Messages

151

Developers / Wiki- can't upload images today

« on: October 23, 2008, 05:17:18 pm »

hari,
I'm wondering if this issue is related to the wiki move.

I've been trying to upload an updated image of my system diagram to the wiki.  That's this file here:
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Image:System_diagram.png

It is a .png that is 30 KB.  I get this error:

"The file you uploaded seems to be empty. This might be due to a typo in the file name. Please check whether you really want to upload this file."

I can view the file just fine in windows, so I suspect that the error is not in fact that the file is "empty".  I also tried uploading a random 30 KB .jpg that I downloaded from the internet just as a test, and I received the same error.

The wikimedia Uploading_Files topic has a Q&A on this error here:
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Uploading_files

Here is what it says:

Q: Why do I get the message: "The file you uploaded seems to be empty. This might be due to a typo in the file name. Please check whether you really want to upload this file."

    * One reason for this is that something below mediawiki such as PHP or the web server is limiting the size of http requests. See the next question.
    * Try checking the ignore any warnings at the upload file page.
    * Check also if the php config upload_tmp_dir is set.
    * Check that the /tmp dir is not full (happened to me!)

I tried checking the "ignore any warnings" box as suggested with the same result.

It appears that there haven't been any file uploads since September 22nd.  See this page:
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Special:Imagelist

Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Maybe someone else could confirm whether they can upload images to the wiki right now.

Regards,

Alex

152

Users / Re: Music albums with multiple artists are not placed in same album

« on: October 20, 2008, 12:11:27 am »

Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the reply.  I didn't know that the next major release is imminent.  Hopefully the fix will make it into that release. 

Cheers,

Alex

153

Users / Re: Music albums with multiple artists are not placed in same album

« on: October 19, 2008, 08:13:47 pm »

We have fixed this long standing issue with multiple artists CD's and the fix will appear in an update.

Andrew,
I just came across the same "unzipped" album quirk that Afkpuz described.  I'm using 0710RC1.  I assume from your post that this quirk still exists in 0710RC2 and will be fixed in a future version/update.  If so, is there any way to take advantage of the update before the next major release?

Regards,
Alex

154

Users / Re: Trouble with DVI output on M2NPV-VM motherboard.

« on: July 27, 2008, 05:42:48 am »

Hi slapshot,
I'm using the M2NPV-VM too.  There should be a link to my sample setup at the bottom of this post.  There might be some stuff in there that might help you.

Based on your post, I assume the following:
 - you were using the VGA output for the 19" monitor
 - your first attempt at using the DVI output on the M2NPV-VM was connecting it to your TV

If that's the case, here's what I recommend:
1. Simultaneously connect your monitor to the VGA port and your TV to the DVI port.  During setup, LinuxMCE seems to output on different ports at different times.  With this setup, I suspect you'll see boot details and then the LinuxMCE UI displayed on the monitor connected to your VGA port. 
2. Launch the AV Wizard from the on-screen orbiter by going to Advanced=>Advanced Options=>Video Res and Audio Setup.
3. Make your way through the wizard and select DVI/HDMI on the Video Settings step.

FWIW, you can find the settings that worked for me here:
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Alx9r%27s_Hybrid_Core_Install#AV_Wizard

Hope that helps,

Alex

155

Users / Re: Yamaha RX-V???? RS-232 Stuff

« on: July 16, 2008, 07:20:15 am »

FWIW: I recently went through the exercise of selecting a receiver and ended up with a refurbed Marantz SR7500 for $499 USD from amazon/accessories4less.  I haven't noticed any defects with it and am happy with it.  I have noticed that the accessories4less still has refurbished SR7500s for sale now and then (they have one for $479 right now).

The SR series templates still need some work.  The one that shipped with 0710RC1 prevents music and videos from being played at all.  I have hand rolled a quick'n dirty template on my own that works for my basic system (on/off, mute, volume).  This thread has the latest on that effort:
http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=3793.msg32669#msg32669

One thing that I really like about the SR7500 is that it supports both analog (RCA) and digital (SPDIF) inputs for the same device and switches between them automatically.  With my setup, there are occasions where LinuxMCE outputs on the analog channels.  Outputting analog audio when SPDIF is available doesn't seem like appropriate behavior, but because the Marantz switches automatically, I can ignore it without it being a problem.

Cheers,

Alex

156

Users / Re: Any updates on mkv or ts files

« on: July 14, 2008, 02:50:32 am »

Just to clarify what I see using 0710RC1:

On at least one 720p and one 1080p .mkv files I see green regions that grow mostly in the brightest parts of the scene then disappear at a certain point and begin to grow again.  Those files are still watchable but the green is distracting.

Alex

157

Users / Re: Any updates on mkv or ts files

« on: July 14, 2008, 01:07:21 am »

colinjones,
That's interesting.  Do you know the last version where you for sure saw the green-block artifact?

I was under the impression that the only changes from RC1 to RC2 were minor changes to the ZWave driver and the full inclusion of some packages.  That is what is implied by this page:

http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Difference_between_710_RC1_and_710_RC2

I definitely see green-block artifacts using 0710RC1.

Regards,

Alex

158

Users / Re: Any updates on mkv or ts files

« on: July 13, 2008, 06:37:00 pm »

Itsik,
I have a 720p/DTS .mkv file that was exhibiting those green block artifacts under LinuxMCE.  I changed the extension to m2ts from mkv and changed the media type to blu-ray disc in webadmin.  From what I understand, making this change causes LinuxMCE to use mplayer instead of xine.  The file plays without artifiacts which is a big improvement, but ff/rew/pause doesn't work and eventually leads to the player exiting.   

I am using 0710RC1 in a hybrid/core configuration, so I am confirming what you saw on your MD, only I see it on my core.

I have not made any changes to the default 0710RC1 mplayer configuration.  Is there any chance that you have made any changes from the default mplayer configuration on your core that might have fixed the ff/rew/pause problem?  If so, can you recall what they were as I would like to try to reproduce your success.

Cheers,
Alex

159

Users / Re: the next M2NPV-VM

« on: July 08, 2008, 02:47:21 am »

Despite that I only use DVI in normal operation, I found VGA out to be important on the M2NPV-VM: It was the only output active during the AV wizard step.  I never was able to get the AV Wizard audio cues to work.  For that reason, I personally would tend toward a board with VGA and DVI output for now.

160

Users / Re: the next M2NPV-VM

« on: July 07, 2008, 06:20:32 pm »

Is the 8200 chipset moderately well supported?

Andrew has said that it works for him.  See this thread here:
http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=5313.new;topicseen#new

I have already made and SPDIF output module incuding both a optical and coaxial output. The circuit is pretty easy and just uses filters really to output the signal as the processing is done in the codec on the board.

From the user manual, the SPDIF header looks the same as the one used on the M2NPV-VM.  I am using this SPDIF breakout board here with the M2NPV-VM:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=111102044&vpn=SPDIF%2DOUT%2FOPT&manufacture=Asus

I would guess that breakout board would work with the M3N78-EMH HDMI.  It's only $12.22 CAD.

If you've got the space in your case, I also recommend breaking out the COM port using one of these:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=23285&vpn=14-000000094&manufacture=ASUS

Alex

161

Developers / Re: Marantz SR over RS232

« on: June 23, 2008, 08:55:36 pm »

Hi,

here's something I'm working on, but beware it's for multiroom feature enabled (basically you split amplifier in two zones by this template/code):
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/User:Bulek

Regards,

Bulek.

Thanks for posting that Bulek.  Looks like it will be pretty useful to me.  How well is it working?

As a side question: Do you edit the code in those ruby rectangles on the various admin pages, or is there consolidated place where changes can be made to those commands?  I was thinking there might be a way to load code for all of the commands from a text file somehow.

Regards,

Alex

162

Developers / Re: Marantz SR over RS232

« on: June 22, 2008, 04:35:38 pm »

Hi colinjones,
I use breakout cables from my motherboard, so I don't have that layer of complication.  I had the backpanel space and I found them to be cheaper.

To control my SR7500 you need a DB9 female to DB9 female straight through (i.e. NOT Nullmodem) cable.  This is an uncommon cable.  The easiest way I was able to accomplish it was to use a DB9 female to DB9 male extension cable (which is straight through) and a DB9 female to DB9 female gender mender.

I also recommend testing the serial connection separately by connecting to the receiver using a terminal program and typing commands manually, like I did here for my Aquos TV:
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Alx9r%27s_Aquos_TV_Setup#Setting_TV_to_Respond_to_Power_On_Commands

You should be able to turn the receiver off and on over the serial cable by typing in the terminal window.

You'll need to use the commands for your receiver instead of course which you can find on Marantz's product page for your receiver.

HTH,

Alex

163

Developers / Re: Marantz SR over RS232

« on: June 22, 2008, 03:16:06 am »

Hari - Thanks for confirming the video/music stop playing problem.  I'll try to track it down or roll my own SR series template. 

colinjones - once I get my SR7500 working completely, I'll post my steps in my sample setup wiki page here:

http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Alx9r%27s_Sample_Setup

Hopefully that will help you along if you don't find a solution before then.

Cheers,

Alex

164

Users / Re: New in the Wiki: Alx9r's Sample Setup

« on: June 22, 2008, 01:16:32 am »

I find your wiki documentation very helpful.  Have you got the SPDIF-OUT/OPT working?  Do you have 5.1 surround sound?

Hi Todd,
I do have the SPDIF-OUT/OPT working now.  I can hear the surround sound and the display on the SR7500 confirms that 5.1 surround is arriving digitally and in either DTS or dolby surround depending on the content. 

One oddity that I have found is that the audio of some stereo-only media (i.e. media that doesn't have any surround sound encoding) seems to be routed through analog line-out instead of SPDIF.  Gladly the SR7500 auto-detects the source and switches accordingly, so it is not a big deal in practice.

HTH,

Alex

165

Developers / Re: Marantz SR over RS232

« on: June 21, 2008, 04:42:13 pm »

Hello fellow Marantz SR users,
I've got an SR7500 that I've been tinkering with.  I was wondering if the "SR Series RS232" device template that shipped with 0710RC1 is up-to-date.  Here's what I have found about that template:

• Some of the code in the Ruby rectangles is conspicuously less sophisticated than what is described in this thread.  For example, volume control just the straightforward <$"@VOL:2\r"$> style. 
• the template doesn't have any av inputs.
• something in that template causes video and music to stop playing immediately after it starts (you hear audio for about 1/4 second)

I have started to build my own SR Series template and have a simple implementation working so that the receiver turns on and off and the volume and inputs can be controlled.  I suspect, however, that someone out there has a better template for the SR series.  If so, can you share it with me somehow?

Cheers,

Alex