Messages

16

Users / Re: LinuxMCE is great....Kinda

« on: March 01, 2008, 04:16:06 pm »

I do have multiple hubs/switches, but if your house is prewired for only one network connection to every room and you want a media center, PS3, and xbox in the same room, either you make sacrifices or go through the hassle of rewiring, or buy a single 16 port SMC gigabit unmanaged switched.  Yes, I could have paid double the price for a managed one, but if LinuxMCE is stable enough to be a router, I say all the better and then I can save on power a little by not having multiple server or routers or switches.

17

Users / Re: LinuxMCE is great....Kinda

« on: March 01, 2008, 02:17:58 am »

I have the Linuxmce as my router due to the fact that like having it accessible to the internet, it performs better than any regular wireless/wired router, I can use a wireless access point inside it for all my wireless stuff (since I can't use it as a wireless router), I never have disconnects, the cable company thinks I only have one device and when I call them with a problem and tell them it is hooked to a linux box not a router they will actually help me fix the problem.  I like to have access to all my media on a windows box or on a orbitor/md.

Over all, if I didn't have it, I would either have to go get a wrt54 and do an open wrt to it, or build a different server.  Instead it is my server for everything without any problems (on the network/internet side, other things I still have problems with)

18

Users / Re: LinuxMCE is great....Kinda

« on: February 28, 2008, 03:12:06 am »

I agree.  I have all my devices on my internal network.  Including a Brother LAN printer, a ps3 and a vonage phone.  I can not get any of them recognized as anything but a file server.  I have yet to figure out a way to set them up other than such except by manual entry.

My problem with copying cds rather than re-ripping is first, the cover art is listed different (while minor it is annoying) and second, when I pull a CD which was ripped in Media player and used in XP MCE, it normally comes in with 12 track (or however many there are) each listed as its own cd.  They all have the same name, and it takes clicking update 12 times to get them to merge.  Then if I have, say American Pie, the name of the soundtrack cd is American Pie, and the name of the Don McLean cd is American Pie, it will actually merge both CDs together if you are not careful.  It just seems that if you re-rip, there are less issues.

A new issue I ran into, I ran the XP orbiter and it does not allow me to play any media, just control VOIP, X10 and security.  Maybe I am missing a setting and don't have time to fiddle with this as I am working out deals on my new house at this point.

A question to that concern, my voip provider at this point is Vonage.  I have searched and searched for a good VOIP in the US which is at least as cheap as Vonage, but I can use it with LinuxMCE.  I would be happy to look into any that people suggest, but I want a local number (Columbus, OH area).  That being said, I could care less to have my VOIP on my LinuxMCE, is there any way to remove the menu in the main screen.  I mean, if I am not using it, it is just clutter. (and also to fix the text so that it doesn't look all funky)

19

Users / Re: LinuxMCE is great....Kinda

« on: February 27, 2008, 04:09:41 am »

After about 5 hours of searching, trying, and retrying, I found the answer to the MP3 issue.  That being said, it was a simple one line answer, but I still can't get a full CD to rip, normally they get to about 80%, whether it is on ogg or mp3.  I have all my music on XP MCE, but transferring from there to LinuxMCE is more hassle than reripping it all (as sad as that may seem).

My complain comes as more of a well, if you want the community to grow, you have a great product, but I don't post here at this point since nobody answers unless I have exhausted all other resources.

Network seems to be my biggest problem.  Yes, USB cable modems (especially Motorola) are support by 99% of Linux Distros, it is just getting it to work with LinuxMCE, which not requires a re-installation, and hope that it detects it during the installation as a networking adapter as it detects it normally.

I have read a whole post on TV shows/videos on LinuxMCE.  Having them in folders of the show/season/episode.  And certain users saying just get over it.  I would like it known that I have 2 xp mce computers, and 3 xboxes which run XBMC.  I like them all, but none of them has the 'supposed' features of LinuxMCE.  XBMC is free and the developers work for nothing there also, but the progress made is a join effort of community and developers, and it shows.

I am trying to point out what a great product LinuxMCE could be.  Yah, nobody likes corporate sponsors and getting developer kits are expensive....I know I know.  That being said, if a developer sees profit in supporting a product, developer kits become a LOT cheaper or free.  Hauppauge for example would probably donate hardware and white sheets if they knew you were working towards helping them sell products.  Nvidia offers opensource drivers now because of the growing communities.

It's funny that when you say no response will come, you get one.

I understand certain items might seems stupid or only one person wants them, but I can tell you that wireless was mentioned on many posts, and nobody had any suggestions or ideas.  There is no way to do it current in LinuxMCE because of the way it sets up the internal and external network cards.  I have been able to do it in a normal distro.

It is also funny that people will now go back through all my posts.  I am not partial to Linux or Windows, I used what gets the job done best.  If somebody told me that a MAC could do it better, I would want them to prove it, but I wouldn't discredit them because I don't like MACs.  I think that LinuxMCE can do things better than Windows, but when I read on here of the squabbling to get a different layout for videos and the support for/against the change, it seems, well detrimental to the entire thing.  Just my two cents.

20

Users / LinuxMCE is great....Kinda

« on: February 27, 2008, 02:07:03 am »

So I have been working with LinuxMCE for about 8 months now.  I started with PlutoHome and found that it was just not easy enough to setup.  I have gone from an old Athlon XP to an Opteron 64.  I have tried to setup the media center as a wired/wireless router, and many other things, but being that I am not that familiar with Linux, I seem to fail in my attempts.  I learn a lot each time, but each time I seem farther back.  At the moment, my biggest problems are network based and tv-tuner based.  I have an nforce board and the network just seems flaky.  I have an HVR-1600, and it is a waste with Linux.  I have a PVR-150 and 500 which I will put in soon, but the lack of HD is upsetting.  I am soon getting a house, and I have been preparing the system for installation in the house.

Now for the praise, I like what LinuxMCE allows you to do, supposedly, and how it's interface is.  I think that there is a lot of good stuff going on.

That all being said, the first complaint I have is in a community, I have posted many times, and have only received a response to maybe one of them.  It was barely a help as I still needed to do my own research and I haven't even tried it as I don't want to waste time. (using a USB cable modem as the internet Ethernet adapter and then having just a regular Ethernet for the lan side).  I find the people on the forum will look and look and look at posts all day, but nobody seems to reply.  I'd bump, but it seems like a waste.

This leads me to my second complain, which is Linux to some extent.  Yes, yes, it is open source, and without DRMs and so on.  That being said, most things are barely supported.  Take the HVR, you can only use it for analog, and that is even a hack.  Yes this is a manufacturer's responsibility, but LinuxMCE can be a far superior product than XP MCE or Vista MCE as it includes so much.  At this point, the manufacturer's need to know that there are people who want drivers, and if need be have an endorsement area of LinuxMCE which includes a manufacturer's logo saying they approved it.

Nobody is saying what has been done was easy, so get some corporate support. PLEASE.

This leads me to my last complaint.  I know there is a lot of garbling back and forth about satellite TV and being able to record HD.  Now hear me out.  I don't care if things are DRM or not, I keep them for myself and watch them on my PC/tvs.  I want to watch something I recorded on any tv in my house.  Vista has DRM built in and DirectTV is making a card specifically for Vista computers to record tv.  I hate Vista, I would use it if it were Windows Server or XP MCE.  If somebody with LinuxMCE was to work directly with Dish Network/Freestar, which uses Linux for their new 722 receivers, I think that a deal could be worked out for a recording card for LinuxMCE.  That being said, most likely the drive it recorded to would have to encrypted (so freakin what) but if you presented this and even teamed up with them for a select area they could have you doing installs of these systems in people's house and they would look like an amazing company.  Which means we get what we want, and they get huge profits (what they want).

Now that I ranted, I expect that nobody is going to reply, maybe they will read it, and it will just work its way down the list.

21

Users / MP3 Rips

« on: February 23, 2008, 04:30:18 pm »

I've been trying to rip in MP3 format on Beta3.  It appears to have it, but every time I try it gets an error ripping.  Is there something else I need to do?  Also, why does Linux seem to rip so slow compared with Windows?

22

Users / Re: 0710 beta 2 available

« on: January 01, 2008, 05:56:45 pm »

Since I do not have any DL dvds, is there any chance to run a forced update to 710 beta 2 instead of buying some disks and burning it off?  That would be very helpful.

23

Feature requests & roadmap / Re: Wireless Setup

« on: December 25, 2007, 12:03:45 am »

I agree completely.  It would be nice if the installation detected all network cards, wireless and wired, and also USB modems (for cable modems and DSL modems).  Then allowed you to select, during installation, which network card(s) you wanted for internet, if you wanted to merge 2 internet connections, and which one(s) you wanted for internal connections, so you can have 1 wired and 1 wireless or 1 802.11b/g/n, 1 802.11a, and 1 wired.  This would give much more flexibility.  Granted, there will have to be certain Okayed wireless cards for use with the access point installation, but I know I would be very happy to select one of those cards and be able to use my server as an access point.  I have had more troubles with wireless routers, and this would seem to be a good solution.  (how else will I get my nintendo DS, PSP, pocket pc and 2 laptops to access the internet around the house with this as my only server???)

24

Users / USB Cable Modem

« on: December 23, 2007, 06:55:52 pm »

I don't have dual ethernet on my server, and all my PCI slots are filled.  Is there any chance that I can use one ethernet and a USB cable modem?  Any assistance would be appreciated.  Thanks.

25

Users / Obiter regenerating skin

« on: November 08, 2007, 03:18:10 am »

I have not changed my skin and I keep getting orbiter failed to regenerate the skin on the hybrid.  I had this before I ended up reinstalled the whole thing.  It normally happens about a week or two after I have it installed.

The other question I had is, Is there any way to get the hybrid to show standard screen instead of V2 wide screen.  Mine always seems to be locked on widescreen.  Thanks for the help.

26

Feature requests & roadmap / Virtual Private Network

« on: November 07, 2007, 03:14:12 am »

I have a friend who would like to do a VPN solution with me so we can share files and also play network only games. (non-internet)  I know that Linux-mce has a VPN server inside of it, but I don't know if it can be used to have a router (say a cisco or sonicwall) to connect to it, or if even an XP computer can connect to it.  If so, How would I set it up?  Thanks.

27

Feature requests & roadmap / Wireless access point

« on: October 07, 2007, 01:05:37 am »

I am looking to replace my entire network server, router, and media center with a Linuxmce box.  I got the wired part working easily, but the wireless part is much harder for me.  I also have some issues because I have a PS3 and it needs uPnP support by the router.  This does not seem to be supported either.  I have an Atheros chipset on the wireless card and it would be nice to have it supported.  Thanks.