Wireless Home Networking - Index of

Home Premium (which also includes Media Center software). From regular
and high-definition TV broadcasts to movies, music, games, and digital
photos, this baby has it all, and you can connect to it wirelessly. What more
could you want? Note that this current model does not have built-in 802.11n
networking — we expect that by the time you read this, HP will have updated
the networking to include 802.11n.
The term Media Center PC is often used generically, but it can mean two different
things: a PC configured to be a repository and driver for media applications
or a PC sold with the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition or
Windows Vista Home Premium software on board. You can get this software
only by buying a new, specially configured Media Center PC. Not all Media
Center PCs have the Windows Media Center Edition software, so read the
fine print.
If you have a Windows XP or Vista Media Center PC, you will probably want
to link it to other TVs, using a Media Center Extender. An example is Linksys
DMA 2200 Media Center Extender with DVD player (price unknown as we
write). This sleek device works like a media adapter for a Media Center PC
and allows you to view any media on the Media Center PC on a remote TV,
including recorded (DVR) shows and even live TV programming being picked
up by the TV tuner in the PC. The DMA 2200 uses 802.11n networking (so it
will work with video wirelessly, unlike previous generations of these products),
and comes with a built-in DVD player. Figure 12-3 shows the DMA 2200.
Using the HTPC’s hard drive to record television
shows like the way a TiVo does is an optional (but
almost essential, we think) function. And using
an HTPC as a DVR is a standard feature in a
Windows XP/Vista Media Center PC — and
something that we think you should consider
adding to your home-built HTPC. Even if this were
the only thing you wanted to do with your HTPC,
it would be worth it. You can simply install a PC
DVR kit and skip much of the other stuff (such as
the DVD player, decoder, and software).
Chapter 12: Networking Your Entertainment Center
Checking out PC DVRs
Tip: Because the biggest limitation to any DVR
system is the amount of space on your hard drive
for storing video, consider a hard drive upgrade
regardless of your other HTPC intentions.
PC DVR kits on the market include the ATI TV
Wonder 650 or 600 Series (http://ati.amd.com/
products/atitvwonder.html), SnapStream Beyond
TV (www.snapstream.com), and Pinnacle PCTV
(www.pinnaclesys.com).
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