Rob's HTPC Setup (CableCard, Touchscreen LCD, etc..) PICS!

I will be going component and not HDMI with my setup.

The components going into the rack are:

- Custom Windows Home Server
- Cable Card Media Center
- Two Niveus Rainier's (http://www.niveusmedia.com/products/mediacenters.htm)
- Niveus Digital Cable Receiver (http://www.niveusmedia.com/products/ndcr.html)
- Niveus Edge Extender (http://gizmodo.com/304361/niveus-ed...does-1080p-is-whisper-quiet-but-no-wireless-n)
- 4 AVR's (Already have)
- 3x5 1080p Component Switcher (http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-409...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1267412682&sr=8-2)
- XBOX360 (already have)
- Sony VGP-XL1B2 DVD Changer (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...51&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=11040977)

Heres a shot of the EDGE extender. This thing is built like a tank!



XBOX360 Inside :rolleyes:


I also bought 15 Monoprice in-ceiling speakers, 5 A/V Receivers.... More Pics & Details coming!!!
 
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Here are my Zones.

Zone 1: Living Room


Zone 2: My Room
[No Pic Yet]

Zone 3: Kitchen


Zone 4: Den


Zone 5: Outside [Work in Progress]


---

Racked some stuff today.


:D
 
rack looks good....
what are you going to control the AVRs and inceiling speakers with?
 
Adidas4275 said:
rack looks good....
what are you going to control the AVRs and inceiling speakers with?
Click to expand...

Hi :D

I just bought the MSC-400 Universal Remote Control Processor
http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=108

1 Universal Remote Control KP-900 for the Outside
http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=136

And I still need to buy the remote for the inside. Leaning towards the Universal Remote Control Model MX-980

http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=135

Hows your project coming?
 
Rob Black said:
Hi :D

I just bought the MSC-400 Universal Remote Control Processor
http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=108

1 Universal Remote Control KP-900 for the Outside
http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=136

And I still need to buy the remote for the inside. Leaning towards the Universal Remote Control Model MX-980

http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=135

Hows your project coming?
Click to expand...

The 980 is a fantastic Remote. I have that and an MX-6000.
 
http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=136

did you buy the KP-900 from a dealer? that looks like a very nice solution to many of my problems

can you give me an idea what it cost you? and can you program it or is it like the rest of URC stuff where you have to be a dealer to get the software?



eh, my setup has hit a $$$ cap for a little while. I have my living room setup done and the touchscreen controlling about 10 lights via homeseer which is great

but i just bought a Nikon D5000 and some lenses for our up coming trip to China and India in the next 3 weeks. I bought a Elan Z-630 amp and will be using J River MC for zoned audio controlled with my HS touchscreen PC, my iPhone and a iPad in April.
 
Rob Black said:
When I win the lotto AGAIN, I am upgrading to a Lifeware LMS-810 Media center with 8 cablecards
Click to expand...

Fixed.

Seriously, though, I skimmed through the posts and pictures, and I kept wondering how much all this has/will cost you all in all. If you don't want to disclose it, that's fine of course, but I'm curious as to how many ten thousands of dollars you've spent so far... Or maybe prices here in Denmark are just ridiculously high in comparison, and that's why all this seems so insane to me.

And how about power consumption? I'd assume you'd need a private power reactor to keep all that stuff running and still be able to turn on a single light bulb >.<
 
garbagemule said:
Fixed.

Seriously, though, I skimmed through the posts and pictures, and I kept wondering how much all this has/will cost you all in all. If you don't want to disclose it, that's fine of course, but I'm curious as to how many ten thousands of dollars you've spent so far... Or maybe prices here in Denmark are just ridiculously high in comparison, and that's why all this seems so insane to me.

And how about power consumption? I'd assume you'd need a private power reactor to keep all that stuff running and still be able to turn on a single light bulb >.<
Click to expand...

Hi

All my gear is mid to low range. I know people who invested more money on a single TV then my entire setup. I also didn't buy everything at once. I been buying part by part over the last couple of months. I been working on this project since around September 2008 and its still not done :(

If I had to guess how much I spent so far I would say in the $3,000 - $4,000 range (Not including my 5 Tv's)

I went from a single TV with one Media Center to 5 TV's, 3 Media Centers, 5 Audio Video Receivers + a bunch of other stuff (Projector, Touch Screens, Media Extenders etc...)

If I could do all over again I would have probably simplified my system, ditch the Matrix switcher and go with dedicated components in each room. It's much easier and less complicated that way. Adding a Matrix Switcher with Touch Screens & Multiple Receivers just adds another layer of complexity...but I am learning a lot about A/V gear and A/V Distribution :D
 
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And for shits and giggles here's how much I paid for my CableCard System on 8/29/2008 and that was considered a "good deal" then.

 
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well $800 for a PC with tuner in 08 wasnt that much more than a normal PC + its a x4 and a Dedicated GPU

that PC still today would be $600+ with the newer specs .... like a i7 x4 with 4gb+ ram and a 240 GPU or something
 
Here is a diagram of my rack. Everything is already racked (I will take some photos this weekend)

 
damn, that is a lot of crap...

what is the cablecard receiver ?


so all of your HTPCs have component out? I have had a hard time getting GPUs with component out anymore. I have an older LCD TV that the HDMI sucks, so i have been looking for a current GPU that has component.

I know I have asked this before, but i cannot remember... what are you going to control this with?
 
I started the wiring today.



I made my own in-closet dvd/cd storage. Way cheaper than buying a pre-built unit. total cost = $50

 
Adidas4275 said:
damn, that is a lot of crap...

what is the cablecard receiver ?


so all of your HTPCs have component out? I have had a hard time getting GPUs with component out anymore. I have an older LCD TV that the HDMI sucks, so i have been looking for a current GPU that has component.

I know I have asked this before, but i cannot remember... what are you going to control this with?
Click to expand...

All my HTPC's do have component output, HDMI Matrix switchers are nothing but problems. Newer GPU's like the the 5870, 5970 etc dont have component out. You will need to buy older card like a 4870, 9800GTX etc.

Information on the Cablecard Receiver here: http://www.niveusmedia.com/products/ndcr.html basically its just a fancy case designed to hold 2 cablecards

And to control everything.

MSC-400 Universal Remote Control Processor (Will go in the rack)
http://www.universalremote.com/produ....php?model=108

1 Universal Remote Control KP-900 for the Outside
http://www.universalremote.com/produ....php?model=136

1 Universal Remote Control Model MX-980 for ZONE 2,3,4
http://www.universalremote.com/produ....php?model=135

1 Universal Remote Control R50 for my bedroom.
http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=158
 
Made some very good progress today. I made a hole in the wall for my 15" Touch Panel





Also, With the help of my uncle, we will be installing a dedicated power unit (6 outlets) for my equipment rack.

 
how old is your home?

the molding on the closet look like 40's to me.

and in the last picture what is that metal thing going through the hole above the breaker box?
 
Adidas4275 said:
how old is your home?

the molding on the closet look like 40's to me.

and in the last picture what is that metal thing going through the hole above the breaker box?
Click to expand...

Im not sure when my home was built (need to look at my mortgage paper work) but I think it's around the 40's - 50's

I dont know what that metal thing is, it connects to my breaker box somehow.:confused:
 
Just wanted to share the current progress of my whole home media center project, here’s the latest.

-I will be building out another rack in my home. I don’t have enough space in my current rack and I am trying to simplify the system. Why you ask? In a few weeks I am letting my brother & his wife move in and the way the system is currently designed the learning curve is very steep and confusing (even for me)

Today I bought 6 more Face Plates for my 2nd rack from customAVrack.com (Highly recommended). 3 more XBOX360 faceplates, 1 PS3 Faceplate and a face plate for my Onkyo AVR (From living room, now going into rack #1)

The plan is for TV viewing each zone will have its own extender. The Gaming/HTPC rig will be on the Matrix Switcher so that way I can play my games on any tv on the house

I rather do everything right the 1st time then have the whole system up then changing eveything around. :rolleyes:
.
Below is the diagram. WIP (Work in progress)



Blue is component HD cable and Red is HDMI.
 
Alright guys I already started on the 2nd rack. Not much but I did do some measurements and what not.

The only place the rack will fit is in this little area in the hallway





Its going to be a real tight fit (but its possible!!!) the space is only 24 inches long, I will be placing a door with a glass cut out infront of it (That takes 2 inches away alone) So any component that is shorter than 20 inches will fit.

The door will be something like this



And I will put a touch pad lockset



:D
 
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I just finished redoing the rack. Added the MSC Master Controller, Onkyo AVR, PS3 and Another XBOX

 
i just bought some logitech squeezebox devices and more z-wave home automation gear...

a z-wave thermostat, which I had installed with in 10mins of opening the box :D

and a bunch of lamp controllers and outdoor switches..... this will be a fun summer.

your setup seems to be coming together nicely. I keep looking on craigslist for a rack at a good price, but here in fresno there are not a ton of people selling them :(
 
Insane setup. Looks awesome!!! I hope your home security is up to snuff with all the A/V goodness inside :)
 
I just wanted to share the current status on my project. I have installed 24 In-Ceiling speakers inside my house, 2 Outdoor waterproof speakers under my patio cover.

Everything is up and running good. I still need to program my remote controls because currently everything is being controlled manually (Which is very annoying :mad:)

I am also working on rack #2, I am just waiting for some more funds to come in so I can finish it.

Diagram:

 
To do list (Short Term)

1. Finish rack #2
2. Program remote controls (Hardest part IMO)
3. Buy a few Subwoofers.
4. Install 5 Touch screens (Kitchen, Living Room, 2 Bedrooms and Hallway...Already have all this)
5. Software Configuration (Movie Libary software setup, Setup Power/sleep/Stand-by Options, Install plug-ins, Configure Windows Home Server, etc...)
6. Make a Visio diagram of my setup for documentation purposes (Including parts list)


To do long term (To be completed sometime in 2011 or in 2012 at this rate :rolleyes:)

7. Home Automation integration (mControl)
8. Skype integration
9. Zune or iPod integration (still haven't decided yet)
10. Convert Garage into game room complete with Home Bar, Pool Table, Darts, etc.(Will be placing a spare projector in here)
11. Buy 2 more LCD's for Family room (Video Wall FTW!)
12. UMPC or Tablet PC integration
13. Buy a few Ceton Turners and CableCard HD Home run's
14. Enjoy my system!!!!!! (Cant wait till get here)
 
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How are you going to control all those speakers? I assume they will be divided into zones so different zones can listen to different music. Will you have multiple places to control what is played?
 
mryerse said:
How are you going to control all those speakers? I assume they will be divided into zones so different zones can listen to different music. Will you have multiple places to control what is played?
Click to expand...

Yes. The speakers go to its own A/V receiver. I have Four 5.1 Audio Zones and Two 2.1 Audio Zones. The pair of speakers in the restroom and "Zone 2" on my media room's AVR

I can hear music in any location by simply launching a media center extender, if it wanted a whole house to be in sync I have to switch the input of my receivers to "Input 2" Which is my Matrix Switcher.

Hope that makes sense
 
Here is something I drew up really quick.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Going into "Input One" on the receivers are extenders (Except for the living room which has a HTPC, the outside AVR has no extender), "Input 2" on the receivers I have the Matrix Switcher. So if I want to have music in-sync throughout the whole house I have to switch over the matrix switcher.
 
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