MediaReady 5000

[waynedunham]

Update 2:

Got it running as a client now!! Thanks to someone who showed me that I had a syntax error in the edit I did to the startsage shell script.

Just did a quick test, here's the system(s) specifics:

Office: Sage Server running WinXP SP2 with 2 PVR-500's, P4 2.8ghz 1 gig ram, Sage 4, SageClient 4 (for my MVP)

Living Room: MediaREADY 5000 with Sage running as a Sage Client

Bedroom: MVP

Living room TV is HD capable, bedroom TV is plain old SD. All recordings are SD.

While the server was recording 3 SD programs I simultaneously watched a recording (off the server) on both the MR 5k, and my MVP. Did some jumps, ff/rew, etc and everything worked great!!

I AM A HAPPY CAMPER NOW!!

Now I've got to look through the docs for setting up a network encoder so I can utilize the PVR-150 in the MR 5k. Worst case scenario, is I pull it out and put it in the server if I can't get it to work as a network encoder.

Now I can start a search in earnest for a quieter power supply/fan for the MR 5k.

[waynedunham]

Originally Posted by waynedunham

Update 2:

Got it running as a client now!! Thanks to someone who showed me that I had a syntax error in the edit I did to the startsage shell script.

Ohh, that helpful someone was _Demo_. HE DA MAN!!

[korben_dallas]

All I can say is "wow" Wayne.

How is version 4 treating you on the 5k?

[waynedunham]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

All I can say is "wow" Wayne.

How is version 4 treating you on the 5k?

It's been running as a regular Sage machine for a couple days with no troubles.

Even though I put the default Sage 4 STV on it, some of the Linux/MR 5k specific menu options are still there, although worded more generically.

Things like burn dvd, and rip cd are still there. I didn't get a chance to try them before I got it set up as a Client (which now uses the servers UI).

I just got it running as a Sage - Client a couple hours ago, we'll see how it holds up.

[wyzard]

Originally Posted by HairBear

The fan is really loud for the size of it. I'm going to replace that soon.

Hi Hairbear. I just got my MediaReady 5000. Did you every replace the fan? What did you get for a replacement? Does it make a huge difference in the noise level? How hard a job is it?

Thanks.

[HairBear]

Originally Posted by wyzard

Hi Hairbear. I just got my MediaReady 5000. Did you every replace the fan? What did you get for a replacement? Does it make a huge difference in the noise level? How hard a job is it?

Thanks.

The fan I bought was a Zalman for about $10.00. Much better, but not silent. The problem is the metal inside the case amplifies vibration. The fan itself is really quiet but the metal it's attached to is making it audible. I'm going to try rubber grommets/washers to remedy this problem. The fan was also too big(80x80x25) and the old fan was(80x80x20), so I had to jimmy it in a little bit. It is possible to make it fit nicely with a few easy modifications which I will try to post with pictures in the near future. I should also mention that the Zalman replacement fan was designed with a "three wire" on-board connector, while the original fan is only a hard two wired connection. I had to cut and tape the original wires and use the on-board three wire fan header for the Zalman replacement fan.

There is a bit of work in replacing the fan but, all in all, it's fairly easy to understand and do for the average person. The only tools needed are a long philips(X) screwdriver and a small socket rench or pliers(vise-grip) to loosen the cap-nuts on the bottom of the case. If what you have read so far is beyond you, do not try this! I can go on about cooling a pc but the point is close to mute. Better cooling = longer life. Do some research with google using the words "silent pc" or "quiet cooling pc" and you will find enough documentation to get yourself up to snuff...

I hope this helps... Sage on!

Please understand that, if you tinker with your MediaREADY 5000 in any way that is not covered by the implied warranty, you may void all coverage.

[hgilson]

HairBear,

Did you just replace the fan ontop of the power supply? If so, glad it worked to some extent. I didn't even think about disconnecting the fan from the power supply. Of course, no one ever said I was the sharpest tool in the box.

FWIW...My plan was to replace the whole power supply. I was hoping to find a much quietter supply that employed temperature controlled fans. However, having to route all the power cables was more than I could "bear". The DVD, motherboard, and hard drive were not too bad, but it looked like a pain to get to the front circuit board under the hard drive. (Hey...I'm a software guy...we don't like to get our fingers cut up ) Plus, I was confused by the fan location on top. Most of the microatx supplies I could find (retail) seem to have the fan on the same side as the power socket. C'est la vie.

BTW...still no contact from technical support -- openned ticket on 21 Oct. Maybe VWB just doesn't like me.

I'm looking forward to your further suggestions for quieting this device down.

[waynedunham]

Originally Posted by HairBear

I should also mention that the Zalman replacement fan was designed with a "three wire" on-board connector, while the original fan is only a hard two wired connection. I had to cut and tape the original wires and use the on-board three wire fan header for the Zalman replacement fan.

Just curious, didn't I see a spot in the BIOS for fan monitoring? If you used the header on the Mobo then maybe that setting will allow you to get some control over fan speed? It wasn't showing any readouts in the stock setup, but I think that's because they weren't using the onboard fan headers.

[waynedunham]

Originally Posted by hgilson

FWIW...My plan was to replace the whole power supply. I was hoping to find a much quietter supply that employed temperature controlled fans. However, having to route all the power cables was more than I could "bear". The DVD, motherboard, and hard drive were not too bad, but it looked like a pain to get to the front circuit board under the hard drive. (Hey...I'm a software guy...we don't like to get our fingers cut up ) Plus, I was confused by the fan location on top. Most of the microatx supplies I could find (retail) seem to have the fan on the same side as the power socket. C'est la vie.

It's not that tough. I thought the same thing, but found out it's not all that hard to get apart once you get the front faceplate off. Then all the screws are exposed for pulling out the DVD tray and HD tray giving you full acces to the wires from the PS.
I'll state here that if you aren't comfortable with hardware and end up turning the thing into a giant toaster you were warned. I've been building/repairing computers since the late 80's! I had one of the first hard drive setups on an Atari 800 that I ran a BBS on. A massive (in those days) 10 MB (yes Megabyte) HD.

Originally Posted by hgilson

BTW...still no contact from technical support -- openned ticket on 21 Oct. Maybe VWB just doesn't like me.

Nope, don't feel slighted. I've still got a ticket open from about that timeframe. Never heard from them other than some personal Emails I sent to David Novak. I closed one ticket myself and did hear from tech support on that one, but only after I'd fixed it myself. My unit arrived and didn't see the PVR card, turned out it had vibrated during shipment and wasn't seated fully. I think the only reason I did hear back from them is I've got lots of minutes on my cellphone and just kept calling them directly. Squeeky wheel getting the grease and all that.

[hgilson]

Wayne,

I did take off the front panel. Should have thought about taking out the trays. I was mostly looking for info on the power supply to see if I could find a quick replacement. After I did a quick online search without finding an obvious form fit replacement, I just put the beast back together.

Congrats on getting it to work as a client.

Do you know if Sage (or VWB) has any plans for exposing an API? (Something like HME for Tivo).

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by hgilson

Do you know if Sage (or VWB) has any plans for exposing an API? (Something like HME for Tivo).

The info for SageTV Studio and the SageTV API can be found in the SageTV Studio section of the forum, in the Studio Information Resources post.

(The main SageTV site also has all those links listed.)

- Andy

[waynedunham]

Originally Posted by hgilson

Wayne,

I did take off the front panel. Should have thought about taking out the trays. I was mostly looking for info on the power supply to see if I could find a quick replacement. After I did a quick online search without finding an obvious form fit replacement, I just put the beast back together.

I found the website for the manufacturer of the power supply because I too looked for a replacement. Sadly I didn't find any that looked like they'd fit that also gave noise specs. Some just said quiet power supply. The original manufacturers site says that the exact model in the MR 5k is "quiet". Compared to what a jet engine?

[dbfresh23]

How about screwing a piece of sheet metal where the PS is and drilling a hole in it and installing a 120W DC-DC PS w/ a power brick?

http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=10#psu
http://www.mini-itx.com/store/images/120w-power-kit.jpg

[HairBear]

The PSU in the MR5000 is a 160 watt. I looked at the 120 watt from the first link in the previous post and they say "Although these PSUs are 120W, please don't try and run your standard ATX motherboard with one - they consume more power than you think!". Do they make a 160 watt?

[dbfresh23]

Originally Posted by HairBear

The PSU in the MR5000 is a 160 watt. I looked at the 120 watt from the first link in the previous post and they say "Although these PSUs are 120W, please don't try and run your standard ATX motherboard with one - they consume more power than you think!". Do they make a 160 watt?

Good observation. I saw that also before I posted the suggestion. Since the MR5000 doesn't run a standard ATX mobo it probably wouldn't be a problem. In fact the MR5000 runs on a system that these PSUs are really made for. The VIA procs require a lot less power then P4 or AMDs. The only problems I could see would be trying to add another tuner card. If I were crazy enough to cough up $700 for an SD system, I'd probably be crazy enough to give one of these PSUs a whirl too.

[waynedunham]

I've got a new fan for the PS on order and should get it this coming week. It's the same thickness as the one in the MR 5000 and is "supposed" to be quiet if you can believe the user comments.

If it works out I'll post the link on where you can get it. I don't want to post the link and have people buy the thing only to find out it's no better than what's already in there.
According to the specs listed it is about 10db quieter than my readings of the fan in the MR 5000. But some of the noise could be coming from the harmonics of all the parts together so I'll have to wait and see how it performs in the machine. If it can shave 10db off the MR 5k that should be significant.

[hgilson]

Wayne,

Which fans did you end up ordering?

H.

[waynedunham]

Originally Posted by hgilson

Wayne,

Which fans did you end up ordering?
.

I'd rather wait until I try it out before telling everyone. That way, if it doesn't help I won't have a lot of people PO'ed at me.

Trust me, if it works I'll post the model/part # and links.

[hgilson]

Wayne,

LMAO...to be honest you probably saved me some money. I'd have gone out and ordered them blind. Thanks.

[waynedunham]

Originally Posted by hgilson

Wayne,

LMAO...to be honest you probably saved me some money. I'd have gone out and ordered them blind. Thanks.

It's kind of an experiment for me. The specs for noise didn't thrill me, and I have seen lower ones, but not for one of the slim 80mm fans. All the user reviews say it's extremely quiet so we'll see when it shows up.

I've also got to find some little 40mm fans for my gigabit switch. One of the original fans (less than 1 yr old) is really noisy now. Luckily it's in the basement so the only time I hear it is when I do laundry. But I know that after they get real noisy, then at an unknown time they'll get VERY QUIET when they sieze and stop working all together.