(Raspberry Pi) TV Common interface socket possible uses?

[Trashcooky]

Well folks, I got my raspberry Pi and here are my first experiences which I found the hard way:

1. The Pi is fussy about which manufacture of SD card is fully compatible - I used a class 10 16Gb Micro SD in an adapter for the OS image and all I managed to get from the Pi on-screen is what is referred to in the FAQ's as Kernel panic with a scrolling list of errors and failed hardware interrupts.

2. Switching to a full-sized 4Gb class 10 SDHC card from my camera allowed a successful installation of working raspbian os.

3. The Pi is fussy about its power source which must be stable at 5volts and at least a constant 700 mA that the model B requires just to simply power up. I ended up powering my Pi from a 2amp rated 7 port usb hub which is also connected to the Pi to allow me to connect other devices such as keyboard and mouse - this works fine as a short-cut combo which only requires 1 power socket.

4. I never quite got as far as getting WIFI working as when I asked the PI to scan for connections it could not see my LAN and according to FAQ's this has been the cause of some frustration to a lot of folk. Apparently (I just read this I don't know for sure yet) the Pi defaults to 192.168.1.1 as the default router address which is not correct for every type of router - mine for instance is 192.168.0.1.

5. Having a raspberry logo parked up on the left top corner of a white desktop with pre-installed icons was welcoming but don't expect an easy ride - mouse and keyboard worked just fine and then the sudden realisation sets in that if you actually want your Pi to do something useful then you have to learn about debian.

So onto the hands on bit.....

Not being ready yet to get my programming hands dirty - so to speak - I explored to see what is available in raspbian and it seems quite impressive so long as you realise you are stepping back in time to a 700 MHz single core processor which takes more time than you are used to - to respond to anything. I played a game of 4 in a row which was painfully slow and took me right back to my Sinclair ZX81 days. As the processor was also doing all the GUI work (as I haven't got to the part where you you buy a codec license to unlock the GUI hardware bit yet) the CPU usage task bar icon was off the limits it could graphically differentiate, showing a solid green bar of 100% use. However with just the desktop running this dropped to around 8%.

Having had a play around I returned here to do a small review and saw the comment from tony 0204:

Hi
Just to chip in, will be following this thread with interest
I purchased a Raspberry Pi a while back, loaded it up with Raspbmc while it was in beta, it worked, but at that time could not get my remote working. With other things going on, sort of got put aside.
See Raspbmc is in final release now, so with my Raspberry Pi doing nothing, may pick this up, with you guys.

which made me realise I had not installed the OS version I needed for my task. It turns out that the dedicated OS for XBMC which is raspbmc has recently had its first birthday with the release of the raspbmc final version 1.0. You can read all about it and download it from here. http://www.raspbmc.com/

I have now downoloaded raspbmc and installed onto the SD card - that bit was easy. I then connected up including the required ethernet to allow online installation of all the required software. So far faultless with a message stating the download and installation will take arounf 25 minutes. So for now thats it but I will be back with more news on how I get on with the Pi's optimised version of XBMC called raspbmc.

[Trashcooky]

Final update from me on using the Raspberry Pi model B with XBMC to stream movies stored on NAS.

Well I have 2 words to describe what I ended up with - Bl***y Marvelous
Once I downloaded the rasbian to the SD card, connected up and switched on - the Pi found the internet straight away with no help from me at all.

The XBMC online installation did take a goodly while even though my internet bandwidth is quite healthy usually achieving an average 10 Mb download speed so be prepared for a long wait whilst this happens at least 25 minutes.

My Emprex wireless (2.4Ghz) remote worked straight away on the XBMC opening menu screen allowing me to take control with it from the off. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Emprex-3009ARF- ... =de_a_smtd

This is the switched mini usb hub I am using as USB distribution and also as the Pi Power source. Mine is branded Logik and was an end of line which I got for £7.00 but is identical to this http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/advent-hb ... l#longDesc

Being a previous XBMC user on my Windows PC there are a few screen-interface differences but I was pleasantly surprised by just how recognisable it is in comparison.
As I say, I had control with the remote from the off which I used to set up the program by switching on UPNP which saw my NAS http://www.dabs.com/products/seagate-3t ... tml?src=15 straight away allowing me to browse to the correct drive and folder where the bulk of my movies are stored.

There is a slight overscan as the Pi is outputting 1280 x 720 and my Samsung TV native is 1366 x 768 so the text is very slightly off the edges but still readable OK - I believe I can fix this using a raspbian command line code but I'm not too bothered at present as it is hardly noticeable.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a whole load of rasbmc add-ons available to install so I tried Google image search which will go off and download 32 images at a time related to your search term. I searched bluebells and was rewarded with a long list of pictures to choose from which can be downloaded and saved if desired.

I also downloaded and installed YouTube and logged into my account all done by using the remote and an onscreen keyboard. Nice touch.
I set the max video quality in Youtube to 1080p which is more than I need as most of my own stuff is only 720p anyway but it covers me.

All in all I am very pleased indeed, setup was simple (once you iron out any SD card and power supply issues as mentioned in my previous post). Performance is super and responses much faster than I used to achieve on my Windows desktop.
I used to experience wireless lag which is now so reduced that remote control responses are almost instantaneous provided you don't stack commands - i.e trying to scroll from a to z set in one long set of pushes on the remote.
Playback seems to be faultless with no shudder stutter or drop-out that I used to sometimes get on the Windows PC.

The only compromise has been loss of fast forward and chapter control on the remote - although FF shows on screen it doesn't actually seem to do anything apart from cut off sound. I am pleased though that the power off button on the remote works brilliantly, bringing up menu choices of exit or shut-down. The shut down using the remote off button is fast and having located the USB hub on the back of the TV I can just put my hand over and switch off the hub thus conveniently fully powering down the Pi unit.

I really do have to say that following my initial dealings with the Pi on raspian playing 4 in a row being so v e r y v e r y s l o w, the difference when running XBMC is phenomenal and such as you wouldn't believe it is the same device.
I am well chuffed with my home-hacked bits and pieces cobbled together giving me a Smart TV (OK so I can't surf the web on the Pi using this XBMC set up but my Wii connection allows me to do that anyway) and it cost me less than £40.00 all in as I had most of the bits to hand anyway.

Final: Unsure about the whys and wherefore but I was somewhat surprised to discover that my Samsung TV remote will also control XBMC. This puzzled me to start with as the TV remote is IR and the MC remote is WIFI. Samsung use a smart system for connecting their branded products together so you can use 1 remote so I can only assume there is some messaging happening on the HDMI connection ? Any one heard of this?

[Trashcooky]

Here is a video which pretty much shows the process for raspbmc: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXhU5EeHg5U

[tony0204]

Thanks for the write up Trashcooky – Appreciate myself the time it takes to do this
Links to the Hardware you use most helpful
Getting me fired up ( so to speak ) to have another go myself
Please could you tell me if you have control of the Volume, UP, DOWN, MUTE from you Remote control.
When I was play around before, my remote would not do it, and at that time when looking at the Forums, many people were have the same problem with different remotes, which at the time did not seem to get resolved.
Thank again

[Charlie]

Great read, thanks Mr TC -

I've just ordered a Raspberry Pi (Model B) & clear case from Amazon

I normally go for free delivery, but went for next day delivery as I would like to have a play around with this over the weekend. I don't think I will need anything else as I have the rest - Might have to get a different USB power supply and/or SD card if the ones I have are not compatible. Hopefully they will be OK and that will save me some money.

[Trashcooky]

Great read, thanks Mr TC -

I've just ordered a Raspberry Pi (Model B) & clear case from Amazon

I normally go for free delivery, but went for next day delivery as I would like to have a play around with this over the weekend. I don't think I will need anything else as I have the rest - Might have to get a different USB power supply and/or SD card if the ones I have are not compatible. Hopefully they will be OK and that will save me some money.

You won't be disappointed I'm sure Charlie.
Have fun.

[Charlie]

Looking forward to it already. I have made a new "share" on my NAS for all the Pi data I end up collecting.

BTW- @TC is your Pi B a Rev1.0 or Rev2.0 board?

[Trashcooky]

Looking forward to it already. I have made a new "share" on my NAS for all the Pi data I end up collecting.

BTW- @TC is your Pi B a Rev1.0 or Rev2.0 board?

Not sure Charlie and it is not so easy to get to now without a dismantle behind the TV. However, I can tell you what I remember when I looked at it that mine runs with the Samsung chip and was manufactured February 2013 so I'm guessing its the latest revision although to be honest I'm not sure what that currently is I suspect rev 2.0

I don't want to put a downer on your order but Amazon often misprint details or have errors in their technical descriptions as we all to easily know when purchasing an Excel from them - what you get is what they have in stock which isn't always what they describe. Hope your is the latest model B when you get it.

Incidentally to everyone reading - my previous descriptions about remote control and display over-scan are all relating to the default XBMC skin. If you change the skin then you may well end up with a new set of variables that work or don't.

[Trashcooky]

Update:
I just discovered that even in the default skin mode (which is basic) there is a quite comprehensive video calibration screen where you can correct over-scan and ratio issues. I can now see everything perfectly clearly without any of the text peeking from around the edges of the screen.

[Charlie]

@TC - As long as the one I get is a "Raspberry Pi Model B 512mb" I will be happy otherwise it will be sent back.

Just gathering the bits 'n bobs that I will need to get the Pi to boot up - I have downloaded Raspbian "wheezy" ready to put on my SD card (when I find it) - might have to buy an new one.