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Attention All Brisbane & Gold Coast Members!
Markc3012 has created a local user group for members living in Brisbane & the Gold Coast with the goal of creating a network of users to assist and support each other through information exchange and direct support.
Please see this post for more information and to join the group.
The forum encourages newbies to share their experience for the benefit of other newbies. Here is the tale of my trials on the path to enlightenment...to date! I guess you can call this phase 1, where I work out how to connect things, learn lots of new jargon and realise how much more there is to learn.
Have also been lurking around this forum for a few weeks trying to learn from posted threads but, do find it pretty daunting for a non-computer literate such as me. I was prompted to make the change by the gift of a twin processor low profile HP PC with Vista HT installed and the funds to buy a new plasma TV and AV Amp. Previous equipment was a Sony Trinitron connected to Optus STB (see, I'm starting to get the hang of the jargon!) and DVD player.
It took me two days to work out how to route the TV and DVD through the AV Amp (Marantz 4002). Most of that time was working out the intricacies of the AV Amp. The rest of the time I was wrestling with the difference between composite and component input. First weekend I gave up on trying to connect the STB after failing to get a signal using SCART to Component cable. I plumped for DVB TV RF input direct to my Plasma and was stunned by the quality of the signal. Exhausted but triumphant I postponed the connection to the STB for weekend 2.
Weekend 2 lead me to discover the wide disparity between SCART-component cable costs. After a discussion with Tech support at Optus I bought a $67 Foxtel-approved version from Dick Smith and took back the $300 cable that H-N had sold me with the TV.
After another frustrating non-connection I phoned up Optus and after about 15 mins worked out that there is a second component option in the Optus output setup menu - the Y/ Pb/ Pt option (not sure I have those letters correct). Success! The STB is connected through the AV Amp along with the DVB player and I have connected two old but high quality (large)Teac speakers for superior stereo sound. Later I connected two existing Bose speakers to Surround Back. Promising but, lacking the Surround left and right.
But what about the PC? I had worked out the connection to the AV for sound 3.5mm plug to RCA stereo and VGA connection to the TV. I am then able to watch the first episode of the first season of "The Wire" which I have previously downloaded using U-Torrent. What a triumph! And what a series - I now appreciate what all the fuss is about. That is not before considerable frustration in dealing with Codecs! Again some helpful suggestions from my workmate lead me to a website from which I download the necessary Codecs (confession; this was before I found the forum and I spent hours on the net looking for the right place and wasting money on Regcure, Cucusoft, Vista, etc (some free downloads but most provide limited functionality so you have to buy the full pack)). Along the way I was also burned by Nero! Don't go near that monster!
Well so then I discovered the forum after a tip from my work mate who is also a member but an expert user. I discover the need for a Tuner card! After a bit of hunting around the forum I settle on a Happauge 2200 and get the nod from my work mate that I'm on the right track. I order through E-Bay but finish up waiting 5 weeks for an import! So fully two months after getting my PC the moment arrives. With the help of my son visiting from Perth I instal the Tuner card (low profile) and connect it to the RF input to tune MC. It finds the same 25 channels I have on the TV. This is great but not the main game. Now comes the STB connection challenge. At this point however I realise that i will have to connect the HTPC to the internet. I have a D-Link router with wireless capability so $38 later i have a USB wireless G adapter. After a brief hiccup locating the WEP code it is all working. Updates for MC automatically download. Microsoft have found me!
With some help from Jaycar I connect a SCART to S-video cable to the PC S-Video input and the RCA stero sound on the same cable to a RCA-to-3.5MM input to the PC. I attempt the setup for cable connection and see the vision and sound at first try. Hurrah! But I spoke too soon. I cannot get past the next step; No equipment detected for IR blaster! Another weekend come and gone. I check with my workmate and he explains I need this to allow the MCE remote to drive the STB. I return home eagerly hoping to find the Blaster in the packet in which I received the Remote (also purchased on E-Bay). My hopes are dashed. I cannot find a Blaster. I check the pack and realise a Blaster was not included (A Chinese clone). After a lot of looking around the forum I learn how these work and discover TiggerKs comprehensive guide to configuring cable to the PC. Much of the language is incomprehensible dealing as it does with some pretty technical issues including arguments about digital and analogue feeds from the STB. But I know I have a signal so all I need is that damn Blaster.
That brings me up to date. Tonight I have ordered a Happauge MCE Remote with Blaster.
The journey continues!
Oh, by the way; over the weekend I purchased two Jensen in-ceiling angle mounted speakers and installed them. After four hours of dusty, sweaty effort I finished connecting them to the AV and loaded JS Bach into the DVB player, wound up the sound a tad and pressed play. Oh what bliss! The sound fills the room. Even my wife is impressed! On Sunday night we watched a movie with surround sound for the first time. It was great!
I expect the Remote within 3 days (shipped from Victoria by express post). I will update this Thread after I have completed the setup. Fingers crossed! Then on to phase 2 where the intrepid explorer attempts to master the functions of MC.
I hope another newbie finds this helpful. Not exactly going where no man has gone before but it feels that way sometimes.
Sounds like you have quiet the jouney so far. There is still a way to go, and if you end up like most of us you will find some reason to fiddle/upgrade/change just because you want to.
I know that even though most of my systems run prefectly well I will still just play with them just to have something to do... (note to self:need to fix sound on laptop)...
Enjoy the forum, there is lots here you can learn from.
I am having a lot of probs trying to work out the solution to getting the setup working for cable (Optus digital STB 420). I purchased a Happauge remote with IR blaster on E-Bay but it does not work. The remote drives Vista HT OK but thats it. I see lots of references to work-arounds on this forum and dvbowners but nothing seems to match what i have. The other aspect of this problem is the happauge remote has no identifying model no etc. (I have written to the E-Bay seller to see if they can help).
When I go through the TV signal setup I get to the point where the TV signal is picked up and the next screen tells me "no hardware detected". The IR blaster flashes but very delayed and a split second before the no-detect message. I cannot find any way to adjust the speed of the IR blaster transmit
Re: New HTPC plus - trials of the uninitiated
