My Windows 7 Media Center Setup

I just built my first Windows Media Center using Windows 7 and I'm loving it. I can record one TV channel while watching another TV channel or record two channel at the same time while watching a recorded show. The feed are HD quality from my SiliconDust HDHomerun network dual-tuner. My Lenovo Q150 with the dual-core Atom D510 has not failed me yet.

One thing that made my weekend project more interesting is a third-party program called MCE Standby Tool (MST). I'm able to make the unit go to hybernate when not recording and wake up to start a scheduled recording. Now that's an environment friendly feature.

Following are my specs and some challenges.

1. Lenovo Q150 using dual-core Atom D510

I connected this to our old Sony Bravia 32-inch TV. I mentioned old because it only supports up to 1080i which matches the HDHomerun capability. Most of the TV feeds are 720p anyway.

I had problem connecting it directly to my Sony HT-IS100 home theater system because the Q150 cannot detect proper resolution. It kept on using 1280x720 instead of 1366x768. I ended up connecting the Q150 directly to the TV via HDMI port. The TV have audio optical out to the HT-IS100 anyway.

2. SiliconDust HDHomerun dual-tuner for network TV tuner

This is hooked up on Comcast Milpitas, CA cable provider using an active splitter. I have not tested yet internal hdtv antenna. Here are some of the unofficial free HDTV channels from the scan:

2.1 KTVU-DT (FOX)
5.1 KPIX-DT (CBS)
7.1 KGODT (ABC)
7.2 KGODT2
11.1 KNTV-DT (NBC)
36.1 KICU-DT (TV36)
73.1 KRON-DT (KRON4)
73.5 KBCW-DT (CW)
etc ...

For 73.1 and 73.5, they do not immediately show up on the guide. I have to manually edit channels under the Windows Media Center guide settings. Also, some detected channels will not have guide listing. Luckily, you can modify the guide to match listing to certain channels. For example, just match KRONDT listing for 73.1 and KBCWDT for 73.5.

Also Comcast secure/scambles extended basic channels such as USA, TNT, SyFy, CNN, CNBC, etc. That means my old Tivo Series 2 will still stay where the cable box is hooked up.


3. For the MCE Standby Tool (MST), you can find it here. Do google search if that link no longer works.

A few more stuff to note regarding this tool:
- The S3 (Sleep) and S3+4 (Hybrid Sleep) setting doesn't seem to work with the Lenovo Q150. The S4 (Hybernate) is the one that works for me.
- The version I'm using as of this writing is beta 0.9.100 so that it will be compatible with Windows 7 Media Center.
- The media center program must be running for the sleep/hybernate to kick in.