HTPC Build Part 3: Using the HTPC and XMBC

[itschris]

I got the box all buttoned up and put in it's spot in my cabinet. It looks good and fits right in. I can upload any pics because my stupid cat took my memory card I had on the counter. I'm hockey sticked it under a something.

But anyway, XMBC is a bit challenging to begin with... maybe not challenging, but overwhelming. There's so many options and variables you can adjust, it's hard to know where to begin. Of course the first thing I did was download new skins. AEON NOX seems to be the crowd favorite and has some pretty amazing customization options that some of the other skins don't.

I think the best approach is to get things setup in the default skin Confluence. It's a bit more straightforward and less to get sidetracked with. I'm just concentrating on movies for now, so that's the folder I've been working. So far I'm really happy with XMBC itself. It's pure eye candy... no doubt. I think it's one of those things where once you get your head around it, it'll be really fun to work with. At first though, I was really thinking "omg... what have I done?"

The OpenElec build is challenging for me. I don't have the comfort of a well understood Windows machine to work with. At this point, I don't know if I"m missing anything.

 

[itschris]

Here are my current issues:

1) I cannot for the life of me get the Official XMBC iOS Remote App to work. I've spend 2 hours on it and have gotten no where. I'm beyond frustrated and still have my keyboard and mouse plugged into the box. This is pretty much critical as I want to use my iPad for control. My App Settings on the iPad are:

DESC: Theater PC
HOST: 192.168.1.8
PORT: 8888
TCP PORT: 9090 (No Clue on this... this was the default and I can't find a different number)
MAC ADDRESS: Entered
USERNAME: xmbc PASSWORD: <blank>

In XMBC, i have the allow access on, the port is 8888. When I go to hardware in XMBC, I pulled the MAC address and confirmed the I.P. and the MAC in my NETGEAR Genie Software. Can't find a TCP port however.

Anyway... it won't connect... it's driving me crazy. I'm hoping the TCP port number is the issue. Anyway to figure that out? One other thing, in XMBC if I go to System\Hardware\Network... it lists all the IP, DNS, MAC, etc... but under Internet is says "Not Connected, Check Internet Settings" I know the box is connected because the Weather App works, I can download, I can access it from my Windows machine and I see on my network in the NETGEAR Genie app.

2) My theory was that I was going to continue to burn my Blu-Rays on my office computer and just move them over the network. I forgot that my office computer is wireless so it takes about an hour to move one movie. I think I'm going to buy a 50ft CAT6 cable and just run through the house to the router when I transfer stuff. Not elegant but probably effective. I could put the files on the USB HDD and then connect that, but that seems like an even bigger hassle.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I only enter 6 things for the remote.

1. Description: HTPC
2. IP address (make sure the IP address of your HTPC is static, not dynamic)
3. Port: 8080
4. TCP Port: 9090
5. User name: xbmc
6. Password: xbmc

So try those settings. The only thing different will be description and IP address. Don't mess with MAC address.

I have 3 remotes (2 HTPCs in my HT room, 1 laptop in family room).

i have used both iOS (iPad 1 & 4) and Android (Samsung Note 3). All work.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I am using Windows 7 w/ XBMC. I also use the default skin. I've tried the other fancy skins, but end up going back to default.

Number of movies (not including shows) is now 817.

I run a CAT6 wire from my router to switch in the family room. Then wire from switch to other components in the family room like laptop, Denon, etc.

Maybe hire someone to run CAT6 wires to other parts of your house (Router to Attic to Rooms).

 

[itschris]

I am using Windows 7 w/ XBMC. I also use the default skin. I've tried the other fancy skins, but end up going back to default.

Number of movies (not including shows) is now 817.

I run a CAT6 wire from my router to switch in the family room. Then wire from switch to other components in the family room like laptop, Denon, etc.

Maybe hire someone to run CAT6 wires to other parts of your house (Router to Attic to Rooms).

I've thought that many times. The problem is, it really is a major ordeal. The TV and cabinet are against an exterior wall. You can't come through the top. So... you have to go up the wall, into the attic, up the vaulted ceiling to the chimney, and fish it down a little pocket... mind you this is a 18 foot ceiling at the peak... then pull the baseboards and tuck the wire in the along the pocket where I cut away the drywall to the cabinet. it's a nightmare. I guess once I get my movies over, it won't be so bad to do a couple now and then.

 

[itschris]

I only enter 6 things for the remote.

1. Description: HTPC
2. IP address (make sure the IP address of your HTPC is static, not dynamic)
3. Port: 8080
4. TCP Port: 9090
5. User name: xbmc
6. Password: xbmc

So try those settings. The only thing different will be description and IP address. Don't mess with MAC address.

I have 3 remotes (2 HTPCs in my HT room, 1 laptop in family room).

i have used both iOS (iPad 1 & 4) and Android (Samsung Note 3). All work.

So you leave the MAC address blank in the remote app? I didn't enter a password in XMBC, so I was assuming it was blank. Is "xmbc" a default password? I'm not sure if the I.P. is static or not. It alwasys comes up as .8 when I boot it up, but I guess that doesn't mean anything. I know I have to assign the I.P. and I can do that on my desktop in Windows, but would I have no clue how to do that on the OpenElec box.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

So you leave the MAC address blank in the remote app? I didn't enter a password in XMBC, so I was assuming it was blank. Is "xmbc" a default password? I'm not sure if the I.P. is static or not. It alwasys comes up as .8 when I boot it up, but I guess that doesn't mean anything. I know I have to assign the I.P. and I can do that on my desktop in Windows, but would I have no clue how to do that on the OpenElec box.

You have to use a password on both the XBMC and the iOS remote. Use "xbmc" as the password and user name.

Do everything exactly like mine, except use your IP address and description.

Google how to change your PC's dynamic IP to static. There are YouTube videos. Basically change your network setting in the PC.

 

[itschris]

I know how to change the I.P. in Windows, but not on this OpenElec box. I'll screw with when I get back home. I came into the office today since it'd peace and quiet.

 

[itschris]

Omg!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so stupid!!!!!

 

[itschris]

Somewhere along the line, I started calling XBMC... XMBC. How that happened... when it happened... and why it happened beats me. I had the username and password in wrong. I also found Id didn't have almost identical network options setup in a different menu called Services. Man I'm an idiot.

So as I fix promblem, another arises. I copied over several movies to the Movie folder where the other two where. The original two show up but the new ones do not. When I hit Update... I get

"Could not download information. Unable to connect to remote server."

I don't know what's going on now. The movies are there... I can see them in the folder from my Windows machine and can even play them from XBMC if I drill to them, but they don't show up in my Movie menu. I read that it may have to do with not being able to connect to the movie data and therefore won't show the movie. I don't know. This is getting beyond my capabilities. The machine is on the network so I'm not sure what the deal is.

 

[itschris]

duped post

 

[itschris]

Update... I deleted the source from the library, the added the folder back in. Selected movies for the type. Now none of the movie show up under the Movie option on main menu. They are there in the library... but it's trying to connect to THE MOVIE DATABASE and that where I'm getting that "unable to connect" error.

So I'm assuming since it can't pull the movie data, it can't make them all nice and pretty with fanart and everything in the Movie section of the main menu. So.... the million dollar question... Why is this happening? Is it an issue with The Movie Database or did something happen to my machine between 8am and 6pm today while I wasn't home?

 

[itschris]

UPDATE: Problem Solved

it was the Proxy Settings. This what it needs to be:

SYSTEM>>SETTINGS>>SYSTEM>>INTERNET ACCESS>>"Use an HTTP Proxy" Diabled

There are actually two different places where you can adjust similar settings. The one is need for the Remote App to work... this one is not. I'm back in business.

 

[itschris]

Harmony Remote Capabilities

So I got my iPad controlling XBMC last night. It's awesome in every way. Next I going to buy the new Harmony remote with the Smart Hub and utilize the iOS app on my now dedicated remote iPad. So for running the entire system, I'll use the Harmony so my wife can just select whatever activity from the iPad and just have everything turn on, switch, etc. From there she can either use the remote or continue with the iPad. If she wants to use the HTPC she just runs the activity, then switches to the XBMC app to control it from there.

I just realized thought that I have no way to turn the HTPC on or off with the Harmony. I didn't think about IR functionality. There's no reason to keep it on all the time because it's just not gonig to get used all that much in reality. So what's the best way to add remote functionality (on/off) to the box to work with the Harmony (or any remote for that matter)?

 

[panteragstk]

So I got my iPad controlling XBMC last night. It's awesome in every way. Next I going to buy the new Harmony remote with the Smart Hub and utilize the iOS app on my now dedicated remote iPad. So for running the entire system, I'll use the Harmony so my wife can just select whatever activity from the iPad and just have everything turn on, switch, etc. From there she can either use the remote or continue with the iPad. If she wants to use the HTPC she just runs the activity, then switches to the XBMC app to control it from there.

I just realized thought that I have no way to turn the HTPC on or off with the Harmony. I didn't think about IR functionality. There's no reason to keep it on all the time because it's just not gonig to get used all that much in reality. So what's the best way to add remote functionality (on/off) to the box to work with the Harmony (or any remote for that matter)?

Find out what OpenELEC supports. The most common are going to be the MCE adapters. You can get them very cheap from newegg, amazon. Going the harmony route myself. Let me know how that goes.

 

[itschris]

Yeah.. i have to figure this out a bit more. I just need to able to turn the HTPC on and off with the Harmony remote. What I've been looking at has been actual remotes with adapters like this:

Amazon.com: New Edition HP OEM Window Media Center MCE PC Remote Control and Infrared Receiver for Windows7 Vista XP Home Premium and Ultimate Edition: Electronics

From what I see... they don't turn the box on and off... just wake it up.

 

[itschris]

What about this? I think this is really all i need. USB IR Receiver MCE | eBay

I don't need a remote because my iPad will control XBMC and the Harmony can control everything else (and I guess the HTPC as well if needed).

So I was thinking that the Harmony/iPad controller would have an activity for the HTPC.. if you click it, it turns on everything, switch inputs etc, but do you think I can have a command at the end of the HTPC activity that would switch my iPad from the Harmony controller to the XBMC controller app?

 

[panteragstk]

Either will work fine. The way it is configured out of the box is to sleep the machine, but it is still an IR receiver that you can program to do just about anything. I've never used that part of OpenELEC so I don't know what functionality it has build into it. I do know that it supports an HDMI CEC adapter that's pretty cool, but for what you want I don't think it's necessary.

 

[itschris]

Either will work fine. The way it is configured out of the box is to sleep the machine, but it is still an IR receiver that you can program to do just about anything. I've never used that part of OpenELEC so I don't know what functionality it has build into it. I do know that it supports an HDMI CEC adapter that's pretty cool, but for what you want I don't think it's necessary.

I ordered it. We'll see what happens. This part is all new to me so I have no clue how to approach it and all that, but I'll figure it out. I think there's a setting in SYSTEM that toggles to allow commands from remotes. I'm starting to learn some registry type edits in some of the files as well that may come in handy.

I did get the static I.P. setup on the box as well. It changed addresses a couple of times which was screwing up the XBMC remote app. So I got that down.

Once I get the Harmony ordered and setup, I'll post the process and results.

 

[itschris]

UPDATE ON PRIOR ISSUE:

I had initallly had this issue of severe overscanning with XBMC where literally about 3/4 of an inch of the screen was cutoff at the left and bottom. Initial attempts at correcting it didn't work... no I know why.

The default skin, Confluence, is what I setup with and still recommend when your changing setups because of the strightforward layout. However, the video screen that allows you to adjust for the overscan issue is what caused the problem. There is a outline of the corner in the upper left that you can drag to adjust, but there no in the bottom right.... or so I thought.

For normal use, I use the AEON NOX skin. Last night I was tinkering around with some setting and went into the video setting and looked at the setup again. In AEON NOX, the screen grabbers in the corners are actually big triangles. My screen was so skewed that in Confluence, the outlined corner wasn't even visable and there was no way to "grab" onto it with the mouse.

In AEON NOX, the bottom right adjustment triangle was barely visable but I could grab it with the mouse and adjust the screen.

Lesson learned...what works great in one skin doesn't in another and visa versa. It's good to get to know at least 2 or 3 skins very well. I'm still finding things to click in AEON NOX. It's not always clear that there's a menu buried or that what you see is clickable to something else.

Anyway... problem solved.