GeoffBQ

[GeoffBQ]

Dude,

Pick up an old iTouch for around $100 and use it as your exclusive remote it would be so sweet.

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

I am sorry if I was being to simple in my explanation.  You have to send a carraige return after every command so power on would send like this in Telnet:

PWONr

It works the same via RS-232 which is what I was saying. In the custom remote world we have been sending RS-232 commands to CE gear for years and we are very happy they have opened that control up to their IP port.

In their mobile OS apps besides control I believe that if he was streaming Pandora through the Denon he would get album art and meta-data for the song.  So if he is sitting outside hanging with some friends and a song came on they did not know they can see what it is and either skip it or like it.  Pretty cool, RTI has full support for that functionality so I am pretty sure their app does too.

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

Hey Johathan,

Denon actually has very good discrete control either through serial cable and it’s RS-232 port or just over IP.  The IP commands work just like the RS-232 commands and are actually the same with a r for the carriage return.  I can send you a list of the ones that you will want to use if you need me to.  Denon also has a free app for iOS and Android that you can use to do what you want.  I would not recommend leaving Zone2 on all the time, as easy as it is to turn it on and off whenever you want your unit will last much longer when you turn it off and it gets to cool down when you are not using it.  I program RTI remotes for a living and the Denon/Marantz are some of the easiest receivers I work with as far as control is concerned.  Yamaha and Pioneer all have the same capability though so go with what you like best they all sound different.  Don’t skimp if you don’t have to, spend around $600-700 retail on any of these brands and you will be happy for a long time, many years.  If you can get them wholesale they all are great values.  They all have great built in streaming capabilities and can give you control and Meta-Data on your favorite phone or pad.  In the end I have a Denon and recommend it and the Marantz to all my clients, they use the same control parameters but sound different.

 

These receivers are really capable today and people are not using them as much as they could.  If I can help you let me know.

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

I thought it might a good value range for the recent chipsets.  That is good advise, thank you.

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

If it were between these three cards what would be everyone’s preference?

An AMD 6750

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161379

A 7750

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131461

A GTX 550 Ti

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125409

Thanks,

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

Using an existing server and recommissioning it for a rack based HTPC so just need a good GPU.  Is there anything in the new 7750 that makes it worth the $10-$20 more than budget?

Thanks,
Geoff 

[GeoffBQ]

Thanks A LOT for the responses, Michael, I will be looking for the post a great idea.

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

Micheal,

I will get the version of the driver this evening.  Being as it is trying to be just a STB no extraneous software installed, vanilla Win7 Ultimate with just the updates and Microsoft Security Essentials and mcecontroller for IP control of MC with RTI products.

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

Figures the first person in two years that is paying me to install this for him, “weirdness” ensues.  So even though the HDMI Detective doesn’t use power you think it will do the trick?  It will be hard to swallow the money spent if it doesn’t work.

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

I know it is Sandy Bridge not sure of the driver version atm.

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

Andy,

Thanks for replying so quickly.  I have never had this problem with either nVidia or ATI cards is this something you have seen with the Core i processors?  I think you have tested them more than anyone else in an HTPC function.

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

So I have had this installed for about a week.  I am having one problem with it that I hope someone can give me some advice with.  I am not turning it off or putting it to sleep at all, I want it to be instant when they turn on TV with the remote.  But, when the receiver and TV turn off 15 out of 16 times when everything comes back on, the computer has a message on it saying that Media Center has crashed and needs to be restarted.  I am thinking that when the HDMI port on the computer doesn’t have anything connected to it, it crashes MC, is there a setting somewhere in the video drivers that can alleviate it?  It is using a Core i3 and the built in GPU.  Unfortunately when this happens if you try to start up an extender it won’t connect, so the living room has to be turned on and relaunch MC.

So is there anything I can do so when the receiver turns off MC won’t crash?

If I can get this worked out, this setup will probably end up getting high marks.

Thanks,

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

Thanks for the replies everyone.  I went ahead and ordered one and will report back on how it goes. All my media centers have either been self built or a Niveus MC, I don’t have all the performance expectations with this as it will be primarily used for just TV and music no Blu-ray or movies ripping so hoping it can just sit there and do its job.  I will let everyone know.

Thanks,

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

Does anyone have any comments on this, I would like to order in the next couple of days and was hoping someone has some advice.

Thanks,

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

I guess what I am most interested in is reliability, I just want to stick an appliance like device on the shelf and let is sit there and act like his Set Top Box after I have set it up.

Thanks,

Geoff

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