Software Recommendation for Windows Media Center

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amorangi

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#272177 11-Nov-2009 22:24

In the brief time I had spare I tried GB-PVR, to which I could get the menu, but blank screen for Live TV and no listings, even though it seemed to get them when I did the config.

I then tried WMC which worked quite well with very little effort, except I can see a real lack of customization, and sound on TV3 didn't work at all. I assume it's a codec issue, though I can see nowhere I can change the settings.

I also tried MediaPortal, which worked with very little effort as well, and has sound for TV3. Apart from finding the fonts didn't fit on the buttons (which makes it look very amateur) I found it slow as all hell. Quite a few times I thought it had hung, only to find it was taking minutes to switch tasks. Is this "normal"? If so it's not tolerable.

Tomorrow I'll have another go at getting GB-PVR to work, and maybe see what I can do about TV3's sound in WMC as a temporary measure.

Spec: Q8200/4GB RAM/GTX-260/Nova T 500/Win7 x64

Deev8

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#272320 12-Nov-2009 10:32

amorangi: Tomorrow I'll have another go at getting GB-PVR to work...

If you're doing that it's worth being aware of the GB-PVR Documentation Wiki and possibly the Support Forum

Nety

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#272329 12-Nov-2009 10:50

lchiu7:
Since I record both DVB-T and TCL cable, looks like I would have to get 2 EPG's to make it work and some hacking. Since I already do that now, not sure there is a compelling reason to upgrade the PVR to Win7.

Same setup as me. No you do not need 2 EPG's. I just use BSE being feed from Haventec (think that is what it is called). There are a couple of odd ball channels that do not get EPG data but I do not watch them anyway so no biggie.

Once setup (not a lot of work but some reading for BSE) you can forget about it. Just works.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

kiwijunglist

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#272338 12-Nov-2009 11:18

mediaportal is very quick on my system

This is what i did to get sound for TV3 on W7 MCE for my brother.
TV3 has dual audio (AC3 5.1 + AAC 2.0)
For some reason his setup didn't work with the AC3 properly
Install FFDSHOW tryouts 32bit - http://downloads.sourceforge.net/ffdshow-tryout/ffdshow_beta6_rev2527_20081219.exe
Run a config utility that lets you change the default audio codec to ffdshow - I forget the app name but i will find out from my brother the name of the program i downloaded
Now reboot

NB: I used FFDSHOW audio over the other AAC codec choice (monogram aac) because FFDSHOW can correctly handle 6 channel AAC to AC3 conversions.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

JonoMG

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#272348 12-Nov-2009 11:48

amorangi said:

I also tried MediaPortal, which worked with very little effort as well, and has sound for TV3. Apart from finding the fonts didn't fit on the buttons (which makes it look very amateur) I found it slow as all hell. Quite a few times I thought it had hung, only to find it was taking minutes to switch tasks. Is this "normal"? If so it's not tolerable.

Spec: Q8200/4GB RAM/GTX-260/Nova T 500/Win7 x64

I am guessing that you have grabbed the 1.1.0 beta of MediaPortal on your Win7 box. Last weekend I had to upgrade from the Win7 Beta (with the clock wound back to avoid the 2 hour limit ) to the Retail and hence also had to reinstall MediaPortal.

Initially I grabbed the 1.1.0 beta and foudn launching media was taking minutes... not second/s as I was used to. I then uninstalled the beta and installed 1.0.2 and StreamedMP 0.8.xxx. Once again, I am in a world of bliss...

You guys know I am very partial to MediaPortlal.

Happy to help.

Cheers,

Jono...

PS - How do I change my flag from Japan... I live in NZ .... grrrrrr....

Nety

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#272362 12-Nov-2009 12:17

JonoMG: [snip]

PS - How do I change my flag from Japan... I live in NZ .... grrrrrr....

Get the company you work for to use a IP address registered to NZ... I have the same issue. US company with US registered IP's so US flag.

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

Nety

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#272364 12-Nov-2009 12:20

amorangi: In the brief time I had spare I tried GB-PVR, to which I could get the menu, but blank screen for Live TV and no listings, even though it seemed to get them when I did the config.

I then tried WMC which worked quite well with very little effort, except I can see a real lack of customization, and sound on TV3 didn't work at all. I assume it's a codec issue, though I can see nowhere I can change the settings.

I also tried MediaPortal, which worked with very little effort as well, and has sound for TV3. Apart from finding the fonts didn't fit on the buttons (which makes it look very amateur) I found it slow as all hell. Quite a few times I thought it had hung, only to find it was taking minutes to switch tasks. Is this "normal"? If so it's not tolerable.

Tomorrow I'll have another go at getting GB-PVR to work, and maybe see what I can do about TV3's sound in WMC as a temporary measure.

Spec: Q8200/4GB RAM/GTX-260/Nova T 500/Win7 x64

Amorangi, in Windows 7 you should not need to install any codec's to get sound in TV3 (or any other channel). Most likely cause is the Dolby Digital steam being handled incorrectly. Check how you have setup your sound output to handle Dolby.

lchiu7

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#272426 12-Nov-2009 15:41

Nety:
lchiu7:
Since I record both DVB-T and TCL cable, looks like I would have to get 2 EPG's to make it work and some hacking. Since I already do that now, not sure there is a compelling reason to upgrade the PVR to Win7.

Same setup as me. No you do not need 2 EPG's. I just use BSE being feed from Haventec (think that is what it is called). There are a couple of odd ball channels that do not get EPG data but I do not watch them anyway so no biggie.

Once setup (not a lot of work but some reading for BSE) you can forget about it. Just works.

I think I did it because I wanted to have two different names for TV1, TV2 and TV3, one what xmltvnz calls it and one what the epg feed calls it without having to hack the feeds. That way I can choose whether to record TV1, 2, 3 either via TCL cable or from DVB-T. For some time I would record TV1,2 over TCL because of the AAC-GHE audio on DVB-T and TV3 from DVB-T. Now I tend to record all FTA apart from Prime (since Prime has the same name on both feeds :-( ) using DVB-T and only Food, Sky Sports over TCL cable. I guess if I spent more time I could have different names for Prime on both feeds also.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Nety

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#272442 12-Nov-2009 16:18

You could still do the same thing in W7 without using two EPG feeds. Just split the sources rename one of the channels and tell them to use the same EPG.

My wife hates the sound from the Freeview|HD versions of TV1 and 2.. I have to admit it is crap even compaired to the basic stereo coming out of the Telstra box. One day TVNZ might get their crap sorted out :-/

Sorry bit off topic

amorangi

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#272514 12-Nov-2009 21:28

After battling GB-PVR for a few hours I gave up - it failed differently at each reinstall, in the end not picking up TVNZ channels, but at no stage did it ever actually display a picture. If I get a response from the GB-PVR forum with a tactic I haven't already tried I'll give it another go, but not until then.

So I moved on to MediaPortal. I was trying the stable version, not the beta. It correctly picked up all the channels, but when it came to actually play TV1 or TV2 it suddenly couldn't find them. Clicking on the channel changer I would wait about 30 seconds for a response. Even the best response time clicking buttons was a few seconds - not really acceptable.

So I moved on to WMC. After following a suggestion earlier in this thread I fiddled with my sound settings (I'm using onboard SPDIF -> graphics card for HDMI out) TV3 audio suddenly worked. All channels detected, recording 2 at once working. As much as I hate to say it it all "just worked" (I am no MS fan at all).

WinTV out of the box has stuttering audio, but I never considered it anyway.

Maybe my problems are to do with Win7 being too new, or using 64 bit, and maybe if I find some constructive suggestions to fix my problems I'll try again I will, but in the meantime I'll play with WMC.

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