I have a HTPC. Using mythtv @ www.mythtv.org
Using tvxb scraping of the astro website to generate EPG.

Specs are the following:

Antec overture case (most expensive part!)
Asus P4P Deluxe MB
512 MB RAM
3 HDD, 2 are PATA, 1 sATA - Total HD space of ~ 700GB.
LCD TV 29"
Crappy Altec Lansing 4.1 speakers.
NVidia MX440 graphics
Lite-On DVD-RW
Cheap TV tuner card
OFA 8910 learning & programmable JP1 remote

Use it to:
1. Store & play music
2. Watch DVDs
3. Play games on MAME, DDR, etc.
4. Store & view all my digital photos
5. Record & view TV
6. View other downloaded shows.
7. Stream movies to my laptop

If you have questions on myth, email me hachuah at gmail dot com

Got 29" LCD TV?

WTF for?? All M'sian channels are crappy anyway.

There's nothing good to watch on TV anyway.

Astro digital is also like crap. Why want to invest money to get crappy resolution ala Astro??

BTW, looking forward to when astro will provide FREE streaming of shown TV series from Net. Just like US are doing for shows like CSI and Heroes!!!!

BAH!

Waste time and money

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Added on March 29, 2007, 11:57 pmHmmm... seems like I'm the only person here in the forums who is using Linux as a Media Center.



This post has been edited by myjunk: Mar 29 2007, 11:57 PM

Don't even think to get free from astro even streaming over the internet! BTW I'm looking forward to explore more deep into other ways. With DVB-S card you can get more channel from outside.






Twinhan.com

Yeap.. misunderstood there. Supposed to say.. looking forward to when (NEVER) astro provide free streaming!

Remember that RS232 port they had at the back of the set top box? Supposed to be for modem right?

I know there are some ppl already using those dvb cards and getting terrestial signals from the air.

Never tried myself though.

Well myjunk, the rs232 and some with lpt1 port is for just for JTAG or upgrading firmware for STB and for trobleshoting purpose. RJ11 socket for data connection via internal stb modem.

Not much we can do about this Stb unless we have some dedicated people to rewrite the firmware which is offer more option and choices. Currently this firmware stb is lock to the measat signal. pity.

Astro is really "kedekut" not like our Thailand they provide few free to air channel and alternative to the user, where the user just pay one time payment and forget about monthly payment forever.

just build a mac as my low cost media center pretty happy with the result.
now waiting for the VGA -> TV converter box to arrive.

Sorry been away from LYN for awhile. Haven't have the time to explore vista MCE yet. I suppose need to wait for the bladerunner pro to support vista. A quick google search didn't give much light on bladerunner support vista yet. I think I will stick to XP MCE for awhile more before moving to vista.

From the googling juz now, I came across this:



apparently someone has recompiled bladerunner pro to work in vista. I'm not a microsoft person so I dunno how to recompile it.

Anyway if anyone embarked on getting Astro EPG to work with vista please please update here to share with everyone here. thanks.

in any case that you guys wanna connect your HTPC (DVI) to your TV (HDMI), i have 5 pcs of generic [HDMI to DVI adaptors] to let go (to be used with dvi cable). Price is RM 50 each. add RM 10 (WM) for post laju.

1 good quality [HDMI to DVI] cable, 2m length, to let go as well at RM 120. add RM 10 (WM) for post laju.

PM me if interested.

This post has been edited by ryansia: Apr 14 2007, 02:49 PM

Well i put below the comments as mentioned by Ryan i have with HDMI DVI cable.

I am using htpc to connect to my LG 37" lcdtv by means of RGB cable.

Recently i bought the DVI hdmi cable to try and play DVD 9 movies. Overall the difference as compared to RGB is not that great, and I am very disappointed with the output. The color is still not brilliant as compared to my SONY NS76H HDMI output.

so i stick back to my RGB (since LG has 1 hdmi port) and quite happy with that, what to do! i suspect my graphics card may not be that good, i am using MSI 6200 AGP.

i dont have htpc, just dekstop connected too hdtv. I dont dare to call htpc coz it's big and dont even have tv tuner..

i just use it to watch dvd, divx, and sometimes blu ray content.

What i can see, blu ray doesn't look noticeably better than 720p tv show, at least on my 26" 720p lcd tv.

oh sometimes, low quality video looks better on hdtv than monitor.

This post has been edited by irwan6179: Apr 17 2007, 12:11 AM

Chua, mind to ask what decoder you used to play back DVD, since you are like me using fx 6200, i'm pretty happy with nvidia's purevideo.

i do agree with you that the improvement with DVI compare with RGB is quite marginal in DVD playback. it definitely carries more water when you playback 1080 HD due to the higher bandwidth in DVI

Good news for Windows MCE users, we can have Astro EPG on Vista MCE now. Guide is up at www.tvxb.com site. Now I need to get my hands on a vista cd to try it out.

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Added on April 30, 2007, 2:05 pmAstro got new channels. I have generated a new TVxb.ini. The file can be downloaded from my site.

Link: http://www.terencey.net/blog/?p=99

P/S: Please help to click on ads links if possible. Thanks.

This post has been edited by terencey: Apr 30 2007, 02:05 PM

Hi All, help needed!!

i've Klite codec pack installed and it was flawless until i try .MP4 files.

File type: .MP4, resolution : 640x480 captured by my Digicam

it plays fine on Media Player Classic.
if i play it by WMP11, it crops the video to 320x240!!! meaning large portion of the video is not shown but the center 320x240. check through the file properties in wmp11, saying its 320x240. I'm running Window Media Center and it has the same effect which is very annoying.

please help!

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Added on May 9, 2007, 6:04 pmquite tempting to set up another HTPC with this board.... Built in HDMI

Asus M2A-VM HDMI
Review






This post has been edited by ryansia: May 9 2007, 06:04 PM

I like the board too. that's perfect for hometheater. I ended up with intel 965OT, not bad though. I get good sound and graphics so so.

i have a question.

I like to create media center especially on music album. currently i am using media portal. i notice some cyber cafe can do this : create music album arranged in photo album. u just clik on the album and it will play the music. e.g. if u click on jacky cheung (with photo/thumnnail , all past album) and it is arranged very nicely. can i know how they create it. my mediaportal can not allowed album style music .

any tips for where to get a 'nice' (not too big) case for HTPC?

i have this question in mine for past 1 week and wanted to open a new thread for this HTPC but i wonder how it works.

if u dont mind i just ask 1 simple question, maybe my question will help u out abit too~

let say i plan to get Samsung HT-XQ100 Hifi and want to pair with my Creative Audigy 2 ZS PCMCIA ( i used to connect with my logitech Z680) is it possible for interconnection?

I had went to SenQ and others electrical shop to check this Samsung Hi-Fi but i can find any cables that able to plug into my sound card...

Any suggestion brother's?

Thanks alot

Maybe the FFDshow settings set to crop (but unlikely cos you have to explicitly tell it to)?



It Phail for me cos the HDMI is another slot, and is not fit the low profile case I also eagerly awaited this board previously


I saw a few:
Silverstone Milo
Coolermaster CM260
Powerlogic microATX @ LYP ATE for RM180 (white colour)
Microfly

but personal favourite for me is the Silverstone LC13 (front brushed metal design)


Use a 3.5 jack to RCA cable?

why dont u consider antec fusion / antec nsk 2400. nice casing, i am using it. very solid feeling (put my heavy lcd monitor on op of it) and very quiet.

no regret.

yeah i saw creative have those 3.5mm jack to RCA wonder can i get it from lowyat or i have to pre order from creative..

another things is...

using 3.5mm -> RCA to connect Hi-fi is better in terms of sound

OR

just get the computer speaker eg Logitech Z5500 with build in decoder?

Which provide better functionality or sound quality>?

Thanks