My own HTPC v0.8

During holidays and weekend I've played more with my HTPC.

At first I reconnected and fitted all cables to make more order behind PC and for "easy" access to keyboard and mouse (still on the cable). Cards in low profile PCI(e) slots are secured too.

I've tried to get better image quality on TV, but either Radeon tv-out don't have mode suitable to work with CRT 100hz Flicker Free TV, or it needs serious tweaking with tools like Powerstrip. I've tried various settings, but Radeon allows to change tv resolution up to 1024x768 and some quality settings. Nothing about vertical refresh rate. So I use best setting I get - 768x576 PAL resolution with visible flickering on high contrast static images like text in web browser. Radeon has deflicker feature but it works by filtering and lowering contrast in flickering areas so image is more fuzzy and misses details. Flickering isn't so bad, but I miss stable 100hz picture. It's basically suited for viewing SDTV programs and for that purpose it looks good.

I thought about purchasing Windows Media Center (my Windows Vista Bussiness licence doesn't include it) , but I will stay with Leadtek PVR2 software. It does it job, I managed to set up remote for work in TV and radio mode. I missed remote configuration for other than PVR2 functions, so I have searched for other software. I have to try commercial solution like Grider, but maybe there is something more cheap and specific. At least I found small utility called Winfast Remote Control Support. It has basic functions allowing controlling other applications like Winamp and sending key codes, so maybe it will be enough. I even tried to control mouse cursor from remote but it's to slow and skippy (max remote "resolution" is about 4 ticks per second). The best option would be controlling separate applications/windows in context aware way. Anyway it's hard to control PC without keyboard, so my next buy will be probably nice wireless keyboard/mouse set.

Because I get analog TV without EPG I have tried to get EPG from internet. It was quite easy because PVR2 can import XMLTV format files. I get wide tv programs coverage in one file. Some additional settings to map channel names to match those from XMLTV and it starts working. I have to set up automatic update of XMLTV file yet, and find way to add more XMLTVs for other programs.

Next I have tried to record some shows from EPG. Few clicks and at the evening I can watch all my favorite shows. Hibernating and waking up due to scheduled recording is working very well.

I think I have device I wanted. The most fun is setting it up and tweaking for my needs. Probably buying low price PVR will save me some money and much time, but I wasn't sure about final usability and match for my needs. Internet connection gives greater possibilities like youtube and other videos, IP-TV is other great option. I don't spend too much time for TV, but now I have a freedom of choice when I can watch my favorite show, and better manage my time.

My own HTPC v0.5

Before weekend I have bought tv tuner and gfx card with tv out connector, get my new small form factor low profile case PC with Windows XP, and initially assembled my HTPC. I called it v0.5 because of unsolved hardware and software problems.

I have low profile PC case, and low profile cards - unfortunately with long brackets only. I have asked local retailer about short brackets, but without luck. To check if everything is working I plugged cards without brackets. (Don't do try it at home - I had damaged two cards in that way in past). I will try to get short ones, or just cut the long I have and remake it into low profile standard.

I planned to connect tv-out to crt tv via scart connector using RGB signal. Unfortunately it seems that Radeon supports only YUV standard on tv-out. YUV to RGB converter is an option, but its extra cost and resulting picture quality may be degraded (it depends on converter). There is also more exotic option for some cards like Radeon 2400, to make simple VGA-SCART connector for RGB and sync signals, and force graphics card to work with TV frequencies. I have decided to use more popular S-Video connection- it should give almost as good quality as RGB. In near future I plan to upgrade my tv to some kind of HDTV LCD/Plasma set - most of current connection problems will be irrelevant.

I have tried to set display native tv resolution mode. I have now PAL 768x576 60hz resolution but it seems like it's interlaced. I have "100hz" TV set with internal picture scan, but it probably works only for standard 50hz PAL signal. I have tweaked TV driver with Powerstrip but still no luck.

TV tuner is Leadtek Winfast 2000 XP Expert - cheap and simple analog tuner cart without hardware encoding with remote control. Many reviews recommended that model. There is a lot of newer hardware, but it's hard to get reliable review for it. I'm still have most of programs in SDTV standard so it's sufficient for my needs. That plus separate tv and radio antenna input gives good integration with lasting analog sources. Picture quality is good enough- the same signal connected directly to tv gives noticeably sharper picture and more crispy details. It may be caused by tv tuner or graphics card tv-out mode.

Leadtek adds to tuner its software Leadtek Winfast PVR2. It has basic (and my priority) PVR functionalities like recording, time shifting and scheduled recording. It has it's own design - not so simple and aesthetic like Windows Media Center, but quite good and usable. Most used functions like channel switching, viewing and recording, can be operated from Leadtek remote. One sad thing I realized that separate application Winfast radio wont work with remote (maybe it's something with configuration). I hope I will also find way to use remote for other applications. I'm going to buy small wireless keyboard also, to get comfortable control over HTPC.

I'm planning to fix hardware problems and add more software features in future. Stay tuned.

Work now, fun later

Next busy week.

Last fixes for next version of product I am working on few years already.

On the second hand another project - business trip with prototype presentation.

Meanwhile at home - planning and research for building custom HTPC. I will publish later more details about hardware configuration.

All important work tasks should be finished before end of this year, then I will play with my HTPC.

I want media PC for christmas

Last weekend I was partying at my friend's place. I have opportunity to play his self assembled PC media center (they are calling ti Home Theater PC, right?). He used Windows Media Center as a basic software player. It was working very nice with Logitech remote for media playing, and wireless keyboard for more specific windows operations. The Windows Media Center interface is very aesthetic. I felt lack of more "power user" features, like changing delay between pictures in slide-show.

Because I have planned to install something like that HTPC, I think I'm now ready to assembly my own PC entertainment center for main reasons:
- cable programs recording for later viewing and other DVR features
- integration of media sources like cable and internet
- ability to play computer games with family

Good luck of Wicket beginner with grain of problems

It was worky and little disorganized week. Functional prototype of application I wrote in Wicket is working and waiting for client acceptation. When I decided to use Wicket for that project I have almost no bad feelings about using new framework. Framework looked reasonable and was written using best software patterns and practices. In practice It works indeed.

Because nothing is ideal, I want to share with some problems I have met while charging at Wicket:

• WicketTester can't load my page resource files - maybe it's a problem with Spring classloader.I have skipped more complicated testing, and made only the simplest TestUnits. It's bad practice, but almost all application features was and will be heavily manual used and checked.


• Automatic "hot" class deployment - it's problem with Spring classloader and proxying. I've tried to set class reloading only for non Spring managed page classes, but with no luck.


• Editor in ListView component - problem is finally solved but it took me all day to get it work with validation and all editing features. I have read two books and some tutorials. Where was the answer? I should more carefully read API docs, where the problem of reusing list items is addressed - so remember that editor with validation based on Wicket ListView needs setReuseItems(true) option !

Going back to work.