Raspbmc - XBMC HTPC

The Raspberry Pi can be used for many things. Among others, it can act as Home Media Theater PC (HTPC).

Installation

Download Raspbmc from the official website and install it following the provided instructions.

• Raspbmc: http://www.raspbmc.com/download/
• Wiki: http://www.raspbmc.com/wiki/
• Add-ons: http://www.raspbmc.com/wiki/user/addon-support/

Remote control

See official wiki page: http://www.raspbmc.com/wiki/user/configuring-remotes/

Force HDMI

After the setup, plug the SD-Card into another computer and edit the root file /config.txt Add:

hdmi_force_hotplug=1
hdmi_drive=2

• hmdi_force_hotplug => allow HDMI hot-plugging
• hdmi_drive=2 => To set normal HDMI mode. Sound signal will be send too through HDMI

Configuration

• Choose language

• Go to Settings > Apparence > International
  • Region = Central Europe
  • Timezone country = Sweden

• Go to Settings > Weather
  • Settings > adjust the location(s)

• Go to Settings > Settings
  • Adjust the device name in General
  • SMB client = Local file share (Windows / Linux). Adjust settings over here ! .. Then reboot the pi ...

Network access

To access your local computers, you need to declare them first.

• Go to Videos > Files > Browse > Add

To access a share in Linux you must indicate the protocol. I'm using the default file-sharing SMB

smb://myComputer

Add-ons

You can add a lots of add-ons to improve the experience. Here are my personal selection. To install add-ons go to Settings > Add-ons

Add streaming TV

• Add-ons > Get add-ons > Video Add-ons
  • Arte.TV
  • Documentary.net

Chinese stuff

http://immigrationroad.com/blog/how-to-watch-chinese-tv-online-using-xbmc/

Tweaks

Source: http://mymediaexperience.com/raspberry-pi-xbmc-with-raspbmc/

Reduce resolution

If your device is too slow, just reduce the resolution!

• Go to Settings > System
  • Video output > If you don't plan to use BluRay definition then reduce the resolution from 1280x to 720x

=Change skin

• Go to Settings > Apparence > Skins
• Install QUARTZ Skin
• Use the quartz skin

This skin is much faster because it's text-based :)

Disable thumbnails

Video > File lists > disable “Extract thumbnail and video information”.

SSH

• Get your current IP @ from XBMC. Go to "settings > system info > network"
• SSH on the pi using the following credentials
  • Login: pi
  • Password: raspberry

Overclocking

The default XBMC settings already overclock your Raspberry Pi.