Most Recent Blogs

Hello HTPC enthusiasts, its been a while since my last update...

I have been busy with various different projects and new a job, but now have got some regualrity back into my life and am putting more time into the site again.

My HTPC Build

Firstly, it is with great pride I annouce that I recently brought all my required HTPC components and completed my first build...here is my new HTPC specs:

• Case: Silverstone LC16M
• Motherboard: abit IP35 Pro
• CPU: Intel Quad Q9400 2.5GHz
• PSU: Corsair 520HX
• RAM: 4GB DDR800
• Optical Drive: Samsung SH-S203D DVD Writer
• Graphics card: Leadtek WinFast PX8500 GT TDH HDMI
• Hard drive: 2 x Western Digital Caviar GP WD7500AACS Hard Disk Drive, 750GB, 5400rpm
• Wireless: D-Link DWA-547 Rangebooster N 650 Desktop
• TV tuner: Blackgold BGT3540
• Keyboard: Microsoft Remote Keyboard for Windows Media Center
• Remote: Microsoft Infrared Remote Control
• OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Premium + TV Pack 2008

It is a beautifull system, runs cool and extremly queit, and with the Vista TV Pack 2008 installed, I am able to view TV using DVB-S within Media Center.

The Site

• Site cleanup and speed improvement:

My first priority, is to cleanup the site somewhat...as there is too many pages of non HTPC related info, and many unused installed extensions are slowing the site down, so anything not directly related to HTPC's, or slowing the site down, will be removed.

• The main page:

I will also look at giving the main page a spruce up...it will still provide all the updates, just be presented differently, with a bit more use of colour and graphics.

• Reformatting articles:

I am going to edit many articles, mostly the hardware ones, as I think the direction is wrong... Articles should not just be a copy of whats already available on Wikipedia...they should be minimalistic in terms of providing information and specifics about the actual item, but rather be more focused on detailing how it contributes to a HTPC, what is required for a HTPC and options available etc.

• SocialProfile extension:

I would like to re-install the SocialProfile extension, as that offers great functionality, but at this point I seem to be struggling to get it to work properly...it may be clashing with another extension, I will have to do some testing to get to the bottom of it.

This is my first foray into building an HTPC. I've spent a bit of time reading forums and info on other sites, and I think I have the gear I'd like to use for my first foray sorted, which makes it a matter now of getting the money together.

One of the things that i am doing seems rather redundant, but I think may simplify a few things for general use: I'm going to purchase an LCD TV with Freeview tuner built in as well as a digital tuner card for the HTPC. I'm thinking of using a Hauppauge Nova-T 500, which will primarily be for recording HD content on the box, or perhaps time-shifting. I have yet to make the decision on the best way to approach this really. Do I even use the tuner aspect of the TV?

My wife wants to have things as simple as possible, preferring 1 remote if I can wangle it, but I'm not 100% convinced I can manage it. I've added an entry into the case forum for people to review and comment on my case choice (yet to purchase any of the gear).

Picked up a cheap Leadtek WinFast TV2000 XP Expert tuner off TradeMe to use for a bit of mucking around and testing of basic stuff, going to try mediaportal with it to see how that functions, and I may even install Vista Home Premium on a partition just to see how the media center operation goes. This won't be used in the lounge just yet, as it's really only to familiarize myself.

I've installed Mediaportal RC2, going as far as to download the recommended codecs as well as SQL express and the other required components. I tried the whole install out on my laptop first (no tuner card), and the software feels like it's coming along since my brief poke at RC1, but it's still got a way to go. Some of the config isn't that easy to work with, and I have  glitch where minimising the app causes a black screen to show and I still can't do anything with the underlying machine.

I installed the software setup on my main PC with the analogue card installed but have since found out that analogue cards aren't really supported any more, and it would take a bit of mucking about to get it working at all. So at this stage until I can afford to buy what I consider to be the right tuner card (Freeview support) I'll have to decide if I want to persevere with trying to get it working.

Either way, I still like the general interface and how it looks like it will work in the final product. One thing I'm not sure of, and I hope someone can answer my question (once I've posted it), is when using a remote for the HTPC (if supported), does it control the menu scrolling and selection better than the mouse does? I tend to find that mouse control doesn't work as well - the main menu rolls over too quick.

Will update this as more info comes to hand.

Trying to install this extension

test , It's my htpc blog:)

I have added a new feature: Article voting

I managed to install the AjaxRatingScript, allowing users to vote (out of 5) what they think of a page...

Currently it is located at the bottom of the page, but I plan for a few more changes:

• Move its location to the top of the page, right hand side
• Install a complementry extension, that lists in a special page, every ranked page, in order of highest rank to lowest

I expect this feature to be another great addition to the already numerous community features available within this wiki

Progress

The site update is going well, having installed all the major new features that were planned...

• Blogs
• Chat
• Forums

There are still some minor bugs to weed out, but overall everything is working good.

Next Stage

1. A major redesign of the main page is about to take place, as well as the site background, to jazz up the typically bland traditional monobook colour scheme. Also the main page will be cut down in size so that all or most of the information displayed on it, is viewable without needing to scroll down the page.
2. The skins/css of the forum will be tweaked, to match in with the site colour scheme, so not so bland...and to change the ugly current red announcements and yellow stickys...

Suggestions

We are always open to suggestions, so if you have a great idea, or would like to help, please drop a line through either contacting myself using the email, or leave some comments in the forums.

I am now looking at adding a automatic wikification extension...

This would automatically change words listed in a special page, into links...thus creating links to other wiki pages automatically when people edit a particular article.

Just another time saving feature

Well I am making good progress at the moment...

The Chat has been installed and fully operational It may be simple, but is all that is required for this point in time, and meets my criteria for integrating into the wiki, providing a seamless user experience.

So this site now has forums, chat and blogs as well as the wiki.

What next?

Well this site has been up and running for a few months now, and I am still adding to it, improving and adding to its features...

I have most recently added the blogging feature, nicely built into Mediawiki, and serves its purpose.

I have yet to iron out 1 last bug with the blogs...the links within the blogs are jumping to the front page...I will fix this, just need to find the right code to edit.

Goals

What i am aiming for is this wiki to be full featured in terms of communication mediums... I plan to include (built into the wiki):

• Forums
• Blogs
• Chat
• Automatic updating list of changes

Choice of Features

While there are programs with superior ability's out there, I have chosen to try to build everything into the wiki itself, so the skin and login are the same, and there is near perfect integration making it a seamless experience, jumping from one feature to the next, never actually leaving the wiki website.

Hence every feature included, is a Mediawiki extension.

Progress to date

To date, I have implemented the following:

• Forums - Currently using the AWC forum extension, v1.2, this is about to be updated to v2.0

I have been helping to test and debug this new version extensively, and can say it is feature rich, bug poor...hopefully this is going to be updated to this new version either this weekend or next, fingers crossed.

• Blogs - Installed and working, just need to fix broken links
• Chat - Not currently working, but the tabs are there and chat is working outside of wiki, so need to do a bit of work to figure out whats going wrong...but otherwise its a great little extension
• Automatic updating list of changes - Implemented on front page, works well and very informative

Future

I will add more to the wiki, adding mostly to the 'Build a HTPC' article, and try to get the word out as much as possible about this site...

Its only as good as the community using it - thats my moto

I have built a solid highly usable base for people to discuss and learn about HTPC's, but it means nothing if people don't know about it or use it...for whatever reason.

Help

While I am getting through the issues that come up, if anyone wish's to help or have some relevant advice, it will be much appreciated

Wow! I have a new HTPC blog! Coolies