Pronto + RDP + iTunes (1 Viewer)

[quiller]

I'm planning on converting a little-used desktop into a HTPC. I was originally looking at MythTV, but I'd like to have the machine available in a Windows environment. My 'main' machine is a ThinkPad, which is fine for daily use, but I normally use Remote Desktop to the desktop system when using Photoshop, etc. So, my plan is to take this extra machine and convert it to MP, but also RDP to it if need be.

The machine in question is a AMD64 3000+ (1.8ghz), 2GB (Geil) and at least 300GB of free HDD space (I can upgrade/downgrade that as necessary). I am planning on two Hauppage PVR350's: I'd like two tuners, but considering the extra work [when using RDP], hardware en/decoding sounds more reliable.

The remaining details are iTunes and my remote (Philips ProntoPro). I understand MediaPortal has an iTunes plug-in, but the forums haven't done much to reassure me on whether there's native support for iTunes playlists, etc. As for the remote, I gather it shouldn't be much of a problem to use it in place of the Hauppage remote?

 

[Flerbizky]

First of all.. 2 x PVR350 would be a, well, stupid choice, 1 x 150 and 1 x 350 would do the same whereas 2 x 500 would get you 4 TV channels a 2 radio channels..

About the Pronto - Look at : https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/showthread.php?t=3060&highlight=mpblue This thread.. I believe that's what you're looking for..

I'm using an XP64 3000+ with 1Gb of ram - I actually suspect it's a bit overkill ATM when HDTV hasn't really hit the fan here And with 2 gigs, I believe you should be good... Btw.. Somewhere, out in the scruffy edges of the internet, there are hacks that allows you to have one user logged on to the primary session (MediaPortal) and have another user connect and use the PC via RDP....

Cheers,
Steffen

 

[quiller]

First of all.. 2 x PVR350 would be a, well, stupid choice, 1 x 150 and 1 x 350 would do the same whereas 2 x 500 would get you 4 TV channels a 2 radio channels..

I was under the impression that only the 350 does hardware en/decoding? Can one 350 card handle the workload from an additional 150? Clearly, I know next to nothing about TV tuners...

About the Pronto - Look at : https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/sh...ghlight=mpblue This thread.. I believe that's what you're looking for..

Reading through the first few pages, the thread is about working with a PPC device and MP; the Pronto is a LCD touchscreen remote, IR-based...

Btw.. Somewhere, out in the scruffy edges of the internet, there are hacks that allows you to have one user logged on to the primary session (MediaPortal) and have another user connect and use the PC via RDP....

There is, indeed. I have it enabled on said desktop already, for the same reason.

I'm using an XP64 3000+ with 1Gb of ram - I actually suspect it's a bit overkill ATM when HDTV hasn't really hit the fan here And with 2 gigs, I believe you should be good...

2GB is definitely overkill, but considering the other uses for the machine... well, still probably overkill, but I've already got the memory, and there's no such thing as too much RAM

 

[Brocklander]

The iTunes plugin just plays music using iTunes in the background, letting you play your protected tracks.

More to your liking - and mine! - is the DAAP/iTunes plugin under development. Strange that there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of interest in the thread, it's certainly something I've been hoping for since I started using MP.

 

[Flerbizky]

I was under the impression that only the 350 does hardware en/decoding? Can one 350 card handle the workload from an additional 150? Clearly, I know next to nothing about TV tuners...

Put short :
PVR150 - One TV tuner - Hardware encoder.
PVR350 - One TV tuner - Hardware encoder. 1 Radio tuner.
PVR500 - One TV tuner - Hardware encoder x 2. 1 Radio tuner. (afaik)

So putting in a 150 will have no impact on the 350. That's why I'd go with a 500 which will give you an additional tuner (And believe you me, after the EO has taken to the HTPC, 3 tuners is as low as you'll go )

Reading through the first few pages, the thread is about working with a PPC device and MP; the Pronto is a LCD touchscreen remote, IR-based...

Indeed it is.. And I just hit myself with a gold leaf wrapped brick.. Anyway - As the Pronto is programmable, and MP supports multiple different remotes, I assume it's just a matter of getting hold of eg. an MCE remote and start programming away. (I'd love a Pronto - The ability to do long macro sequences definitely own any MCE remote ) Which Pronto is the one if question btw. ?....

There is, indeed. I have it enabled on said desktop already, for the same reason.


2GB is definitely overkill, but considering the other uses for the machine... well, still probably overkill, but I've already got the memory, and there's no such thing as too much RAM

There is no such thing as too much power or too much storage

Cheers,
Steff

 

[quiller]

Which Pronto is the one if question btw. ?....

ProntoPro, model TSU7000. I believe it's the latest of the original Pronto (i.e. full touchscreen, rather than a hybrid hard/screen combination), and it is hands-down the coolest piece of technology I own. As for programming it: Remote Central undoubtedly has MCE configs, but if not the Hauppage cards come with remotes. My only concern was whether there were any known problems. I'm relatively surprised that there aren't more people running MP with a Pronto, at least in terms of the number of threads I've found on the subject.

Put short :
PVR150 - One TV tuner - Hardware encoder.
PVR350 - One TV tuner - Hardware encoder. 1 Radio tuner.
PVR500 - One TV tuner - Hardware encoder x 2. 1 Radio tuner. (afaik)

So putting in a 150 will have no impact on the 350. That's why I'd go with a 500 which will give you an additional tuner (And believe you me, after the EO has taken to the HTPC, 3 tuners is as low as you'll go )

Interesting. The docs at MythTV said the 150's didn't have hardware encoding. Regardless, I think I'll start with a PVR500, then add the 150 once everything is working (my set-top DVR now has two tuners, and I already know that three will be magically refreshing).

 

[crawdaddy]

once you get a PVR500MCE, you'll wonder how you could ever use any other analog tuner card. The dual tuners are the greatst thing in the world, especially when PCI slots are becoming scare in new computers. Also, the card has dual hardware MPEG encoders, so you can record 2 shows simultaneouslly with vitually no load on the CPU. It does only have 1 radio tuner, but big whoop... One's better than none.