When using Media Center for a dedicated HTPC, there are some settings you should change. Adjust settings by selecting Settings from Tasks, as shown in Figure 17-2.

Figure 17-2. Adjust Media Center settings from the Tasks menu.

I won’t bother describing all the settings, but there are some that you might want to adjust. First click Settings, then click through the menus as indicated to adjust the settings:

One of the great things about using an HTPC is that you can take your recorded shows with you by copying them to a mobile computer, your smartphone, or a media player. Media Center records TV in a very high-quality format that uses a great deal of disk space. Most smartphones and media players won’t be able to play the format, and if they could, the large size of the files would quickly fill up their storage.

To solve these problems, convert your recorded shows into a different video format. My favorite tool for this is MCEBuddy, available at http://mcebuddy2x.codeplex.com/. When you install MCEBuddy, it will prompt you to install other required tools.

Once installed, MCEBuddy has a straightforward user interface, which is primarily used to monitor the conversion process. Change the Priority in the lower-right corner to Low (shown in Figure 17-5) to reduce the performance impact that converting videos has on other running apps.

MCEBuddy is designed to automatically find and convert new recordings. By default, it monitors your C:UsersPublicRecorded TV folder, which is the folder Media Center uses to store new recordings, and stores converted files in your C:UsersVideos folder. You can change these settings by launching the app and clicking Settings to open the MCEBuddy Settings dialog box, as shown in Figure 17-6.

Figure 17-5. MCEBuddy works automatically in the background but allows you to monitor progress.

Figure 17-6. Change the settings for MCEBuddy to monitor different folders.

When you specify a new folder to monitor, you can specify a search pattern that will convert only files that match the pattern you specify. For example, if you don’t want to convert every TV show you record, you can specify the names of the shows you want to convert as part of the search pattern. First, examine your Recorded TV folder to see how Media Center names the shows you want to convert. Then, specify a pattern that matches those names, using an asterisk for a wildcard and separating different names with a semicolon. For example, entering *HisShow*;*HerShow* will convert all files that have either HisShow or HerShow in the file name. For more information about creating search patterns, hover your pointer over the phrase “Search pattern” in the Monitor Location dialog box.

Converting videos will consume every bit of your computer’s processor time. This has the potential to slow down other apps and might heat up your HTPC so much that the fan starts to make noise, disturbing your audio experience. Expand the Advanced Settings area at the bottom of the MCEBuddy Settings dialog box, as shown in Figure 17-7, to fine-tune the conversion schedule. For example, you could use these settings to perform all conversions when your family is asleep.

Figure 17-7. Use MCEBuddy Advanced Settings to schedule conversions for times when you are not using your HTPC.

MCEBuddy allows you to convert to several different formats. Naturally, you should choose the newest video format supported by the devices you plan to play the video on. When in doubt, choose the MP4 format, which is the default for MCEBuddy. MP4 provides great compression and quality and is supported by most video players, including iOS, Android, and Windows Phone devices.

As an added bonus, MCEBuddy can automatically remove commercials from recorded TV shows. Not only does this make the show more enjoyable to watch, but it reduces the file size, allowing you to fit more shows onto your media players.

A computer’s case determines its form factor. Large desktop computers offer plenty of room for internal adapters and drives, but they also take up more space in your entertainment center. Small form-factor cases are the most popular for HTPCs, but if you have room in your entertainment center, a full desktop case offers lower cost, easier upgrades, and more flexibility.

My favorite way to store an HTPC is to keep it with the audio/video (A/V) equipment in a closet or the basement and just run cables through the wall to the TV and speakers. I recommend that approach if it’s an option because you can pick any size case, you won’t have to see it from your living room, and fan noise will never be an issue.

If you do plan to keep your HTPC near your TV, choose an attractive case that fits in with your A/V equipment. Several vendors sell PC cases specifically for this purpose, or you can simply look for a case with a black front.

Here’s an audiophile’s nightmare: you spend thousands on a top-of-the-line digital amplifier and connect it to an amazing subwoofer and surround-sound speakers. You position your couch for absolutely perfect acoustics. Then, you play your first movie on your HTPC, and the fan buzzes the entire time, ruining the sound for you.

PC processors, power supplies, and memory get hot when you use them. Almost all PCs are air cooled; they have a couple of fans inside them that blow whenever the thermostat inside the computer determines that it’s getting too hot. Unfortunately, those fans can be very noisy.

As I recommended in the previous section, one of the simplest solutions is to put your HTPC in a closet or another room. Then, the fan can buzz all it wants and you won’t be bothered by it. If that’s not an option, find a quiet PC. Many PCs are designed to stay as cool as possible and have particularly quiet fans, and some are so efficient they don’t need a fan at all. They’ll cost more than a more conventional PC, but the extra cost might be worth it if you get the most out of your sound system.

Other than specially designed quiet PCs, mobile computers tend to be quieter. They’re designed to minimize power usage, which in turn minimizes heat and how fast the fan needs to run.

Many entertainment centers have doors that close. That door can minimize the sound that comes from your computer. It can also trap the heat in, causing your computer to overheat and run the fan even more. The point is: consider cooling when choosing an entertainment center for your HTPC.

Here’s some great news: you don’t need an expensive video card for playing music and videos. You only need an expensive video card if you plan to play 3-D games.

You do, however, need to make sure you can easily connect your video card to your TV and stereo. Most newer TVs support High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), so choose a video card that outputs both audio and video through HDMI. Figure 17-10 shows an HDMI connector.

Figure 17-10. HDMI provides perfect quality and simple wiring.

Typically, you can run an inexpensive HDMI cable from your HTPC to your stereo, and then run a second HDMI cable from your stereo to your TV. The stereo will play the audio and pass the video on to your TV. This makes for a very simple connection because you don’t need to run a second cable for audio.

If you plan to use your TV’s speakers, simply run an HDMI cable from your HTPC to your TV. Verify that your video card, your HDMI cable, and your TV all support both audio and video over HDMI. Figure 17-11 shows a video card with DVI, HDMI, and VGA outputs.

Figure 17-11. To simplify wiring, choose a video card that supports HDMI output.

If your TV doesn’t support HDMI, check to see whether it supports VGA or DVI (Digital Visual Interface). Most new video cards support one or the other, and you can use an inexpensive adapter to convert between the formats. Figure 17-12 shows a VGA cable with an inexpensive DVI adapter connected to it.

Figure 17-12. Convert between VGA and DVI using an adapter.

If your TV doesn’t support HDMI, VGA, or DVI, then choose a video card that supports TV out in the format your TV requires. For example, some early HDTVs require component input, while others support composite input. Video cards are available with both types of connections. Figure 17-13 shows a video card designed for connecting to analog TVs. From left-to-right, the video card has three outputs: composite, S-Video, and VGA.

Figure 17-13. To connect to an analog TV, buy a video card with analog outputs.

If you already have a video card you want to use and it isn’t compatible with your TV, you can purchase an adapter. For example, you can buy an adapter that connects HD video to HDMI, as shown in Figure 17-14, allowing you to connect otherwise incompatible HD systems. These adapters tend to be more expensive than basic video cards, however.

Figure 17-14. Use an HDMI converter for devices that lack HDMI output.

Most new mobile computers include an HDMI, mini-HDMI, or micro-HDMI port. Use an HDMI cable with the appropriate connector type to connect directly to a TV. If you are using a mobile computer and your TV requires analog composite or S-Video connectors, purchase an adapter such as the one shown in Figure 17-15, along with the appropriate cables to connect to your TV.

Figure 17-15. Use adapters to convert HDMI output to connect to analog TVs.

When I travel, I bring a PC running Windows 8.1 with Media Center installed, an HDMI cable, the adapter shown in Figure 17-15, a composite cable with audio support, and an S-Video cable (they don’t take up as much room as you might think). Depending on the type of TV the hotel room has, I connect my mobile PC with either the HDMI cable or the adapter and watch TV shows and movies using Media Center. While I could watch them on the PC’s screen, I much prefer watching them on the TV. This is particularly important when traveling to foreign countries/regions where I don’t know the local language.

Playing videos doesn’t require a particularly cutting-edge processor, but there’s no specific formula I can give you; the processing requirements vary depending on the resolution of your video and the codec being used. For example, 1080p HD video requires much more processing capacity to play smoothly than does 480p video. With that said, modern, low-end mobile processors are very capable of playing 1080p video.

As an added benefit, lower-power processors use less power and generate less heat. Not only will that help keep your electricity bill down, but it will allow the HTPC’s fan to run at lower speeds, keeping the HTPC quieter.

Encoding or transcoding video can be a different story. If you have remote DMRs connecting to your HTPC across the network and you run transcoding software (as described in Chapter 16), you should choose the fastest processor you can afford. Transcoding video in real time, especially HD video, can max out even higher-end systems.

Memory is another area where you can skimp with an HTPC. Even 1 gigabyte (GB) of RAM is sufficient for playing any video, including HD video. As with the processor, if you plan to transcode video, more memory can help. Additionally, other apps you run on your HTPC might require more memory, so refer to those apps’ recommendations.

Even the slowest modern hard drives can play back 1080p video with no problem. Therefore, choose a low-RPM, low-power hard drive for your HTPC, as shown in Figure 17-16.

If you plan to stream video across the network, you need only enough storage for Windows 8.1 and any apps that you plan to run. Even the smallest modern hard drives will be more than sufficient.

If you plan to store movies and TV shows, you might need a very large hard drive, and you might even need to combine multiple drives. Table 17-1 lists typical file sizes for different media types, though file size can vary widely depending on the video quality and the compression algorithm being used. Multiply these sizes by the number you plan to store on your HTPC simultaneously to determine your storage requirements.

Figure 17-16. Use high-capacity, inexpensive, low-power hard drives in HTPCs.

If you need more capacity than a single drive can provide, combine your drives into a Storage Space so that you can access them as a single volume. For detailed information, refer to Chapter 12.

The type of sound card you need is determined by how you connect your HTPC to your stereo and TV:

Digital is always superior. If you’re not sure whether your receiver or TV supports digital audio, just look at the connectors on the back of the receiver and choose a sound card with similar connectors. The most common digital connection types are HDMI, Toslink/SPDIF, and digital coaxial.

As a last resort, you can connect your amplifier or speakers to the headphone jack on your computer. While many stereos have a 3.5mm auxiliary port, many others require red and white RCA connectors. Figure 17-17 shows a specialized cable designed to connect any device with a headphone jack to a stereo that uses RCA connectors.

Figure 17-17. As a last resort, connect your headphone jack to your stereo.

If you connect your computer’s headphone jack to a stereo, turn the volume on the computer all the way up, and then adjust the volume using your amplifier. Sound quality might be noticeably bad, especially when playing back quiet recordings. If you hear crackling during the louder parts of the sound track, turn the volume on the computer down until the crackling disappears.

If you plan to record all your TV and movies using a tuner card, your HTPC’s network connection isn’t terribly important. You’ll still need some network connection so that the HTPC software can download show schedules and information, but any wired or wireless connection will be sufficient.

Similarly, streaming music across the network doesn’t require much bandwidth. As long as your network connection is stable, you shouldn’t have any problem streaming music.

If you plan to stream video, however, your bandwidth becomes very important. If you plan to stream HD video, especially 1080p video, getting sufficient bandwidth could be the most challenging aspect of setting up your HTPC.

If you plan to stream standard-definition video from the Internet, just about any broadband connection should be sufficient. On your local network, make sure that you consistently maintain at least 10 Mbps available bandwidth. The latest wireless networks are capable of that; in particular, look for equipment that supports 802.11n, and try to keep your HTPC as close to your wireless access point (WAP) as possible.

If you plan to stream HD video from the Internet, make sure your LAN speeds are at least as fast as your Internet connection. For example, if you have a 20 Mbps Internet connection, configure your LAN so that it has at least 20 Mbps throughput. Remember that wireless bandwidth estimates are wild exaggerations, and even the latest 802.11n networks can reach 20 Mbps only when the wireless access point is very close to the PC.

If you plan to stream 1080p HD video across your LAN, you’re going to need as much bandwidth as possible. The precise amount of bandwidth varies depending on the compression level used in the video, but 100 Mbps throughput is a good value to strive for. Wireless networks will simply be inefficient. Instead, run wired Ethernet cables between the PC storing your videos and the HTPC or DMR playing the videos. If you can’t run wired Ethernet, use the latest powerline networking adapters rated at 200 Mbps or 500 Mbps, as shown in Figure 17-18. In my experience, the 200 Mbps and 500 Mbps adapters have similar performance, so paying more for 500 Mbps might not be worth it.

Figure 17-18. Powerline networking can provide the consistent bandwidth you need for streaming HDTV.

When choosing connection types and cables, choose digital over analog whenever possible. You have several choices for digital connections, and the quality will be similar regardless of which you choose. However, for simplicity, you should choose HDMI for both audio and video when your equipment supports it.

Don’t buy expensive digital cables. Digital signals don’t degrade from interference like analog signals do; digital signals either work or they don’t. Don’t trust anyone who tells you that a more expensive digital cable will improve your sound or image quality. Really, you only need to spend a few dollars on cables.

If you regularly remove and reconnect a cable, you should pay particular attention to how the connector is attached to the cable because that area tends to wear out quickly. However, if you simply plan to connect a cable once and leave it connected for years, even the most flimsy cable should work fine.

Speaker cables (the two-wire cables that connect your amplifier to your speakers) are analog. Therefore, proper shielding really can make a difference. Still, as long as you’re not running them through the wall or alongside power cables (always cross power cables perpendicularly to minimize interference), you shouldn’t notice a difference.

If you do run cables through the wall, be sure to get cables that meet your local building codes. Typically, this requires plenum cables that minimize the risk that fire will travel up a cable, thus reducing the risk that the cable will help spread a fire throughout your house.

The best way to record premium and encrypted digital channels is by using a CableCARD. If you had a laptop 15 years ago, you might remember Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) cards, which were later known as PC cards. CableCARDs are PCMCIA cards that contain the technology to allow your computer to decrypt the digital cable signals that most consumers use a cable box to decrypt.

When you use a CableCARD, you do not have to use an infrared (IR) blaster (described later in the chapter), so you never have to worry about missed channels. Additionally, you can save some money by not having to rent a cable box from your cable provider. Modern CableCARDs allow your HTPC to record multiple channels simultaneously, so you typically need only a single CableCARD and a single connection to your HTPC.

CableCARDs came about as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Among other purposes, CableCARDs free consumers from needing to use their cable company’s cable box. By connecting a CableCARD to a DVR or an HTPC, your HTPC can receive all the basic and premium digital cable channels you receive with a cable box.

Your cable company should be able to provide a CableCARD at your request. Many people complain that their cable companies make this process as difficult as possible. This makes sense because the alternative to using a CableCARD in an HTPC is to rent a costly DVR from the cable company.

You’ll also need a tuner card that supports the CableCARD standard. A single tuner card, CableCARD, and coaxial connection will allow you to record multiple channels simultaneously. At the time of this writing, some of the popular cards include:

Finally, you’ll need HTPC software that is compatible with the CableCARD standard. The cable companies define copy protection for shows recorded with a CableCARD, and software must be certified for use with the CableCARD; otherwise, it would be too easy to circumvent copy protection. Right now, only Media Center is certified for use with a CableCARD. For detailed information about CableCARD copy protection, read “Cable Provider Copy Protection, Switched Digital Video and Self-Install Status Master List” at http://www.missingremote.com/forums/cable-provider-copy-protection-switched-digital-video-and-self-install-status-master-list.

Unfortunately, pay-per-view and on-demand services are not available when using a CableCARD. Therefore, you might need a separate cable box connected directly to your TV for those services.

If your cable company won’t provide a CableCARD, you can still record TV output from a cable box. For example, the Hauppauge Colossus PCI Express Internal HD-PVR has HDMI and component video (YCrCb) HD inputs, allowing it to record 1080i video from any device that would normally connect to an HDTV. This allows you to record from almost any source. To allow your HTPC to change the channel on your cable box, you need an IR blaster, which is included with most tuner cards.

If you want to record multiple channels simultaneously, you need multiple cable boxes, each separately connected to a video recording card in your HTPC. Naturally, you’ll need to pay a rental fee to your cable company, making this a much more expensive option than using a tuner card that supports a CableCARD.

Higher-end tuner cards include a hardware encoder, whereas lower-end tuner cards require the processor in your HTPC to do the encoding. Choosing a tuner card with a hardware encoder will reduce your processor usage, but it might not be necessary if your computer has a powerful processor. If you have a low-end processor and you plan to record HDTV, choosing a tuner card with a hardware encoder can ensure trouble-free operation.

You can watch and record analog and unencrypted digital cable by connecting the coaxial cable directly to your tuner card (shown in Figure 17-19) and recording analog TV. Inexpensive TV tuners, such as those made by Hauppauge, can be used to record analog or unencrypted digital cable TV using quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). QAM basically broadcasts over-the-air channels, including local HDTV, across cable TV unencrypted and for free.

Figure 17-19. Use a tuner card to record TV from analog cable.

Internal tuners tend to work better than USB tuners. However, if you are using a mobile computer, a USB tuner is your only option.

Typically, only basic cable channels are provided as analog and unencrypted digital cable. Premium channels such as HBO and Showtime are not available using this recording technique. This type of recording is the simplest because your computer can control the channel without communicating with any external device.

Some tuner cards can also receive FM radio when connected to an antenna. Most popular radio stations stream across the Internet, and that’s how I prefer to listen to them on my HTPC. However, if you listen to FM radio and your favorite station doesn’t stream, look for a card with an FM tuner.

Though most tech-savvy people seem to use cable or satellite TV, there are some distinct advantages to recording over-the-air broadcasts:

Most tuner cards that record directly from a coaxial cable can also record over-the-air broadcasts. Of course, most cable channels do not broadcast over the air, but you can receive your local TV for free by connecting a TV antenna to your tuner card. A significant advantage of recording over-the-air broadcasts is that you can record digital, HDTV without using a cable box.

To record over-the-air broadcasts, you need an HDTV antenna, which typically costs between US$35 and US$80.

HTPCs can use a device, known as an IR blaster, that transmits infrared (IR) signals to control other components of your entertainment system. These devices send the same IR signals you send with a remote control.

Most commonly, IR blasters are used to change the channel on the cable box, just like you do when you watch TV. In other words, if you use a cable box and you want to watch live TV on channel 36 on your HTPC, you’ll use your HTPC’s remote control to change the channel. The HTPC will then change the channel on your cable box and begin recording and playing back the video signal.

Some people also use IR blasters and HTPC software to turn their TV and receiver on or off and to make sure they are configured for the right input.

You should stick your IR blaster directly on the IR receiver of the device to be controlled. They tend to have an adhesive surface that allows you to fasten them semi-permanently to the device. If they fail to stick properly, you might need to tape them down.

Unfortunately, IR blasters can be unreliable, and they tend to be the weak link in an HTPC setup. For example, if your computer needs to tune your cable box to channel 36, the cable box might not receive the 6 and will tune to channel 3, causing your HTPC to record the wrong channel. How reliable your signals are depends on both your IR blaster and the cable box that you’re controlling. While many people experience problems, others report never having a missed channel.

All IR signals are unreliable, but when you’re changing the channel manually, you notice when a signal isn’t received and push the button again. Your computer simply isn’t that smart. As a result, if you must use IR blasters to control your cable box, be prepared for missed recordings at times.