How to build/install OpenELEC xbmc on Raspberry Pi?

[squarecut1]

Hello all,

I am new to XBMC, and been looking to have a dedicated box with remote control for it, connected to TV. Similar to Roku / Apple TV. I have Roku 2 and Apple TV 3, but seems neither is of us in this regard.

After a lot of research, it seems the best option is to have OpenELEC XBMC on a Raspberry Pi. I have done reading about it, watched youtube videos on it, but I have not been able to get the complete picture. What I am looking for is something that describes the whole thing from A to Z.

I know the things I would need to get - case for Raspberry Pi, wifi adapter, wireless keyboard, etc. But I am not sure which brands to get, and more importantly, how to set up / configure all these things. I am not sure how it is done on OpenELEC, since I have no experience of it.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I feel like an OpenELEC Raspberry Pi was awesome like a year ago, but nowadays I would just buy a Celeron NUC and put XBMCbuntu or Openelec on it:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16856102004

Why?

Well you will get more power, better performance, and greater media playback capability.

PLUS if you find you can't hack the learning curve of Linux (which can be daunting I admit), then you give up, buy a copy of Windows for the thing and end up with a workable solution.

Only reason to get a Pi is: A: You want to hack on a Pi, which I get it is a fun community or B: You are on a crazy budget in which case I still might say buying used ION2 stuff off Ebay is a better value for the same Windows parachute reasoning.

 

[poofyhairguy]

BUT if you do want to go down the PI route here is a really good guide:

http://wiki.openelec.tv/index.php?title=Installing_OpenELEC_on_Raspberry_Pi

 

[squarecut1]

The reason I was leaning towards Pi is that I think it would have been less hassle as compared to NUC, but I could be wrong.

I am mainly looking to play stuff through various add-ons in xbmc. Would Pi be capable enough for it?

Also, is there a similar guide for NUC? I understand I would need to get hard drive, memory etc for it.

Thank you for your replies.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The reason I was leaning towards Pi is that I think it would have been less hassle as compared to NUC, but I could be wrong.

I am mainly looking to play stuff through various add-ons in xbmc. Would Pi be capable enough for it?

If you want the best experience and the least amount of hassle, a NUC is where it is at. That is XBMC's primary platform, so you will have maximum plugin compatibility and the ability to use the best skins (best part of XBMC IMHO).

With a Pi you have to mess with buying codecs and all that. It is a fun project but if you can afford a NUC it is a much better solution.

Also, is there a similar guide for NUC? I understand I would need to get hard drive, memory etc for it.

So take that NUC, add some ram and a cheap SSD (I can recommend those if you don't have favored brands). Then prepared a pen drive to boot xbmcbuntu. I used this guide:

http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?titl...om/to_a_bootable_USB_flash_drive#From_Windows

Then you go the the PC, boot it off the pen drive, and pick the "Install XBMC with Fixed DPI" option. Then you go through the install (easy questions I swear) and once completed you reboot into your new XBMC appliance.

Then you can configure XBMC how you want. I can certainly help there. I have done this process more than once on my four XBMC client machines.

 

[squarecut1]

Yes, after your response and my own reading elsewhere, I am definitely now inclined towards NUC

Yes, please feel free to recommend brands / size for SSD, memory etc.

Also, since I want to use it like a Roku, Apple TV etc, is there something specific that works as a remote, or should I get a wireless keyboard, like Logitech K400?

Looks like it has built in wifi, so I probably won't need a wifi adapter.

Looks like there is a 1st and 3rd generation Celeron NUC

http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Intel_NUC#Celeron-based

But the 3rd generation doesn't seem to be available anywhere.

Is there any particular preference / difference between xmbcbunto and OpenELEC?

Thanks again for the help.

 

[poofyhairguy]

First of all, for remote I personally use Logitech Harmonies for everything. So I have a USB IR sensor I use with a Harmony. Now you can get just a remote and IR sensor that will work great:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16880101008

You just stick the IR sensor in the front USB port. Other options include wireless keyboards like you say, that depends on budget up to this the top model:

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/living-room-keyboard-k830

Finally you can easily use remote apps on your smartphone.

For RAM I would go dual-channel since you are using the GPU, so:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231340

For a hard drive, heck you can just boot from the pen drive at first. Or you can get the type of drive NUCs use:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...tem=20-167-143

30 GB is more than enough space.

Now one thing about the wifi, the reviews say that NUC has the slot but not the card. This should work great unless you need 5GHz N instead then I will go hunt:

http://www.amazon.com/Atheros-AR5B95.../dp/B005HMZ8B2

That will be plug and play.

In regards to this generation VS another, I think that 1st generation one is just fine. Enough power to play any file, and enough CPU to use any plugin or skin. I don't have that particular NUC, but I have a similiar 1st generation Celeron setup in my livingroom and its more than enough.

Plus that first gen will 100% work in Xbmcbuntu, which I think is the best option for use because it comes directly from the people who make XBMC. I use it on all my x86 HTPCs. Openelec shines on the Pi.

 

[squarecut1]

Your responses have been very helpful.

I am going to create the bootable USB. For that I need to download the iso, and here are the two version 12 ones

http://mirrors.xbmc.org/releases/XBMCbuntu/

I cannot figure out, even after a lot of search, which one to download for that specific Celeron NUC. The Intel-AMD one, or the Intel-NVIDIA one?

For the remote, to start with at least, I would use the XMBC remote app for Android. Is it possible to remotely power on the NUC, through the app or a physical remote?

Also during/after the install from the bootable USB, would I need wired internet connectivity?

Just to check with you, would this wireless card work? Seems to have better reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-802-11n-...YSRMS6XFCECAZT

Thanks again

 

[poofyhairguy]

Your responses have been very helpful.

I am going to create the bootable USB. For that I need to download the iso, and here are the two version 12 ones

http://mirrors.xbmc.org/releases/XBMCbuntu/

I cannot figure out, even after a lot of search, which one to download for that specific Celeron NUC. The Intel-AMD one, or the Intel-NVIDIA one?

You know, now that I think about it if you are going to run always off the USB I would chose Openelec because it is better tuned to removable media. Go with the Intel build of course:

http://openelec.tv/get-openelec

Plus that will make wireless configuration easier. There is a lot of overlap on talent between the projects so you won't miss out on anything.

For the remote, to start with at least, I would use the XMBC remote app for Android. Is it possible to remotely power on the NUC, through the app or a physical remote?

This is the best XBMC Android app:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.leetzone.android.yatsewidgetfree

I don't know about powering on because I just leave my system running 24/7. Modern Intel is so efficient I have chargers that waste more energy on idle. But maybe that app can do some sort of wake, I have never tried...

Also during/after the install from the bootable USB, would I need wired internet connectivity?

No, wireless should just work. The trick is to put in your network settings this way:

http://wiki.openelec.tv/index.php/OpenELEC_Configuration_Addon#tab=Network

Just to check with you, would this wireless card work? Seems to have better reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-802-11n-...YSRMS6XFCECAZT

Thanks again

Yeah that card should work great.

Keep hitting me with questions as they come!

 

[squarecut1]

Thanks again!

No, I do not intend to run it off USB. By bootable USB, I meant the one that is needed to install the OS on the hard drive. If I am building a system, might as well have a hard drive in it. So I gather you'd recommend xmbcbuntu in this case. If so, which of the two below here should I download

http://mirrors.xbmc.org/releases/XBMCbuntu/

From what I have read, OpenELEC is more barebones with just xbmc and thus uses less system resources. So I guess a bit confused which one to go for

I'd imagine the link you posted for wireless configuration for openelec would be just as valid for xmbcbuntu.

Thanks!

 

[poofyhairguy]

Ah ok, I see.

Yeah then go with the AMD version of XBMCbuntu. You will setup the wireless as part of the install process (so its even easier than that link). You will need a USB keyboard for the install process BTW.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

 

[squarecut1]

This has been great help. Much appreciated. I will order those components and ask any questions I have during the installation / configuration stage.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Sure please do.

 

[squarecut1]

I have already ordered the components, but there has been a lot of XBMC activity on Amazon's new Fire TV. Apparently XBMC is working successfully on it. Perhaps something to look into.....

 

[smitbret]

I have already ordered the components, but there has been a lot of XBMC activity on Amazon's new Fire TV. Apparently XBMC is working successfully on it. Perhaps something to look into.....

This is what I am waiting for to replace my WDTV Live Hub. If XBMC ends up working well with the Fire TV and can stream 1080p smoothly then I'll cancel my plans to use another RaspPi.

 

[luv2liv]

i have a rpi as well. hard to believe for $40, it actually works with MKV and other files on my network without a hiccup.
i found RASPBMC to be the best as it is so easy to use! all GUI and mouse controls. none of that command line crap. and if you want to make the pi run faster, there's an option in the menu to do that too.

 

[squarecut1]

This is what I am waiting for to replace my WDTV Live Hub. If XBMC ends up working well with the Fire TV and can stream 1080p smoothly then I'll cancel my plans to use another RaspPi.

I understand that there is no wait in streaming in Fire TV, unlike Roku and Apple TV. I have generally read very good things about it, and I think it is only a matter of time before all the chinks are ironed out with regards to XMBC on it.

 

[smitbret]

i have a rpi as well. hard to believe for $40, it actually works with MKV and other files on my network without a hiccup.
i found RASPBMC to be the best as it is so easy to use! all GUI and mouse controls. none of that command line crap. and if you want to make the pi run faster, there's an option in the menu to do that too.

Yeah, I have been nothing but impressed with the RaspPi as an XBMC station. It plays back my BR rips without a problem and since I picked up the VC-1 and MPEG2 licenses, it pretty much does everything I need it to. .

My only issue with the Pi is the small lag when scrolling through the library and the inability to really FF/Rew with higher bitrate files because of the lack of resources. I can speed it up and smooth it out if I reduce the thumbnail sizes so it is definitely an issue of CPU speed. My laptops and phones are much smoother.

I have messed with overclocking, but I can't speed it up and still leave the cover on without getting temps up to 140+ degrees. I have tried putting some heat sinks on the chips and while they drop the temps a few degrees when the cover is off, everything still just bakes when the cover is put on. If I'm gonna put one in the living room, I don't wanna to have some ugly device with a 40mm fan duct taped to the back of it so that I can keep it cool.

Just waiting for a consensus that 1080p playback has been ironed out with Gotham before I go to an Android based XBMC build. Still can't get smooth playback on my dual core Kindle Fire, but my GFs Nexus 4 with almost the same core as the FireTV seems to play everything back quite smoothly.

 

[sdifox]

I gave up on rasplex and ordered a chromecast. I use a windows 8 tablet, run chrome + google cast to access my plex server and just use the chromecast that way. 0 pain.