Re: [Hampshire] Looking for Linux Set top box

2010-06-14 Thread Stephen Rowles
On 14/06/2010 11:03, James Courtier-Dutton wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am looking for a STB that I can install Linux onto.
> I need:
> 1) Net boot.
> 2) Wake on USB (for the remote control. I want the STB to be in a
> cupboard, with just the remote control eye outside, so a USB attached
> remote sensor.)
> 3) HDMI output
> 4) Able to decode MPEG4.
> 5) Fanless
> 6) Small, so probably mini-itx.
>
> Essentially, It will be a mythfrontend accessing content from across
> the network.
> All my TV aerials etc. connect to a central PC, with the STB linking
> to them via Ethernet cables.
> I tested using a laptop as the STB, and wireless to the central box,
> the this kept breaking up the image, so I have to use Ethernet cables.
>
> Content will be recordings I have made from TV, and also my HD Video
> camera, jpeg pictures, you-tube etc.
>
> I cannot seem to find one that can do MPEG4/AVC and is fanless.
>
> On another point, I have quite a few IR remote sensors that plug in
> using a 3.5mm jack to DVB cards.
> Does anyone know how I might be able to interface these to a PC that
> does not have the DVB card in it.
> Maybe some serial interface or something.
>
> Kind Regards
>
> James
>

I use one of these:

http://www.asrock.com/nettop/spec/ion%20330.asp

It does have a small fan, but on the book shelf in the lounge I can't 
here it sitting on the sofa, only if I'm looking for a book on the shelf 
do I notice the fan noise.

It uses the Nvida ION chipset, with the binary driver from nvidia I can 
playback full 1080p perfectly, although flash in the browser isn't very 
good as the CPU is low horsepower. And 6 USB ports is great for external 
connectivity.

There are instructions on configuring it for Freevo & Fedora here: 
(basically a brain dump of my setup) which might help if you go down 
that route, it covers things like audio output over HDMI, configuring 
mplayer for VDPAU etc.

http://doc.freevo.org/ASRockIon330Fedora

If you really want to go fanless then there is another ION board that 
you could use to DIY from Zotac:

http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=53#ION-B-bundle

But I decided for the extra cost / hassle I would just get the off the 
shelf solution with a small quiet fan :)


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Re: [Hampshire] Looking for Linux Set top box

2010-06-14 Thread Hugo Mills
On Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 11:03:47AM +0100, James Courtier-Dutton wrote:
> I am looking for a STB that I can install Linux onto.
> I need:
> 1) Net boot.
> 2) Wake on USB (for the remote control. I want the STB to be in a
> cupboard, with just the remote control eye outside, so a USB attached
> remote sensor.)
> 3) HDMI output
> 4) Able to decode MPEG4.
> 5) Fanless
> 6) Small, so probably mini-itx.
> 
> Essentially, It will be a mythfrontend accessing content from across
> the network.
> All my TV aerials etc. connect to a central PC, with the STB linking
> to them via Ethernet cables.
> I tested using a laptop as the STB, and wireless to the central box,
> the this kept breaking up the image, so I have to use Ethernet cables.
> 
> Content will be recordings I have made from TV, and also my HD Video
> camera, jpeg pictures, you-tube etc.
> 
> I cannot seem to find one that can do MPEG4/AVC and is fanless.

   Not exactly what you're after, but...

   The Popcorn Hour machines are fanless, and do pretty much
everything (although mine has trouble with MPEG2 TS). Not sure how
it'll cope with an additional USB RC device, but the machine runs
Linux, so it might be possible to hack it. There seems to be quite an
active group of people using and hacking on them.

http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/
http://networkedmediatank.com/

   Hugo.

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