Dmitri's HTPC Project

I'm continuing to hold off the case decision yet. I realize that once I order that I'm pretty much going to be putting the system together, and want to not have to do that over and over again. So I figure the next step is to test the connectivity from my system to the receiver. I'm going to disconnect my current PC, and move it next to my TV stand. My video card a GeForce 4 TI4400 by Gainward features a Video-In-Video-Out connector. It can export a signal either via a normal RCA video out or S-Video. My receiver a Denon (insert model number here), accept both, but my TV only accept normal RCA A/V inputs. Yes the TV was never meant for this. It was a 25 inches piece of Sharp that I bought at Best Buy back in 99 that was only ever supposed to live in my bedroom. I was living with a roommate at the time that had plunked down for a beautiful 36 inch Sony Trinitron. After I moved out, it became my main TV, as I held out for HD prices to come down. Between then and now, HD did sort of meander down, but I also got laid off, had to move from a nice 2 bedroom place into a smaller place, and finally into a Studio in NY. Now while I think I would plunk down for an HD solution if it were just a matter of price, I simply lack the space for one. Anyway, that's my TV sob story. My soundcard is a Creative Labs SoundBlaster Live! 5.1. It has a funky S/PDIF out that is a mini jack. I need to swing by Radio Shack to snag a cable that has a mono-minjack on one end and an RCA plug on the other end. I knew this would work for getting a Dolby Digital audio signal while playing DVDs, but I wasn't sure if I would get normal non DVD audio from that output when watching TV or playing MP3s. A quick query on HTPC News revealed the answer was yes. Thanks guys! I'll visit the Shack today and attempt the move this week.

The other thing on my plate is create a plugin for BeyondTV for Meedio. There is an existing one, but all it does is bring up BeyondTV when Meedio is closed. I want something that integrates it more into Meedio so going back and forth isn't quite so hacky. I did decide to go with BeyondTV, the web interface for recording shows is just too cool.