Amaury Z
Client Services Manager (Real Estate & Private Equity Funds) at RBC Dexia Investor Services
Making my computer a central multimedia sharing device in my house.
Hi,
Can anyone help?
I would like to build a computer system in my house that would manage my video, sound, pictures, and phone communication. I see this as a kind of multimedia server, from which I could acces my videos, songs, pictures, from anywhere in the house and from multiple portable device. I would also like to acces all these from outside the house.
I guess wifi should be the communication protocol to use, but any alternatives are welcome.
What smart smartphone would be the best for this kind of setup?
If you have tried to build one or know how to build one, your ideas would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Amaury
Answers (5)
Scott G
Software Development, IP Telephony, PBX Systems, Embedded Systems
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I'm doing that now with a Linux box running Asterisk (for phones in house and also routes calls to cells) and Samba to share files, plus Apache as the web server with password protected access to files via the internet -including from my treo 755p which can also control the server by VNC and operate windows XP sessions under vmware. It is also the router and firewall for the LAN, which has a pair of WAP54G on the same SSID for coverage.
Marc A
Product, Program and Project Manager
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Your issue will be bandwidth. If you want to run several different video feeds off the same HD and over the same airwaves at the same time, you will have problems running on only 1 processor (usually). You might want to look at something more like a phone server and a separate SAN for storing your media files that can serve them to any device. You should try to wire the main devices together on 100MB or GB Ethernet. That includes any fixed devices like a stereo system and/or Big Screen TV. This will offload the bandwidth from your WiFi network and should make supporting wireless devices simpler.
As for range - you just need to add a few repeaters around the yard to extend your coverage right to the property line.
The biggest "Issue" right now, is that the whole "Media Center" thang isn't quite figured out yet - so there isn't a universal sexy control interface for the whole thing - you're still stuck with either your device UI or Windows.
HP has put out two types of devices to serve this space, a beefy desktop with Vista Ultimate (includes media Center features), or Windows Home Server, with 1TB storage. This is new from the Home server team at Microsoft a group of smart folks with too small a marketing budget IMHO.
Clarification added February 19, 2008:
Additionally, if you choose to buy vs build, there is great stuff out there from Lifeware, AMX, Control4, and on the high end, Crestron, these have wireless controllers using wifi or ZWave. If you like to program UI, Smartphones at Windows Mobile 5 forward (currently at 6) can use the .net framework controls, as well you could use a vista gadget or sidebar to control from the desktop.
Paul W
Technologist, Advocate, Architect, Consultant
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Amaury,
Have a look at MythTV, an open source project based on Linux with many TiVo-like features, plus plenty more. I haven't tried it myself, but some friends say that it works pretty well. That would allow a large, noisy and fast data storage center in your closet, with small cheap and silent machines satellited around for access to your media. On top of that, you could run Asterisk PBX for telephony.
I'm not sure how to wire that in with a cell phone setup -- I think the cell carriers are still a little wary of allowing devices to swap so easily between networks, but there are plenty of SIP-based wireless phones that you can use with Asterisk, as well as soft phones for PC use (Gizmo is one). I wouldn't be surprised to hear that you would better luck in Luxembourg than we do in the US for that.
As to the connection link -- stay with wired service as much as possible. I've noticed a definite decrease in packet reliability since my neighbors went wifi, as well as the fact that so many other devices live in the 2.4ghz band. It generally works great for low-demand systems like web browsing, but for high-bandwidth streaming needs there might be an issue. I have an NDAS disk server that just doesn't works so badly over wifi that I basically call it broken.
Wifi should work with Myth so long as the server is taught to send reduced signals to your wifi remote devices.
Have fun -- I wish I had a budget for this ;)
Links:
Clarification added February 25, 2008:
Bluetooth -- awesome solution for the cellphone to internal network configuration. Good idea Rajat.
Rajat M
Country Manager :DSO,Hewlett Packard Sales India Pvt. Limited
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Hi Amaury,
You did not mention the budget you have in mind. I will like to give you two solutions here
1. Take a HP Home server with 1 TB and integrate the same into Wireless network and also attach a small Blue tooth hub to the home server. This way you will have Wireless and Bluetooth network working for you. Implement a mirror raid on the HDD to keep the data safe.
2. This is what I recommend and its might be little more expansive to do however goes little beyond the solution you are seeking.Also try use all wireless devices from one vendor to avoid configuration issue.
Desktop : HP Workstation with FX 1500/1700 card and a 24 inch TFT with second DVI port connected to a TV Tuner Box. This will double up as gaming station,TV and video player too :o) install quicktime HD plugin and you can play HD too :o). For sound you can use 7:1/5:1 Creative sound card with speaker from BOSE/ Creative or try Yamaha YSP 8000
Wireless and DSL Router : Netgear RangeMax NEXT Wireless-N Broadband Modem Router.
NAS Box: Netgear READYNAS™ NV+ 1.5 TB Gigabit Desktop Network Storage (2 x 750 GB). All media files should be stored on this and not on desktop.
VOIP : I am big fan of Skype Netgear DUAL-MODE CORDLESS PHONE WITH SKYPE SHP200D
Media Streamer : Netgear Digital Entertainer HD Digital Entertainer HD EVA 8000
SmartPhone : E 90/N95 with Wireless configured to connect to home network however when outside I use RDM+ and TSmobile to connect to network + Mobiscope for Home Security Cam Broadcast.
Bluetooth hub : Use a Logitech hub on desktop and you can use blue tooth stereo headset for listening without disturbing others ;o).
Links:
Clarification added February 20, 2008:
I faced a small issue on HD Media streaming in basement so you can look at using Netgear POWERLINE HD PLUS ETHERNET ADAPTER KIT HDXB111 works beautifully.
