Looking for the ultimate hardware client...advice needed

[Revv23]

I'm curious about this, too. If money was no object, what would be everyone's ideal setup?

How to control it? I could use a bluetooth game controller but then having to wake & pair every time we turn the TV on? Does jellyfin even support controllers? I'd probably have to run it through steam?  I can handle that but my family not so much. So I'm back to square one

FYI, If your TV is new-ish and supports CEC, that signal goes through the HDMI cable to your host device. In the case of a PC, the HDMI plugs into your video card, and video cards don't support CEC. However, CEC adaptor devices for PCs do exist. I think they go on the end of your cable and split the CEC signal off into a USB cable. I personally don't know anyone who's tried one, but that sounds like exactly what I would want. No idea how much work it would take to get a HTPC to sleep and wake via CEC, and no idea if the Jellyfin desktop client plays nice with CEC control, but it sounds like it's worth looking into.

I'll be following this thread closely because I want to do the same sort of project

Interesting about CEC, I don't really think that's an important feature in this case, as most people know how to change tv inputs. Unless you are talking about waking the device by switching to the TV input? I've never seen that feature working on anything (is it even part of spec?)

The more and more I think about it - the more I think steamdeck might be most ultimate setup. built in controller interface + game console running full desktop client. I wonder if anyone makes a linux compatible HTPC remote that would work with deck?

[abpjf]

why have it go to full sleep? you can just have it switch on a blank screensaver and that keeps the HDMI handshake active; no CEC shenanigans. y'all are overthinking this. the TV doesn't have to be on when the HTPC isn't "running" - and that arguable uses way more juice than an erstwhile HTPC idling.

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apologies for the nested quotes in post #18, dunno how that happened.

[stewed pork roti]

Interesting about CEC, I don't really think that's an important feature in this case, as most people know how to change tv inputs. Unless you are talking about waking the device by switching to the TV input? I've never seen that feature working on anything (is it even part of spec?)

Maybe I misunderstood your goals. I thought you wanted to be able to turn your tv on and just start using Jellyfin with the same controller (as we are able to do now with the Chromecast, etc.)

CEC can indeed power devices on and off. My soundbar turns on and off with the TV, and I'm pretty sure the TV turns on if I try to cast something to the Chromecast, or turn on my Xbox while the screen is off. Just food for thought!

[Revv23]

Interesting about CEC, I don't really think that's an important feature in this case, as most people know how to change tv inputs. Unless you are talking about waking the device by switching to the TV input? I've never seen that feature working on anything (is it even part of spec?)

Maybe I misunderstood your goals. I thought you wanted to be able to turn your tv on and just start using Jellyfin with the same controller (as we are able to do now with the Chromecast, etc.)

CEC can indeed power devices on and off. My soundbar turns on and off with the TV, and I'm pretty sure the TV turns on if I try to cast something to the Chromecast, or turn on my Xbox while the screen is off. Just food for thought!

That is indeed my goal. I don't have any issue leaving a device on 24/7 to accomplish that though - so CEC would be a cool bonus but not required. The much harder part of the puzzle is how to control the client. As far as I can tell there isn't any way to control desktop app with a controller or even a keyboard.

I tried running it through Steam as I know it works through Steamdeck but something in steams latest windows client has bugged out big picture mode.