I would love some suggestions with this problem.
I'll try to keep the details short...but not too short.

Currently:
Have DishNetwork DVR & stream netflix + our library of ripped movies through my networked Samsung BluRay player. Squeezebox for radio and music library too.
Wife likes it and can make the TV, Netflix & squeezebox work. (thank you HarmonyONE remote!)
Neither Wife/Kids can't use interface at all for their ripped DVDs.

Desired:
I want to drop DishNetwork expense and bazillion time-wasting channels but I'd still like to have
- easy Hulu & streaming Netflix access
- DVR of OTA HD programming
- ability to access the espn360 that I can get through my cable provider
- A menu that kids/wife can operate for the ripped DVD collection, DVRd shows, Hulu & music library.

Special notes:
- I think a MythTV type build might be the ideal way to wrap it all together...except I've given up trying to understand command-line operating systems. I just don't get Linux.
- I wish I could do this with JUST a popcorn hour. Less boxes are better.

SOLUTION:
All I can think to do is:
1) get a Popcorn C-200 (for the movies, shoutcast, music library, Netflix, & BRay disks we rent)
2) add a Win7 media center (for OTA-HD PVR & espn360)
3) manually switch between the two depending on what we want to watch (which kinds sucks)


Any ideas of a better solution?

Robert92

Windows 7 Media Center, you just need to make sure the HTPC you run it on has Blu-ray capabilities, an ATSC digital tuner card (might consider getting basic cable to package with your cable modem), a large HDD, then there are front ends for everything else or they'll run native in the OS, or create shortcuts.



-S

[This message has been edited by sellis2003 (edited 3/5/2010 1:48p).]

You can't do everything with one device but you can get pretty close with a htpc....

If you go the win7 htpc route there was a video done recently by the guys over at HD Nation which detail things pretty well. (have to go back a few episodes to see his build... was a multipart thing)

http://revision3.com/hdnation

My Media Center does my dvr recordings (cable clear qam... this is better than ota and if you have internet you likely also have the local hd channels over your cable for free), ripped bluray & dvd playback, music+photo manager, netflix.

Don't do shoutcast or espn360 because I use my xbox360 on my tv's and it can't pass that through via media center (but it does have have last.fm and espn360 might be coming directly to the xbox which would remove my only "issue" with my extender setup)

[This message has been edited by jagouar1 (edited 3/5/2010 1:50p).]

Off topic but have you tried the ipeng iPhone app? It's a networked remote control for your squeeze box.... I'm having fun with mine.

quote:

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1) get a Popcorn C-200 (for the movies, shoutcast, music library, Netflix, & BRay disks we rent)

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Until they get PlayOn working properly, will never be Netflix on the C-200.

Thanks for the ideas and link. Sounds like a windows media center in the living room is what I need.

Not experience with iphone and squeeze box. We're a "windows / android " household.