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TheBlackAngel
Limp Gawd
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2004
- Messages
- 159
*Warning* Wall of text ahead 
OK, so i recently got interested in the idea of doing a HTPC. While looking around at options i run into the thread about people using HTPCs and WHS and getting rid of their cable/sat. This idea is very appealing to me as getting rid of cable (and phone with it) i could go from $179/month down to just internet for $60/month, a savings of ~$110/month! So i started thinking about what i would be able to do, or not do, going this route and then started the research. the problem is there is so much information out there and so many options that i am feeling overwhelmed and not sure what to do.
This is where you come in, to help guide me down the path!
First I'll list what i would like to accomplish:
1) have a WHS to store dvd/bluray rips, pictures, recorded shows, backup my pcs, etc
2) have HTPC clients hooked up to my TVs
3) watch live TV on the HTPCs, preferably streaming it from the WHS server - if thats possible?
4) watch shows streamed over the internet on the HTPCs
5) be as cheap as possible
6) be user friendly so my wife can watch what she wants to without me needing to run the remote
Now for what I have and my layout:
I currently live in a town home which does not have CAT* cable run anywhere, it is also on the market so i will not be running any cables. I would have the WHS wired to the router on a Gigbit connection, then would run the 300Mbps wireless to the HTPCs. about 98% of the time only 1 HTPC would be streaming content at a time. I know this isn't ideal, but its what i have to work with. If my house sells we will be building our next house and will be able to run CAT6 cable to every room.
TVs -
1) Projector in the basement - would need a HTPC client that can hook up to it with component cables and audio to my receiver over an optical or coaxial connection. (I finished by basement 2 years ago and didn't have a device that used HDMI so didn't run a cable to it, stupid i know) When we move this would change to an HDMI connection.
2) Main floor TV - HTPC that could send video over component and audio over the L/R red/white cables.
3) 2nd floor Bedroom TV - not sure if i want to do a HTPC here, might just do OTA. If i did do a HTPC it would have to hook up over a composite cable and L/R red/white audio cables
Computers -
1) my main PC - used for gaming, internet, video/picture editing. might steal storage from it to use in the WHS as it wouldn't need so much anymore with a server. has a 1x40GB, 2x200GB, 1x750GB, and 1x100GB.
2) spare PC - this would become the WHS. it has an athlon XP 1700+ 1.47GHz CPU, 768MB DDR RAM, socket 754 (i think) motherboard, 430 watt PSU.
3) modded XBOX with XBMC - this might be good to use on the bedroom tv?
Software -
1) WHS - windows server 2008
2) HTPCs - windows 7 pro
3) any other software i would need i would prefer to be freely available software.
Misc items that might be useful -
1) logitech harmony 880 remote
2) wireless dinovo keyboard & mouse
Things to buy -
1) 2-3 HTPC clients - able to handle HD content streamed from both the WHS and over the internet, be able to hook up with a variety of video connections, HDMI, component, etc
2) storage for the WHS - I don't need much to start out with and am trying to stay cheap, thinking maybe taking the 100GB and 750GB from my main PC and then adding 2x1TB drives
3) SATA add in card for WHS - doesn't have any SATA connections on the MB (does have 4xIDE )
4) unknown amount of TV turners for the PC(s)
5) wireless router with gigbit ports and 300Mbps wireless plus wireless cards for the HTPCs that can support 300Mbps
Last but not least Questions:
1) do the clients for the TVs need to be HTPCs? i have read about sagetv, popcorn hour, etc, would these work better? worse?
2) can i install TV turner cards in the WHS for it to be the DVR?
3) If WHS can accept TV tuner cards can it stream live TV to the clients on the TVs? if not i'm guessing TV tuner cards for each of them?
4) i'm i crazy? is any of this even feasible?
5) is my wife going to be able to live without cable? she likes to plop down on the couch and flip through her favorite channels until she finds a show she likes to watch. I have checked the websites of the channels she watches and most of them post their shows online. so while it wouldn't be the same i guessing it would be doable?
Lastly budget - ideally i would only spend $700 or less. i know its not a lot but after canceling cable i could make that back up in ~6 months, plus if it doesn't work out then i'm not out a ton of money.
if you have made it this far through my brain dump i commend and thank you any advice will be greatly appreciated!
OK, so i recently got interested in the idea of doing a HTPC. While looking around at options i run into the thread about people using HTPCs and WHS and getting rid of their cable/sat. This idea is very appealing to me as getting rid of cable (and phone with it) i could go from $179/month down to just internet for $60/month, a savings of ~$110/month! So i started thinking about what i would be able to do, or not do, going this route and then started the research. the problem is there is so much information out there and so many options that i am feeling overwhelmed and not sure what to do.
This is where you come in, to help guide me down the path!
First I'll list what i would like to accomplish:
1) have a WHS to store dvd/bluray rips, pictures, recorded shows, backup my pcs, etc
2) have HTPC clients hooked up to my TVs
3) watch live TV on the HTPCs, preferably streaming it from the WHS server - if thats possible?
4) watch shows streamed over the internet on the HTPCs
5) be as cheap as possible
6) be user friendly so my wife can watch what she wants to without me needing to run the remote
Now for what I have and my layout:
I currently live in a town home which does not have CAT* cable run anywhere, it is also on the market so i will not be running any cables. I would have the WHS wired to the router on a Gigbit connection, then would run the 300Mbps wireless to the HTPCs. about 98% of the time only 1 HTPC would be streaming content at a time. I know this isn't ideal, but its what i have to work with. If my house sells we will be building our next house and will be able to run CAT6 cable to every room.
TVs -
1) Projector in the basement - would need a HTPC client that can hook up to it with component cables and audio to my receiver over an optical or coaxial connection. (I finished by basement 2 years ago and didn't have a device that used HDMI so didn't run a cable to it, stupid i know) When we move this would change to an HDMI connection.
2) Main floor TV - HTPC that could send video over component and audio over the L/R red/white cables.
3) 2nd floor Bedroom TV - not sure if i want to do a HTPC here, might just do OTA. If i did do a HTPC it would have to hook up over a composite cable and L/R red/white audio cables
Computers -
1) my main PC - used for gaming, internet, video/picture editing. might steal storage from it to use in the WHS as it wouldn't need so much anymore with a server. has a 1x40GB, 2x200GB, 1x750GB, and 1x100GB.
2) spare PC - this would become the WHS. it has an athlon XP 1700+ 1.47GHz CPU, 768MB DDR RAM, socket 754 (i think) motherboard, 430 watt PSU.
3) modded XBOX with XBMC - this might be good to use on the bedroom tv?
Software -
1) WHS - windows server 2008
2) HTPCs - windows 7 pro
3) any other software i would need i would prefer to be freely available software.
Misc items that might be useful -
1) logitech harmony 880 remote
2) wireless dinovo keyboard & mouse
Things to buy -
1) 2-3 HTPC clients - able to handle HD content streamed from both the WHS and over the internet, be able to hook up with a variety of video connections, HDMI, component, etc
2) storage for the WHS - I don't need much to start out with and am trying to stay cheap, thinking maybe taking the 100GB and 750GB from my main PC and then adding 2x1TB drives
3) SATA add in card for WHS - doesn't have any SATA connections on the MB (does have 4xIDE
)4) unknown amount of TV turners for the PC(s)
5) wireless router with gigbit ports and 300Mbps wireless plus wireless cards for the HTPCs that can support 300Mbps
Last but not least Questions:
1) do the clients for the TVs need to be HTPCs? i have read about sagetv, popcorn hour, etc, would these work better? worse?
2) can i install TV turner cards in the WHS for it to be the DVR?
3) If WHS can accept TV tuner cards can it stream live TV to the clients on the TVs? if not i'm guessing TV tuner cards for each of them?
4) i'm i crazy? is any of this even feasible?
5) is my wife going to be able to live without cable? she likes to plop down on the couch and flip through her favorite channels until she finds a show she likes to watch. I have checked the websites of the channels she watches and most of them post their shows online. so while it wouldn't be the same i guessing it would be doable?
Lastly budget - ideally i would only spend $700 or less. i know its not a lot but after canceling cable i could make that back up in ~6 months, plus if it doesn't work out then i'm not out a ton of money.
if you have made it this far through my brain dump i commend and thank you
any advice will be greatly appreciated!