Friday, February 09, 2007

My HTPC Setup

I use Snapstream's Beyond TV (BTV) as my PVR/DVR software for my home. It works much like Tivo or your cable companies Digital Recorder Box (DVR) does but with more flexibility and more power. In addition, I use Beyond Media as the HTPC front-end software. This software allows me to listen to music, watch dvd movies stored on my PC hard drives, watch streamed video content and more. Here is my current HTPC setup:

Server PC:
Dell 8400 - 3Ghz - 1GB System Memory - SAPPHIRE Radeon X1600XT video card
TV: 36 inch SD TV (some day it will be bigger and HDTV :)
PVR software - BTV 4.6 Beta
HTPC front-end software - Beyond Media 1.12
Six TV Tuners total:
Hauppauge WinTV PVR 500 (dual SD tuner)
Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2 (single SD tuner)
HDHomeRun (dual HD Qam Tuner) & BTV Externinator Add-On for unencrypted QAM

This PC is located in an office and wired through a wall to the Living room TV. This eliminates any noise or bulk in the living room. I use girder with USBUIRT and an mx500 remote to control everything.
BTV Link PC1:

BTV Link PC2:
Dell Optiplex 240 - 1.6Ghz - 1GB System Memory - Radeon X800xl video card
TV: 26 inch LCD HD TV
PVR software - BTV Link 4.6 Beta -- this software has the same look-and-feel as BTV and streams all tv shows from the BTV server above
HTPC front-end software - Beyond Media 1.12 - Streams all music, video, DVD etc from the server PC

This PC is located in the unfinished basement and wired through a drop ceiling to the finished basement TV near the bar. There is no box, noise etc visible - just the TV. I use girder with USBUIRT and an mx500 remote to control everything.

MediaMVP with BTV Skin - This is a small, silent device that runs all the SD shows from the BTV server with the same look-and-feel as BTV.
TV: SD 19inch
This is in the bedroom and is small and silent.

Most TV's in house can view BTV&BM output on channel 77 using cable modulator. This allows someone to start a show in the living room and turn on a tv in the kitchen or bedroom on channel 77 and see the same thing playing in the living room - very nice when someone is working in the kitchen while others are watching a show in the living room.

I'll post pictures of some of the setup soon. Since most of the PC's are hidden from view, there isn't much to see though. Feel free to check out my other posts related to HomeTheater PC's or the entire blog. It's obviously a work in progress just as my HTPC always is.