Small Home Theater Software/Hardware Suggestions??

[Cloud28]

Hi All, Just a quick question about setting up a Media Center PC with HD TV.

I recently bought a 42 inch 1080 LCD TV, and I am considering some options that will allow me to watch content that is stored on an older Media Center PC.

The PC is running Windows XP Media Center 2005, Athlon 64 X2, and ATI 4750.

Currently, this PC is connected to the TV with a long HDMI Cable, and most of the controlling is done at the desk with mouse and keyboard which is quiet uncomfortable. The TV is about about 6 meters from the PC, I am wondering if there is any product out there such as a remote, that could let me control the Media Center from the couch, which is pretty far from where the PC is.

- I have tried the MCE Remote that came with this computer, and unfortunately it doesn't work very well. I can only use it in the MCE interface, and the Media Center software doesn't recognize most of my video content that is either in mkv (720p/1080p) or rmvb format.

- I have used a set of wireless mouse/keyboard, but the couch is simply too far from the computer.

- Is there another software that is compatible with the MCE remote? One that will support these formats and codecs? (Conversion is probably not an option due to the large amount of files, and the tricky issue regarding subtitles; Right now I am basically watching the media by locating the files manually through windows explorer, and open it with VLC, Realplayer, etc).

So basically I am looking for something that will provide a better interface of browsing through my media library, and has the ability to play the formats that I require (Mostly: MKV (With/Without Subtitles), Xvid, RMVBs)

- As an alternative, is there some sort of set top box that can play these contents, so I can just get rid of using the computer all together? (Maybe a Xbox 360/PS3/etc).

I am fairly new to Home Theater, Media Center PCs, codecs, consoles etc; Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot guys, and Have a great Christmas!

Cloud28

 

[kalrith]

You could try MediaPortal. I use that with an MCE IR receiver and my Harmony remote. MediaPortal takes all the commands from the remote, and it's free. I'm not certain if it will play all your formats, but it plays everything I throw at it. I set mine up according to this avsforum thread. You can read more about MediaPortal in their own forums.

When I'm not using the remote, I control my HTPC with the Logitech Dinovo Mini. It's bluetooth and has a range of probably 25 feet (~8 meters). It has a remote-control mode as well, but since you already have a MCE remote, that's probably moot.

I would bet that you could stream your content to the PS3 using ps3mediaserver, and it would likely play your content (you'd want to verify this first). You'd probably still want to use the computer as a media server unless you upgraded the PS3 hdd to 500GB and that was enough for all your content. Most people use a PS3, XBOX360, Popcorn Hour, etc. as the front end connected to the TV simply to stream content from their back end (i.e. computer acting as a media server). You'll need to connect both the back end and front end with wired networking as wireless networking is not sufficient for streaming HD content.

 

[Modelworks]

Most software does not come with a lot of IR remote controls pre-set. You can use your remote to control any application though by using the program event ghost. Event ghost receives the IR commands and process them into commands for applications that you set up.

http://www.eventghost.org/


Better solution is the WDTV Live boxes. Small box , $120 , connect to the tv and network and sit on your couch and watch tv 🙂
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...dtv%20live

Plays all the formats you listed and subtitles without worrying about the software , codecs or any of that other stuff, and comes with a remote.

 

[slackerinabox]

I much prefer a WDTV Live like set top box, but you may do well with a simple wireless keyboard with integrated pointer. The logitech dinovo line, for exmaple. But those are as expensive as a WDTV Live.. and doesn't support any codecs 😉

 

[jtvang125]

My suggestion is to use a frontend plugin for Media Center like Media Browser, XBMC, MediaPortal and MyMovies. I use Media Browser on my Win7 HTPC and it's great. The MCE remote will work just fine on it but I have my Harmony controlling it. As long as you have all the proper codecs it will recognize pretty much any file type. If you have rips in ISO files you can have it automatically mount the image when you play it too.

Here's my setup:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/jtvang125/media_browser.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/jtvang125/animation.jpg

 

[Cloud28]

Hey Guys, Thanks a lot for the help; I really appreciated it. I am going to try Media Portal, and XMBC hopefully those will play the codecs.

Question regarding the WDTV, What kind of external hard drive can you use? Does it have to be a simple plug and play? I have an older 500GB drive but I had to install some software before I could use it on the PC. Also has anyone tried to stream media to the WDTV with Ethernet?

 

[Crucial]

Hey Guys, Thanks a lot for the help; I really appreciated it. I am going to try Media Portal, and XMBC hopefully those will play the codecs.

Question regarding the WDTV, What kind of external hard drive can you use? Does it have to be a simple plug and play? I have an older 500GB drive but I had to install some software before I could use it on the PC. Also has anyone tried to stream media to the WDTV with Ethernet?

Streaming media to the wdtv is what it's made for. Works awesome streaming from my media center pc and from my WHS.