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Bewildered

106 posts

Master Geek


#21325 23-Apr-2008 07:52
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Hi All,

OK, I'm just a newbie, but am keen to get my set up all running as fast as possible. After losing a month to a hardware fault my wife isn't exactly happy anymore on account of the time the box is soaking up (she's in that worrying zen-state where you don't know what will happen next, but it probably won't be pretty). I've looked all over the place for some concise answers, but have found few. So, the easiest thing to do is just to ask a whole bunch of people who will probably know already. Stuff you probably need to know is that I have a Hauppauge PVR3000 card, am running Vista Ulitmate (though I can easily downgrade to XP), I have a satellite dish with two LNBs and a DiSEqC switch (4 way).

I've had a brief play with Media Centre (very stable, DVB-s is a bit of a problem, little or no configuration options) and also with Media Portal (with and without TV Server - could record view multiple DVB-S streams (might all have been on same transponder) which I thought was interesting since I only had the one card, but lacked stability, wouldn't wake to record and VMC kept showing up univited). Now I have a box that is sound (hardware wise) it's time to stop playing and to lock in a final configuration.


The questions I have are:

  1. Media Portal - Should I run this on XP or Vista?
  2. If I run Media Portal on Vista how do I stop VMC from gate-crashing?
  3. If I run Media Portal should I run the TV Server plugin (seems like a good idea to me)?
  4. If I run Media Portal (with or without TV Server) how do I get it to wake up the PC from sleep in order to start recording?
  5. Does TV Server support waking - I read somewhere that it was designed to be 'always on'?
If I can get Media Portal running well I'll probably stick with it as it has some VERY cool features and is very configurable in terms of plugins etc - but otherwise I have to go VMC. If I did that:
  1. How do I get it to see both LNBs? In several of the DVB-S to DVB-T posts the reg file given contains lines for setting DiSEqC switch parameters, but there is never any explanation as to what the parameters for it are. Does any one have a canned file for Optus D1/D2?
  2. Is there a XMLTV guide for dummies somewhere that I can grab? Most of the posts just say "slap on xmltvnz and you are done" - which isn't that helpful if you feel you haven't got a clue to begin with...
  3. How do you tell VMC to give you options for inputs - sometimes it insists on scanning for DVB-T, other times it asks if you have a set top box? It never says - how would you like to me to get the video feed?
Or is the answer different alltogether - i.e. Nah, you should use GB-PVR it is much better than all the others combined!

Sorry for the number of questions - I guess I have accumulated a few along the way over the last couple of weeks....need to get it all straight in my head so I don't drown in detail...

Thanks in advance,
Bewildered.

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Dingbatt
6754 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

  #126462 26-Apr-2008 11:35
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Bewildered: Hi All,


The questions I have are:

  1. Media Portal - Should I run this on XP or Vista?
  2. If I run Media Portal on Vista how do I stop VMC from gate-crashing?
  3. If I run Media Portal should I run the TV Server plugin (seems like a good idea to me)?
  4. If I run Media Portal (with or without TV Server) how do I get it to wake up the PC from sleep in order to start recording?
  5. Does TV Server support waking - I read somewhere that it was designed to be 'always on'?
1.   I run mediaportal (server-client setup) on Vista Home Premium (32) HTPC.  What I would say is I have to run as an administrator and turn the User Access Control (UAC or more accurately Utterly Annoying Component) off during installation so it doesn't keep interfering.  Other computers are XP Home

2.   Is VMC set to open when windows starts? Are you using the Hauppauge remote that came with the HVR-3000? If you do then the green button starts VMC (well it does on my set up if you are in windows desk top).  Once MP is running, the green button shuts MP down (this is assuming you have selected the hauppauge remote in the MP configuration).

3.   I run the TV server and find it gives greater configuration options.  In addition I have the HTPC networked with 2 other computers and can watch live or recorded TV from either of them.  It is not completely stable but most of the problems I encounter seem to be with the hauppauge cards and channel changing live TV.

4.   I can't get this facility to work.   Still trying.......

5.   TV server runs in the background when windows is running (under 'services' in Vista - called TV Service).

I have passing acquaintance with GB-PVR and MythTV.  I gave up on GB-PVR (unjustifiably really) when it appeared the process of getting a working EPG was convoluted, MythTV is linux and I am more comfortable with Windows.  I also gave up trying to hack VMC, I will wait for MS to sort it out properly and then maybe give it a second chance.

Each alternative has its benefits and drawbacks.  I can only really speak from my own experience and that is mainly with MP.




“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996


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