htpc_nut
Greetings all.
Great web site, lot's of great information!
I recently built a home theater PC and was wondering if anyone had any experiences to share. I'm using Vista Media Center and have to say that I am quite impressed with it's built in capabilities.
One thing that I am trying to track down is how to configure my Media Center infrared remote to blast commands to my audio receiver (on/off/volume). I've found IR Server Suite (part of Media Portal?) and was going to download that and see if I could get it to work. I just don't want to break what is already working.
Also, is there a list somewhere on this site or elsewhere that shows what channels that TWC broadcasts in Clear QAM?
Many thanks.
Posted December 18, 2008 3:02pm in
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I have a Media Center remote
I have a Media Center remote that I've been able to program the volume up/down to command my receiver, but not to turn it on/off (power only controls my TV). Don't know if you have a different remote than I do.
Are you able to tune clear QAM with Media Center? I thought Media Center didn't have native QAM support in it, whether or not your tuner cards did.
(By the way, I'm going to be divesting myself of my Media Center soon, so I may be getting rid of a few MC-related things)
That is interesting. You'll
That is interesting. You'll have to let me know how you programmed your remote. The remote that came with my tuner card had absolutely no instructions whatsoever.
As a matter of fact, I am able to tune clear QAM with Media Center, although it is not officially supported by Microsoft (don't tell Bill, OK?). I downloaded and installed the TV Pack 2008 and the appropriate updates. There's a really nice article on it at pcmag.com. As the article states, it was released to manufacturers only. Once I put it on, I was able to tune in all of the local stations on TWC. My speculation is that Microsoft will eventually release it to the public in a later Vista service pack or maybe rename it and roll it into Windows 7.
Let me know if you'd like to part with any of your MC equipment.
I tried finding a download
I tried finding a download source for TV Pack but never found one. I'd be interested in trying it, but I don't have TWC right now.
The MC remote I have is the official Microsoft one (with the USB IR receiver). A third-party remote that comes with a tuner card may be different. The Microsoft remote has a "learning" function, so you can program the TV on/off, volume up and down buttons by pointing those devices' into the MS remote and pressing the appropriate buttons.
I found the TV Pack files
I found the TV Pack files here:
http://digiex.net/guides-tutorials/699-windows-media-center-tv-pack-2008-download-installation-guide.html
The installation says you have to have a fresh install of Vista with SP1, but mine was far from a fresh install and it worked just fine.
One word of caution with the TV Pack. It's a one-way street. Once you put in on, you can't uninstall it. It also records files in a new format. (.wtv) which from what I've read, is a much larger file than the previous dvr-ms format.
That makes sense regarding your remote. My remote doesn't have any of the programmable buttons or the learning function. I'm looking at the Logitech Harmony universal remotes, but they're a little pricey.
The one thing that is missing from Media Center is the ability to play blu-ray DVDs. How many years has blu-ray been out, anyway?
Blu-ray's been out almost 6
Blu-ray's been out almost 6 years.