Messages

1

Installation issues / Re: LinuxMCE 1.1 BETA?

« on: May 16, 2007, 09:39:44 pm »

I believe you need Kubuntu Fiesty..

Part of Feisty is an update to X11...
Looks like the disks may contain a livecd version of it... I'm still downloading the torrent...
I downloaded the Kubuntu Feisty DVD a couple of days ago when I first noticed the wiki..
I've installed kubuntu and running it now... all setup ready for 1.1.

Having already installed Ubuntu Feisty on a machine ready to try v1.1, is there a simple procedure to convert this to Kubuntu?  or do I need to D/L another installer to start again?

Also, I don't know the first thing about Torrents, will the 1.1 beta be available to download from any mirrrors?

Thanks,

Mark.

2

Installation issues / Re: New User (UK) - Help with BIG Shopping List please?

« on: May 05, 2007, 06:37:03 pm »

The Asus board you mentioned with 1 GB is enough for a full power core and will support 720P fine. The 1080 support is flakey all an nVidia driver problem but 720p works great. You only need 1GB of ram for all the services (I know this for certain).

Will I need to be displaying 720p or 1080i on the Core machine? 

Or do you mean that the Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe R2.0 & Athlon 3200+ are fine for a "full power core" and separately that the 1080 support using the 6150B onboard gfx is flakey on the Asus M2NPV-VM?

I am correct that it's the Media Distributor PC that needs the powerful graphics processing aren't I?  Or is all the processing/decoding done on the core with the output send to the media director?  I want those ultimate U2 menus.

If I can ascertain whether my proposed  "Core" machine is powerful enough in every respect I will know what I have to spend on the Media Director PCs.  If I need to upgrade the core I may need to rething the Media Distributor PC.  I'm happy to choose a different mobo and separate gfx card if necessary, but if all can work fine (incl. those menus) with onboard GFX so much the better.

Thanks,

Mark.

3

Feature requests & roadmap / Re: Whole House Automation & Control

« on: April 27, 2007, 01:21:02 pm »

I'd be more interested seeing a good integration with MisterHouse, the project that I currently use to control my house, it does a very good job of controlling my house and talks to just about every automation device you could ever want with a great team of developers for anything new that comes along.

I agree, I think carl would be attempting to "re-invent the wheel" if he started a new home automation project.  I however his skills could make the existing "wheel" fit in an integrated way then that's something very exciting.

I've done some homeseer scripting in the past that popped up message overlays on our TV (via Tivo) if the kids put their lights on after bedtime etc. but am very new to Linux.

Mark.

4

Installation issues / Re: New User (UK) - Help with BIG Shopping List please?

« on: April 27, 2007, 01:04:03 pm »

Hi,

I too am in the UK and am a little behind you with the purchasing of equipment (as well as understanding of some of the terminology around HD - WTF is 1080p etc stuff about???) so I'm watching your thread with interest.

You aren't behind me ... I'm proposing to use this stuff.  The core PC spec is based around stuff I have lying around but I'm wanting to get on & buy the right kit for a least-hassle media-director machine (or two).

Anyway, I have been kicking around both the LinuxMCE and the Pluto forums for a while, keeping an eye on what's happening and trying to learn as much as I can before I waste any time and / or money installing this in the wrong way.

Me too, I've tried to build a hybrid on the Athlon3200+, but couldn't get it going an any useable way.  I got U1 menus, but they were corrupted, sort of duplicated icons but also had incredibly slow response time.

Looking at your spec. and comparing with what I've read, I think you should bin the HDDs for the players (Media Directors). The idea is that these use PXE to network boot from the core. Not only will this save money, but it will also mean they run cooler and quiter. This also saves on a lot of setting up, since they become "plug and play".

That sounds ideal to me!  Actually I could possibly try my current HTPC as a media director if I'm able to work out how to "PXE boot".  I'll search the forums on this.

For my directors in "non-main" areas (bedrooms, kitchen etc) where they are likely to be linked via a composite video lead to a small 14" portable or via VGA to a cheap(ish) LCD TV, I've been looking at the mini-ITX form factor. A lot of these have TV out on board, are designed to run quietly (many systems based on these use a laptop-style external PSU so have no fan) and are much smaller than a normal PC. I have yet to start the ball rolling deciding on exact spec. yet, though, as I don't have the finances in place yet to make a start!!!

If anyone comes up with a very quiet Mini-Itx solution that display the full U2 menus, can play 1080i/720p and x.264/h.264 media (I don't know much about this yet just what others have been saying) that can be used with USB-UIRT I'm there!

I'm particularly interested in UK-Specific issues. (I can't seem to find  DVB-S card, will the EPG work properly? (One of the myth systems allows you to have a "wish list" that will record certain films / shows if they EVER come on, dunno if it works in the UK though) etc etc.)

I had the Haupage WinTV-Nova-T-500 (Dual Digital TV Tuner) recommended to me as it apparantly has good linux support and 2 tuners on 1 card from 1 RF input.  I already have a Nebula DigiTV card in my Windows HTPC and the TV listing for that work just fine, I can't see why there won't be a solution to getting basic TV listings to record under LinuxMCE on the Haupage.  Perhaps someone with a TV card in the UK could comment?

I want my system to go MUCH further than TV though.  I eventually want to include control of Network & Local CCTV cameras, VOIP Telephones, Gate Entry, X-10 & Z-Wave Home-Automation control so I reckon I'll need a beffy core PC plater on.

For now the 2 big questions are:-

1/ "Can the Core PC listed above do a good job as a Core machine at these specs?"

2/ Can the OnBoard NVidia 6150B graphics on the proposed Media-Directors fully use the prettiest of the U2 menus (with transparencies etc.)

I'm thinking I'll wait for the 7.04 compatible installer to become available before another install attempt but still want to get buying some hardware (especially as my birthday is in a few weeks & some bits may make it onto my "List" 

Mark. 

5

Users / Re: LinuxMCE can control the TV Set? SatelliteTV Box VCR?...... How?

« on: April 27, 2007, 12:25:00 pm »

you can use an USB UIRT to send messages to the TV. also the tv must have an interface for connecting to linuxmce.

Depending on your TV, you can have LinuxMCE control it by IR codes (using an IR transmitter receiver such as USB UIRT or GC100) or by RS232. You must add your TV as a device (if you find your model in the list when running the video Wizard, in the TV's section) or define a new device template for it (if you don't find your model there).

When you define a new device template you will be able to set the way LinuxMCE will control it and also to input your IR codes or commands.

I believe my TV has an RS232 Port (It's a Pioneer 50" Plasma (about a year old) so that sounds good, but I also have a SkyHD HiDef Satellite box so I guess the IR solution may be better anyway.  I was thinking of getting the Microsoft remote for the MediaDirector box, baiscally because I thought Linux compatibility would be more likely than some obscure IR reciever  I hadn't given any though to the nedd to trasmit IR as well.  Maybe USB UIRT or GC100 with my Harmony 885 universal remote (which is on order) will be better.

Thanks,

Mark.

6

Installation issues / Re: Orbiter failed to setup transparency?

« on: April 26, 2007, 10:18:47 pm »

i dont 'know how it is with the last version of drivers but with 8.27.10 there are problems from what i know. because, enabling transparency it will break direct rendering.

Following some instructions on the ATI site I think I just managed to install 8.36.5 on a fresh Ubuntu 7.04 install, I'm getting "Proprietary Drivers in use" icon at the tip right of the screen, which I activated with the "Restricted Drivers Manager".

How can I tell what version of the drivers are installed?  I figured I'd try and get my hardware working on Ubuntu 7.04 ready for when the new "7.04 compatible LinuxMCE install" arrives in a few weeks time.

I know there are a couple of people who've successfully installed on 7.04 already, I may take a look at those threads if I feel brave later, but for now I'm interested in what graphic driver version I'm running and can't seem to find that info under Ubuntu.  I can't see anything that looks like the driver version info under System-Preferences-Hardware Information.

Anyone?

Many thanks,

Mark.

7

Installation issues / Re: Orbiter failed to setup transparency?

« on: April 26, 2007, 08:01:41 pm »

they have this possibility but some of them with problems.

Which ones have the possibility?  I have a Radeon 9500, is this too old?

Thanks,

Mark.

8

Installation issues / Re: Orbiter failed to setup transparency?

« on: April 26, 2007, 07:40:17 pm »

Orbiter failed to setup transparency? should only appear when you choose ui2 with alpha blending.  only nvidia 6xxx and > greater support the xcomposite / transparency extensions.  If the installer correctly identified your nvidia card, the driver in xorg.conf should be 'nvidia'.

You can try using UI2 with masking, which doesn't use transparency.

Could you clarify for me please?  Do ANY ATI cards at all have the ability to display UI2 with transparancy? 

Thanks,

Mark.

9

Users / Re: LinuxMCE and other SAMBA share PCs on the same network?

« on: April 26, 2007, 07:15:41 pm »

you can try this of course. btw, do you have separate subnetworks?

Right now I have 2 entirely independent networks, one for CCTV and one for everything else, but I need to combine everything into one network.  The CCTV stuff can stay on the other network while I get this media center stuff sorted though.  I want to understand LinuxMCE to a level where I can incorporate a degree of home automation (Z-Wave & X-10) and get at least one Media Distributor PC working with a LinuxMCE Core server.  I've asked some questions in the general thread about required hardware levels for each machine and will hopefully get something real going within a couple of weeks.

Right now for LinuxMCE I only have 1 fairly modest PC (by todays standards) that has to be a Hybrid.  It's an Athlon3200+ with 512MB Ram, A Radeon 9500 and a 120gb HDD.  This is purely for learning on, I'm hoping this PC, with some more memory, can be the basis for my core machine when I build a media distributor PC for the living room.

My UnRaid servers are for my work as well as home use, so I really don't want them going down in a fight over "who's top dog?" in a Samba turf  war.

Mark.

10

Users / Re: LinuxMCE and other SAMBA share PCs on the same network?

« on: April 26, 2007, 05:40:12 pm »

That doesn't sound so complicated, thanks!

BTW. does the LinuxMCE Core PC have to be a local master?

Mark.

11

Users / LinuxMCE and other SAMBA share PCs on the same network?

« on: April 26, 2007, 03:39:49 pm »

How does LinuxMCE perform when there are other Samba share PCs on the same network?

I have 2 "UnRaid" file servers that both use Samba on this network, one is set to be the local master and the other isn't.  When messing around with LinuxMCE I seemed to lose the connection to the file servers.  It could have been a coincidence.  I also want to add a Zoneminder CCTV PC back into this network (it currently has it's own independent network).

So when there are so many Samba share PCs on a network, which one should be the local master?  If it is necessary to do so... How do I tell the LinuxMCE machine it isn't the Local Master?  Can there reliably be more than 1 master?

Thanks,

Mark.

12

Users / LinuxMCE can control the TV Set? SatelliteTV Box VCR?...... How?

« on: April 26, 2007, 03:31:52 pm »

In the impressive LinuxMCE demonstration video online the guy says that LinuxMCE can control the actual TV set, VCR and other external equipment.

How?

Is this due to LinuxMCE broadcasting the IR signal that the TV etc. picks up?   If so what hardware would be necessary in a LinuxMCE player PC (as opposed to the Core PC) to allow this to be possible?

Thanks,

Mark.

13

Installation issues / Re: New User (UK) - Help with BIG Shopping List please?

« on: April 25, 2007, 09:54:42 pm »

Without equipment guidance I had a go and tried building an all-in-one Linux MCE box using the modest hardware I had lying around (Athlon 3200+, Radeon9500 512MB Ram) but it was clear this wasn't going to be sufficient, I couldn't even get the display to work correctly so....

Here's my intended revised setup for a Core server with a couple of LinuxMCE player PCs/



Player PC Specs
(Will boot from a modest SATA HDD (say 160-250gb)
If I've under specified in any area please comment.

Case
Antec Fusion Case (Incl 430W PSU)
http://www.antec.com/ec/productDetails.php?ProdID=08738

Motherboard
Asus M2NPV-VM
*On Board NVidea 6150B Graphics
*On Board "HiDef 5.1 Audio" with SPDif Out
*On Board Gig Lan
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=101&l3=296&l4=0&model=1138&modelmenu=1

CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200 AM2 2.2GHz (Chosen on Price Point)

Memory
2 x 1gb Corsair PC2-5300 DDR2 Ram

Remote Control
Microsoft Media Center PC Remote Control
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=065




Core Server PC Specs
The core server PC specs are based around the fact I have most of these bit lying around already.  If this will be underpowered please comment now as there's little point building the Players if there's not an adequate core to drive it.  I WILL be using X-10, VOIP phones, gate entry and networked CCTV cameras I'd like to integrate into the core server setup.

Case & PSU
Standard Midi Tower with Standard 580W PSU

Motherboard
Asus A7N8X-Deluxe R2.0
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=13&l3=56&l4=0&model=216&modelmenu=1

CPU
AMD Athlon 3200+

Memory
2 x 1gb DDR

Network Card
Netgear Gig Lan Card

Graphics Card
Radeon 9500

TV Tuner
Haupage WinTV-Nova-T-500 (Dual Digital TV Tuner)
http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/pages/products/data_novat500.html

Large IDE HDD, but external storage via Sambe Shares from Separate "UnRaid" Server (Non-Striping Raid with up to 13 + 1 Parity HDD capacity).

Will this lot give me a full LinuxMCE experience? Any comments or suggestion before I order the bits?

Many thanks,

Mark.

14

Installation issues / Re: How do youinstall LinuxMCE??

« on: April 08, 2007, 02:47:32 pm »

So, how do I install Linux MCE?  Has anyone actually done it?  It seems a lot more complicated than Windows.  Also, is there a way to make it stop asking for a username and password every time I reboot or try to do anything?  That is extremely annoying.

I'm no expert, I only installed for the first time last night and I still have the Grey Screen of Death (hardware issue I think), but here's what you need to do.

1/ Download the Ubuntu 6.10 Install CD ISO (Over 600MB)

2/ Download the LinuxMCE Packages CD ISO (Over 600 MB)

3/ Install the Ubuntu 6.1 OS on the machine by booting from the Live CD and double-clicking the Install Icon on the desktop

4/ Allow all automatic operating system updates to run

5/ Insert the LinuxMCE Packages CD

6/ From the new Ubuntu machine use firefox to access the Linux MCE Download Instruction Page and run the "Installer for Ubuntu 6.10" from there (run not save).  Note:- If you access this forums page from the Ubuntu machine you can click the link I have provided.

Once you have run that an Install LinuxMCE Icon will appear on your desktop.

I can't help with setting up, but that's how to install,

Hope this helps,
[Edit] I skipped though this thread only really noticing the squabble relating to Damaging CDs, Jasent has already answered the original question in far better detail than I have.  Apologies.

Mark.

15

Installation issues / New User (UK) - Help with BIG Shopping List please?

« on: April 08, 2007, 01:35:24 pm »

I've recently been pointed in the direction of LinuxMCE and it appear to to exactly what I need.  I've done a test install on an old PC:-

Athlon 3200+
Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe R2 Mobo
Radeon 9500 Gfx Card
512MB Ram
120GB HDD

And I get the Gray Screen of Death on the display, I'm not worried about that as the IP interface is there so I can learn how it all works.

In my home I currently use:-
Zoneminder for my CCTV (Great, but I struggle to configure it)
X-10 Home Automation via a Windows PC
VOIP Phones
Data storage server (both for media and CCTV archive data)
Media Delivery via Windows HTPC
Media Delivery via Snazzio & Roku Media Players

What I do need a little help with is a shopping list to really get the most out of LinuxMCE.  I want to build a dedicated server (core?) machine and separate "Media Player" machines.  I want to enable all the best features on the media player (best graphics on menus etc) and need the server machine capable of delivering pretty much all the services LinuxMCE can provide.  I want to spend as little as I can to get machines that will fully offer the total LinuxMCE Experience.

So remembering I'm in the UK....

What hardware should I buy?:-



Core Machine "Server"
CPU & Memory
What CPU & Memory Requirements to run it all?  At least 2 TV Cards, Phone Server, Media Delivery to plenty of Players (Eventually about 6), X-10 Home Automation etc.

Graphics Card
I assume Graphics Card Performance isn't too important on the Core Server?

TV Cards
Which Digital Freeview or Satellite TV Cards?

X-10 Home Control Hardware
I currently use a CM12U Serial X-10 Interface, is there anything recommended for LinuxMCE?

IR-Wireless Remote Control
Is IR control of the Core Machine necessary?



Media Player Machines
CPU & Memory
What CPU & Memory Requirements to run the most CPU hungry video types under MCE?  I've heard that h.264/x264 is becoming the standard encoding for HiDef Broadcast TV here in Europe so I'd like the machines to cope with that.

Graphics Card
As these machines will be in the living areas I need to consider noise as well as performance.  Size will also be an issue so if the onboard GFX 6150b Graphics of some motherboards would be ideal if they can cope up to at least 1080i (though I already have a 1080p display in one room).  But I want the best performance LinuxMCE can offer me.

TV Cards
Are they necessary on the Media Player Machines?

IR-Wireless Remote Control
What would be the recommended IR or RF Remote control & Interface for these Media Players?  I've seen the Microsoft MCE remote an that seems very nice.  If possible I'd prefer to go for a Wireless of RF solution & not IR as sometimes the equipment isn't in ideal IR line of sight, but compatibility is more important.  I also have PDA type phones, but separate remote controls are important.



CCTV Cameras & Entry Control
I need more IP CCTV Cameras, any that are recommended for use with LinuxMCE?
Would Control of Entry Gates/Intercom be possible?


I just can't wait to get stuck in with all this, it's like someone has asked what I would want from a home network system and included everything in an integrated solution.  Any help on buying the right hardware for this experience gratefully received,

Many thanks,

Mark.