Windows Experts Community

Tools: Digital Cable Diagnostic Tool

PeteBrownMSFT — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:07:44 GMT

The Digital Cable Tuner Diagnostics (DCT Diag) application, released by the Media Center Intergator Alliance, is designed to help integrators set up and diagnose issues with Windows Media Center® and CableCARD®. The application uses UPnP programmatic interfaces to gather information from the tuner(s) and displays it in an easy-to-use interface for troubleshooting issues. The tool currently supports both Motorola S-Cards and M-Cards and Scientific Atlanta M-Cards using ATI’s Digital Cable Tuners.

Zip package includes the DCTDiag.msi file and the DCT Diag Introduction (PDF) documentation and release notes.

Tools: Automated Verification Tool

PeteBrownMSFT — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:01:48 GMT

The Automated Verification Tool (AVT), developed and released by the Media Center Integrator Alliance, can help integrators test Windows Media Center installations by simulating customer use.

There are two components to AVT: the service and the test client. The service must be running on each Windows Media Center system. Extenders can be tested as well provided AVT is installed on the host machine.

Zip package includes the AVT.msi file and the AVT Quick Start Guide (PDF) documentation.

Training: ESD099 - Designing a Media Center Ecosystem

PeteBrownMSFT — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:56:49 GMT

Zip package containing materials used in delivering the course ESD099- Designing a Media Center Ecosystem at CEDIA, 2009.

Package includes:

PDF version of course PowerPoint
Design Checklist
Customer Interview Sheet
File Formats Document
Instructor Notes
Lab Notes

Training: EST053 - Networking for Media Distribution

PeteBrownMSFT — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:50:47 GMT

Zip package contains materials from the course EST053 - Networking for Media Distribution, taught at CEDIA, 2009.

Package includes:

PDF version of course PowerPoint
Instructor notes
Lab notes and QSG

Training: EST051 - Optimizing a PC as an AV source

PeteBrownMSFT — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:43:40 GMT

Zip package containing materials used in presenting the couse EST051 - Optimizing a PC as an AV source, at CEDIA, 2009.

Package includes:

PDF version of courps PowerPoint
Instructor notes
Lab notes

Training: MPT862 - Integrating TV Sources

PeteBrownMSFT — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:36:48 GMT

Zip package containing materials used in the MPT862-Integrating TV Sources course taught at CEDIA, 2009.

Package includes:

PDF version of course PowerPoint
Instructor notes
Lab and Demo notes

MCIA News Archive

PeteBrownMSFT — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:25:45 GMT

Zip package contains an archive of Media center Inetegrator Alliance newsletters from 2008-2009 and press releases from 2008-2009.

Digital Cable Tuner Installation Details - 2007-8

PeteBrownMSFT — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:22:22 GMT

Zip package containing the following documentation from 2007 regarding digital cable tuner installation:

1) Digital Cable Tuner step-by-step set-up guide published by the Media center Integrator's Alliance, Feb. 2007

2) ATI TV Wonder User Manual, March, 2007

3) PDF version of Digital Cable Tuner Support in Windows Media Center PowerPoint presentation delivered at CEDIA, 2007

Business Case Studies

PeteBrownMSFT — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:12:17 GMT

Zip package contains two PDF case studies of Windows Media Center installations published by the Media Center Integrator's Alliance.

1) Zoetica Wellness Salon in Chicago, IL.

2) The New American Home project at the International Builder's Show.

Residential Case Studies

PeteBrownMSFT — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:09:25 GMT

Zip package contains PDFs of two residential case studies created by the Media Center Integrator's Alliance in 2008-2009.

Windows Media Center Design Guide

PeteBrownMSFT — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:04:58 GMT

Zip package includes the Windows Media Center Design Guide published by the Media Center Integrator's Alliance in 2008. Intended to provide guidelines for the design of a custom entertainment network that uses Windows Media Center (WMC) as its backbone.

Windows Media Center Tips and Tricks

PeteBrownMSFT — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:58:50 GMT

Zip package contains various Tips and Tricks documentation published by the Media Center Integrator's Alliance in 2008-2009.

Package includes:

Disabling the Screen Saver on Extenders
Flattening Your View (Vista)
Introduction to the Digital Cable Tuner Diagnostic Tool
Digital TV Transition

Windows Media Center Best Practices Guide

PeteBrownMSFT — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:41:42 GMT

Zip package contains a Microsoft Word and PDF versions of the Windows Media Center Best Practices guidelines document published by the Media Center Integrator's alliance in December, 2008.

Topics covered include pre-installation preparation and setup, networking and configuration best practices, on-site considerations, testing and documentation.