I've had nothing but pleasant experiences with Ivor Atkins from http://www.uk-automation.co.uk/ (based in the UK as you might have guessed).

Cheers,
Matt.

My question is, for someone who has never touched Linux, what's the best way to get started, how should I set about learning how to configure / administer it / do I even need to, or will LinuxMCE install automatically and then I just use the graphical UI and don't need to worry about the command line?

For me, installing a debian-based desktop for every day use and forcing yourself to use the command line was a good way to get the necessary experience. No you shouldn't need to use the command line, but it is very handy in order to get the most out of it.

LMCE is built on Kubuntu, so anything that you can do with Kubuntu (for example, running a cronjob to rsync something from here to there, or syncing with the cloud) can be done with LMCE.

Cheers,
Matt.

Ah that would make sense. No biggie, just wondered. Thanks.

Cheers,
Matt.

I do have one other question regarding this please.

With the stream playing, when I look at the orbiter, I notice that the stream is repeated 4 or 5 times in the playlist. The other day I noticed there were about 10 in there. Any reason for this?

Cheers,
Matt.

My pleasure. Wiki is already done http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Internet_Radio#Radio_alarm

Cheers,
Matt.

I know this isn't in the spirit of things. It is a fudge.

If you have any MKV movies with subtitles tracks that don't show when playing under LMCE, there is a way to extract the subtitles track as a separate .srt file, meaning they should then appear.

0. Install "mkvtoolnix" if you don't already have it.

1. Probe the file for the track information...

Code:

mkvmerge -i SomeMovie.mkv

Example output:

Code:

Track ID 1: video (V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC)
Track ID 2: audio (A_DTS)
Track ID 3: subtitles (S_TEXT/UTF8)
Track ID 4: subtitles (S_TEXT/UTF8)
Chapters: 74 entries

2. Verify which subtitle track you want to convert (I do this using VLC on another computer, maybe there is a way to do it on command line). Let's say we want the subtitles on Track ID 3

3. Run...

Code:

mkvextract tracks SomeMovie.mkv 3:SomeMovie.srt

Cheers,
Matt.

Thanks for the reply. That's interesting, I did look at that, but couldn't work out how to play a radio stream. But your advice was the shove in the right direction that I needed!

For anybody else wanting to do this, fill out...

#13 Filename (string)
#45 PK_EntertainArea (string)
#29 PK_MediaType (int)

Where...

#13 Filename (string) = URL of stream (eg "http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/listen/live/r4_aaclca.pls")
#45 PK_EntertainArea (string) = the ID for the Entertainment Area in which you would like the playback to occur.
#29 PK_MediaType (int) = 4

Hint: If you don't know what the ID is, on the core...

Code:

sudo su <ENTER>
mysql -u root -p pluto_main <ENTER>
mysql> SELECT PK_EntertainArea, Description FROM EntertainArea; <ENTER>

Make a note of the ID, and then...

Code:

mqsql> quit <ENTER>

Cheers,
Matt.

I have achieved this in "Timed Events" using Xine Player with the "Play Media" command. I've put the radio stream URL into "#59 MediaURL (Special)", and it works, but the radio stream does not appear on the orbiter in the Now Playing square, meaning I cannot turn it off or change the volume.

Does anybody have any suggestions please?

(I do have various radio stations set up under the radio scenario, is it possible to simply play one of these?)

Cheers,
Matt.

Wed admin -> Show devices tree (very bottom) -> My scenarios (very bottom), then you should be able to select scenarios and delete them.

Cheers,
Matt.

what plugin module is that?

Did you check the logs for any errors?

The plugin module is this one http://www.uk-automation.co.uk/products/Z-Wave-Appliance-plug-by-TKBHome.html

I didn't check the logs for errors, I will report back if I try again. The operation of the module itself seemed to be fine, it was just the light wasn't behaving as expected.

I had an odd similar issue with one Z-wave module that supported load detection.  My guess would be that like the Z-wave module, the security light needs constant power to keep its detection circuitry alive.  This draw could be telling the module that local power (via Amp draw) is requested.

I am fairly familiar with some of your other projects so will recommend getting a meter and experimenting/testing to see how much draw the light needs.  Perhaps there is a way in the zwave-api to turn off certain features like local load switching? 

To get around it another way you could use the zwave module to turn off a relay placed between the devices.  Wired normally open this would allow you to kill attached devices regardless of any 'leaked-power' they try and pull.  Good Luck.

Yes I wondered if it was something like that, basically keeping the light on. I also had a similar thought about relays/switches. Not sure what that would look like though, might not end up looking that elegant.

I have now removed the plugin module, and the light doesn't turn off properly now anyway! I don't know if the plug-in module fried/damaged something in the light. It's no biggie, these lights are going to be replaced anyway, this was just a stop gap until such a time. Maybe I should consider a z-wave PIR module and use a "normal" light on a z-wave switch, then I can have complete control over dimming, security mode, etc.

Cheers,
Matt.

What USB sound card have you got? I have the Startech Virtual 7.1 USB Audio Adapter (model No. ICUSBAUD107) and it is plug'n'play - if it isn't, then my understanding is that you need to install it first as you would with any Linux system, and then go from there. It might even be appropriate to make a template for it.

To get you started, you can check if it is being recognised with "lsusb", and then Google accordingly.

No idea how to stop it from defaulting to the internal sound card - blacklist the module for it perhaps? <-- Complete guess, proceed at your own risk.

Cheers,
Matt.

Simply uncheck auto-generated scenarios to stop them appearing.

Re-order what remains with the "up" and "down" buttons in the "Sort Scenarios" section (under Wizard -> Scenarios).

Cheers,
Matt.

I have a motion security light which plugs in to a standard wall socket, to which I have now added a z-wave plugin module.

However the light doesn't turn off! Is LMCE and/or the Z-wave controller doing something to the plug-in module that prevents the light from turning off?

Cheers,
Matt.

I do beg your pardon, didn't see that.

You said you tried another NAS - isn't there a bug that prevents new NASs from being detected?

If you want to trying cleaning the database (at your own risk, but I have done this before without any adverse effects)...

Code:

mysql -uroot

mysql> use pluto_main
mysql> DELETE FROM PnpQueue;

...then reload router.

Cheers,
Matt.