HTPC Questions

[2chesapeakes]

Here is what I would like to do. I want to be able to connect a HTPC to the TV in the living room. Record shows to the PC / storage drives I have in the basement and be able to watch them in either bedroom or living room.
Currently the computer in the basement is running windows 7 ultimate. I will be building an HTPC for the living room most likely H67 with a dual core SB CPU. The two additional rooms will end up with intel atom based systems.

What is the best way to do this. After some reading it appears windows media center would allow this set up for over the air programs and recordings but copy righted materials can only be watched from the computer it was recorded on. I may have misunderstood the article I was reading though.

If you have a similar setup let me know what you use for media storage / server and what software you are using.

[Splave]

I use tversity connects to all my pc's laptops ps3 and even my phone rofl! :)

http://tversity.com/

[Neuromancer]

I use 7MC, although I dumped my tuner for a spell. IT will be going back in shortly (AIW HD card, its in this rig ATM)

If you do not need PCs in the other room you can pick up a network Media player for the TVs in those rooms, some will let you do netflix/youtube/hulu and such. About $100 can add USB storage to some, some will hold a Hard drive or just pull from the media server.

FWIW... Comcast and such, offers not many channels in CLearQAM. If you want to record things like your premium channels (or basically anything you can not get OTA) You will need to get a cablecard tuner or even better an M-Stream tuner. (google ceton tuners)

Comcast for instance is real picky about renting their cablecard/mstream (find out which is available in your area before going with one... mstream might be available next year here in South Jersey). If you call they will say they don't rent them. they do, speak to the manager. Or contact HQ about it. Most people do not know they do it, but they do.

(Most people do not know mc donalds sells bags of ice either that work there, but they do :) )



7MC IIRC will only let you use either analog or digital not both IIRC... not a big deal analog is dead. You can use Antennaweb if you want to use OTA signals. Depending on your location you can buy or build an antenna for pulling in UHF HD stations. Also on comcast... Pay for basic service and I can use my tuner to pull hte HD clearQAM stations.

[2chesapeakes]

I was looking at the Ceton InfiniTv 4 and like the idea of 4 tuners with the Mstream card. From the literature it is also capable of working with SDV tuning adapters. After having 4 of the cable company set top boxes go bad in the last two months and losing all shows and set recording I am agravated and am thinking this may be the way to go however a $400.00 price tag for a tuner is a little steap.

Most shows I record are available without the card so it may not be worth the additional money of a cablecard tuner.

How are the all in wonder cards you referenced?

[Neuromancer]

I like mine, but no access to encrypted channels.

I considered the HD home run for while as well, but got my AIW HD for a pretty cheap. And it doubles as a HD3650, so has a little 3D power for lite gaming as well.

IIRC there is a newer AIW card out as well I have no experience with it.

Drawback of 7MC is the new recording format (WTV). AFAIK there is not anything that will convert it to AVI/MKV. You need to first convert it to the older DVR-MS. (EDIT: Looks like there are some tools that do it now).

Vista MC is good too, and with the TVpack (OEM software but you can find it :) ) it has all the improvements that 7 does.