Home Theater

Windows Home Server: HP EX470

Steve Bargelt — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:05:23 GMT

I've been running Windows Home Server since the beta days on a huge, inefficient server that I built from scratch a few year ago. Earlier this year the SATA RAID controller started acting funny - telling me that drives were bad yet on a drive scan or reboot they'd be fine. After enough scared I decided to upgrade to a HP EX470. Smart move! I love it. It is tiny and it "just works." I finally have all of my content moved over and have the other server shut off!

I've also decided to try and use the EX470 as my SageTV server. My only concern is that it won't have enough power to record two (or more) incoming HD streams from my HDHomeruns. I will find that out this coming weekend! If not there is still hope. Donavon over at Home Server Hacks posted two excellent upgrade articles: HP EX470 CPU Upgrade and the HP EX470 Memory Upgrade. Kudos to Donavon for taking the time to write up such easy to follow instructions.

Windows Home Server

Steve Bargelt — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:18:00 GMT

Is anyone else excited about Windows Home Server? I've signed up for the Code2Fame Challenge. Although I'm already way behind the curve. Apparently Ed Holloway has already written a killer add-in that can automatically uploads photos from your Windows Home Server to Flickr. Check it out --- PhotoSync.

I'm most curious about how it interacts with Vista Media Center and Vista Media Center Extenders (XBox 360s).

The Windows Home Server blog. Subscribed.

iPodifier

Steve Bargelt — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 19:21:00 GMT

iPodifier Looks like an awesome solution for getting TV shows from your PVR to your iPod. Kinda makes me wish I still had a bus commute so that I could watch video content on a regular basis. Oh yeah - I guess I'd need an iPod, too. I'm still using my trusty Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra 40GB that doesn't do video but I'm looking at an upgrade in the near future.

Breakin' The Law

Steve Bargelt — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 19:49:00 GMT

So I guess I break copyright law every damned day (I have a 65" TV) --

TITLE 17 > CHAPTER 1 > § 110 § 110. Limitations on exclusive rights: Exemption of certain performances and displays

The copyright/trademark/patent bullshit in the US has GOT to stop. Support the EFF when you get a chance!

via this post http://techdirt.com/articles/20070201/140812.shtml at TechDirt.

Entertainment Center Mods

Steve Bargelt — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 00:37:00 GMT

Almost a year ago now we bought a very nice entertainment center and for a year we’ve had to leave the front doors open.

(yes those are stuffed animals on top – a temporary home I assure you)

Two reasons, really. First is that our infrared remotes will not work through the wood doors. Second, I’m afraid that the components would overheat. My buddy Johnboy turned me on to the HotLink IR Extender but for almost a year now I’ve been looking for a cooling solution to jump out at me.

My first thought was to buy six 120mm cooling fans, a PC power supply and jury-rig a solution based on what I know best, PCs. What I didn’t want was a PC power supply sitting on the floor behind the entertainment center. So last night an epiphany hit - that my entertainment center is really just a wooden component rack so I decided to google for server-rack cooling solutions. I found out that MiddleAtlantic makes all the parts I wanted but does not sell direct. Another google turned up a number of dealers. A little research and it looks like Markertek has the best prices.

My first idea was to use the MiddleAtlantic QTFP-2 Dual Fan Assemblies controlled by two X10 appliance modules. I have a Logitech Harmony 800 Universal Remote that could be used to turn the fans on and off through my X10 Infrared Command Center depending on the programmed macro. The only problem with that solution is that my HDTiVo runs at all hours and if the fans do not have the ability to come on based on thermal reading that the TiVo could burn up while recording some-dumb-show at 3AM.

MiddleAtlantic offers a nice thermal fan control unit but it is a little more than I wanted to spend (I need two of these, one for each compartment). I found Atlas makes a similar product that is quite a bit cheaper. I must admit that the MiddleAtlantic product does seem to offer more features. Tough call.

So here is what I’m looking at buying to allow us to finally close the front doors of the entertainment center:

(1) HotLink Infrared Remote Extender – $99.00
(2) MiddleAtlantic QTFP-2 Dual Fan Assemblies – $76.99 each ($153.98 total)
(2) Atlas CFT-125 Fan Thermostats – $60 each ($120 total)

/backRow : Media Center using Windows Presentation Framework

Steve Bargelt — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 06:51:00 GMT

This project looks interesting. Might be a good place to start learning Windows Presentation Framework???

[via: /backRow : Media Center using Windows Presentation Framework]

Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) Media Center… i caught the news of Apple's entry into the Media Center realm called FrontRow. as soon as i saw it, i knew that i could code it…

Awesome review of SATA RAID controllers

Steve Bargelt — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 05:13:00 GMT

As you may well know I am building a TB server – I found a great guide on Tom’s Hardware that compares five new SATA RAID controllers. I’ve decided on the AMCC/3Ware 9550SX-8LP for my machine (NewEgg is out of stock… so my machine build is on hold!).

[via Tom's Hardware Guide Mass Storage: SATA Spells Trouble for SCSI RAID: Five Controllers Put to the Test - SATA II Hits The RAID Stage]

Surround Headphones

Steve Bargelt — Thu, 12 May 2005 15:18:00 GMT

Turtle Beach has entered the surround headphone market. Both models look very nice... http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/products/earforce/

I currently own the Speed-Link Medusa 5.1 Surround Sound Headphones and I LOVE them. I bought them right before 11/9/2004 (Halo 2 Release) so I coudl play into the night without disturbing others. I've been in love with them ever since! Speed-Link has a new USB offering that it seems would be much easier to setup.