Messages

1366

Users / DVD drive on media director doesn't work for data disks

« on: October 16, 2008, 10:06:43 pm »

Just got my first diskless media director up and running properly (having only played with it briefly previously), and everything seems to be working fine...

EXCEPT the DVD drive won't read data disks. Is there a reason for this? It plays proper DVDs just fine, but when I put in a data disk, it tries to mount it, a progress bar comes up which stays on 0% for a few seconds, and then it dissapears.

Any ideas guys? Is this a known problem?

1367

Users / Re: Controlling TV via orbiter (not with IR remote control)

« on: September 09, 2008, 04:41:31 pm »

Agreed. Now that I have actually been insulted (as well as patronised) by another member, I think it would be best to leave it there. I will certainly think twice before asking for help again!

1368

Users / Re: Quality of TV tuners?

« on: September 08, 2008, 04:09:20 pm »

I have the Hauppauge Nova-T-500, and generally, I have to say that it is very good. However, I have noticed some slight blurring, namely when credits are scrolling across the screen at the end of a program, and you can't quite read them. With a bog-standard £15 digibox, this doesn't happen - is there any reason why the Hauppauge card might be doing this? I'm using an Nvidia 7100GS graphics card.

That 'blurring' you refer to has nothing to do with the T-500 at all. Its caused by the video card & driver and the setup of those elements in your system when you play back a live stream from the T-500 or a recorded stream from a hard drive.

A £15 Freeview Digibox has dedicated MPEG2 hardware to cope with these issues... unfortunately currently much of the special hardware in your video card is not exploited as well as it could be because the manufacturers closed source drivers do implement it. Intel interestingly have the least capable GPU hardware (compared to nVidia/ATI) but in our assessment currently have the best MPEG2 hardware support in their drivers...so MPEG2 playback performance is often measurably better on their GPU's.

All the best

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the reply. This makes a lot of sense; as with the VIA UniChrome graphics we discussed previously, it sounds like we're waiting for the drivers to catch up with the hardware.

1369

Users / Re: Controlling TV via orbiter (not with IR remote control)

« on: September 08, 2008, 03:59:50 pm »

If you scroll up this thread, or topic, or whatever it is called, you should see them.

You are forgiven, so don't worry about it. Thanks for your advice.

1370

Users / Re: Controlling TV via orbiter (not with IR remote control)

« on: September 08, 2008, 12:08:46 pm »

grrr....

You attach the nippled ends of the 286 to each IR window of each device, the cables are very thin, and can easily be hidden... _BUT_ what you gain is much increased reliability, because... GUESS WHAT? the signal is repeated through the dongles directly on top of the IR window.. _WHICH MEANS_ ... the primary UIRT's emitter does NOT have to be in line of sight of the A/V gear, and can face forward normally to deal with an IR remote if so desired.

come on people, look, think, do some research.

-Thom

Erm, I did "look", "think", and "do some research", but I still wasn't too sure of the finer details, hence I came to the forums for some help.... not to be patronised. If replying to people with genuine questions is really that much of a burden on you, then don't reply!

freymann, thank you for your help, some very useful links there.

If you had, you would have know about the Xantech 286, hell even I do and I don't use IR myself, so quit whining it's embarrissing.

Well I am not lying to you; I have not come across it before.

Reading your previous posts in this thread (amongst others), you have done more "whining" than everybody else put together! And to be completely honest, I find your spelling skills to be more "embarrassing" than my apparent whining.

1371

Users / Re: Controlling TV via orbiter (not with IR remote control)

« on: September 05, 2008, 02:58:04 pm »

grrr....

You attach the nippled ends of the 286 to each IR window of each device, the cables are very thin, and can easily be hidden... _BUT_ what you gain is much increased reliability, because... GUESS WHAT? the signal is repeated through the dongles directly on top of the IR window.. _WHICH MEANS_ ... the primary UIRT's emitter does NOT have to be in line of sight of the A/V gear, and can face forward normally to deal with an IR remote if so desired.

come on people, look, think, do some research.

-Thom

Erm, I did "look", "think", and "do some research", but I still wasn't too sure of the finer details, hence I came to the forums for some help.... not to be patronised. If replying to people with genuine questions is really that much of a burden on you, then don't reply!

freymann, thank you for your help, some very useful links there.

1372

Users / Re: Quality of TV tuners?

« on: September 05, 2008, 02:37:37 pm »

I have the Hauppauge Nova-T-500, and generally, I have to say that it is very good. However, I have noticed some slight blurring, namely when credits are scrolling across the screen at the end of a program, and you can't quite read them. With a bog-standard £15 digibox, this doesn't happen - is there any reason why the Hauppauge card might be doing this? I'm using an Nvidia 7100GS graphics card.

Its probably the Nova T... There are so many options, it can be hard to troubleshoot this, but it not uncommon! Are you using deinterlacing? If so, what settings as I found that the suggested tvtime ones cause this, and changing one setting can get rid of a lot of the stutter.

Also, be aware of you refresh rates - display vs the TV standard. Guessing you are in the UK, so 50Hz for your TV, if your display is set to 60Hz, then there is the potential for strobing effects that would appear like this as well.

Thanks for your reply.

I had really bad jerkiness to begin with, using the "Bob" deinterlacing, but after disabling deinterlacing completely, it looked much better (I'm using PAL-I with a CRT TV via S-Video). Maybe it would be worth experimenting with other deinterlacing options.

The blurring that I mentioned really isn't THAT bad, but it can be quite noticeable when the credits are scrolling across or up the screen. I never thought of changing the refresh rate, I will try this. I understand PAL-I (which is what I chose in the LinuxMCE setup screen) gives rise to a 50Hz refresh rate - am I changing the TV setup itself to match this, or should I be changing the refresh rate in LinuxMCE to match the TV?

1373

Users / Re: Controlling TV via orbiter (not with IR remote control)

« on: September 04, 2008, 04:56:26 pm »

Lol, I should have been more specific. I'm fully aware that the IR signal will not penetrate the sides of my cupboard  (I'm not that THAT silly ) - my intention would have been to put it on TOP of the cupboard, opposite the TV to be controlled. Sorry for the confusion there. But back to my original question - is there any advantage to connecting it to the core?

tschak909, I have neither seen nor heard of the Xantech 286, so this is the first time for me! I'm not sure I entirely understand the idea of it though. It for all intents and purposes "extends" the USB-UIRT, right? Does this not mean that there would be cables running everywhere? I'm assuming that because they need a power supply, they boost the signal as well - is there any other advantage to it? I fail to see why they would be any better than having just the USB-UIRT on its own.

1374

Users / Re: Controlling TV via orbiter (not with IR remote control)

« on: September 04, 2008, 01:57:34 pm »

Thanks for the reply.

My core is in the same room as the MD/TV, although it is in a cupboard - is there any advantage to having the USB-UIRT connected to the core? Or will it ONLY work attached to the MD?

1375

Users / Re: Quality of TV tuners?

« on: September 04, 2008, 01:52:43 pm »

I have the Hauppauge Nova-T-500, and generally, I have to say that it is very good. However, I have noticed some slight blurring, namely when credits are scrolling across the screen at the end of a program, and you can't quite read them. With a bog-standard £15 digibox, this doesn't happen - is there any reason why the Hauppauge card might be doing this? I'm using an Nvidia 7100GS graphics card.

1376

Users / Re: Controlling TV via orbiter (not with IR remote control)

« on: September 04, 2008, 01:39:19 pm »

I've just come back to this thread for reference, and I have a few more questions.

Regarding the USB-UIRT device, should this be connected to the media director (to which the TV that I want to control is attached to), or should it be connected to the core? I may also add a VCR to the system as well at a later date, which I would also like to control.

I would also like to ask about toggle and discreet codes - how do I know if my TV supports discreet codes, and where do I get them from? It's a big old Toshiba thing (CRT). My Toshiba TV remote only has one power button, and it only has one button for cycling through inputs - however, I read on the wiki that this doesn't necessarily mean that I will have to use toggle.

1377

Users / Re: DIY slim client for use as media director (1.75") - Graphics

« on: August 19, 2008, 04:05:09 pm »

Sorry for the lack of replies guys, have been moving house all this week.

Look at HFX chassis if you want a completely silent machine.
http://www.mcubed-tech.com/english/index.htm

I had a little look at these, but my main concern is the cost, not to mention the dimensions.

Has anyone considered the eeePCs as alternative?

My main issue with this is the lack of DVI and TV out, as you mentioned. The lack of processing power is also a slight concern.

The MythTV guys have been using MacMini's for slim clients.

I don't think that I'd get on very well with these due to the problems with PXE booting. I also don't believe $700 to be THAT cheap! Furthermore, I'm assuming that with that much power, it won't be fanless either.

According to THG tests (http://tinyurl.com/69aczv) the newest AMD Athlon  64 2000+ is much better then Intel Atom 230:

Now THAT is what I'm talking about! Will definitely look into this further. Gives you the freedom to choose your own motherboard, and therefore graphics, video ports, sound, etc. The only downside that I can see is the larger foot print, but I don't think that will effect the thickness of the design TOO much, which is the main thing. I would definitely be up for giving this a go. What about the PSU though? With the idea of keeping the whole thing fanless, could you use something like this? - http://www.icp-epia.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=15 - Could you get away with a 60 W one perhaps?

The only other option that I can see at the moment, is to use the mini-ITX board that I mentioned previously (http://www.icp-epia.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=186), but in conjunction with a 90 degree riser card and a cheep and cheerful nVidia card. It would keep the thickness and the cost down, and when (or if) the VIA drivers catch up, simply do away with the riser and graphics card. Would this work?

1378

Users / Re: DIY slim client for use as media director (1.75") - Graphics

« on: August 14, 2008, 01:12:29 pm »

Ok, I'm beginning to get the picture with the VIA graphics - don't bother with it for now.

Hmmm.... well I would not recommend a Celeron @ 1 Ghz at all. Also it seems very bad value for money at 159 UKP!!!

I'm almost glad you have said this - I have never had a high opinion of these Celeron processors either, and as you say, it's quite a lot of money for what it is.

This Gigabyte ATOM board looks to almost fit your spec; http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=2850&ProductName=GA-GC230D(Atom)

But you'd have to remove the small processor fan and replace it with a heat-pipe cooler

Whilst I appreciate the suggestion, this doesn't really fulfil my requirements - namely the lack of gigabit ethernet and required video outputs (ideally I would like something that will work with both my ancient PAL TVs, either S-video or composite, and also be ready to use with a flat screen for when I eventually invest in one, either DVI or component).

However, I am really quite interested in what you have said about replacing the fan with a heat-pipe cooler, as this suddenly makes a huge number of other motherboards available to me. Could you do this with ANY mini-ITX motherboard, or do you just happen to know that it is possible with this particular one? Could anybody possibly recommend a site that I could start looking at for these heat-pipe coolers please? The only ones that I can find either have a fan attached to them, or are intended for the northbridge. Do they use a standard fitting?

1379

Users / Re: DIY slim client for use as media director (1.75") - Graphics

« on: August 13, 2008, 03:01:44 pm »

Think I may have found a possibility - http://www.icp-epia.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=361

Your thoughts on this one would be very welcome! Doesn't have optical S/PDIF or 5.1 channel audio, but you can't have it all. It DOES have an RS232 port though.

Does anybody know how Intel® 915GM graphics would cope with UI2?

1380

Users / Re: DIY slim client for use as media director (1.75") - Graphics

« on: August 13, 2008, 01:35:45 pm »

Thanks for your various replies, even if it wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear!

So whilst the VIA UniChrome graphics aren't supported now at this moment in time, does that mean that they DEFINITELY will be when the new LinuxMCE comes out? If it's just a matter of time, then that's fine, but if there's any chance that these plans won't go ahead to allow mere mortals to use VIA UniChrome graphics without too much fuss, then I don't want to invest in the hardware.

This is the motherboard that I am currently most intested in - http://www.icp-epia.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=186

I haven't found anything else that has the features I am after. They are:

-Fanless CPU (my girlfriend won't sleep with any fan whirring away, no matter how quiet)
-Gigabit LAN
-S-video port (for use with my old CRT TVs)
-DVI port (so that I am "future-proofed" for when I eventually upgrade to flat screen TVs)
-Optical S/PDIF or 5.1 surround sound
-RS232 port (this motherboard doesn't actually have one, but would it be possible to use a USB to RS232 converter for controlling a TV?)

If anybody knows of a mini-ITX board with all of these features, and with onboard graphics that allow UI2 to be used without too much hassle, I would really appreciate it if you could point me in the right direction please.