Thoughts on a set-top box

[Ty Unes]

Jonathan Hutchins wrote:
> I have a DirecTV DVR which is a pretty slow, stupid box, but is linked to 
> their web site, and I can download what they have on offer.  I've messed with 
> mediatomb, and so far the ratio is about three hours futzing with the setup 
> for each three minutes of music/video I want to play, to be repeated next 
> time because the working setup inexplicably broke.
>
> I'd like to have an option to pipe an audio stream from a cental PC to various 
> non-digital audio systems around the house.  My first guess would be an FM 
> transmitter plugged directly into the output jack of the sound card.  Every 
> FM transmitter I've tried, though, has been barely capable of transmitting to 
> a receiver 18" away, let alone through the steel siding to the detatched 
> garage.
>
> I could build a full-fledged MythTV box to go beside the DirecTV box - who 
> knows, it might even replace it - but that may be overkill, and doesn't cover 
> listening in the garage.
>
> So what do you think I should do?  I could shop around for old laptops, and 
> put one at each listening point - I can handle setting up streaming from 
> there.  I could grab two or three $150 netbooks, and use them - they'd 
> probably burn less electricity.  I could go exotic, get some microatx or 
> PC104 hardware and build from there.  What's the best solution?
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>   
I was faced with the same situation here. Wanted a way to pipe Sirius 
radio through the house without breaking the bank buying Sirius radios! 
FCC requirements for low power, unlicensed FM keep effective transmitter 
range too small to cover a house. You get much better distance with AM 
however, if your OK with AM (mono) sound quality!

I purchased and built an AMT-3000 low power AM transmitter about a year 
ago. This is a legal (FCC authorized 100mW) high-quality AM transmitter. 
It works great and sounds as good (even better) than our local AM 
stations! True, I'm not getting stereo / CD sound quality, but it does / 
can sound pretty darn good. If you own an "expanded bandwidth AM" radio, 
the sound IS just as good.

I listen to a lot of talk radio (read Howard Stern!) so I'm not effected 
by the sound quality loss as much as music. If you plan on transmitting 
mostly vocal tracks (like movies) I would think this would work great 
for you and it's kinda fun to build!

rt...