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  • Author Author: patkelly
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Raspberry Pi XBMC Media Center - Quick & Easy to Set Up

patkelly

There I was at home alone, the family had gone out for a few hours and seen as  I had the time to myself I thought I'd give the XBMC SolutionXBMC Solution a whirl. The media centre kits for Raspberry Pi comes with everything you need to get up and running except the Raspberry Pi which I already had.

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In side the boxbox you get a 4GB SD Card with Raspbmc preloaded, a 3m Ethernet Cable, 1m, HDMI Cable and a Wireless Keyboard (with touch pad). In addition to the Kit & Raspberry Pi you will need a micro USB power source (modern phone charger) and a TV with HDMI socket.

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Here's my set up, not ideal but it worked image

 

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  1. Raspberry Pi
  2. Ethernet Cable connecting the Pi to my Router
  3. Raspbmc pre-loaded SD Card
  4. HDMI Cable from the Pi to the TV
  5. Wireless Keyboard (Takes away the need for a keyboard and mouse)
  6. Micro USB cable (due to space and lack of plugs I powered the Pi via my PS3 but a modern phone charger would be ideal)
  7. Router
  8. Left over Xmas presents
  9. Amazing Lego sets
  10. More toys
  11. Pile of Packaging

 

OK, #8 - #11 are definitely not necessary to make the whole thing work but I, like some of you reading this are in a constant battle for space between 'being tidy', kids toys and just stuff. It's difficult to set up something new and find it's rightful home. This was my attempt, suffice to say it's now back in the boxes.

 

Now that I had all the cables connected I inserted the micro USB and brought the Raspberry Pi to life and after a minute or two the XMBC interface appeared on the TV.

 

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One of the really great things about the XBMC system is that you have access to a large array of online video channels from Youtube to Redbull.tv all you need to do is look under "add-ons" and press install.

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I dropped in a USD memory stick into the spare USB socket and clicked browse under video, pressed play and the video started straight away. From opening the XMBC Solution box to watching my favourite program took no more than 15 mins and at only £65 pound its not bad at all. Plus you can do so many other things with the Raspberry Pi all you need to do is swap the SD Card for one loaded with NOOBS and you have a fully functioning Linux Computer.

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I'm now ready to watch one of my favourite programs....See you in about 45 mins!

 

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  • First sorry for my not so good english writing ;-) but i do my best.

    I'm now 3 weeks messing around with my Pi and Raspbmc.

    It is a wonderfull and nice toy for Boys ;-)

    In the beginning it ist a great search on the internet to get find a nice movie ;-)

    But after a couple of google pages it is runnig fine.

    Somtimes it is a little bit slow when you compere it with XBMC on the laptop:-)

    Then we overclock it and it works fine for over 2 weeks now. I use cables internet connection not Wifi.It is for practical and speed reason. 1 one usb for wireless keyboard and mouse and one for usb stick.

    I put the OS on a USB instead of the SD it is mutch faster.You will needstil the Sd for booting.

    After searching in hunderts of channels i now use istream it searches for me al the repo's for wat i search.You can even put in your own youtube playlist or your watchlist on IMDB.

    So far a short discrition of my testing

  • in reply to patkelly

    Yes I like the incremental approach. I think the percentage of youngsters who just "get it" and what to get in to tech like the Pi are not in fact

    the target audience as they would be "into" it anyway. The ones who look at such gadgets and then feel that they can understand or even do some thing about them

    are the ones...will they have a job in Farnell soon image

  • in reply to Problemchild

    It's definitely play with more toys  image

     

    The keyboard worked great and the battery is still going without a recharge but I do turn it off when not in use. I think it's a great place to start because setting up the XBMC has made my kids ask so many questions about what it is and how it works. For my kids anyway it's peaked their interest so maybe its the start of them reaching those "lofty" goals. You can't change the world overnight but maybe one kid at a time.

  • in reply to Problemchild

    Thanks for showing us the new set up I would be particularly interested to hear how you have fared with the keyboard in terms of usability battery lifetime etc ?

    I would say that this is  what happens to the majority of Raspberry PIs rather than the lofty educational goals. E14 should do more such directed kits!

  • <Blatant Hypocrite alert!!>

    You need to tidy up, or at least play with more of your toys! image