Setup Windows Media Center Edition 2005 with Astro, Introduction, Part 1
Posted by Terence Yung in Tech, tags: Astro, EPG, HTPC, Media Center - 5,054 viewsI came across a Home Theater PC (HTPC) from Bluedot during my KIASU Trip to PC Fair earlier this month. After playing around the test unit, I was really fascinated by its ability to integrate with Astro and its Astro’s Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). The unit costs well above 4K, a price which I definately not willing to pay since there’re much higher prority items in my wish list queue.
After fishing some technical information from the Bluedot’s staff, I went home and did a week long research on how to assemble a similar system without blowing a hole in my pocket. My findings are:
- I need Windows Media Center with a Happauge PVR-150 MCE Card installed in it.
- Astro is controlled through a IR Blaster.
- EPG is not offered in officially from Astro. Some level of tweaking is needed to get Astro EPG working in Windows MCE.
And the key features that my HTPC is going to have are:
- EPG for Astro.
- Ability to record/rewind/replay programmes.
- Ability to watch downloaded series/movies.
After 2 weeks of intense reseaching, I went to Low Yat Plaza and bought the Happauge PVR-150 MCE TV Tuner card (RM 499). I slot the card into a PIII 933 Mhz PC that was lying around collecting dust (I know its old and slow, but I don’t want to mess up my main PC). I then spend another 3 days tweaking and configuring it to make it work with Astro complete with EPG.
Here are some screen shots:
I setup my TV as a second monitor with my monitor beside it. Windows can be drag between each window.
Watching a boring game while reading news thru Internet.
The main screen of Window Media Center Edition
Live TV menu showing previously recorded shows and upcoming recordings.
Changing Astro channels using HTPC.
The electronic programme guide.
Pausing a live TV (time shifting).
Rewinding live actions.
Playing back recorded shows.
Recorder settings displays how much disk space or hours left for recording purpose.
I use my Logitech Wireless keyboard and mouse to control the HTPC. So that I can sit a distance away on the sofa and control it.
The bundled remote that comes bundled with Happauge PVR-150 MCE. The green button in the middle launches Windows Media Center.
I was googling around for keywords like “Malaysia Astro MCE EPG setup guide” without any success. I got most of my needed info from HTPC sites from Singapore and Australia. After going throught the pain and hardship of researching, I’m going to document my research here for the benefit for any Malaysian that wants to setup Windows MCE to control Astro with EPG. Watch out for upcoming parts of the guide.
Part 1, Introduction
Part 2, Hardware Setup
Part 3, Software Setup
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nice job….
i suppose you are using TVxb to grab the EPG data from astro site. i could not get the auto schedule update works…it just refuse to run. have to opt for manual downloading….
btw, i’m using sagetv.
Thanks ryan. Yes i’m using TVxb to grab EPG from Astro site and Bladerunner to load the EPG into Windows MCE.
I just started venturing into the HTPC area, Windows MCE is the only media center software I used so far. Sorry couldn’t help you much on SageTV.
hi terence, i am waiting for your guide on how to get the EPG working with astro with my pvr 150 mce, hope u can me PM the steps , i’m in lowyatnet also nick is rayfoo
Ray,
Gave you some tips in LYN. Check your PM.
hi terrence… how wonder how u make ur EPG (electronic programme guide.) work wif astro, can guide us on this? syazone@lowyat
syazone, I’ll complete the guide by this week.
Hi Terence. Nice job you did here. Great overview on setting up Windows Media Center. I was wondering, can you record more than 1 channel at a time?
Thanks Steven. Just sharing out what I went through so that other people won’t need to go through the pain of reseaching multiple resource to assemble a HTPC with EPG.
No, you can only record 1 channel and watch the the same channel for this setup. Astro Max can record 1 channel and watch another channel though. To do that on HTPC you need Hauppauge PVR-500MCE with 2 Astro decoders, not worth it.
This setup is good if you already have a spare PC and Astro to begin with. Then you will be able to use the time shifting feature and record late night games. The 2 features I love most of my HTPC.
Thanks for replying. Another question if you don’t mind… I am using Media Center in Vista. You did mentiion about the EPG. How do i enable it?
Unlike in the US where they have built in EPG support from the MCE, we in Malaysia have to manually download and pump the EPG data into the media center.
To do that, in XP MCE 2005, I use TVxb to download EPG data from Astro and BladeRunner Pro to pump it into MCE.
Unfortunately, last I check, BladeRunner Pro cannot run on Vista yet. So no EPG for Vista for Msians now. I’m waiting for Bladerunner Pro so support Vista also until then I will stick to my XP MCE.
Thanks again Terrance, any recommendations for the TV tuner? Do take yr time if u are buzy… will check from time to time
TV Tuner for the above setup will only be either Hauppauge PVR-150MCE or PVR-500MCE. I recommend you getting PVR-150MCE. PVR-500MCE supports dual tuner but cost around 700-800 last I check.
PVR-150MCE cost between 400-500. I bought it for RM499 from Vertex Distribution S/B from Lowyat 4th floor.
You can get other cheaper TV tuners but you will not be able to use it with MCE.
Alternatively you can check out using SageTV as your media center. Check out which TV Tuner they recommend. SageTV supports EPG as well. I coudn’t tell you much on this because I didn’t try it myself.
There’s a guide on how to integrate TVxb and Bladerunner Pro with Vista here:
http://www.tvxb.com/doc/Vista-BladerunnerPro%20Instructions.htm
Thanks MK84, I just installed Vista MCE last week and loving it. I will post some screen shots about it later.
Hehe doing mine this weekend. Hopefully the PC can take it.
Hey MK, if you’re doing yours then you might need this latest tvxb.ini file for vista.
Download from http://www.terencey.net/downloads/TVxb-vista.ini
Cool…. thanks.
Built my very first HTPC today using Silverstone LC17 + Biostar TA960G, AMD AM2 +3600.. installed Win XP MCE ahem version for now but I’m putting my hard earned cash for the not-ahem one now. Saw that the OEM version of XP & Vista is not that much different .. price wise. Should I get the Vista Home Premium or stick with MCE?
Get Vista. XP MCE is at its end limit but Vista is full of potential. There will be more plugins and gatgets coming for Vista in future. Check out this gatget : http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/21/ricavisions-vista-mce-sideshow-remote-does-bluetooth-at-100-met/
thanks, will get a Vista after this. BTW, I’ve Samsung R7.. what resolution do you set for R7? Couldn’t get Win XP to set the correct 1360×768 resolution.
BTW, I couldn’t get HDMI audio output either .. and the video seems jerky…
Will try the EPG after this, did try it this morning but failed..
I set it to 1360×768. Check your video properties. Look for something like custom resolutions.
HDMI? You use a DVI to HDMI converter or your video card supports HDMI? FYI, HDMI carries video and audio signals. So you will need to somehow channel your sound card audio into your video card to pass it into the HDMI cable to the TV. If you’re using the DVI to HDMI converter then there will not be any sound.
I never try connecting my PC to my R7 using HDMI. RGB served me just fine.
I’m downloading the latest ATI driver right now, will see if it could make a different. Anyway, I have successfully downloaded the EPG, seems ASTRO does not have the full 7 days listing, limiting it to 5 days solved my problem.
Another issue resolved today, the jerkiness of myTV was due to the DVD decoder, I was using PowerDVD which comes with my DVD r/w. Downloaded the Nvidia PureDVD decoder and the video seems to be smooth.
Issue on my HDMI audo has been resolved too. It was my fault, not setting the audio out correctly. The audio is now channeled through HDMI correctly.
All except the screen resolution had been resolved now .. yayy!
Your guide started me on eventually getting a HTPC. I now have a working setup, using Vista HomePremium, running Bladerunner with a PVR-500MCE. Things have been ok for about 3 months, but recently the Guide has been showing weird schedules. It would show all the programmes from 12:00hrs till 00:00hrs as one schedule. eg. Channel 1 – RTM1 – 12:00 – 00:00 News, Channel 3 – TV3 – 12:00 – 00:00 Siasat, etc. But the schedule after these times are fine. And this sequence happens every 12:00-00:00; monday, tuesday, wednesday, etc….Wondering if you know why this is happening. Is there something wrong with my setup suddenly? I have changed or installed nothing. I re-ran Bladerunner to get the latest guide listings but still came up with the same problem. Or is there something wrong with the EPG from Astro. I doubt it because using the Info button on the Astro remote, I get the correct schedule..Any ideas?
I think I know roughly know whats going on. I have been away in China for the past week so I haven’t been checking on my HTPC. Let me get back later to check it. Will update back later tonite.
Wow PVR-500MCE!!!!! Cool. Do you use 2 decoder?
Welcome back from China. Any innovations there? Been to Shanghai last year – it was alrite, except where a bunch of us got ripped off by a barman. The fake goods are crazzzyy!
Still getting the same problem on the Guide. Things are all one block from around noon to midnite. Then ok and proper schedules from midnite to noon. Astro must be breaking the schedule downloads in two or sumthing.
The PVR-5000MCE was actually a mistake buy. I thought the IR blaster only came with the 500MCE cause the 150MCE didnt say IR blaster included on the box. Maybe i wasnt looking properly. But i didnt want to risk not having the IR blaster so bough the 500MCE just in case! Dont have 2 decoders…..yet. Hahaha. That would be great to record n watch two seperate streams though.
Innovations in China…. I find they have alot of handphone choices. They come out with new technologies very fast but I doubt the quality of the phones la. Its not very expensive though. Almost bought 1 with dual SIM line active capability that cost RM1k.
Check the comments on the part 3 of this guide. One of the users already figured out the problem and posted the solution. Saved me lots of time, hehe….
PVR-500MCE cost RM800 man. Since you have it go subscribe a 2nd decoder lar. Don’t waste. Just get 3 mini packages, only cost you 20+ RM per month more. You will be able to record 2 live football show at once!!! Or let your family watch their show while football is recording…. awesomeness!!!
Hello
Great book. I just want to say what a fantastic thing you are doing! Good luck!
Bye
I your EPG still working OK for Astro? I have a setup identical to yours and also a linux mythtv machine and both of them are displaying the morning programs fine but then show whatever program is on at midday as showing all the way to midnight.
Yes, astro have changed their EPG. You can download my new tvxb.ini file from http://www.terencey.net/downloads or refer to the comments in http://www.terencey.net/blog/?p=65
Thanks. Worked a treat. ( Sorry should have read the comments above more carefully)
The current tvxb.ini file cannot decipher another revision in astro listing format. Has anyone successfully cracked this new format?
aerojet is right. Noticed since the start of the 6th Aug that there is no schedule. Bladerunner gets a schedule from astro, but it is empty. Tried several times, but no schedule. The programme is working as in the programme guide in media center is shows “No Schedule” as opposed to “No data available” which happens when there is nothing downloaded. Anybody with an answer?
I have managed to resolve the issue with new format. Astro has changed their web pages addresses. Where can I upload the revised tvxb.ini file?
hehehe aerojet, I just noticed the same thing.
For peeps, in the tvxb.ini, I guess you just replace the /v5/programming/channels/ in the url line with /programming/programming_guide/
So, for eg., RTM1 channel should read:
url=http://www.astro.com.my/programming/programming_guide/channel_listings.asp?channel_id=M038&sDate=[day=d-Mmm-yyyy]&batch1=[set=1,2]
That’s exactly the fix (changes to the URL). Now I am downloading all the channel info using the revised tvxb.ini. Hopefully there that’s all to it.
Guys, thanks for sharing the info. I will update the ini files after i get back from cambodia. The internet speed is so darn slow here. Cannot do things properly.
Guys, astro is on the fritz again. The EPG went missing again..on checking, looks like astro changed the address again slightly. All you got to do is add 1 to all the url lines at channel_id. The new line should read:
url=http://www.astro.com.my/programming/programming_guide/channel_listings.asp?channel_id1=M……….
Thanks min. You’re fast.
Tvxb.ini files for XP MCE and Vista updated in:
http://www.terencey.net/downloads
What’s the channel ID for the new History Channel 54? This channel is missing in the latest version of tvxb.ini file.
Updated both ini files for XP MCE and Vista:
1. Channel 54, 79 and 95
2. Move CCTV9 from Channel 36 to 94
Thanks so much Terence. That’s really quick. Really appreciate it.
Test it out for me ya. I haven’t test it yet
sorry for the late reply, the new .ini file worked. Thanks so much.
i need somebody to look at my mce…picture from astro seem to be shadowy..i need media center who can take a look at my machine..help..
Any suggestions on how to connect the Astro decoder (on ground floor) to HTPC (on first floor).
Thks in advance!
Astro has done it again!! changed all the channel numbers. Looks like we have to re-do the .ini file, folks.
The # changes are a small issue. Just open INI file in notepad and change the channel info.
If it was 79 but now 734, just change the 79 to “734″. Then cut/paste the different channel paragraphs into their proper order.
save and yer done.
How do you keep track of Astro’s Channel ID? coz i notice that the Channel ID are not always the same as the Channel Number.
I wrote a script to pull astro’s web page and generate tvxb.ini automatically. So no need to keep track of the channel id. Just need to run the script everytime astro changes its channel or add new channel.
What the latest revision (release or date) of the INI file for ASTRO? I’m having problem updating ASTRO latest guide using the INI file dated 30 Sept 07.