Video distribution

[joeh2056]

I need help i am trying to distribut video through my house.
I originally had Windows Media center with Ceton infinity 4 installed but i didn't like the peformance( i am sure other will disagree)I need my setup to behave more like a cable box peformance in that the cable box always work when i turn it on. I started lookin at Sage TV but i have Verizon fios and i need a cable card to get unencripted channels so that is one of my hoald up with sage tv. I am also lookin at an apple tv with XBMC ported to it. With that setup i will have to use some kind of matrix switch to switch from my cable box to XBMC the have a nice Ipad app. I need to play my ripped movies on my server and looking for the best solution. Wires is not a problen because i have HDMI runing to every room as well as cat5 for internet . I need something with an high WAF.I wonder it sage will support the new Happague cable which is going to be released this summer.

 

[Chassmain]

I originally had Windows Media center with Ceton infinity 4 installed but i didn't like the peformance

Just out of curiosity, but what was the problem with the performance? I have a similar set up, and overall seemed pretty happy with the speed/user interface. What bothered you about it?

 

[Slates]

I would recommend the Boxee Box. It has a very good interface and can play the majority of video formats stored on network drives. It also has access to online content like Netflix. I am not positive on how it would work with one Boxee Box distributing to multiple TVs, but you could easily do multiple numbers of Boxee Box's.

 

[joeh2056]

The problem with the peformance is that i used to experience tuner conflict when i whnt i turn on my TV. I had a direct connection via HDMI from medai Center to my tv and i never shutdown media center i only used to stop playback of live Tv when i turn om my tv most of the times i would eithe get no sound or a tuner conflict message. not reliable enough for me. I built the utilimate system with SSD drive for the OS and 4 gig of ram with an amd Phenom II 3.2 GHZ processor.

 

[Chassmain]

The problem with the peformance is that i used to experience tuner conflict when i whnt i turn on my TV. I had a direct connection via HDMI from medai Center to my tv and i never shutdown media center i only used to stop playback of live Tv when i turn om my tv most of the times i would eithe get no sound or a tuner conflict message. not reliable enough for me. I built the utilimate system with SSD drive for the OS and 4 gig of ram with an amd Phenom II 3.2 GHZ processor.

Joe, do you still have your Ceton card? What have you done to troubleshoot the tuner conflict issues. Have you contacted Ceton support? I was having troubles with my system and HDCP errors when used by my projector that they promptly helped troubleshoot to a bent cable up in the attic space. They were very helpful and responsive. How long are your HDMI cables?

Seems like you already have a lot invested in this system and that your problems are quite fixable to be throwing in the towel. If you're looking for ease of use and wife acceptance factor it'll be far easier to get it with one interface than mixing together a hodgepodge of systems, cable boxes, and matrix switch. HDMI distribution is far from ready for prime time and unless you have thousands of dollars to spend on a good quality switch I suspect you'll be chasing problems there to the point where troubleshooting a tuner conflict will look like a small issue.

If you still have your Ceton card I'd be happy to help you troubleshoot the problems, but you have to be a lot more specific with your system set up (i.e. cable lengths, type of cable used, type of Windows installation, system configuration, etc.) and the specific error messages.

If you're beyond that point then good luck, but I think you may have thrown away your best overall interface due to a problem that is very fixable.

 

[joeh2056]

I got rid of my setup. I think i will take my time and researh a little bit more but in fact if Media center is the best option out the that won't cost me foturne then i will build a new system but for right now i am going to take a look at everything out there.