Hello all, I've been googling and reading for about a month, and have installed Kodi on my main desktop to experiment with. I am fairly convinced it is what I am looking for and would like to put together a dedicated ($cheap$) HTPC to replace a few items under my TV. The end goal for my ideal setup is to replace my PS3 and Directv with 1 system. I would love to have blu-ray support to replace my PS3, but it seems it is not as easy within Kodi as other media players. As for the directv replacement, I am planning on using an HDHomeRun box for live TV.
Here is a short list of components I am planning on using:
Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811108428
Mini-ITX:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813157494
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813135363
Memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820226279
Blu-Ray drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6827135247
HDD:
Old (never used) Seagate 2.5" 500Gb SATA laptop drive (Yay, free parts!)
PC parts total: $232.96
Keyboard / Mouse (Not planning on a remote):
http://amzn.com/B00J2LIC44
HDHomeRun:
http://amzn.com/B00GY0UB6I
HD Antenna:
http://amzn.com/B00IF70T4M
HTPC parts total: $263.33
This brings my grand total to $496.29. That's a little more than I was planning on spending, hopefully you guys can recommend me some cheaper parts. I have been using online guides such as these to get myself familiarized with Kodi, and as you can see my focus has been on blu-ray playback:
http://mymediaexperience.com/raspberry-p...h-raspbmc/
http://www.cnet.com/news/build-your-own-...sing-kodi/
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=67420
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/26-home-th...st33849842
http://lifehacker.com/5621471/how-to-ena...ck-in-xbmc
My questions:
What do you think of my hardware choices? Anything you would change? edit: I am planning on using HDMI to my TV, and optical audio from the TV to soundbar.
Since I haven't bought the HDHomeRun yet, what are some other choices? What is better than the others? Why?
How necessary is an actual remote? Is a wireless keyboard / mouse good enough? I have looked into the Flirc USB adapter, is there anything better?
Since I'm currently using Windows on my Desktop as the trial computer, I figured I would stick with it on the HTPC. Would Linux / others give me any advantage?
What is the solution for playing actual blu-ray discs in Kodi? Can it be done?
Hi! Take a look here. Genisis is a banned addon, and that type of stuff won't be talked about on the forum.
http://kodi.wiki/view/Official:Forum_rul...ed_add-ons
Your system looks fine for a start. But if you are going to host media files, you will need more that 500Gb.
HD Homerun a fine choice. There are plenty of capture cards out there, that all have their strengths and weaknesses.
There are many choices for a remote, and how it talks to Kodi. Wireless keyboard is k, and what I used initially, but sooner or later you'll want a remote. The least intensive way to do this (imho) is FLIRC and your favorite remote. But there are other options out there as well. A fan favorite, but a little more intensive is event ghost.
Linux or Windows is up to you. Whatever you are comfortable with. Again, in my opinion for what you are doing at first (basics) it doesn't matter as there is no leverage over the other.
Ouch, sorry about that. What caused it to be banned? Am I likely to get a virus / malware from it? I'll give my PC a good sweep tonight just in case.
I'm not very into saving media on disc, it moves way too fast for me. I think I will likely keep to streaming / live media. Unless of course it becomes necessary. I have read the best way to play blu-ray discs is to rip files from the disc and then play back from a file format. Hoping that's not what I have to do, but if that's the end-all-be-all solution, I'm willing to consider it.
Where could I find a list of other capture devices, is there one on this forum? I'd love to do some more research on them before I buy one.
Thanks for the response, any help is always appreciated.
Thanks for the link. I've done a lot of searching today for the capture / tuner cards and I think I'll probably go with the HDHomeRun.
Anyone have any answers on blu-ray? Is it possible to play a blu-ray disc within Kodi?
Forget Blu-Ray playback, Its my understanding its a PITA and expensive to get working and then you have to run Windows which is not ideal for Kodi use.
Most users spend money on a decent NAS, rip Blu-Rays to that and feed the content through Kodi.
Also, I don't want to burst your bubble. But HTPC's are a Dinosaur as far as Kodi is concerned. Most users want a box with either no noisy fan or one that can barely be heard.
Off the Shelf solution that can fit a 2.5" HDD are already on the market. These have Intel Haswell microarchitecture in them and run Kodi very very well. Look at the HP Stream Mini and the Zotac BI320.
They are quite a bit cheaper than what you are contemplating.
That Mini-ITX you linked to is dated Hardware to begin with, the affordable solution for Kodi is the Intel Braswell equipped ASRock Mini N3150-ITX. See this thread for where Kodi development is heading:
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=227363
Also checkout the ASRock Beebox 3150 Barebones system, a 2.5" HDD can be fitted internally in those as well.
@
Grewe02,
You NEED to edit your original post to remove references to banned addons, otherwise the thread will be binned shortly
(2015-10-29, 02:52)wrxtasy Wrote: [ -> ]Forget Blu-Ray playback, Its my understanding its a PITA and expensive to get working and then you have to run Windows which is not ideal for Kodi use.
Most users spend money on a decent NAS, rip Blu-Rays to that and feed the content through Kodi.
Also, I don't want to burst your bubble. But HTPC's are a Dinosaur as far as Kodi is concerned. Most users want a box with either no noisy fan or one that can barely be heard.
Off the Shelf solution that can fit a 2.5" HDD are already on the market. These have Intel Haswell microarchitecture in them and run Kodi very very well. Look at the HP Stream Mini and the Zotac BI320.
They are quite a bit cheaper than what you are contemplating.
That Mini-ITX you linked to is dated Hardware to begin with, the affordable solution for Kodi is the Intel Braswell equipped ASRock Mini N3150-ITX. See this thread for where Kodi development is heading:
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=227363
Also checkout the ASRock Beebox 3150 Barebones system, a 2.5" HDD can be fitted internally in those as well.
@Grewe02,
You NEED to edit your original post to remove references to banned addons, otherwise the thread will be binned shortly
Removed, thanks for the warning.
My main interest in the blu-ray playback is to keep my girlfriend happy. She's a redbox fanatic and occasionally brings home a blu-ray war / action movie. I have read that ripping / playback from file format may be necessary, and I have read that direct disc playback is possible with some software purchases while using Windows. Whatever the solution, I'm for it. And that is the one and only reason I have stayed away from the Zotac and Beebox type systems. Sadly I'm no expert when it comes to hardware selections so I will always welcome any advice given.
You may not want an additional device under the TV, but getting a cheap BluRay player could be an option.
There are instructions for getting BluRay running in Kodi on this forum and the Wiki. I got it working under Linux awhile back, but after they changed the BluRay encryption, I stopped playing with it.
(2015-10-29, 05:54)katsup Wrote: [ -> ]You may not want an additional device under the TV, but getting a cheap BluRay player could be an option.
There are instructions for getting BluRay running in Kodi on this forum and the Wiki. I got it working under Linux awhile back, but after they changed the BluRay encryption, I stopped playing with it.
It is an option, but I would like to avoid it. I am willing to pay a little extra and work a little harder if it means I can have only one box under my TV instead of 2 or 3 or 4.
Somehow or another, I had not found the wiki until today. I'll spend a few days reading through it, thanks!
(2015-10-29, 21:49)Grewe02 Wrote: [ -> ]It is an option, but I would like to avoid it. I am willing to pay a little extra and work a little harder if it means I can have only one box under my TV instead of 2 or 3 or 4.
Tell your girlfriend that you have the replace the PS3 with a PS4 or Xbox One so she can continue watching her BluRay.
If it is just under the TV that you are worried about, Velcro the Kodi box behind the TV so you only see the player. Although, you will still have to press the dreaded input/source button. The only thing under mine is a Wii U (Pi2 is hidden).
If you enjoy the challenge, there are others here that have BluRay and Kodi working in the same box, you'll just have to find them.
Haha I wish it were as simple as just the one box. It is the dreaded input button that is the problem. I found a few decent threads telling it has been done, but nothing giving a how-to or anything similar.
I would have thought with a HDMI-CEC equipped TV as soon as you turned on any modern BluRay player the TV Autoswitches to the correct TV input anyway ?
Hmm, that's a good point, right now I'm running everything through my receiver for audio and only have the one HDMI cable to the TV. I'll have to give that a try tonight.
My TV seems to have that capability, it will switch inputs when I turn another box on, but it will not switch back to anything else when the current input box is powered off. Instead it will go to the "cable" input and just show static until I manually change it.
Not a big problem, but worth noting. Also, I am definitely intrigued by the challenge of running a blu-ray optical drive inside my HTPC and would like to figure it out.
Side note, I did buy the wireless keyboard / mouse, HDHomeRun, and HD antenna and set them up with my Raspberry Pi 2 as a Kodi center this weekend. It works well so far, even with the live TV from the HDHomeRun tuner. However it cannot record anything, and it cannot play any discs. From what I have read, not even with an external USB optical drive.
For the time being, I think I will buy the blu-ray optical drive, install it in my desktop, and play around with it to determine if this is workable or not. Again, any and all recommendations are welcome!
OSMC is based off linux (debian). Search for playing BluRay in Kodi Linux. However, if you can get it to work, you may be limited to movies with older encryption.