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<blockquote data-quote="IanJ" data-source="post: 682760" data-attributes="member: 107764">Hi all,I've had SKY Tv since the analogue days, and a SKY subscription just about all that time. Some may say &quot;what a waste of money&quot;, and to some extent I have to agree as some of the channels are a load of rubbish. Besides I probably only watch a select few these days. In addition, there seems to be just too many boxes below my TV, so I decided to do something about it.I set about trying to find an alternative and came to the conclusion that it is a HTPC that I need, and with the following requisite:&nbsp; &nbsp; * Satellite / Freeview feed.&nbsp; &nbsp; * HD.&nbsp; &nbsp; * SKY+ functionality, i.e. record one programme whilst watching another etc.&nbsp; &nbsp; * DVD player.&nbsp; &nbsp; * Media Centre functionality, i.e. photo viewer, juke box &amp; video playback.&nbsp; &nbsp; * 1-box does all.&nbsp; &nbsp; * Wife friendly (must be easy to use).The plan was to replace my existing SKY HD box, DVD Player and TviX6500A Digital Jukebox with this new system, and one which is reliable/robust enough to remain powered up 24/7.The hardware etc.:&nbsp; &nbsp; * 2off Hauppauge WinTV NOVA-HD-S2 video capture cards.&nbsp; &nbsp; * Hauppauge NOVA-S-USB2 - An additional LNB on the satellite dish enables me to pick up HOTBIRD (13E) channels.&nbsp; &nbsp; * Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-900 - A FreeView box.&nbsp; &nbsp; * Antec Fusion case (black) c/w VFD &amp; remote control.&nbsp; &nbsp; * 500w PSU (CIC high efficiency, whisper quiet).&nbsp; &nbsp; * 1tb 3.5&quot; Sata HD (enterprise spec for 24/7 functionality) - for the OS.&nbsp; &nbsp; * 1tb 3.5&quot; Sata HD - for the data.&nbsp; &nbsp; * Gigabyte GA-H55M-UD2H motherboard (v1.3) c/w Intel Core i7 860 Skt 1156 Cpu &amp; 4gb PC3-10666 ram.&nbsp; &nbsp; * ATI Radeon HD5570 1gb PCI-E (overkill, but what the hell !)&nbsp; &nbsp; * Blu-Ray LG BH10LS30 Sata DVD writer.&nbsp; &nbsp; * Windows 7 Home Premium.&nbsp; &nbsp; * HDMI interface to my 42&quot; Panasonic Plasma TV.I did try a few apps but have finally settled with MediaPortal as it is the most complete.Some photos:-</blockquote>

[QUOTE="IanJ, post: 682760, member: 107764"] Hi all, I've had SKY Tv since the analogue days, and a SKY subscription just about all that time. Some may say "what a waste of money", and to some extent I have to agree as some of the channels are a load of rubbish. Besides I probably only watch a select few these days. In addition, there seems to be just too many boxes below my TV, so I decided to do something about it. I set about trying to find an alternative and came to the conclusion that it is a HTPC that I need, and with the following requisite: * Satellite / Freeview feed. * HD. * SKY+ functionality, i.e. record one programme whilst watching another etc. * DVD player. * Media Centre functionality, i.e. photo viewer, juke box & video playback. * 1-box does all. * Wife friendly (must be easy to use). The plan was to replace my existing SKY HD box, DVD Player and TviX6500A Digital Jukebox with this new system, and one which is reliable/robust enough to remain powered up 24/7. The hardware etc.: * 2off Hauppauge WinTV NOVA-HD-S2 video capture cards. * Hauppauge NOVA-S-USB2 - An additional LNB on the satellite dish enables me to pick up HOTBIRD (13E) channels. * Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-900 - A FreeView box. * Antec Fusion case (black) c/w VFD & remote control. * 500w PSU (CIC high efficiency, whisper quiet). * 1tb 3.5" Sata HD (enterprise spec for 24/7 functionality) - for the OS. * 1tb 3.5" Sata HD - for the data. * Gigabyte GA-H55M-UD2H motherboard (v1.3) c/w Intel Core i7 860 Skt 1156 Cpu & 4gb PC3-10666 ram. * ATI Radeon HD5570 1gb PCI-E (overkill, but what the hell !) * Blu-Ray LG BH10LS30 Sata DVD writer. * Windows 7 Home Premium. * HDMI interface to my 42" Panasonic Plasma TV. I did try a few apps but have finally settled with MediaPortal as it is the most complete. Some photos:- [/QUOTE]

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