My Microsoft MCE remote has stopped working though. If I unplug and then plug it back in it proceeds to recognise the remote and installs software and then mentions that the remote is disabled, any ideas? It was working fine until last night.

Try using Web Admin - Wizards -> Devices -> Media Directors to navigate to the Media director that has a non operational mce remote. Check that you have an MCE remote set up and also that the IR receiver is set to the correct type for your hardware (ie mce_usb2 for a plugin usb MS receiver). If they are both correct then I have found that deleting the remote and re-adding it again can sometimes fix this kind of problem.

Hope the above helps.

Andrew

I think the last time i tried to have music playing in multiple rooms in the house, the audio was way out of sync (very annoying) and the audio would stop after the first song in the play list. Can anyone confirm it is functioning now?

I can confirm that that audio/video playback in multiple rooms is still (in our experience) not quite in sync... but better than it has ever been in earlier Pluto releases. However we still see playback fail after the first track in a playlist as you describe.

The other issue is I am not sure how multi-rrom playback is being achieved? Is it being achieved using multi cast streams?

I'm a bit confused as to what happens if you install linux MCE. Some say its a complete OS, others disagree.

Can someone plz tell me a way to install linux MCE and still have a fully functioning (non-media) computer? Would I have to to a dual boot, where half was Kubuntu (with linuxMCE) and the other half straight ubuntu?

Or is it the the case where you can just load linuxMCE from kubuntu whenever you like, and completely shut it down when you're finished? Also there are some programs and drivers that I have working well on ubuntu feisty, is it likely that they will they work on Kubuntu as well?

You can install lmce in a number of different configurations that deliver different functionality. To get the configuration you describe is possible ie where lmce runs and you can switch back to the KDE desktop when you need to (we use that config). This config is a Core/Hybrid ie all the backend & frontend lmce services are running on the same machine under Kubuntu. In this type of config you can watch TV, Play DVD/CD etc using the lmce UI and also switch back to the kde desktop when you need to. This config can also act as the backend for other lmce client machines around your network but must also be your DHCP server to do this. The other lmce client machines on your network can then be setup in a number of ways to - they can be configured to network boot from the lmce Core/Hybrid (in which case when booted from your Core/Hybrid they have no kde desktop and lmce UI) or they can be booted from a local HD into Kubuntu and have the lmce UI running as a kde desktop app that you launch when you need it. Both these modes deliver the same functionality inside the lmce UI.

As to running ubuntu apps in kubuntu I think you will find that most will work ok... for example gparted the Gnome partioner app works fine under kde.

Hope this helps!

Andrew

I'm in the UK so can I ask a question about HD? Why would you want to distribute them like this and secondly how many channels can a single card receive at the same time? I assume HD channels are mux'd like standard def or HD channels are here in Europe.

Cheers

Andrew

I'm not sure about what you mean by why would you want to distribute them like this, but I assume you are asking why the OP wants to have his media directors also be HD capture sources.  In that case it is likely do to cabling.  If they already have cables ran to various rooms in the house, then by having each media director be, in essence, a mythbackend, they can use multiple HD tuners without having to cram them all inside a single box; the upside is ease of having multiple HD sources, the major and obvious downside is that every machine must be configured, always on (when you expect them to be, or able to be remotely turned on at will).

One great alternative is the HDHomeRun which means no need to have every system in the house always on or to have multiple "backends" setup.  Instead 1 backend with several HDHomeRuns or even a single HDHomeRun to do 2 HD captures at the same time..

Your second part about how many channels are muxed, well just 1 in reality.  The stations here are a little new to the whole concept of multiplexing.  Instead of showing multiple shows on the sub channels, they offer 2 versions of the same show: SDTV and HDTV which usually just translates to 4:3 or 16:9 and either 480i or 1080i/720p  So, in general you need a tuner for every channel you want to watch as each station has it's own separate mux and show the same program on all of their mux's.

To say that visually:

Channel 2 is the analog version of 2.1
Channel 2 and 2.1 will show the same program, and if 2.2 exists it will show the same program in a lesser digital format (such as SDTV at 480i/4:3 ratio) while channel 2 will show the same thing but analog and 2.1 will show the HDTV 16:9 1080i with DD 5.1 surround of the same program.

Hope that helps.

-Chad

Hi Chad,

Ok I can understand the need to distribute your HD cards around your MD's if you each card is limited to a single channel like the old analog cards.

The thing to keep in mind is that this system was designed to be THE computing system in a house.  As such, it was assumed that the network for the home could be configured around it.  Actually, having two NICs and having your core act as your router for the devices attached to your LinuxMCE core makes a pretty nice sandbox to play with the system.  At least it does for me.  Jpelzer does bring up an excellent point in that DHCP can be utilized independently of the router (though I'm not sure LinuxMCE can do this right now).  I know Pluto gives the option of a single NIC install when the system is installed.  I guess the LinuxMCE developers removed that in the fork.  Is that correct?
 
To throw my $.02 in:

1) Pluto provided an opportunity for a single NIC install, so performing that with LinuxMCE should be fairly easy to do, but:
2) The PNP functionality of the LinuxMCE system is really neat, and I think important to expand the attractiveness of the system beyond the hardcore tinkerers who are playing with it now.
3) I respectfully disagree with Cryoniq that the voicemail, lighting, security features are not that important.  If I want just a media center with tv and video, I can use Myth and be done.  The strength of LinuxMCE/Pluto lies in the fact that it ties together all the disparate peices of hardware and software to create a cohesive system that makes sense and can allow control of a complex system through a (semi-intuitive) interface.  The fact that there are a lot of issues with the implementation still means that that is where the developers (I hope to be included) should spend their effort, as that is the true magic happens.

All our Core's are single NIC now... and we have no problems with that config under lmce at all. It works fine... no different to the way it did under Pluto in fact.

I've just installed Ubunto and LMCE, but when I reboot the resolution is too high for my screens, I've tried a screen that supports 1280x1024 resolution, but no luck with thatone either. Is there any way of lowering the startup-resolution?

If your getting out of range errors from your display I would suggest using lmce Web Admin to set the resolution/refresh to one that your screens can handle;

At Web Admin go to Wizards -> Devices -> Media Directors and select the 'Resolution & Refresh' button for the MD you want to set the resolution for. Now set the resolution/refresh to one you know your display is happy with and click ok, and then confirm this on the subsequent web admin screen once you have a good picture. If you have never run the AVwizard on this MD before you should now run that and set the same resolution/refresh again and step through the wizard to the end - otherwise everytim you restart your MD your resolution may get reset.

Hope this helps.

Andrew

Nice setup instructions. They work nice.

One thing that bugs me is that after install, my network icon in the bar is gone. In that one there are the management for Wireless. So when installation is done, I specified it to connect to my wireless router and set it all, that is gone. And I cannot bring it up and choose my wireless network and specify authentication. Going under network part in system settings reveal that the settings I specified is altered by install. That bugs me a lot and need to be sorted out. That is NOT what I specified the install to do. I specified it to keep the settings for the wireless and use the ethernet card for other network.

So, how do I get my wireless controll back and the menu in the right down side of bar so I can choose wireless or wired config? Doesn't LMCE support wireless cards? Why did LMCE alter that and remove my wireless application?

When I now tried to alter the settings back and restarted, bootup stalls and a list appears with ypbind and .....
.....
.....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....

and so on... hmm... I am about to break apart. This is ridiculous..

Hi,

Your lmce core really should be connected back to your router using a wired ethernet connection particularly if you are running the internal dhcp, streaming media from/to other devices on your network or network booting other MD's etc. Try switching back to a wired network connection - you may need to re-install to your installation though :-(

The exact cards I am using are WinTV-NOVA-T-DVB-T 90003 LF (Rev C2B0)

If the dual 500 works I might invest in one of these, but it would be nice to see it working with these Nova-T's

Interested to hear about your setup DrACoNus - is that in the UK?  What High Def source are you using?

Mike

I own a wintv-nova-t-500 (the european dual turner) and there is a problem in the kernel with its drivers, that makes the kernel ops, and it might crash the system or it might make you quit the video aplication you are using. So right now and before a update is released is a no-way. Its a shame because its a good card, but not even the newest kernel solve this. Well have to wait a bit to use this card.

Hugo

We're using T500's without any problems & we have several Core's some with multiple T500 cards installed.

By the way I understand a new Beta is due soon...

I hear that. Unfortunately, I've got a MicroATX board with built-in video so I'll have to make it work. About 25% of the way through the installation now and I'm running into the network disconnect problems that were noted earlier. Hopefully the new beta will address some of these issues.

I can't wait to get this thing working!

The new 1.1 Beta 2 torrent is linked to from the lmce site now by the way. Maybe this will improved the nVidia problems everyone has had ;-)

I'm guessing by "HD cards" the poster is asking about ATSC (OTA hi definition) capture cards. If I understand correctly, this is something that is supported in Myth.  Essentially, you'd need to run a myth backend on each of the media directors.  The master backend running on the core would schedule the tuners.  One easier option that you should look at would be using the HdHomerun (http://www.silicondust.com/)  This device puts two HD tuners on the network.  This is supported by MythTV and lets you avoid having to string coax to each of your MDs.  You can stick it somewhere out of the way.  This would simplify your MD MythTV setup as well.

Your right! Sorry Brian... I misunderstood your post ;-) Thanks PeteK for pointing my mistake out!

I'm in the UK so can I ask a question about HD? Why would you want to distribute them like this and secondly how many channels can a single card receive at the same time? I assume HD channels are mux'd like standard def or HD channels are here in Europe.

Cheers

Andrew

The exact cards I am using are WinTV-NOVA-T-DVB-T 90003 LF (Rev C2B0)

If the dual 500 works I might invest in one of these, but it would be nice to see it working with these Nova-T's

Interested to hear about your setup DrACoNus - is that in the UK?  What High Def source are you using?

Mike

I own a wintv-nova-t-500 (the european dual turner) and there is a problem in the kernel with its drivers, that makes the kernel ops, and it might crash the system or it might make you quit the video aplication you are using. So right now and before a update is released is a no-way. Its a shame because its a good card, but not even the newest kernel solve this. Well have to wait a bit to use this card.

Hugo

Hi,

Nova T500 is working fine here... we have a number of them installed in various Core's. We also have a single Core with 3 x T500's installed.

Hi all,

I'm trying to find out if it possible to have OTA HD cards in the media director and not located in the core? I'm hoping that I can have an OTA HD card(s) in one media director and that it will store the HD .tp stream back to the core. Once stored at the core, I would then be able to playback on any media director ( assuming they have the ability to playback .tp/.ts streams ). Maybe it does this and I'm just to dense to see it but I want to make sure it will work before I go re-wiring 1/2 my house.

Thank You,

-Brian

Hard drives (or partitions on drives) can be located either at the core (as many as your hardware will support) or can be attached to MD's or can be drives shared over samba from a Windows PC/some other device on the network. Its really completely flexible and as far as i can understand your question linuxmce already does what you are asking about.

Hi There,

I am successfully running LMCE hooked up to my 46" HDTV over DVI, I can successfully setup the resolutions of 720p or 1080i using the LMCE control panel under the KDE Menu --> Multimedia. However both these resolutions are overscanned so I would like to use the A/V Wizard to correct this.

When I manually execute the A/V wizard shell script, it launches OK. However the first screen asks me to select my resolution and refresh rate. Although I'm selecting the same values I am successfully using already (720p 60Hz) the A/V wizard crashes X to a black screen after that step and I cannot continue to the overscan adjustment step (which is why I'm running the A/V wizard)

A) is there a way to just run the overscan wizard without having to tamper with my resolution.

B) is there another way I can adjust the overscan?

C) is there a log file dump or anything the developers would like me to post to help diagnose the A/V wizard issue?

Thank You!

Hi,

We've had this situation ourselves. I think the problem is that the AVwizard makes some assumptions about your display and ins some situations those assumptions back it into a corner from which it/you can't back out !! Have you tried hitting 'ESC' to get out of the black screen state?

If all else fails you can go into Web Admin -> Wizards -> Devices -> Media Directors then scroll down to the Hybrid or the MD you are configuring the screen on and manually set the resolution back to something your display is happy with using 'Resolution & Refresh' button. Then to set the overscan correctly for your display you could edit the xorg.conf & the xorg.conf.pluto files and add/adjust the relevant lines in that file (google your screen model/overscan/xorg.conf should get you the info you need)

Good luck :-)

For the record, I'm installing on an Asus M2NPV-VM mainboard with integrated Geforece 6150 Video and integrated Audio; 512MB of RAM; 80GB HDD; DVD-RW; Unknown ATSC Tuner and Unknown DVB-S Satellite Card.

I've got almost an identical setup and I'm having troubles too. I'm going to try reinstalling without using the cached packages.

I would definitely NOT use the cached packages on the 2nd iso... all our install have been without using the Cache CD. Another tip is that currently it may be easier to side step the nVidia problem by using Intel onboard graphics (if you have them... ie i900 or i950 chipset) or ATI. We have had reliable success with either of these. You can always go back and add your nVidia card back in later once the wrinkles in that side of the system have been ironed out.

By the way I understand a new Beta is due soon...

Well this is a good question... however linux-mce is still in beta so if it was stable and released it would be a better question ;-)

Linux-mce is not finished clearly (hence beta status) and clearly needs more work to get to a stable release. But speaking as someone that has been involved with linux-mce's ancestor Pluto I can say that it is a great improvement in every way over that product. The move to Ubuntu and the work to integrate properly with Ubuntu (as opposed to the slightly unconventonal configs/scripts in Pluto!) is a great move in a very positive direction.

I guess because I am used to Pluto and possibly no more about its inner workings linux-mce is less threatening to me that for some others here. But I do think that the progress being made by the developers (and many of those are part of the Pluto dev team) should be supported and applauded by all of us.