Messages

1

Users / Re: 710 or 810???

« on: March 13, 2009, 02:25:44 pm »

Thanks Collin, I'll try that. I thought it might of just been a kink in my current setup and would clear itself when I rebuild.

I should have my new build setup this weekend and if I have any issues, I'll start a new post (this one already has gotten off the initial topic).

Thanks to everyone for their input.

2

Users / Re: 710 or 810???

« on: March 12, 2009, 06:11:20 pm »

skeptic- I have done quite a few quick reloads of the router. The reason for this is that I have movies that are also on a Freenas server, but that server wants to drop offline repeatedly (online is unchecked in the administration web page) and I need to put it back online and go a quick reload to see those videos. This should  be resolved in the next few days as I rebuild a new Core in my house. (As stated earlier, the build I have now is temporary) I should be putting enough storage to hold all my movies locally on the core.

Your comment about Xine_Player sparks my interest though. I did not have the jittery issue when I was using Mythbuntu, and I was using the same hardware. I believe Mythbuntu uses the MythTV internal viewer for the videos, and the issue I got with that was choppy, freezing video usually during high action sequences, but I did not have the jitter issue.  You could generally watch a movie like 'The Wedding Crashers' without issue,  but 'Iron Man' was nearly unwatchable at points. If this is an Xine issue, is there a way to tweak or update it to help resolve the issue?

Being fairly new to Linux, not sure how to check CPU/Memory to see if there is an issue. Can someone point me to a link where I can find those directions?

Thanks for the tip on handbrake, I will try that.

3

Users / Re: 710 or 810???

« on: March 11, 2009, 09:38:45 pm »

krys - I've seen that issue as well, and if you remove the extra languages (including one's with directors commentary) you can get down smaller. I've had a couple of movies go from about 7Gb to under 3Gb after removing the fluff using DVDfab5.

Colin- saving 10-20% per video does add up over time... especially if we ever do get to where Linux and Blueray play nicely. I would prefer not to transcode the videos because I don't want to lose any quality (unless it's some boring chick flick). It's bad enough I complain about jitter that my wife doesn't even notice  .   (Maybe transcoding would clear the jitter.. food for thought.. )

Speaking of Blueray, has there been any advancement in the Linux Community for getting LEGAL playback support (Yes, I understand this is not a LinuxMCE problem)?

If you took a BlueRay DVD and Ripped it on a Windows Machine ( I don't have Blueray yet, so I haven't researched if this can be done) and transferred the files to LinuxMCE... will it play in HD? I'm sure that this would present a legal issue, so this is more curiosity since it's on my mind now.


Directing back toward my original topic (710 or 810) .... are the Insteon home lighting products supported in 710? I seem to find conflicting reports on the web. I will not be attempting this for a little while.. but do I need to wait for 810 to do this? 

4

Users / Re: 710 or 810???

« on: March 11, 2009, 05:50:01 pm »

Let me get this straight,

In an age where I can get a terabyte for $100.. You're complaining about wasting storage space?!

REALLY?

-Thom

Which is very true.... but I don't have a lot of cash to throw around buying drives, so if I can trim the fat off the files I would prefer to do that.

If ripping the DVD internally will prevent some of the jitter issue, then I'll sacrifice the storage space.





 

5

Users / Re: 710 or 810???

« on: March 11, 2009, 03:35:22 pm »

Thank you so much for such a descriptive answer. This is something I'm not so concerned about today, but very concerned that it may appear more noticeable when I upgrade to a larger TV.   Now there are just a couple more quick questions and then we will let this subject rest until I get my new setup installed.

- I am going to switch the video card to one with an HDMI connection to the new TV... will 720p or 1080p make a difference in the jitter?

- On a DVD Ripped on LinuxMCE, is there a way to rip just the movie itself. I would hate to have to keep buying hard drives because I have Gb's of useless special features and previews. If not, is it something the developers are looking at for the future?

 

6

Users / Re: 710 or 810???

« on: March 11, 2009, 04:52:19 am »

I am not using the Live TV feature yet, it is just when playing a DVD or a Ripped DVD. I rip my DVD's with DVDfab5 so that I can remove some of the features and keep the file size down, but I believe that I have the same issue on movies I ripped with the internal feature to LinuxMCE also.

All of my movies are also on a Freenas box and not directly on the Core, but this issue also occurs when I move them onto the Core.

As I said.. I don't believe it is "tearing" unless I misunderstand the term. When I think of tearing, I think of when I play a First Person Shooter and you move side to side you will get vertical lines that "tear" the screen into sections that seem to respond at different rates. This is a consistent jitter through the entire video.

I also saw a posting about a Newer Nvidia driver that seams to resolve alot of issues. I apparently do not have the "latest" drivers as I incorrectly stated and will try those tomorrow if I get an opportunity. I will let you know if that helps the issue.

Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions.

7

Users / Re: 710 or 810???

« on: March 10, 2009, 04:40:20 pm »

Sorry.. I should of mentioned that I switched to UI1 a while back to see if this resolved the issue but it has not. It's not really tearing... it's hard to describe... Imagine dropping every other frame, and how choppy it would be. This looks like it would if it dropped a small fraction of each frame... just barely noticeable to the naked eye, but annoying once you start looking for it. I've played with the refresh rates a bit, but that hasn't really done much.

Could there be any issues using an older TV? 

Could it be the Nvidia card having issues with the TV on S-Video?

As I mentioned, I'm replacing the TV as soon as NewEgg gets the new Panasonic Plasma in stock that I want. With that in mind, I'm only looking to see if there is a quick "we know about that and the answer is...." fix since my current setup is temporary, and if the issue resumes on the new equipment then I will dig into it deeper.

Thanks again.

8

Users / Re: 710 or 810???

« on: March 10, 2009, 01:25:17 pm »

Thanks... I was afraid that I would install 710 and in a month or so 810 would be ready. This does not sound like it is the case so I will stick with 710 for now, since we know that it is stable.

One more quick question. On my existing setup I get slightly jittery video on playback. It's not dropped frames (That is the issue I had with Mythbuntu), as you can read the lips of the actors.... and you only really notice it on slower scenes, high action sequences seem to be fine. I have an Nvidia 8800GS Video adapter and the latest drivers installed on the MD connected to the TV using an S-Video cable to an old 27" CRT TV, but will be purchasing a Plasma TV in the coming weeks. Could this be caused by the older model TV, and should a newer Plasma resolve the issue?

Once I get this Core installed in my new house, it will then be time to play with the lighting aspect of the project. Any suggestions on supported products that won't break the bank? Funds will be getting a little tight, and I'd like to try doing it piece by piece.

If 810 will support better options in that aspect, then I hold off until 810 is ready.

Thanks again for your advise.

9

Users / 710 or 810???

« on: March 09, 2009, 09:49:36 pm »

Hey Guys-   Let me first say Thank You for all the hard work that you guys put into this project. I have just started playing with Linux in general about 6 months ago, and I wish I knew enough about it to help out... but for now (and probably a while) I'm just an average user reaping the benefits of your hard work. I am going to apologize ahead of time if this has been asked in another thread...

I currently have a 710 Core and diskless MD in my apartment. Being an apartment, I am of course just using the Media portions of the project... and I love it.  This build was just setup on temporary hardware while I was testing to see if this fit my purposes. I was previously tinkering with Mythbuntu but was getting random playback issues, which I do not have with LinuxMCE 710.  I have now purchased my own home, and have the hardware to build my new core. Before I install 710, I am curious about 810 which is now in alpha.

- When 810 goes to beta, will there be direct downloads that will keep the system up to date/update to release candidate, etc..
- If there will be, any idea on how long until beta?
-Will there be an upgrade path from 710 to 810 (final) when it is released.

I would like to have to install this system only once. Should I install 710 now, or wait until 810 is released and use the setup I currently have until then?

Thanks for your input on this.


Now for a suggestion that may get me yelled at, and please take this as suggestion not criticism.    In searching through posts, I have seen a few times that the developers have stated that this project is more geared toward the "Home Automation" and not a "Media Center".   Wouldn't you say that the name LinuxMCE is a little misleading then?  I would think something along the lines of Linux Home Automation would give a better description. Also, have you ever thought of splitting the project. Maybe something like LinuxMCE being an install that only installs the video/ audio portions of the project and "LinuxHA" installing the entire thing?   

Thanks again guys...