Messages

1

Users / Re: An open discussion on LinuxMCE and Hardware

« on: November 04, 2007, 05:24:24 pm »

Thanks for all of the advice. 

1)  I took a look at the fiire boxes and they look quite nice.  I think I'll buy a few of their fire stations.
3)  What interface is best for connecting an analog line?  I use a generic xp100 right now.  Is that going to work?  I'd like for outgoing calls to continue to use the analog line.  I like the reliablity and quality over using a voip service.  This all works reasonably well for me right now with a sip-> anaog converter for my old phones.
4)  Did you mean squeezeboxes? 
7)  Any ideas for orbiters with larger screens.  I don't care about mobility for some locations (ie front door).  My Audrey has an 8" screen and I don't want anything smaller for these spots.

What is 1wire support like in linuxmce?  I have a number of temp sensors now and I'm building a relay board to control sprinklers etc.   This works great with misterhouse.

2

Users / An open discussion on LinuxMCE and Hardware

« on: November 04, 2007, 02:04:01 am »

After playing with LinuxMCE for a while (and Pluto before that) I think I might be ready to take the plunge.  I'm hoping to start construction on a new house in a few months and I'd like some opionions on what I should include.  Currently I'm mostly using Misterhouse and Mythtv with a few custom scripts to pull some stuff in from Asterisk.  I use X10 for lighting control and a 3Com Audrey as a touchscreen interface. If I decide to go the LinuxMCE route what should I be shopping for and what is the best way to set it up?    My goals are:

1.  Distributed PVR system -> Mythtv!  We've used it for 2 years and we love it.  Any good suggestions for lightweight frontends?  At the moment we have a 3 full pc's for frontends.
2.  Automated Lighting/Appliances ->  Insteon?, ZWave? X10?
3.  Phone system ->  What makes sense here?  IP phones acting as orbiters?  Traditional Analog?
4.  Distributed Audio ->  I've no Idea here but my wife says we should do something.  Controlled from Orbiters?  Seperate from Media Centers?
5.  HVAC ->  Probably AprilAire Thermostats.
6.  Security -> DSC System with serial interface?
7.  Orbiters -> I'd like a few dedicated locations with orbiters mounted to the wall.  Anybody seen reasonably priced hardware for this?
8.  Locks -> I'd love some automated door locks with proximity sensors that work like the new cars do.  Get close to the door and it opens.  Perhaps bluetooth could be used like this.

Thanks for any advice, thoughts, rants or whatever.  I'd just like to see what people are thinking.  I have some budget to do this during construction so I'd like to get at least most of it done right.

3

Installation issues / Re: Mythtv install using homebrew transmitter

« on: October 01, 2007, 01:40:41 am »

Thanks for the info Zaerc. 

I'm still a little curious about LIRC.  It seems that in the mythtv world everyone uses it.  Is the linuxmce not interested in LIRC somehow or do most people just buy the GC100 and go that route. 

I currently have 2 myth frontend boxes setup to boot diskless (using fedora).  I'd like to move those over to being diskless MD's.  I have serial IR receivers on each.  Do I need to but a GC100 for each location (or run wires)? 

I'd really like to hear from some other users. 

4

Installation issues / Re: Mythtv install using homebrew transmitter

« on: October 01, 2007, 12:56:43 am »

To install the PVR using the composite input I just ran mythtv-setup directly.  Is that the correct approach? 

Regarding the IR blaster - do I need to install lirc and the lirc-serial modules myself?  I've done that in the past but I would have assumed that they would be part of linuxmce.  Any of the other distros that include myth such as mythdora or mythknoppix include lirc by default. 

I see that the GC100 is the recommended controller for IR devices.  If I order one which accessory is required for transmitting IR?  The devices I see all seem to be receivers not transmitters.

Are other people actually using linuxmce with myth or should I regard this project as cool but not ready for use?  I don't mean this as an insult but myth has been our only TV watching method for the last 2 years and I need a certain level of reliability.

Any comments are appreciated.

5

Installation issues / Mythtv install using homebrew transmitter

« on: September 29, 2007, 09:20:17 pm »

I've been using mythtv for about 2 years now and I thought I'd try out linuxmce.  My hardware is a PVR-500 with a Dish Network Receiver connected by composite inputs.  I use a  home build IR transmitter to control the receiver from mythtv. 

Right now I've installed a Core/Hybrid but I'm having a few troubles.

1.  How do I select the composite input on the PVR-500?  The only options that show up in the admin page are "PVR 500 - Tuner1" and "PVR 500 - Tuner2"

2.  How do I use the IR transmitter?  Currently I have a custom lirc.conf that I created so I'll need to import that as well.