Yet another late night for me, I have most of the software sorted out now, and my setup is running semi-usable. I got the TV guide working and integrated, it works great, I can see what is showing when with synopsis and some other meta-data and I can even schedule recordings from a web interface and afterwords download or stream it, I don’t have the streaming working yet, but the functionality is there. My next mission which took up most of last night was, trying to get the IR Blaster, aka transmitter working.
I am really happy the way this build is turning out. Most of the core functionality is implemented now, I can record and watch live tv, I can interact with the system via the web, I can play dvd’s, ripping is still not perfect, I have setup an SSH server for remote access, I have an idea to allow the psp to act as a remote, all in all it is turning into exactly what I envisioned.
The system will not be an HTPC alone, I will be hosting some webpages for internal use on it, and also samba server for network access, I will also be running some of my home automation modules from it.
So I will basically be merging two PC’s into one, a home server and a Media portal or HTPC if you will.
Ok on to my next mission, get the blaster working.
I am fed up trying to get the PVR150’s blaster to work with my DSTV satellite Decoder, I finally thought I made a brake through when I saw the blasters light blinking, upon issuing an irsend command. But the decoder would not respond, I ran a power off script which I found online, which sends the power command several times each time using a different code, but to no avail!
So my next plan is to just build my self a generic IR transmitter, which can be controlled via the serial port.
The IR transmitter circuits I found online are all very simple and require only a hand full of components to get working. This is my next task I have already ordered the components, and as soon as I get them I will be building several Blasters, well one to start of with, if it is working as it should I will make more, maybe even sell one or two.
So tonight as I wait for the components I can do/”fix” something else…
Think I may merge my existing old file server with the new HTPC, the system is powerfull enough to handle most tasks with room to spare, being a dual core helps allot, will may get another gig or so ram.
Must tweak the frontend some more, too. The TV settings are lost every time I exit tv mode which is an irritation to say the least.
Stay tuned for HTPC part 4.
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