How are you downloading TV listings? I'm
putting
together something similar to this myself (minus Homevision) and I've
managed to
get the weather data from the Metoffice website but I haven't come across
anywhere with TV listings in a friendly format.
I currently have the following
setup: HomeVision
controller Dedicated HA
PC with
~6GB
of MP3s 1
soundcard linked to the lounge HiFi
Pronto
remote
I have created some screens in HomeVision that I use to
select
the tracks to play, by using the Pronto remote with a A-Z, 0-9
keyboard. I created the pronto "keyboard" using "standard" remote
codes, so that HomeVision would be able to decode and recognise
them.
In addition to this I have written a "helper" application that
runs in parallel to the HomeVision software and communicates using
DDE. This application performs a number of tasks including the
following: Watches for variable changes,
to
determine what MP3s to play Downloads
weather information every 15 mins & updates
HomeVision Watches the 1-wire
bus Downloads TV Listings once a
week Forces HomeVision to display
(overlaid)
information of favourite TV programs about to
start. ...and lots more when I think of
it.
The Weather, TV Listings and MP3 Listing are all held on SQL
Server.
So this is what happens. I
bring up the music selection screen in
HomeVision Select the
track(s) The HomeVision helper app then
plays the tracks on the lounge HiFi (switching it on, and selecting AUX
if
necessary)
I also plan to install >1 sound card to enable
multi-zone
control. As I'm not using WinAmp I have more control, so should be
able to independently control >1 soundcards.
Hope this
helps Graham
-----Original Message----- From: Paul Gordon
[mailto:paul_gordon@xxxxxxx] Sent: 05 March 2001 15:07 To:
ukha_d@xxxxxxxSubject: Re: [ukha_d] WHA, controlling
MP3's
> >WHA, controlling MP3'sI'm pondering WHA at the
moment - though controlled >entirely by a PC. My HA PC (when I
eventually get all the pieces together >in one box) will have a
graphics
card with TV out so I was planning on >plugging that into a TV, then
either using a radio mouse/keyboard (not >ideal) or preferably using
an
IR keyboard and just learning a few crucial >buttons onto a Pronto
(BTW
has anyone done this?
I have exactly this arrangement, and tried
to
do just what you have described. Basically, I had no success getting the
pronto to learn the IR from the keyboard :-( However, I have
subsequently changed to a different IR keyboard (A "digital Edge" one),
and
I haven't tried to learn anything from that into the Pronto yet... so
fingers crossed...
can it be done?). I was planning on a
more
ambitious system giving actual whole house control via a web interface,
but
if you just want music then I don't see why you just couldn't use
WinAmp/whatever normally. > >If you don't have a dedicated PC
already it might be pricey but it would >still be cheaper than
dedicated
touch screens in each room, I should think. >Especially if you have a
lot of televisions around the place (I'm only >really interested in
one
control point)
Dedicated touchcreens, whilst undoubtedly one of
the
most attractive options, is also far and away the most expensive! - Even
the dreaded... (wait for it...) EPODS at the bargain knock-down price of
£230-ish is more expensive than a DDAR. - Plus of course, there aren't
any
left at that price, so you can pretty much forget about getting any
touchscreen solution for any less money than that. (Even the
bog-standard
monochrome X10 Touchlinc screens are £287.88, and that's without any
kind
of stand or wall-mount kit...)
As far as a PC-based system is
concerned, 'cos I have lots of PC's, I have up till now just put a PC
wherever I need an audio zone - I figured that sending ethernet from
place
to place is easier (and better) than sending audio over long cable
runs...
This gives zone-able output, but still doesn't address the problem of
selection/control. I still haven't really got a solution to this... -
For
example, in the master bedroom, because SWMBO wouldn't let me put a PC
in
there, I drilled a holw stright through the wall to my study which is
adjacent, and fed an audio cable from the amplifier in the bedroom
through
to a PC in the study. So to select tracks or control the player, I have
to
wander into the next room, and use the PC.. (not ideal!) Next step will
probably be to put a radio-based cordless keyboard on that PC, and feed
another cable through the wall to connect the TV-out on the PC to the TV
in
the bedroom. Alternatively, I have just resurrected my old laptop
(Thanks
Vince!) and I might see if I can get away with sneaking that into the
bedroom...
Longer term, I'm thinking of a single PC in node 0, with
multiple soundcards (ideally about 4 of them!) giving 4-zone independent
control. Ideally, I'd then be able to use it in either of 2 main
configurations: a) individual zones, for listening to a seprate audio
feed
in any zone, when I'm in one room and SWMBO is in another... b)
Whole-house audio, - IE sending the same single audio feed to all
zones simultaneously, for parties and so on. I still don't know what
combination of hardware/software will currently allow that level of
control
- IE with 4 soundcards, how do I "bind" a particular instance of a
player
(Winamp for example), to a particular soundcard? If I manage that OK, I
then have 4 instances of Winamp on a single PC, so how do I seperately
control each instance from a remote location? In the other scenario, how
would I then "kill" the other 3 Winamp instances, and then "bind" a
sinlge
Winamp instance to all 4 soundcards to get te whole-house audio that I
want?
Questions Questions!!
Paul
G.
> > > Hi
list, > > I'm a new member so forgive me if this
subject has come up before. >Basically I'm very interested in a whole
house audio solution, however I >see one significant drawback
limiting
how I would personally like to >implement
it. > > I have an Empeg (www.empeg.com) Car MP3 car
stereo. In order to listen >to MP3's on the device I have
ripped
my entire CD collection and keep a >local copy on a PC and sync this
up
with my empeg every time I buy a new >CD. Obviously, if I were
to
install WHA I would like to use my MP3's as >one of the music
sources. I know I can buy a DDAR but that requires a >receiver
in
every room I wish to listen to MP3's in, hardly an ideal >solution,
which would result in a crippled WHA system as I don't really >like
the
idea of buying 5-10 DDAR's!!! > > The other way of
doing this would be to wire the MP3 player into a more >traditional
central source/amplifiers WHA solution. This obviously
leaves >you
wondering how you choose which MP3 you want to listen to, etc. I
don't >want to be tied to a PC monitor or TV to show MP3 status/info
displays. > > Basically, the ideal solution would
be a
customisable wallmount LCD >touchscreen in every room, so you could
control the rest of the WHA and >possible HVAC, etc from this
LCD.
The screen would have to be inexpensive >in order to be affordable
for
every room. Does anyone have any idea >whether there are
suitable
solutions available, or will I have to work on a >homebrew
device? > > Cheers, > >
M >
_________________________________________________________________________ Get
Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
Comments to the Webmaster are always welcomed, please use
this contact form
. Note that as this site is a mailing list archive, the Webmaster has no control
over the contents of the messages. Comments about message content should be directed
to the relevant mailing list.
