Link PC - Acer Aspire Revo AR1600

[Nick Burns]

I've decrapified the system, and installed BTVLink (did this all at work..shhhhhh!). There was a LOT of stuff.

I'll hook it up to our TV this weekend and see how that goes.

[Nick Burns]

BTV Link is successfully installed. I even have my IR Receiver working with XP Home, so I can keep using my Harmony Remote to bring the machine out of S3!

Just need to install the FF software and copy over the batch file that wakes the server via WOL and I'm back in business.

I record strictly Digital/HD OTA (no QAM/cable or HD-PVR) and with even just the 1GB RAM, the recordings are playing just fine.

I'm so giddy with excitement! Once I have the VESA mount kit and installed, this will be a truly sweet set up for me!

EDIT:
Note: I did have to add the USB registry entries to add the Power Management Tabs in Device Manager.

[Rich A]

My unit was just delivered this morning. I'm at the shop and won't get home until later this afternoon so I'm looking for "any" excuse to get out of here early! What a neat little package.

I think (IMHO) this is the answer to those of us who are looking for a "new" turn-key media extender to run our BTV-Link software.

The three biggest selling points for this item (again IMHO) are the gigabit LAN connection and the HDMI output and the fact that it comes with XP all for under 200 bucks !!

My TV in the living room is a very old CRT and only has composite and S-video inputs. I hope to fix that problem with some bargain post holiday sale of LCD HDTVs. In the meantime I'll just set up some kind of VGA - TV converter.

Nick .. I now understand your comment about being "giddy with excitement". This is the solution I've been looking for.

[nismoz33]

I just received the newer version, the 3610 with the dual core atom cpu. I now need to locate the VESA mounting bracket since it isn't included in the box. Have been calling Acer & every one of their accessory providers & no one can help me find it.

This nettops are neat little boxes. Time to start seeing what they can handle.

[Zogg]

I'm really hoping one of these boxes can handle the HD-PVR H.264 recordings. And I'll be glad to try and provide some 720p and 1080i short recordings if I can find a place to upload them to (I changed my webhost and not sure if my new free host will allow it).

[Wolfie351]

Originally Posted by Zogg

I'm really hoping one of these boxes can handle the HD-PVR H.264 recordings.\

I did a test XP install on my Acer 3610 and HD-PVR h.264 played perfectly with hardware acceleration. The Acer 1600 should play them just as well. Since the Atom 330 isn't quite capable of handling online streaming HD, there isn't much advantage to owning it. I think the single core $199 version is the better choice for a BTV Link machine.

[Nick Burns]

Originally Posted by Rich A

My unit was just delivered this morning. I'm at the shop and won't get home until later this afternoon so I'm looking for "any" excuse to get out of here early! What a neat little package.

Rich, let me know if your unit came with the VESA mounting kit or not. I'm getting conflicting stories whether or not it does. If it does, I'll need to start complaining to either NewEgg or Acer. I don't want to have to buy one if it's supposed to already have one.

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by Nick Burns

Rich, let me know if your unit came with the VESA mounting kit or not. I'm getting conflicting stories whether or not it does. If it does, I'll need to start complaining to either NewEgg or Acer. I don't want to have to buy one if it's supposed to already have one.

First off .. I'm impressed. It works great. I checked the instructions and according to what it says, the VESA mounting kit is optional. None in my box.

I didn't bother to "de-crapify" it yet. Just set up networking and added my wireless DWA-160 usb to it and installed BTV-Link.

Even with all the bloatware it runs BTV-Link without a stutter or complaint. I've watched OTA 1080 HD and Clear QAM 1080 HD and of course 720 and 480 as well. I don't have the HD-PVR so can't test that thing's H.264 video. If someone finds a place where I can download a few samples I'd be glad to test it.

Please note .. I'm using this as a Link machine ... wireless ... and I'm impressed. That D-Link Dual N wireless DWA-160 has no trouble streaming HD for me. Now all I have to do is get rid of the antiquated CRT monster in the living room and get me a nice LCD HDTV with lots of inputs.

Too bad this thing doesn't have S-Video .. that's all I have for an input to the TV upstairs. I'll probably opt for something like a VGA to S-video/Composite converter for the time being. It runs cool. Is totally silent. I'll have to check now and see how it plays Netflix.

Sorry the Vesa adapter isn't with this one Nick. If I had one I would have sent it to you. (have no plans for it) I think the best position to mount this thing is straight up with it's included stand. In that position there is an input air area at the bottom and output air at the top. Should be the best air flow for cooling purposes.

I'm interested in hearing from the guys who are having trouble streaming HD content. For my money they must have a network problem. I'm able to do it perfectly with the lessor 1600 and with a wireless connection no less. Gawd I'm just "giddy" with excitement.

Well I guess I'll get around to trashing all the junk on the hard drive tomorrow. Right now I've a few hours of HD recordings to watch.

[Nick Burns]

I'll have to pick up a mounting kit from Fry's. I just wish there were instructions included on how to actually attach it.

[nismoz33]

Does Fry's sell the mounting kit for the nettops? Is it the Acer kit or a generic kit?

[Nick Burns]

I'll be looking at getting a generic kit.

[Wolfie351]

Do you really have a specific need to mount it to the tv, or is just the cool factor? I had planned to get a VESA mount, but didn't really see the point of spending extra money when it can just tuck in behind the flatpanel tv out of sight.

[Nick Burns]

Currently I have the LCDTV on a little roll-away printer cart. Granted that cart doesn't move, but mounting the unit on the back of the TV would definitely be a bit more secure and less likely of me knocking it over. Also makes the whole TV/Link into one complete unit. The Link PC I have now is low-profile, but it's length is about 17" and the width of a VCR. It's designed to stand on it's edge which I how I have it, so getting rid of that will open up a lot more room on the cart. From what I found online, the generic VESA mounts are $15-25.

Plus it would be cool.

[Rich A]

I have noticed an anomaly with my unit. For some reason it won't stay at the screen resolution I want. I have set it for 1024 x 768 and every time I turn it on it reverts to a much higher res. something like 1600 x what-ever.

I guess I'll have to go into the Bios and see if there is some kind of auto setting for the on-board video. Never ran into anything like that before.

I did all the usual cleaning up of the file system. Blew away the D: partition and made C: one big partition. Turned off drive indexing and tweaked a few other things. If anyone has an HD-PVR and has some h.264 video, I would like to try this and see how it works. So far no problems and it's working great as a BTV link PC.

[Nick Burns]

I have mine set to go to S3, so it retains the resolution. I didn't bother with wiping out the partitions and left the Acer eRecovery installed so that I can easily 'start from scratch' if need be. No need for all the space since it's a dedicated Link machine and not used for anything else. I did turn off indexing as you did.