Ongoing Desert Island ... Buttons (2 Viewers)

[ChrisOfCatford]

Hi,

I have just finished making a HTPC MP client machine for my bedroom.

It was built into a Panasonic dvd player case (I think it was actually the original dvd player) in gold.

Everything is great, got leds, power button etc all working like they are part of the original machine.

I am about to rig up a keyboard to trigger keys to allow basic cotrol of MP from the front of the machine, only I have just 5 buttons to play with. Back, Forward, Stop, Play and Eject (which I will not be using to eject anything).

I think I need 6 (< > ^ v Enter and Escape) to successfully navigate in MP on a basic level.

Does anyone have any insight into how you can do without the need for escape/enter, or is this just not going to happen?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[ChrisOfCatford]

Here is a picture of the buttons, in case none of that made any sense.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Jacko]

This sounds cool more pics please...

Also, will the dvd drive work alongside the computer so it can be used in MP? That would be seriously funky!

 

[Marcusb]

I figure the escape and enter keys are pretty much needed.
You could also map the escape key to function as a stop key when media is playing full screen.

Using a key board may be tricky, lots of soldering and cutting required to make it fit. Would it be better to use a gamepad and then just map its buttons?

 

[ChrisOfCatford]

Hi,

Thanks for replies. Good to see that people are interested.

I have done it, well almost. Got a forward, escape enter and an unknown combination of keys including enter and back (esc), seems to move betwen menus but in only one direction (maybe my soldering skills need a little fine tuning).

Will post some pictures tomorrow.

Next I would like to get a VFD working in there, only they look costly so maybe a future mod. The one in there is old, custom and probably not supported by any software.

The keyboard was easy, once I reallised that the buttons were all linked on their PCB and that I could sort this out by severing the tracks with a knife.

The box is too noisy at the moment, so another quiet fan is required.

Anyway I am having fun!

Chirs

 

[ChrisOfCatford]

Hi,
As promised I have attached several photos of my new HTPC.

Specs are:
MSI antique motherboard
AMD 1700+ XP
512MB RAM
XP pro
40GB second hand HDD
Wired generic PCI networking
ATI Radeon 9200 SE 128MB (chosen for being cheap, second hand and low profile)
Cheap second hand PCI sound card
2 Large (12cm) fans, one with speed control, one without and a 80-120mm fan adapter
One soon to be replaced 8mm fan (cpu cooling)
1 stripped PSU with stock fan removed
Cable ties (how did I ever get on without them)
Front buttons mostly functional
Some working lights on front panel (still to add,
No DVD drive yet (although I have one ready to use).

This PC is running rock solid as a MediaPortal client over a wired connection. Most of the parts were free, cheap or already mine.

I love mediaportal!

Chris

 

[Lukky]

That is Awesome!