Hi everyone!

First of all, my name is Michael and I'm new to this forum. I need advice concerning which hardware device I should buy and I'm sure you'll have some helpful tips for me.

At this time, I'm running OpenELEC 2.0 Beta 4 (Generic version) on my gaming desktop PC (C2Q Q9400, AMD Radeon HD 6950, Gigabyte EP35-PS3) as I live at home with my parents. OpenELEC is working fine, even the PVR function with tvheadend as client.

Now I'm going to move into a flat together with my girlfriend, so I'll change the whole setup. My intention is to install a server-client set-up. The server will be stored in a lumber room and will contain HDD's with stuff and a TV Tuner card, so I need a client in my living room to run OpenELEC in order to act as a streaming player. The device should be as small as possible, energy-efficient and af course worth the money.

Zotacs ZBox Nano is just too expensive, additionally it's imo overpowered. The regular version of the Zbox is too big in size, and with nearly 200 € still not affordable. I was considering to order a Raspberry Pi, but as I need the PVR function and due to the missing license of the Raspberry foundation and thus the inability to run OpenELEC PVR on it, the Pi is not an option.

Now I hope that you maybe know some other devices which are suitable for me. The hardware just needs to be as powerful as OpenELEC including PVR function are running smooth, especially HD content. I often hear about AppleTV, but people always talk about jailbraiking it, which sounds somehow illegal. Would that be an option? WD TV is another streaming player, but is it capable of running OpenELEC and do appropriate versions of OpenELEC exist for that device? Are there other streaming players?

The price shouldn't exceed 150 € as my budget is constrained and I also have to buy the hardware for the server. WiFi is not required as I plan to realize my home network via LAN cables. I want the client to be the only device in my living room aside from the TV device and a possible AV Receiver.

I hope my ideas are not too demanding and that I provided all necessary informations so you can give me helpful advices. If something's missing, just ask me and I'll answer asap.

Thanks in advance!

Michael

EDIT: Forgot to mention that I own a Logitech Harmony 600 Remote Control and a RC6 IR receiver (USB), so the device doesn't need to have a IR receiver implicitly.

Personally, I'd recommend the Fusion version of the zBox. Though you've already said that you think that it's too pricey and too large. So I won't try to persuade you otherwise.

The Foxconn NT-A3500 Netbox with E350 chip is popular these days. It it's smaller than the zBox, and has similar capabilities.

Don't worry about jail breaking an Apple TV box. It's 100% legal. Once you own the hardware Apple have no right to tell you what you do with it. This said. If you jail break it, you loose all technical support from Apple. If it breaks they won't do anything as the moment that you jail break it you have no warranty.

Hi I have the similar setup to what you plan.

client - Acer Revo 3700
Server - HP ProLiant ML110 G6 G6950 Tower Server

I run the Revo using the ION builds and it manages HD tv and movies perfectly.

Why doesn't the Rasberry PI work with PVR? I have ordered one to do some testing...

Neil

I think that there are still issues with encoding on the Raspberry Pi. Which might be the reason why there are issues with using it as a PVR.

The Pi is also a bit on the lite site when it comes to CPU. Which means that it needs to do hardware encoding rather than software encoding. Which is harder to program.

I understand, but hopefully that will be fixed with time - might be a while...

You can run HD divx, that and live SD tv from tvheadend and I would be happy for second client (especially at the price )

PerfectBlue wrote:
RPi doesn't have an mpeg2 license so it may have issues with certain live tv.