Messages

1

Users / Re: Decisions on Core + MD or Hybrid approach

« on: January 12, 2010, 10:30:25 pm »

For those interested in power, the power results on http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zotac/MAG_ION_Nettop/5.html show the unit uses:

Thanks for that - definately something to consider!

....Having had a chance to speak to my better half it has become clear that a specific requirement would be to have access to both Freeview and FreeSat with this system.......

Have access to, or be able to record from? - I ask because it is my intention to use the TV aerial feed to connect the television tuners, and use the satellite feeds for linuxmce.  What advantage is there in having freeview?  What does it have that freesat doesn't? Freesat already has HD transmissions supported with DVB-S2 tuners.  Freeview are starting a trial of terrestrial HD, and HD supporting DVB-T tuners do not exist yet.  The freeview landscape is likely to change after the analogue switch off (2012?), Satellite is a known quantity, supported and well understood.  It seems to me that to make a system likely to be good for 3-5 years, I'm better focussing on satellite at the moment.  Just my own thoughts, of course (about the system in the UK, not applicable elsewhere).

Now I haven't tried it myself, but totallymaxed has had four USB tuners hanging off a dual atom board.  I see no reason why you couldn't have two of each, if you so wanted.  No guarantees, you'd have to take a punt.  I intend to use satellite (including both freesat and a motorised dish) only for linuxmce.

Personally I'd be nervous about a single core as a core/hybrid, but there are no problems as a media director.

I'm going to need to be able to record from both services. According to my other half FreeSat doesn't have access to a specific channel which carries some programming that she likes.

However, you make valid points and I agree with your standpoint.

I'll let you know how I get on

2

Users / Re: Decisions on Core + MD or Hybrid approach

« on: January 09, 2010, 03:04:14 pm »

Hi trentend

Thanks for your input. I'm not as familiar as I'd like to be with current PC hardware but the Atom 330 looks like an ideal platform for my kind of core. I realise the limit is expansion.

Having had a chance to speak to my better half it has become clear that a specific requirement would be to have access to both Freeview and FreeSat with this system.

Is a single core able to house both sorts of tuners?

Many thanks
Chris

3

Users / Re: Decisions on Core + MD or Hybrid approach

« on: January 08, 2010, 02:08:17 pm »

Hi wierdbeard - thanks.

You're right - a less cluttered lounge is always easier to sell to the other half. I can sling the core in the study without raising too many eyebrows.

I also hadn't thought about the network - you're right about needing 2 LAN cables to the core and I hadn't realised.

I suppose in the lounge my only requirement will be for the MD to be able to deliver 1080p video and (possibly) 5.1 sound to an AV receiver.

Apart from needing a decent CPU, lots of RAM and "enough" storage (with a suitable PSU to cope), is there any reason why I can't otherwise bias the core PC to being a low energy device?

Thanks for your advice.

4

Users / Decisions on Core + MD or Hybrid approach

« on: January 08, 2010, 12:46:08 pm »

Hi guys,

I'm quite new to LinuxMCE but understand the concepts.

I'm in the planning stage and would like to eventually achieve:

Lounge: Content from MD or Hybrid
Bedroom: Content from MD
Kitchen: Probably something like a Squeezebox for audio.

I will be doing this in stages.

I'm trying to decide between a main core and a seperate MD for the Lounge, or if I should run Hybrid. I ought to mention at this stage that I'll be using the system broadly speaking for access to Media and PVR functions. I probably won't be using it for telephony or security.

I have a few ideals that I'd like to explore:
1) Low noise in the Lounge. My understanding of the system is that the Core needs to be running 24/7, so if I use a Hybrid then that needs to be on constantly. If I have a Core and seperate MD in the lounge then I have the option of turning the Lounge MD off when I don't need it - is this correct?
2) Low power usage throughout is a requirement - having a core and seperate MD in the Lounge would use more power than a Hybrid setup - roughly speaking - am I right?

Thanks!