Case Mod - In Progress XBMC in the Sky+ (HDbox)- A HTPC Build - Update 30/11/13

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Background

So, Having moved around my bedroom a little I've never been happy with my El cheapo
standard desktop case as my HTPC. Having a bit of a day dream as you do, I came on the idea of modding out a SkyHD box to accommodate my HTPC kit.

Now as far as I've been able to find from my limited googling and modding site searches - I'm not sure if this has been done before so I thought - well why not.

I'll pre-warn I don't have a great deal of free time so progress during the week maybe slow but I'll be trying to get sorted soon as i miss my HTPC already

Mission Spec

There are a few things I wanted to complete, as say a personal mission, while working on this build. I figured just opening the case and adding a motherboard would be too easy so during this build I'm aiming to:

• Keep existing buttons functional - Navigate, stop, start etc without the remote using existing buttons.
• Very low Noise
• Keep case looking very 'stock' with only subtle outer changes

Hardware

I was initially going to use my existing kit based around a E7600 but the motherboard I had didn't fit so was time to take a look whats on offer. ITX to the rescue!! I'll list specific details on the hardware when I get to that part of the build to keep things intresting and relevent

 

Update 18/11/2011

So having googled around a bit and checked on the XBMC support forums I order a few bits to start me off. Look what turned up:



Here was have the Asus AT5IONT-I motherboard, 2GB RAM and a lovely small PicoPSU 160-XT.

and as per usual 'kid-in-a-sweet-shop- syndrome kicked in so have to try it out. Looked to me working together ok



Now I know the bits work together I started to look at how best to fit the bits into my empty SkyHD box. Theres a fair few holes in the back of the SkyHD box and I decided upon the following as I'm hoping I can use the IO plate cutout to remove a lot of the holes - less filling in later. Note the 'tester' ITX board - Didn't want anything nasty happening to the new one



Items in place and pretty happy at the rough layout I've started working on the IO Plate cutout. I had done this before for another little project so I had a plastic template which was very useful. The plastic wasn't 100% square but was good enough to set me off started.

First I used some Acetone to remove the existing writing from the metal back (shifts all types of stuff done acetone!).



Marked out using the template and started to get busy with the dremel <-- Finally an excuse to use it lol. Cutout was pretty accurate, best I've ever managed anyway.



Edged ran over with fine file and some wet & dry paper, IO plate test fit and went a treat.



Tomorrow I'm going to start filling in the holes in the rear plate and measuring up to drill the power cable holes for the PicoPSU external brick.

 

Are you going to use the Linux version of XBMC with silent boot, auto login and XBMC as environment (instead of KDE or Gnome) ?

This on an SSD would make it great, fast to load and sexy : )

 

In an ideal world yes. It kind of runs down to how the button support and IR remote function works in XBMC over linux. I'm running Windows 7 with XBMC as a replacement shell and it works very well so in the short term I'll be using Windows 7 to get up and running.

The end aim is to run on a SSD and linux (as you say for the speed more than anything) but I've got to sort my funding to see if I can run to a SSD as well as the other bits. So far selling my old gear is funding the project so I'm trying to keep the spending low with Xmas on its way.

 

I'm using Ubuntu/XBMC with my Zotac IONITX A-E as a HTPC and it works like a charm.

Then you could use an Arduino Nano, which offers enough pin-outs to keep the media-buttons of that Sky-box functional. It's a very cheap and powerful solution for €30, without alot of work required.

 

How is XBMC running on this Asus board ? What front end are you using ? I'm curious because I was planing to make something similar.

Nice job so far

 

jrs77 - I've actually got a i-PAC2 games controller to take care of the buttons. I'm not overly good with the electronics side so the i-PAC2 seemed the easier option. It has linux support tho and as far as Im aware I can program its key emulation from the hardware itself. Apparently there we're some driver issues on the Asus but the thread is 60 pages long so its gonna take a while to sort over it all.

GuilleAcoustic - I've not done the full install yet using it day to day, just a quick Window 7 install and XBMC to check it played back 1080p stuff ok. Very limited testing but I've had a 8gb MKV playing just fine. I'm not sure what you mean by front end? I would consider XBMC to be the front end unless you mean which skin - in which case its Aeon. I have it setup so XBMC runs instead of the Explorer shell so the PC boots directly to XBMC without the windows desktop.

 

Yup, I was meaning the skin ... The menu nav is smooth ? This could do a nice, no too expensive HTPC.

 

yeah Aeon menu (IMO) is much better than the stock one. One of the main reasons I went with XBMC was the georgous fluid menu system and effects / transitions.

Once setup its been say for my girlfriend to use which is always a bonus.

99.9% of the time it will be streaming from a file server but I might make the HDD cage to support adding a 3.5" drive too so I can always have it with say a 1GB local media drive as well as the OS drive.

 

Subbed for this one my second or third build is goign to be a htpc for my new house so im very interested in all these builds right now!

 

This looks like it's going to be an interesting little build. I thought about doing some thing similar, so I'll keeping an eye on this for some ideas.

 

not a bad idea, maybe sky should make a media centre edition for there box's. would be handy only having to have one device/box that does everything!

 

It would be pretty sweet if you had enough room to throw a tv tuner in there aswell for recording funtion and you could use the mythtv addon in xbmc.

 

looks intresting mate cant wait to see more

 

I did thing about a tuner at one point but i've decided against it based on the fact I hardly ever use freeview as I pretty much watch everything (and record) via the skyHD box.

I'd done a few small bits over the weekend but I've unfortunately had a poorly girlfriend and baby so been looking after them more of the time

 

Tabbed mate, we want more!

Thanks, it'll be a nice MOD!

 

Subscribed as well!
Look forward to this!!

 

Thanks for the heads up on the ipac controller too!
Will be handy for one of my other projects

 

Just started a similar project myself using an old vhs recorder. So will be watching with interest your progress

 

Update: November 24th 2011

Had a bit more time this last few days so put another couple hours in.

Tried to get the main 'big' (in my eyes) bits done to deciding on best ways to mount other bits should be pretty easy here on.

I reinforced the rear case to try and help with the flexibility - SkyHD cases arn't the most rigid. Also used this as a easier way to fill in the holes left over from the SkyHD ports etc





Bit more of the same, case a but jelly like so also used a bit of scrap (NEC side panel in this case) to bulk up the base. This helped with the rigidity again and allowed me a decent footing for the motherboard standoffs




Bit of test fitting:



Standoffs in place:

http://forums.bit-tech.net/album.php?albumid=1630&pictureid=23831

Also mounted the plug for the external PSU to power the Pico. Tested the Asus motherboard for fit (and a little cause I just couldnt resist).



Now for the laugh - Like my (actually Dads basement but only place I've got to work) workspace!