Hello everyone.

I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one out there who wants to do what I want to do, but I haven't found any similar posts. So here's the deal - I'm looking to be able to do the following:

- Watch HD content that I've aquired.
- Run emulation of my favorite games
- Remote control support for my Harmony 888
- Not interested in watching live TV, as I cannot get an HD signal where I live, and I have a DirecTiVo doing the SDTV content without a hitch.

In summary, I'm looking to build a box that'll be able to stream any content, play emulated games, and be controlled by my uber remote. If anyone could answer this for me soon, it would be appreciated.

I don't know the status of the remote and Linux (search the mythtv archives), but other than that you're good to go.

_________________
cesman

When the source is open, the possibilities are endless!

OK, I'll answer the remote question then. The Harmony 888 is, in essence, a learning remote. My recollection is that you can program the remote using a web based app that gives you access to the Harmony database *or* by teaching it other remote commands (which are then uploaded to the Harmony site for others to use).

So, you have two choices. You can either by a remote for your MythTV box (you might check out the Knoppmyth Wiki for more info on remote options) or you can check the Harmony database and see if someone else already has a MythTV setup uploaded. Then you'd only need to get an IR reciever for the machine.

Thanks for the responses. Just two more questions and i'll be out of everyone's hair. ^_^

- Based on what I'm looking to do, anyone have any baseline specs that I should try to stay around? Remember, I want to playback videos that run in 720p and 1080i smoothly. None of this jumping around business, I deal with that on Xbox Media Center thank you. =P

- Does anyone know of any cases that already sport an IR receiver, or is it possible to find an IR receiver that plugs into a optical drive faceplate?

Thanks again.

I have just done what you are thinking of doing. I am using the Harmony 888 also and it works great. I had an old wireless keyboard that I used to program the remote. All I had to do was plug in the receiver (via PS/2) to the computer and program the Harmony remote and, voila, it worked!

I have heard that you could get a cheap wireless keyboard for around $25 US (although I haven't priced them), so you could basically just add this in the cost of building the system.