HTPC PVR with Ceton InfiniTV 4 Quad-tuner

With the last NeweggBusiness deal (now dead) offering the Ceton Cable Tuner for $229.00, plus an additional $50 off promo, I decided to finally build myself an HTPC and ditch my ISP's crappy DVR.

It's been about two weeks since I built it, and it works damn well. The Ceton Tuner has a few quirks, but that may be the fault of other components in my HTPC, still working out some bugs.

MY HTPC:

• • MSI 890GXM Mainboard [newegg.com] $124 with a $10 MIR
Decided to go with a board that has on board graphics, figured it would be less power consumption and one less fan. So far so good, had a little problem installing Windows, kept getting blue screens, though that was my fault, I didn't realize the auto-overclocking feature was on while I was installing Windows, once I reset to factory default, all went well. HD video plays great, as well as Cable streams. I do sometimes notice jerkiness, though not sure if its just me.

The onboard graphics share the RAM you install, and you can dedicate up to 1GB of RAM for use by the onboard graphics controller.

It has an HDMI port, which made things real simple for connection to my receiver.

• • Ceton Tuner [newegg.com] $220 SALE PRICE
I'm loving this tuner. So far it works great. Can record 4 shows at once, plus having an HTPC allows me all the storage space I can afford. Not to mention Windows Media Centers guide is ages ahead of any ISP's.

I have Verizon FiOS for my cable provider, and getting the cable card was so simple. I just called FiOS sales dept, asked for a multistream cable card, they told me the cost was $4 monthly, and shipped it out.

Received the card a couple days later. Activating the card is all automated. An instruction sheet with a phone number and activation code are included with the FiOS card. First you follow the installation instructions provided by Ceton for their installation. Then, when you get to the part for FiOS activation, you simply call the number on FiOS activation sheet, enter your activation codes, and the cable tuner serials, and within an hour or so I was channel surfing.

I've read in other forums that FiOS users, who have a FiOS Actiontech MoCA router (router and cable modem combined), need to install a low pass filter, since some channels will come in choppy. I have not experienced this at all. My reception is the same as it was before. Also the low pass filter recommended runs about $30, unless you can find one cheaper. So I wasn't about to spend that cash unless I really needed one.

If I did need a low pass filter, I was gonna call FiOS and request a service call due to bad reception. I read the FiOS techs that come out supposedly carry these low pass filters, so I would hope to get one from a tech rather than paying, if I needed it.

I've read in one customer review for a Ceton Tuner that changing channels was slow. In my experience, changing channels is just as fast as my ISP's cable box.

• • AMD Athlon II X2 265 Regor 3.3GHz [newegg.com] $72
Purchased this since it was low wattage, cheap, yet current. Works well, no complaints.

• • HTPC Case [newegg.com] $55
I found this case to be pretty solid construction. Of course things are a little cramped inside, and I wasn't crazy about the location of the intake fan, since its air path is blocked by the cables, just have to be neat with the cable installation so air can flow through. Overall the case worked out well, no heating issues. It comes with its own 300 watt power supply, and the fans are fairly quiet, I don't hear them over the TV.

• • 4GB GSkill RAM [newegg.com] $44
These are working out well, no problems. Though if I realized how tall the RAM heat spreaders are, I would have went with a different brand. I almost was not able to install my DVD drive, since the RAM heat spreaders were so tall. The DVD drive is actually resting a little on the RAM sticks. So far no problems.

• • Hard Drives
I had two drives laying around that I purchased from deals gones past, 1x640GB and 1x1.5TB unit. Total, these drives allow me to record approx. 1800 hours standard definition, and 300 hours high definition.

• • Windows 7 Ultimate x64 OS
Fortunately, I got in on a good Microsoft TechNet deal some time ago, so I already had Win7 licenses good to go.

Windows Media Center is amazing. It offers so many features for its guide, plus you can apply a few hacks to make it even better. I've listed some tips I found below.

• • WR7 Universal Remote Control [newegg.com] On sale for about $20 a couple years ago.

I cant say enough on how good this remote control is. First off, it's a learning remote control, so you can add remote IR functions from your existing remote controls, plus you can program it with macros. Don't waste your money on expensive remotes with gimmicky LCD screens. Buy a remote like this, and learn how to use a free app called EventGhost. EventGhost is a app that will basically allow your remote to do anything within an HTPC environment. Plus, EventGhost has a plugin that allows you to build custom On-Screen Menus so you can activate various functions of your HTPC by viewing menus on your TV, this alone blows any remote with a LCD screen out of the water.

• • DVD Drive
Just a typical DVD player/recorder I had lying around. Basically just added so I can install Win7 via a CD, plus in case I ever want or need to play a DVD, which is unlikely. You can install Win7 via a USB flash drive if you prefer not to install a DVD drive.

• • Magic-Pro ProMini BT-Touch 2 Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard - 2nd Generation [amazon.com] $56 SHIPPED (returned to seller, see below note)
I purchased this so I can simply have a keyboard input. In hind sight, I dont find it all that necessary. Microsoft's on screen keyboard works well, if needed, plus you can even access Windows on-screen keyboard from a log-on page to enter passwords. The mouse pad on this device is rather awkward to use since its so small.

It does work well. If you do decide to buy this type of keyboard, make sure to purchase one that resembles the one I linked. There is a 1st generation of this keyboard, and Newegg was selling if for $60, which is a rip off, since the 2nd gen I linked is currently out. The 2nd gen offers bluetooth, and better button layout, and better battery.

UPDATE: DON'T PURCHASE THIS PARTICULAR KEYBOARD. IT'S BLUETOOTH, WHICH MIGHT NOT COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PC DURING A BIOS SESSION. I've sent mine back, and will be purchasing a USB mini-keyboard so I can modify BIOS settings when needed.

• • Gyration Air Mouse [amazon.com]
I purchased this about two years ago from a SlickDeals link for $15 shipped, so I wouldn't pay the typical price for this unit which runs up to $70.

I suggest a RF remote mouse, so any cheap one would probably suffice. The nice thing about the Gyration mouse, it has an air mode, so you can use the mouse without the need for a hard surface. It's a little awkward at first, but convenient feature. Plus its singal reception is awesome.


TIPS
1. My Channels Logo [mychannellogos.com] is a plugin for Windows MCE. It offers the guide logos, since MCE does not, plus it allows you to add more rows to your guide, up to 11, wich is fantastic. The full version requires a small donation, which is well worth it.

2. EventGhost [eventghost.net]
I highly recommend installing EventGhost, which is a FREE app that's actively developed. This app allows you to perform almost anything with your remote control within your PC. Its a little bit of a learning curve, but once you figure it out, you'll be amazed as to how efficient it is in adding commands.

It has support for a lot of remotes, personally I use a official Windows MCE Remote Receiver. To get that working with EventGhost, you need to install the "Microsoft MCE Remote - Vista/Win7" plugin, plus install the services necessary to run the plugin, which you should be prompted to install upon adding the plugin. The plugins come with the EvenGhosat app, you just need to add them.

After install, you need to map all your remote commands to macros for keyboards commands to use with Windows MCE. A little work, but well worth it.

Read up in the forum to ensure your remote is compatible, and the instruction manual on usage.

3. XBMC for Windows [xbmc.org]
If you have a personal music/video collection, then XBMC is the absolute best media manger/player/organizer you can find for an HTPC environment.

4. You can record shows based on title, actor name, keyword, etc. For instance, if you want to record shows directed by John Hughes. From the MCE main menu, go to Recorded TV and choose "+add recording". From there, select "Wish list or Keyword", from there you can select your search method, for instance Director Name, enter your desired name, then select "Record show with..", you should be prompted with your requested name if found, then select options from next page if desired, then select Record.

Now you should have a recording program that will record any or all future shows with John Hughes, or your desired request that was created.

5. Registry hack to expand the default live TV buffer of 15 minutes to up to 2 hours. WARNING: DO NOT TRY THIS UNLESS YOUR KNOWLEDGEABLE IN EDITING THE REGISTRY.

This worked for me on a Win7 x64 Ultimate OS. Navigate to the following registry entry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Service\Video\Tuners\DVR

You should see an entry: BackingStoreEachFileDurationSeconds

Double click it, and change the radio button from Hexadecimal to Decimal, and enter a value of 900 (900 should give you a 2 hour buffer, a lower value should be a smaller buffer). Reboot. Your Live TV Buffer should now record up to two hours, which will probably eat up about 6-18 GB of HDD space.

I do not recommend anything of a 2 hour buffer.

6. This will apply to only those that use a Remote Control that's mapped with keyboard commands.

You may find when opening the MCE search function, pressing OK does not activate the on screen keyboard, since you have the OK command mapped as a keyboard Enter command. To fix this you need to edit a registry entry. WARNING: DO NOT TRY THIS UNLESS YOUR KNOWLEDGEABLE IN EDITING THE REGISTRY.

This worked for me on a Win7 x64 Ultimate OS. Navigate to the following registry entry:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\MCE.PerUserSettings\

You should see an entry: showOskOnKeyboardEnter

Double click it, and change the value from 0 to 1 and reboot.

Now you should be able to activate the search on screen keyboard with your mapped remote Enter command.

PROS OF HAVING AN HTPC/PVR/CABLE TUNER
Record 4 shows at once, incredibly flexible and intuitive guide, recording storage is only limited to what you want to spend, $4 monthly for a cable card compared to $15 monthly for a Cable DVR or $20 monthly for a multi-room DVR, can watch recordings on other extenders or other PC's with Windows MCE, FULL access to the web.

CONS OF HAVING AN HTPC/PVR/CABLE TUNER
1. Overall cost of building a HTPC.

2. You cannot get those OnDemand offerings by FiOS and your subscription services. Though, to me this is not a con since I never used them. The offerings were always something I didn't want to watch, plus FiOS has the OnDemnd menus so deeply buried they were a hassle to get to.

3. No Pay-Per-View. Again, this is no con for me, since I never spent a friggin dime on PPV. Actually glad to see it gone, total waste of money.

4. No widget offerings. FiOS had online widgets for Facebook, Weather, and other stuff. But hey, this is no con, you have a HTPC, with a full uninhibited HTML browser, so you can do anything on the web.

5. No On-Screen Caller ID. Since I have FiOS, this feature worked once in a while, so its not a biggie. There may be a way to do it with a HTPC, though I haven't researched it.

QUIRKS I'VE EXPERIENCED
1. I sometimes get a "No Tuner Detected" error, particularly if I put my system to sleep. Though this problem usually just lasts a minute or so and then switches to the Guide or Live TV.

2. I sometimes get a "Display Driver Error". This one can be annoying, since I may have to reboot to fix the problem. I've read this is more of a Video Driver problem, than a TV Tuner problem for displaying protected content. Still trying to figure this one out.

3. Sometimes I have problems bringing my HTPC out of sleep mode. I like to put the HTPC to sleep when I'm not home, or sleeping. Sometimes upon waking the HTPC, I lose audio, or even the display will give me a problem, Something I still need to work the bugs out of.

Also, my Vizio TV does not go off when my HTPC sleeps. I had to rig my IR blaster to send a discrete TV Off signal to shut my TV off when my HTPC goes to sleep. Though, that sometimes doesn't even work since my Vizio will turn the display back on.

I've read that this is a common problem with computers connected to a TV via HDMI. Unless your TV specifically has a feature to turn off the display when connected to HDMI, you may have a problem getting your TV to turn off when your HTPC sleeps or turns off.



• • IF ANYONE HAS OTHER TIPS FOR HTPC'S PLEASE LIST THEM UP. • •