iHome Update
It started with a idea and is now a reality... I finally have the Mac Home Theater, iHome, that I have been waiting for. It took a few more trips to Best Buy then originally expected but hopefully, I will clarify all that you need to get to set up your own and save you a trip or two.
Although the TV that I had would have worked just fine as a monitor for the HT system. I had been wanting to update it for a while, so this project gave me just the excuse I needed. Before the Mini even arrived on my door step, I had a new Sony 42" Grand WEGA LCD HDTV set up and waiting for it.
Hooking the Mini up to it was as simple as connecting DVI to DVI and turning them both on, unfortunately getting the resolution to sync up wasn't as easy. While the Mini recognized the TV as a monitor, and displayed all the resolutions it would support - all the way up to 1920x1080 (1080i HD Resolution). The over-scan of the TV cut off the menu bar, the dock, and about 50 pixels on either side of the screen. Downloading SwitchResX fixed most of the problem, there is still a slight over-scan on the top and bottom but it is so minor I can live with it.
Next up was getting the Mini to output digital sound to my receiver so I could get true 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound. This was accomplished with M-Audio's Transit which provides hi-resolution 24-bit/96Khz digital sound out of a USB port.
For the TV receiver I went with Elgato's EyeTV 200, hooked up to a standard Direct TV receiver. And for HDTV I am using Samsung's Direct TV HD receiver. This setup allows me to watch, pause, rewind, and fast forward both HDTV and standard TV and record one show while watching another. Eventually I will add in an EyeTV 500 to provide HD recording, cause as of now anything recorded is only done at 720x480 (standard resolution).
I am using my Sony Ericsson P910 running Sailing Clicker as a remote control. I have scripts programed for all the HT programs: EyeTV, DVD Player, VLC, iTunes, and iPhoto. This allows me to control everything either with the phone and the Direct TV remote, or Apple's Bluetooth Mouse and Keyboard.
The last piece of the puzzle was adding more storage for DVD's and recorded TV. For this I went with a LaCie F.A. Porsche designed 250GB Firewire HD, and have been using MacTheRipper to rip in my DVD collection. As my collection grows I can stack up more HD's or just save up until I can lay down a grand from the 1TB version!
To sum everything up the Mac Mini works great as a HTPC. It may take a little more work to get it all set up then you would have with a Windows Media Center PC, but the enjoyment you will have using OS X as your home theater hub is well worth the effort. I finally have the Apple iHome I have always wanted!
I will post up some pics shortly, and please let me know if you end up setting a system like this of your own!
Comments
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Mason Poe
02.06.05 10:27 PM
How has your experience been as far as setting up shows to be recorded? Can you set up a schedules like you can with a PVR? Also how is the playback of the recorded shows?
Michael Hagel
02.07.05 11:20 AM
It depends on the type of cable you have. If your using basic cable (doesn't require a box) then it is extremely simple to schedule and record programs. You use TitanTV online server to look up and schedule the shows you wish to record. If your using Digital Cable, or a Satellite it requires a little more work.
At this time EyeTV has no way of changing the channel on a set top box via the computer, so unless you leave it on the channel you want to record you are out of luck. But with Direct TV, I am able to set up the receiver to automatically change to a specific channel using Direct TV's program guide and then set up EyeTV to just start recording at the set time. Not sure if other boxes have this feature but I have had no problems with it and Direct TV.
As for the playback of the recorded shows, they are 720x480 standard resolution for a normal TV. So don't expect to see HD quality, unless you get an EyeTV 500. But playing it in full screen looked just as good as normal TV set.
Charles
02.13.05 12:04 AM
Hi Michael,
An interesting commentary. One thing that crops up in my mind is the Mac Mini's capacity to run all the applcations that you are requesting it to run. e.g. Are you playing back video content while you are also playing back music or running other personal programs etc. and are you getting 5.1 sound for all applications that you use?
I would imagine that you will run into problems when trying to migrate to a HD recording and playback arrangement. So far, I have been looking for external devices that do all the work on behalf of the mini. e.g. The Roku HD1000 which seems to take on the processing power required for playback of video (although, it seems that this product does not seem to support HD).
Your thoughts on your experience would be useful to know.
Regards,
Charles
Michael Hagel
02.13.05 9:34 PM
Currently I am posting this in Firefox, while watching TV (eyeTV), copying files from my Desktop computer (via WiFi), importing the rest of my personal DVD collection (with MacTheRipper), and have Mail, iTunes, Statto, NetNewsWire, and iChat open. So yes the Mini is defiantly capable of multitasking several apps while playing back video.
As for HD recording and playback, I have read several posts saying that the playback may be choppy, but that recording should be no problem at all. At the moment though everything I have read has only been speculation. Considering that iMovie HD will both import and playback HD content, and the Mac Mini meets the minimum requirements (1GHz G4 or faster) to do this I would assume it is possible, after all this is the "Year of HD".
Mark
02.23.05 2:24 PM
Hello Michael,
I happen to have nearly the same setup -- a Sony KF-42WE610 with the 1.42 GHz Mac Mini plugged in via DVI. I, too, am experiencing the same initial overscan problems that you had. Perhaps you could be so kind as to help me. I have downloaded Switchres X and have been fiddling with various settings. What are your setting to get the minimal overscan you have (i.e., the Front porch, Back porch, etc. for Vertical and Horizontal) -- or are you using a default setting? Also, what resolution are you running at? 1920x1080 or 1290x720 (or the native resolution of something like 13XX x 7XX)? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
Mathieu
03.10.05 11:30 PM
Hi there, I actually have the same set-up as well. I'm echoing the request for more detail about your setup with Switchres. I've tried it on my own and have only had success in making it impossible to view anything on my TV.
Any help would be much appreciated.
mal
03.19.05 9:48 PM
Man this is the most geekey thing I have ever heard of. I now subscribe to your blog - keep it righteous man!
jim
09.03.05 2:30 PM
Micheal,
You said you use eye tv 200 now 500. Is that a better route to go then convertx px-tv402u? I have dircet tv and i am planing on doing what you have almost to a T so your help and input is a great help.
Thanks Jim
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