Brand new! Help me get started! (2 Viewers)

[BAMxi]

Hi all:

As you can tell, I'm brand new to the MediaPortal community, but I am very impressed with the community you guys have going on here. I've done some searching on here, and am quickly getting overwhelmed. It seems like one of the best things about MP (its customization and compatibility) is also a little confusing for a noob just trying to join the game. I was hoping to tell you what I'd like to do with MP, and maybe you guys can tell me if it's even possible, and make some recommendations as well.

So first of all, I'm by no means new to building computers, basic hackery (with minimal coding or good instructions), and have been a geek for as long as I can remember. I saw this article on engadget today: Zotac's ZBOX nano VD01 packs dual-core VIA CPU in a tiny, tiny box -- Engadget. This got me thinking that maybe I'm paying too much for dish network, and that an HTPC could be a fun project to work on. Now I realize that this particular HTPC isn't even available yet (or at least I couldn't find it), so I'm wondering if anyone could make a suggestion on a good barebones kit or pre-assembeled HTPC.

On top of your recommendation for an affordable setup (I'm also willing to piece my own together), I'd like to get a TV tuner to receive and record OTA HDTV signals, and also use TED or something similar (torrent episode downloader) as well.

So, please help me get started! Recommendations on a good rig and TV tuner would be AMAZING. Also, if you spot any critical flaws in my plans above, please point them out to me before it's too late.

Thanks!

 

[porky996t]

Hi Bamxi,

Just thought I would stop by and say "Welcome".

As you say you have done some reading and have become overwhelmed by the stuff going on. Understandable really, as MePo is a true international effort. MePo does more for country's collaborating than the UN does.

I too, was overwhelmed when I first started off on the MePo journey - I found the software complex and frustrating. That is not the case now, as I basically understand what it does and how it does it, but it was a steep learning curve. The amount of customisation is incredible via plugins and skins etc. What does make MePo exceptional is this community. I am not sharpest knife in the box, but others on here have politely helped me out and got my setup back up and running again, and I am grateful for this. I am certainly no expert, but willing to throw my £0.02 in when it suits.

My own setup uses a main HTPC in the living room, that has a dual DVB-S/S2 card and two dual DVB-T cards and these feed the main TV at full HD res with surround sound on a optical output. I also have two clients, one in bedroom and one in kitchen that replicate the main HTPC and feed via a EOP network. All are "Wife Friendly" and use MCE remote controls. It works well.

I'm sorry I can't give specific advice on hardware, I always ask others for this - a lack of knowledge on my part. This is the part of the forum that deals with Hard and Software questions >>> Here <<< There are usually many people willing to chip in with specific advice, and as there are a number of US contributors, more country specific info would be expected.

Enjoy the MePo learning curve and good luck.



M

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/...352/zotac-ad10-case-anyone-interested-101967/

Hi BAMxi

Have you seen above, think its a slightly more powerful version of the one you looked at.

 

[tompa]

Hi!
I think Zotac ND22 is preferable (a little bit bigger form factor though)
looks like there are some issues with AD10 ATI GPU when reading forums, and my ND22 is working perfectly

I like the small size though, and there are probably more to come from Zotac here...
/tompa

 

[ryan20021982]

You can build a Intel sandy bridge mini ITX PC for the same or less than that, I just built one and it is very snappy and playing HD video perfect. I don't do live tv so not sure about interlaced content with the new intel graphics so maybe someone can shine in about that.

Here is my system
BIOSTAR TH61 ITX LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI USB 3.0 Mini ITX Intel Motherboard
Intel Pentium G860 Sandy Bridge 3.0GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor
GeIL Pristine 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory
Western Digital HDWD1600BEVT/R 160GB 5400 RPM 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive
hec Black 0.7mm Thickness SECC (Japanese Steel Metal) ITX ITX200A Mini ITX Media Center / HTPC Case
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 32-bit - OEM

$447.94 on Newegg With Windows which the Zotac does not include

 

[BAMxi]

Thanks for the replies! I'm glad I'm not alone in being overwhelmed, porky. And Paranoid, I must've missed that thread previously, thanks for sharing. I'm seeing that zotac has a lot of options. Tompa, I'll check out your recommendation as well. I do have a pretty decent desktop (radeon 4870, phenom quad core, 3.5TB of storage) that I built several years ago, so I'm thinking about either selling it to fund the purchase/build of an htpc for my living room, or possibly repurposing it for this task. I'm confident the specs would be fine, but it's a full ATX board, so it's 1. HUGE and 2. Loud (it's got 4 case fans). I pretty much only use it for storing and downloading media right now, and use my laptop for everything else. I did have it streaming to my PS3, but you all know the downfalls of that, I'm sure. I guess another option would be to maybe look into getting a micro ATX case and board, and swapping over all of my other parts (not sure if my vid card would even fit...it's huge!). Just too many options! Anyway, keep all of the feedback coming. If I do a build, I plan on putting up some pics to chronicle it from parts to a working htpc.

 

[mm1352000]

Hi BAMxi

Welcome from me too.

On top of your recommendation for an affordable setup (I'm also willing to piece my own together), I'd like to get a TV tuner to receive and record OTA HDTV signals...

A Hauppauge (HVR-2250 is a great option; a 1250 would also be fine) or Avermedia tuner would probably do the business. HDHomeRuns are also excellent.

mm

 

[BAMxi]

Thanks for the advice. I actually think I'm going to slap a tv tuner in my existing desktop, get a remote, replace the noisy case fans, and just place the whole PC behind my tv stand. I was leaning toward an AverMedia tuner card. I just found out that I'm under contract with Dish Network for at least a few more months, so that should give me plenty of time to work out all of the kinks . Ive made some progress so far, however. I've gotten MePo installed, started abbreviating MediaPortal as MePo, and installed the StreamedMP skin. I'm also messing with Moving Pictures and My TV Series. My next step is going to be automating utorrent to download new tv series episodes off of an RSS feed, and placing them in the right folders so they're recognized and indexed by my tv series and moving pictures. Looks like I'll need to use theRenamer for that. I was hoping for an easy way to manage torrents/RSS feeds from within MePo as well. Anybody know about that? I'm the kind of person that, if I set something up to do a certain task (like be an htpc), I don't ever want to have to go back and continually mess with the backend. So ideally I'll get this all setup so that I can have MePo running all the time and never have to go out into the configuration or windows again (unless doing an upgrade or something sweet like that). I'm also a sucker for new versions of things....so who knows what will happen?! Anyway, thanks for all the support. I hope to someday be a contributing member here, and not just leeching off everyone else's knowledge. Cheers!