Help streaming, squeeze box, popcorn?

chipperhead · 12 Jun 2008 at 21:41

I'm trying to get my head round streaming media across my house, I've googled it, been to a few forums and am still rather perplexed to say the least.

I'm after listening to music in various rooms in the house and also possibly watching some video aswell.

Do I need some kind of central server to host the files on and then a playback device in each room to listen or watch the content and also some kind of remote control?
Is a Squeeze Box or Popcorn Hour the central server that holds the conent, I just can't get my head round it all.

Wiring isn't a problem as my house is easy to get wiring from one room to another.

Some basic info would be great.

lsg1r · 12 Jun 2008 at 22:02

basic principle as it can be a bit different depending on your desired outcome/budget etc.

box with storage drives - this can be a pc/mac or (most newer) nas box with the right software (itunes/slimserver etc) or support for media in folders over a network (can't remember the right name off the top of my head). In your case slimserver/popcorn on a pc (I'm not sure there's any nas boxes which support popcorn as I'm not up on it which doesn't help) with video/music stored on it or you need hardware which can access the media folders on a nas directly (iirc the old kiss hardware could do this).

wire/wireless connection (can add in internet connection for web streaming)

device such as a slimdevice/sonos/roku/apple airport express/media pc/player plugged into speakers/tv etc

Individual remote controls or something like a pda with remote control software (slimserver/salling clicker etc)

My current setup is a synology ds106j which stores my music in the 'music' folder and its detected by itunes on my pc which can be controlled by my pda using salling clicker - all over wireless connections. Aim to add a sonos into the mix which once setup will access the nas directly removing the need for the pc to be on all the time while playing music.
Its the same principle as above for video's but the video playback hardware is slightly different as is the bandwidth requirements.

Think that explains it - ask away with the questions though if need be.

jbloggs · 12 Jun 2008 at 22:28

I run Squeezebox (can connect by wifi or cable to router), had music stored on PC initially, but then bought a secondhand Dell Optiplex GX270 of an auction site for £60 (I had been looking at the HP EX470 Mediasmart server, but was £400), which I put a 500GB ATA HDD into which I had lying around, can add more storage if necessary, installed XP Pro on this, along with SqueezeCenter, and put my music on it. Have Remote Desktop setup on Optiplex, Squeezebox connected to amp/speakers...

Don't know much about Popcorn, but would think the principle is the same as squeezebox...

chipperhead · 12 Jun 2008 at 23:29

Great thanks for the info but need to clarify a few things.
Do I need a squeezebox at each point I would wish to listen to music at then?
I currently have my main pc connected to an adsl router via lan cable, would I use this in the system?
I see the Dell Optiplex GX270 is just a pc base unit, do you have this connected to your main pc and transfer your files onto this and leave on 24/7?

lsg1r · 12 Jun 2008 at 23:51

chipperhead said:
Do I need a squeezebox at each point I would wish to listen to music at then?

- to make things simple yes 1 squeezebox (or similar) plus speakers.
- to make things more complicated (and not really worth it in my view) - 1 squeezebox with a switch to flick between locations of speakers.
- more complicated and expensive - 1 squeezebox plus a home distribution system - option 1 is probably cheaper

I currently have my main pc connected to an adsl router via lan cable, would I use this in the system?

Upto you and the rest of the arrangement but if the pc is used for the file storage and streaming software then it would need to be on during the times when you intend to use the music/video players.
If you go for the dell server approach below then attach the router to the dell and the pc (assuming you have enough ports) and you only need your current pc on when you want to use it.

I see the Dell Optiplex GX270 is just a pc base unit, do you have this connected to your main pc and transfer your files onto this and leave on 24/7?

Depends on the use of the optiplex. If it was setup like below (this would be my arrangement)
internet to router to
-current pc
-dell optiplex
-network media devices

I would use the current pc (probably higher spec) to rip/copy any files for storage and then transfer all media files to the optiplex for archiving/server storage. Your current pc could be turned off when not in use for games/ripping/work etc.

The optiplex would have any relevent software required for use of the media devices (ie popcorn/slimserver) and would be on when they're needed (or 24/7) for the streamed media. As the optiplex has all the media files stored on it this would act as both a filestore and the central hub for the software - all of your media players would access this.
You could also use it for general file backup too.

jbloggs · 13 Jun 2008 at 00:53

I have it set up the following way:

internet->Router-> connected and networked via this, are my main and secondary PCs + the Dell Optiplex + SqueezeBox (all via cable), I then have the partition (on the optiplex) with my music stored on it "shared" on the network so that other 2 comp can see it, and also have that partition as a mapped network drive on main & secondary comp. Having Remote Desktop set up on optiplex, I can access it from either of other two computers, the Optiplex can then be put away out of sight, like in a cupboard....

On the Dell Optiplex I have XP Pro installed, with SqueezeCenter (the Squeezebox software), which runs as a "Service", but very little (Avast antivirus) else as it is not needed, I can then rip music on either of the two PCs and simply transfer it into the folder on the Optiplex where my music is stored via mapped drive.

If I want to play music in another room, for that room I would then need another SqueezeBox + amp + speakers, but using the Optiplex as the source for the music....

The Optiplex (Small Desktop Computer, ie This) is just a Base unit, it has a 2.2GHz Celeron CPU and 1GB ram, so more than enough to run SqueezeCenter, not only did I look at the HP EX 470, but also the QNAP 209 (about £250 without HDDs), but the processor on this is only 500MHz, and it was widely reported that SqueezeCenter was quite sluggish on it, so the OptiPlex looked a decent option.

chipperhead · 13 Jun 2008 at 08:52

Thanks guys I finally have my head round it all, at long last

I can start working out a system now, if I get stuck I know who to ask.
Cheers.

Metallifux · 13 Jun 2008 at 11:39

I have a Popcorn Hour. I run Hanewinn NFS server on my PC and point the PH to that. You define all your shares in the server and the PH picks them up. The PH can also handle SAMBA shares or HTTP shares using something like MyIHome or tversity.

chipperhead · 13 Jun 2008 at 14:33

Metallifux said:
I have a Popcorn Hour. I run Hanewinn NFS server on my PC and point the PH to that. You define all your shares in the server and the PH picks them up. The PH can also handle SAMBA shares or HTTP shares using something like MyIHome or tversity.

You've completely lost me there lol.

Let me say what I have and what I would like in simple terms.

I currently have my main pc connected to a Netgear DG834G router.

I would like to watch video files that I have downloaded, on my main tv in the living room. I would also like to watch these files in my bedroom and in the garage. I would also like to listen to audio files in the bathroom and the kitchen.

I understand I need a tv were I wish to watch stuff and an amp and speakers were I wish to listen to stuff. I don't need to go wireless as it is no problem to run wires.
Is a Popcorn Hour like a Squeeze Box in that I would need one at every place I would wish to view/listen to my media and is a Popcorn Hour just like a Squeeze Box except it allows more files to be played e.g, video?

Tunney · 13 Jun 2008 at 15:01

I own a Popcorn Hour and really wouldn't recommend it for music. Apple TV is far better if your music collect is already in iTunes.

Popcorn Hour's real strengths are HD video and internal HDD support.

Is a Popcorn Hour like a Squeeze Box in that I would need one at every place I would wish to view/listen to my media

Yes.