Building your own Media Center Extender -how to control with a Rem

Hi, i'm in the process of buying all the components I need to build my own
Media Center extender with a Windows 7 O/S.

This extender will NOT be connecting to any Sat-Top-Box, it will mainly be
used to stream my DVD videos, music and will act as my DVD/Blu-Ray player in
my family room.

Question: What product do I need so that I can use a Remote Control to
navigate the Windows 7 Media Center application without having to use a
Keyboard or a mouse?

More importantly, should I buy a media center case that has a built-in
IR-receiver, or does that not matter. Techincally i'm trying to understand
what steps need to be done to configure the Remote Control and how it
connects to the motherboard, etc...

Thanks for any help you can provide!!

You can't use a computer as an extender.

On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:54:04 -0800, Gabriel <>
wrote:

>Hi, i'm in the process of buying all the components I need to build my own
>Media Center extender with a Windows 7 O/S.
>
>This extender will NOT be connecting to any Sat-Top-Box, it will mainly be
>used to stream my DVD videos, music and will act as my DVD/Blu-Ray player in
>my family room.
>
>Question: What product do I need so that I can use a Remote Control to
>navigate the Windows 7 Media Center application without having to use a
>Keyboard or a mouse?
>
>More importantly, should I buy a media center case that has a built-in
>IR-receiver, or does that not matter. Techincally i'm trying to understand
>what steps need to be done to configure the Remote Control and how it
>connects to the motherboard, etc...
>
>Thanks for any help you can provide!!
Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

You may be confusing terminology/technology.

An extender is a device that streams content from a MC PC to another
location, it does not connect to a cable/Sat box (the MC computer does
that). As Barbara pointed out, you can't "build" an Extender per se, you can
only buy one. They are typically small, silent, purpose-built hardware
devices made by specific manufacturers, they are not full-featured
computers.

There are several ways you could use a PC to mimic some of the features of
an Extender (like placing the media in a shared network folder) or there are
some 3rd party solutions (such as Webguide,
http://www.asciiexpress.com/webguide/), but it doesn't support Windows 7
currently.
--
James
Bart: "According to creationism, there were no cavemen."
Homer: "Good riddance! Their drawings sucked and they looked like hippies."


"Gabriel" <> wrote in message
news:6528A23F-4398-4508-9A4A-...
> Hi, i'm in the process of buying all the components I need to build my own
> Media Center extender with a Windows 7 O/S.
>
> This extender will NOT be connecting to any Sat-Top-Box, it will mainly be
> used to stream my DVD videos, music and will act as my DVD/Blu-Ray player
> in
> my family room.
>
> Question: What product do I need so that I can use a Remote Control to
> navigate the Windows 7 Media Center application without having to use a
> Keyboard or a mouse?
>
> More importantly, should I buy a media center case that has a built-in
> IR-receiver, or does that not matter. Techincally i'm trying to understand
> what steps need to be done to configure the Remote Control and how it
> connects to the motherboard, etc...
>
> Thanks for any help you can provide!!

and currently, other than the Xbox 360, all the vendors that produced Vista/W7
compatible V2 extenders other than D-Link (DSM-750) have discontinued their
products. Many audio/video enthusiasts find the 360 too noisy.

On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:28:03 -0500, "Jaime" <> wrote:

>An extender is a device that streams content from a MC PC to another
>location, it does not connect to a cable/Sat box (the MC computer does
>that). As Barbara pointed out, you can't "build" an Extender per se, you can
>only buy one. They are typically small, silent, purpose-built hardware
>devices made by specific manufacturers, they are not full-featured
>computers.
Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

Barb Bowman Why You can't use a computer as an extender?
Do you Know till us!!!!!


"Barb Bowman" <> wrote in message
news:...
> You can't use a computer as an extender.
>
> On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:54:04 -0800, Gabriel
> <>
> wrote:
>
>>Hi, i'm in the process of buying all the components I need to build my own
>>Media Center extender with a Windows 7 O/S.
>>
>>This extender will NOT be connecting to any Sat-Top-Box, it will mainly be
>>used to stream my DVD videos, music and will act as my DVD/Blu-Ray player
>>in
>>my family room.
>>
>>Question: What product do I need so that I can use a Remote Control to
>>navigate the Windows 7 Media Center application without having to use a
>>Keyboard or a mouse?
>>
>>More importantly, should I buy a media center case that has a built-in
>>IR-receiver, or does that not matter. Techincally i'm trying to understand
>>what steps need to be done to configure the Remote Control and how it
>>connects to the motherboard, etc...
>>
>>Thanks for any help you can provide!!
> Barb Bowman
> MS-MVP
> http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
> http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

Jaime you say:: you can't "build" an Extender per se, and only buy one!!
came on someone build the one you can buy mmmm


Gabriel say:: Technically I'm trying to understand what steps need to be
done to configure the Remote Control and how it connects to the motherboard,
etc...

Gabriel you need a TV Tuner Card For your PC (motherboard) they come as a
TV Tuner Card or TV Tuner Card Video adapter Card to
start with when you get we be here to Help you!!!!
My a TV Tuner Card Video adapter Card by:: 3dfx Voodoo 3 TV/FM Video adapter
Card!!




"Jaime" <> wrote in message
news:...
> You may be confusing terminology/technology.
>
> An extender is a device that streams content from a MC PC to another
> location, it does not connect to a cable/Sat box (the MC computer does
> that). As Barbara pointed out, you can't "build" an Extender per se, you
> can only buy one. They are typically small, silent, purpose-built hardware
> devices made by specific manufacturers, they are not full-featured
> computers.
>
> There are several ways you could use a PC to mimic some of the features of
> an Extender (like placing the media in a shared network folder) or there
> are some 3rd party solutions (such as Webguide,
> http://www.asciiexpress.com/webguide/), but it doesn't support Windows 7
> currently.
> --
> James
> Bart: "According to creationism, there were no cavemen."
> Homer: "Good riddance! Their drawings sucked and they looked like
> hippies."
>
>
> "Gabriel" <> wrote in message
> news:6528A23F-4398-4508-9A4A-...
>> Hi, i'm in the process of buying all the components I need to build my
>> own
>> Media Center extender with a Windows 7 O/S.
>>
>> This extender will NOT be connecting to any Sat-Top-Box, it will mainly
>> be
>> used to stream my DVD videos, music and will act as my DVD/Blu-Ray player
>> in
>> my family room.
>>
>> Question: What product do I need so that I can use a Remote Control to
>> navigate the Windows 7 Media Center application without having to use a
>> Keyboard or a mouse?
>>
>> More importantly, should I buy a media center case that has a built-in
>> IR-receiver, or does that not matter. Techincally i'm trying to
>> understand
>> what steps need to be done to configure the Remote Control and how it
>> connects to the motherboard, etc...
>>
>> Thanks for any help you can provide!!
>

I told Gabriel that "he" could not build one. I did not say that they can
not be built.
--
James
Orlando (Goofy says "Hey"), Florida

"Hot-text" <hot-> wrote in message
news:...
> Jaime you say:: you can't "build" an Extender per se, and only buy one!!
> came on someone build the one you can buy mmmm
>
>
> Gabriel say:: Technically I'm trying to understand what steps need to be
> done to configure the Remote Control and how it connects to the
> motherboard, etc...
>
> Gabriel you need a TV Tuner Card For your PC (motherboard) they come as a
> TV Tuner Card or TV Tuner Card Video adapter Card to
> start with when you get we be here to Help you!!!!
> My a TV Tuner Card Video adapter Card by:: 3dfx Voodoo 3 TV/FM Video
> adapter Card!!
>
>
>
>
> "Jaime" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> You may be confusing terminology/technology.
>>
>> An extender is a device that streams content from a MC PC to another
>> location, it does not connect to a cable/Sat box (the MC computer does
>> that). As Barbara pointed out, you can't "build" an Extender per se, you
>> can only buy one. They are typically small, silent, purpose-built
>> hardware devices made by specific manufacturers, they are not
>> full-featured computers.
>>
>> There are several ways you could use a PC to mimic some of the features
>> of an Extender (like placing the media in a shared network folder) or
>> there are some 3rd party solutions (such as Webguide,
>> http://www.asciiexpress.com/webguide/), but it doesn't support Windows 7
>> currently.
>> --
>> James
>> Bart: "According to creationism, there were no cavemen."
>> Homer: "Good riddance! Their drawings sucked and they looked like
>> hippies."
>>
>>
>> "Gabriel" <> wrote in message
>> news:6528A23F-4398-4508-9A4A-...
>>> Hi, i'm in the process of buying all the components I need to build my
>>> own
>>> Media Center extender with a Windows 7 O/S.
>>>
>>> This extender will NOT be connecting to any Sat-Top-Box, it will mainly
>>> be
>>> used to stream my DVD videos, music and will act as my DVD/Blu-Ray
>>> player in
>>> my family room.
>>>
>>> Question: What product do I need so that I can use a Remote Control to
>>> navigate the Windows 7 Media Center application without having to use a
>>> Keyboard or a mouse?
>>>
>>> More importantly, should I buy a media center case that has a built-in
>>> IR-receiver, or does that not matter. Techincally i'm trying to
>>> understand
>>> what steps need to be done to configure the Remote Control and how it
>>> connects to the motherboard, etc...
>>>
>>> Thanks for any help you can provide!!
>>

AFAIK there are specific hardware interface commands between the MCE host
and the MCE extenders and the interface is patented protected by MS. This
prevents unlicensed vendors/manufacturers from building MCE extenders since
they patent protected.

"Hot-text" <hot-> wrote in message
news:Oc7$...
> Barb Bowman Why You can't use a computer as an extender?
> Do you Know till us!!!!!
>
>
> "Barb Bowman" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> You can't use a computer as an extender.
>>
>> On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:54:04 -0800, Gabriel
>> <>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Hi, i'm in the process of buying all the components I need to build my
>>>own
>>>Media Center extender with a Windows 7 O/S.
>>>
>>>This extender will NOT be connecting to any Sat-Top-Box, it will mainly
>>>be
>>>used to stream my DVD videos, music and will act as my DVD/Blu-Ray player
>>>in
>>>my family room.
>>>
>>>Question: What product do I need so that I can use a Remote Control to
>>>navigate the Windows 7 Media Center application without having to use a
>>>Keyboard or a mouse?
>>>
>>>More importantly, should I buy a media center case that has a built-in
>>>IR-receiver, or does that not matter. Techincally i'm trying to
>>>understand
>>>what steps need to be done to configure the Remote Control and how it
>>>connects to the motherboard, etc...
>>>
>>>Thanks for any help you can provide!!
>> Barb Bowman
>> MS-MVP
>> http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
>> http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com
>

Jaime I told BILL Microsoft that you can not build windows Software in a
IBM PC that is DOS
Now Look were we are to Day Hmmmm




"Jaime" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I told Gabriel that "he" could not build one. I did not say that they can
> not be built.
> --
> James
> Orlando (Goofy says "Hey"), Florida
>
> "Hot-text" <hot-> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Jaime you say:: you can't "build" an Extender per se, and only buy one!!
>> came on someone build the one you can buy mmmm
>>
>>
>> Gabriel say:: Technically I'm trying to understand what steps need to be
>> done to configure the Remote Control and how it connects to the
>> motherboard, etc...
>>
>> Gabriel you need a TV Tuner Card For your PC (motherboard) they come as a
>> TV Tuner Card or TV Tuner Card Video adapter Card to
>> start with when you get we be here to Help you!!!!
>> My a TV Tuner Card Video adapter Card by:: 3dfx Voodoo 3 TV/FM Video
>> adapter Card!!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Jaime" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> You may be confusing terminology/technology.
>>>
>>> An extender is a device that streams content from a MC PC to another
>>> location, it does not connect to a cable/Sat box (the MC computer does
>>> that). As Barbara pointed out, you can't "build" an Extender per se, you
>>> can only buy one. They are typically small, silent, purpose-built
>>> hardware devices made by specific manufacturers, they are not
>>> full-featured computers.
>>>
>>> There are several ways you could use a PC to mimic some of the features
>>> of an Extender (like placing the media in a shared network folder) or
>>> there are some 3rd party solutions (such as Webguide,
>>> http://www.asciiexpress.com/webguide/), but it doesn't support Windows 7
>>> currently.
>>> --
>>> James
>>> Bart: "According to creationism, there were no cavemen."
>>> Homer: "Good riddance! Their drawings sucked and they looked like
>>> hippies."
>>>
>>>
>>> "Gabriel" <> wrote in message
>>> news:6528A23F-4398-4508-9A4A-...
>>>> Hi, i'm in the process of buying all the components I need to build my
>>>> own
>>>> Media Center extender with a Windows 7 O/S.
>>>>
>>>> This extender will NOT be connecting to any Sat-Top-Box, it will mainly
>>>> be
>>>> used to stream my DVD videos, music and will act as my DVD/Blu-Ray
>>>> player in
>>>> my family room.
>>>>
>>>> Question: What product do I need so that I can use a Remote Control to
>>>> navigate the Windows 7 Media Center application without having to use a
>>>> Keyboard or a mouse?
>>>>
>>>> More importantly, should I buy a media center case that has a built-in
>>>> IR-receiver, or does that not matter. Techincally i'm trying to
>>>> understand
>>>> what steps need to be done to configure the Remote Control and how it
>>>> connects to the motherboard, etc...
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for any help you can provide!!
>>>

Thanks for the information Jaimie and everyone else.

Maybe I shouldn't have called it an "extender" that I wanted. But basically
what i have going on in my house is i have a master server which contains all
my movies that have been digitized. The movies will be created on the server
to work with the "My Movies" software
http://www.mymovies.dk/products/wind...ia-center.aspx

I want another very small (noiseless) PC preferably in a media center
pc-case that blends right-in with my sterio equipment. This pc will be able
to connect to my master server so that my master server streams the DVD
content to my my TV.

I know for a fact, this works already. When I launch the Microsoft Media
Center application in Windows 7 on my laptop, I configured it to scan my
master server to see all my available DVD movies. Which streams it perfectly
to my laptop.

If it can stream to my laptop, it definately should be able to stream to my
TV if I built a custom pc to do it.

My main question on this thread was, what additional hardware/product would
I need, to be able to use a remote-control to navigate the Media Center
application without using a mouse or keyboard.


"Jaime" wrote:

> You may be confusing terminology/technology.
>
> An extender is a device that streams content from a MC PC to another
> location, it does not connect to a cable/Sat box (the MC computer does
> that). As Barbara pointed out, you can't "build" an Extender per se, you can
> only buy one. They are typically small, silent, purpose-built hardware
> devices made by specific manufacturers, they are not full-featured
> computers.
>
> There are several ways you could use a PC to mimic some of the features of
> an Extender (like placing the media in a shared network folder) or there are
> some 3rd party solutions (such as Webguide,
> http://www.asciiexpress.com/webguide/), but it doesn't support Windows 7
> currently.
> --
> James
> Bart: "According to creationism, there were no cavemen."
> Homer: "Good riddance! Their drawings sucked and they looked like hippies."
>
>
> "Gabriel" <> wrote in message
> news:6528A23F-4398-4508-9A4A-...
> > Hi, i'm in the process of buying all the components I need to build my own
> > Media Center extender with a Windows 7 O/S.
> >
> > This extender will NOT be connecting to any Sat-Top-Box, it will mainly be
> > used to stream my DVD videos, music and will act as my DVD/Blu-Ray player
> > in
> > my family room.
> >
> > Question: What product do I need so that I can use a Remote Control to
> > navigate the Windows 7 Media Center application without having to use a
> > Keyboard or a mouse?
> >
> > More importantly, should I buy a media center case that has a built-in
> > IR-receiver, or does that not matter. Techincally i'm trying to understand
> > what steps need to be done to configure the Remote Control and how it
> > connects to the motherboard, etc...
> >
> > Thanks for any help you can provide!!
>
> .
>