50 replies to this topic

[myrantz]

The Raspberry_pi, anyone got one? What are you guys doing with it?

I got this baby last Friday and think there are heaps of potential with this thing. So far I have tried using it as:

1/ music player. Go to Pi downloads, download the Wheezy OS, write it to the SDCard, boot it up, and run "apt-get install mpd". And it'd start streaming music. [Probably better to download the git version of mpd (0.17), that is glitch free for me when playing back 16/44.1].

2/ media player. I'm using raspbmc beta (XBMC, check out the video), and this is actually dead easy to install. Download the Win32 installer, flash a SDCard, insert into Ethernet connect Pi, boot it up and the necessary stuffs will be downloaded and installed automatically.

If you think the Pi is too slow at 700Mhz, you can overclock it (see this for other options)...

Where to buy: Element14, RS Online Follow on the links to get more information about them. For cases, just go ebay.

Update:
Gertboard now available: http://www.raspberry...g/archives/1734

Edited by myrantz, 09 August 2012 - 02:10 PM.

[myrantz]

Nobody here ordered a Raspberry Pi? This is such a cool toy!

Using raspbmc for around 2-3 days now...  This is actually my first time using xbmc seriously... So far I'm liking it.

Unfortunately I couldn't get the MythTV plugin or DLNA streaming from MythTV to work... But everything else looks good.  WDTVlive couldn't do the same DLNA streaming so it's probably my MythTV problem..

So what I did is connect a wireless keyboard and ethernet cable to the Pi, and power it from my main board that has a USB connector. You can use remote control if you have one of those USB MCE remotes.

This weekend I'm gonna rip a ISO with all the security removed to test if it can do bitstream audio output.. If it can do that without glitches this will be a great media streamer.

Anybody knows where to look to get a tiny 7-14" touch screen with either composite or HDMI in? And of coz a USB interface for the touch screen input.

[ajm]

It's gnawing at me but every time I look at the pile of jobs at home that need my attention, I'm reminded that I don't need another project sitting at home un-finished

But I'm keeping tabs on what's going on hoping to sponge a bit of enjoyment vicariously.

Try jaycar.com.au for the LCD screens.

Edited by ajm, 15 August 2012 - 11:04 AM.

[myrantz]

ajm, on 15 August 2012 - 11:03 AM, said:

It's gnawing at me but every time I look at the pile of jobs at home that need my attention, I'm reminded that I don't need another project sitting at home un-finished

All work and no play? Ah, the life of an adult..

ajm, on 15 August 2012 - 11:03 AM, said:

But I'm keeping tabs on what's going on hoping to sponge a bit of enjoyment vicariously.

Just installed a case for it.. Looks similar to this: linky. It is very slick, just holding it makes me excited ... No fear of static discharge now (touch wood)... Wish I have more time though... Now is the time I wish I'm a teenager again (I seem to have more time on my hands when I was younger)..

ajm, on 15 August 2012 - 11:03 AM, said:

Try jaycar.com.au for the LCD screens.

Thanks for the tip, didn't know jaycar sell touchscreens. This may suit me fine: http://www.jaycar.co...w.asp?ID=QM3752. Something to get if I can't find something else with HDMI in.

[ajm]

What file types have you tried running though XBMC so far?

Also, if it's not too much trouble, could you make a list of what bits and pieces you've added to get this running?  I gather there is no RAM, PSU etc?  What have you added and rougly what did it cost (if you don't mind sharing )

[myrantz]

ajm, on 15 August 2012 - 03:24 PM, said:

What file types have you tried running though XBMC so far?

The container is all AVI I think, but I don't really know what codec is being used ..

So far except for the DLNA issues all the files I threw at it worked fine.... These files were acquired through means . It's xbmc I would expect it to play anything xbmc would.

The only thing untested is bitstream audio.. I'd have to re-rip a ISO to test that. Coz the network is only 100Mbps max, and it's actually off USB 2.0, and with the low power CPU, I'm not sure if it can do it.. All reports and indications I found so far say the Pi can handle 1080p with no problems, but I'd believe it when i get it to work .

ajm, on 15 August 2012 - 03:24 PM, said:

Also, if it's not too much trouble, could you make a list of what bits and pieces you've added to get this running?  I gather there is no RAM, PSU etc?  What have you added and rougly what did it cost (if you don't mind sharing )

It's sorta like all in one PC. Nothing else is really needed.

Case: <$15 (inc shipping), Pi  $56 (IIRC, inc shipping)... Random class 10 8G SDCard ("free"), wireless keyboard (with built in mouse) ($15 from HK I think). micro-usb cable from dealextreme (<$3). Power wise I either use a lit-ion battery, or my powerboard with USB out.

For remote control I use either my wireless keyboard, or my smartphone. Also I think raspbmc works with MCE remotes too (via lirc).. I'd try that over the weekend too.

Most things like SDCard, micro-usb, wireless keyboards, usb chargers, etc you probably already have at home.. So most likely you just need a Pi, and a very sexy case (Linky)...

Installation for raspbmc is a 2 part process
1/ Download the installer here: http://www.raspbmc.c...s-installation/
2/ Flash it on a SDcard
3/ Connect Pi (I used wired connection)
4/ boot up
4/ It'd download the rest of raspbmc from the net to complete the installation

So far raspbmc and raspian are pretty straight forward to install (once I figured out the SDCard slot is at the bottom of the Pi that is).

[ajm]

Ok, I'm going to see if I can stash $100 away and if it's still there at the end of the month I'll grab one.

And probably curse your name into the night Treblid!

[myrantz]

ajm, on 16 August 2012 - 08:39 AM, said:

Ok, I'm going to see if I can stash $100 away and if it's still there at the end of the month I'll grab one.

Yay.. It'd take a bit more effort than a commercial media streamer, but at least I reckon it'd be easier than a HTPC (at least I think it is)...

ajm, on 16 August 2012 - 08:39 AM, said:

And probably curse your name into the night Treblid!

Hopefully you'd thank me... Gimme a weekend to test if bitstreaming works first or not though - coz that may be a deal breaker...  
This thing is just so interesting... Just the config.txt file itself is interesting. for example, there is this option

Quote

config_hdmi_boost configure the signal strength of the HDMI interface. Default is 0. Try 4 if you have interference issues with hdmi. 7 is the maximum.

My first device with a built in HDMI signal booster. No idea under what circumstances do I even have to do this though - maybe in a MAME box?

One downside though. Using another OS (wheezy) I seem to have issues playing back 24/96 audio files (via USB audio) using an app called mpd.. Will try raspbmc and see if that's an issue or not.

So to get you a bit more excited, my overly ambitious plan so far
1/ 1 Pi for digital transport
2/ 1 Pi for media streamer
3/ 1 Pi for MAME

ATM I'm thinking of swapping SDCards and share a single Pi for 1 and 2...

3 is my secret project atm.. Something at the back of my head for the past decade, and quite ambitious given my limited DIY ability... A 2nd Pi for a small desktop MAME machine - reason why I asked for a small LCD touchscreen. Still looking for a ideal screen - one with HDMI.. That will simplify the build a lot as I don't need speakers etc, and I just need to somehow interface all the arcade parts into the Pi (I'm sure the Internet will be filled with HOWTOs on this when I'm ready to do it).

12V plugback to power the screen, split that and power the Pi, I have visions of a very nice and compact machine, but don't have much confidence in turning that into a reality TBH... Plan to start this at the end of the month, everything else I'm supposed to do around the house? On hold until I get some basic prototype working..

Edited by myrantz, 16 August 2012 - 10:19 AM.

[ajm]

eek... I think it's the whole linux/cmd business that gives me pause for thought actually.  It's just not something I want to learn.  Maybe I'm just getting to old, too lazy and/or too slow?

I might wait it out a while, let those with the enthusiasm work out the kinks .

My major use for this would be as a PVR & media player.  I might just keep an eye out and see how this plays out.

[Chopsus]

Yes, it is essentially a Linux box ... Linux is not that hard to pick up if you have done previous command line stuff like MSDos or Basic in you distant past ... but it is fiddly if you are unsure.

I hacked my NAS that runs on Linux and whilst I now know what I am doing it took me about 8 solid hours to work it out.

[myrantz]

ajm, on 16 August 2012 - 03:05 PM, said:

eek... I think it's the whole linux/cmd business that gives me pause for thought actually.  It's just not something I want to learn.  Maybe I'm just getting to old, too lazy and/or too slow?

I might wait it out a while, let those with the enthusiasm work out the kinks .

That's the beauty of Pi.. For XBMC (media streamer) you don't need to know Linux at all... Flash the SD card with the image using the Win32 software and the Pi will sort itself out.. Next thing I know xbmc just boots up automatically...

Everything else e.g. my issue with 24/96, mpd and MAME will require some linux experience.

ajm, on 16 August 2012 - 03:05 PM, said:

My major use for this would be as a PVR & media player.  I might just keep an eye out and see how this plays out.

I did thought of using this as a PVR but I'm not too sure if it'd work TBH (all I/O appears to go via USB 2.0 and that may well be a bottleneck)... PVR maybe, media player (like WDTV Live) it's a definite yes...

I'd have to double check if xbmc supports DTV (I still quite new to this since I've been using MythTV for as long as I can remember)..

Still can't believe the pi being this cheap can do so much.. So far only me and zog on SNA are playing with this atm... I hope the foundation is doing well, will be disappointed if they went belly up as it's no easy feat to get the balance between price and function right.

Edited by myrantz, 16 August 2012 - 03:30 PM.

[ajm]

Yeah you've convinced me to wait

When/if there is a solution that combines PVR and media streaming, and it all works, then I might dip a toe in. Already have enough barely working stuff in the house.  Not much call for another

[myrantz]

ajm, on 16 August 2012 - 03:51 PM, said:

Yeah you've convinced me to wait

Fair enough, and I almost had you... Such a bad salesman I am, tsk tsk... lol

ajm, on 16 August 2012 - 03:51 PM, said:

When/if there is a solution that combines PVR and media streaming, and it all works, then I might dip a toe in. Already have enough barely working stuff in the house.  Not much call for another

Barely working is still better than my half finished and abandoned stuffs.. Will update this space frequently I hope... First thing to verify - bit streaming...

[Puss in Books]

ajm, on 16 August 2012 - 03:51 PM, said:

When/if there is a solution that combines PVR and media streaming,...

Is there any reason why you want to combine those two?  (Just curious.)

[myrantz]

Puss in Books, on 16 August 2012 - 05:57 PM, said:

Is there any reason why you want to combine those two?  (Just curious.)

A tiny form factor box that can literally do it all and is simple to maintain and use.. Commercial products like this will likely go into at least $200 or more...

I just had an idea ... Get two Pis and network them together... That may work around the potential bottleneck...

[ajm]

Puss in Books, on 16 August 2012 - 05:57 PM, said:

Is there any reason why you want to combine those two?  (Just curious.)

Just to keep things as simple to use as possible really.


This article is pretty timely: http://www.lifehacke...ome-theatre-pc/

Finding a way to get my old HTPC (still going btw Treb?) to work as user-friendly as a standalone device was always one of the biggest obstacles for me

Edited by ajm, 17 August 2012 - 09:18 AM.

[myrantz]

Well some bad news... Don't think the Pi can bitstream HD audio.... Not sure if this is a software, hardware or licensing limitation, but at least there is no easy quick simple way to use this device as a HD media player...

That's the situation now.. Unsure what's for the future as the OS itself is evolving at quite a pace....

standard media still works fine though... Off to research on building a MAME cabinet.. hee hee....

[renura]

I bought one of these devices for $38 delivered http://au.element14....i?ref=lookahead
I must say I was pleasantly surprised by its performance.

It only took a few minutes to set it all up with XBMC and was able to play audio and video files from a NAS with ease.

Even as is, and using XBMC, I would say it is better than many more costly "media players" I have come across over the last couple of years.

If you have a spare 1/2 hour and want to play, go for it.

[ajm]

Renura, what other bits and pieces did you have (or need to find) to get up and running?

Any success playing 1080p files or HD audio?

[renura]

You need:
SD card onto which to load the software/OS
Ethernet cable for connecting to a router
USB Keyboard/Mouse to control the sofware (I used an airmouse for this)
HDMI cable to connect to a display

I had all of the above bits, so had no need to purcahse any other bits. I am sure most people have them as well:)

For $38 deliverd you can't really go wrong - for me the only problem is finding the time to play with it, right now my wife uses it as a media player. Using XBMC interface is extrmely easy and so far it has worked well.


I did try 1080P video files and they played fine, Not sure about HD audio though, have not tried that.

[myrantz]

renura, on 17 September 2012 - 02:06 PM, said:

For $38 deliverd you can't really go wrong - for me the only problem is finding the time to play with it, right now my wife uses it as a media player. Using XBMC interface is extrmely easy and so far it has worked well.

What do you reckon the potential is for the Pi as a small simple 1-2 tuner PVR? Have you tried that and see if it's speedy enough for that? (I doubt it can do that, but OTOH I don't have any spare USB tuners to confirm)....

Also, is your board the new revision 2 spec, or still the older one?

[renura]

pls delete

[renura]

myrantz, on 17 September 2012 - 02:36 PM, said:

What do you reckon the potential is for the Pi as a small simple 1-2 tuner PVR? Have you tried that and see if it's speedy enough for that? (I doubt it can do that, but OTOH I don't have any spare USB tuners to confirm)....

Also, is your board the new revision 2 spec, or still the older one?

I have been told that a customer of ours has it working with one of our TinyTwin dual USB tuners, so I will try that as some stage when I got the time. One of the things we want to do is try and use it as a little client for some streaming applications and devices we are working on:)

It's the older board.

[jasoroony]

renura, on 17 September 2012 - 09:16 PM, said:

I have been told that a customer of ours has it working with one of our TinyTwin dual USB tuners, so I will try that as some stage when I got the time. One of the things we want to do is try and use it as a little client for some streaming applications and devices we are working on:)

It's the older board.

Hey, that's good news, that means any of the afa devices will work - including the dual tuner from kworld for $55 and single tuners from Jaycar for $25-30.

[ajm]

What software would you run for DVB tuners? I didnt think XBMC supports TV or am I behind the times?