA 133/100 Connector

• Onboard Serial ATA • 2 SATA Connectors

• Onboard LAN • VIA VT6103 10/100 Base-T Ethernet PHY
• Onboard Audio • VIA VT1617A 6channel AC'97 codec
• Onboard TV Out • VIA VT1623M TV Encoder
• Onboard 1394 • VIA VT6307S IEEE 1394 Firewire
• Back Panel I/O • 1 PS2 mouse port
• 1 PS2 keyboard port
• 1 RJ-45 LAN port
• 1 Serial port
• 2 USB 2.0 ports
• 1 VGA port
• 1 PCA port (SPDIF or TV out)
• 1 S-video port
• 3 Audio jacks: line-out, line-in and mic-in (Smart 5.1 Support)
• Onboard I/O Connectors • 3 USB connector for 6additional USB 2.0 ports
• 1 1394 connector for 1 1394 port
• 1 Serial port connector for a second com port
• 1 VIP connector
• 1 Front-panel audio connector (Mic-in and Line-out)
• 1 CD audio-in connector
• 1 FIR connector
• 1 CIR connector (Switchable for KB/MS)
• 1 LPT port connector
• 1 Wake-on-LAN connector
• 2 Fan connectors: CPU/Sys FAN
• 1 I2C connector
• 1 LVDS/TTL module connector (Optional)
• 1 +12V power connector
• ATX power connector

• BIOS • Award BIOS

• 4/8Mbit flash memory

• System Monitoring & Management • CPU voltage monitoring

• Wake-on-LAN, Keyboard Power-on, Timer Power-on
• System power management
• AC power failure recover
• Operating Temperature • 0~50°C
• Operating Humidity • 0% ~ 93% (relative humidity; non-condensing)
• Form Factor • Mini-ITX (6 layers)
• 17 cm x 17 cm

Notes

So, that's about $2,214.00 CDN not including shipping, taxes, import fees, and mail-in rebates.

I purchase a lot of my equipment from:

-tigerdirect, See [3]

-future shop, See [4]

-ebay stores like:

X10 Warehouse, See [5]

LU Computers, See [6]

Mayco Estore, See [7]

BTE Computers, See [8]

Once I do move the new core into place and set up the two media directors, I'll include details on each of the setups with pictures, describing the TV and A/V equipment used.