Messages

46

Users / Re: Letter to the Community: LinuxMCE 0810 - The Cold Honest Reality

« on: June 26, 2009, 12:09:43 am »

Tim,

I like the idea of a Product Management Team, but think it should actually incorporate the website, PR, etc. We do not want to add layers of management for management's sake. The PMT would still make sure the other teams are working towards a common set of goals and interface with the core devs but without being a management committee.

Andrew,

You are right about having inexperienced coders, but not all of the teams are code-based:
*Product Management - only coding needed is website
*User Interface - short-term new skin/button layout is HADesigner mostly, long-term new orbiter platforms would require experienced coders but it's just that... long term.
*Documentation - wiki skills, which can be easily learned
*Media, HA, and CI, well... you're right about those

We can at least get started with the parts that do not require "baked" devs. The success of LinuxMCE may depend mostly on experienced coders, but there is definitely less important work that still needs to be done. It seems to me that we already have at least three people interested in such less important work. In fact, having more organized documentation, an updated (or at least alternative) look, and some PR exposure might attract the experts the project *really* needs.

:Matt

47

Users / Re: Letter to the Community: LinuxMCE 0810 - The Cold Honest Reality

« on: June 25, 2009, 10:31:21 pm »

I'm sure we all understand that the core devs have a lot on their plates right now. So I offer an alternative idea: those of us that are interested in stepping up but may not be experts can start the teams. The core devs could do business as usual, but act as advisors of sort to the teams. Since the same questions would probably get asked anyway, no additional work is required from core devs. Actually, the non-experts will probably learn even faster this way.

So, offer yourselves up!

Thom, if you still want to lead Team UI it's all yours. If not, I volunteer.

Let's get a list of teams going:
* User Interface
* Documentation
* Home Automation
* Media
* Website
* Computing Integration? (office suite and the like)

:Matt

48

Users / Re: Letter to the Community: LinuxMCE 0810 - The Cold Honest Reality

« on: June 25, 2009, 09:42:25 pm »

...
Frankly, I'm beginning to think that your attitude is a big part of the problem.  Phrases like "you people" are offensive and derogatory to the hundreds/thousands of very different people with different views and abilities, united in their common desire to make this project a success.  Don't put everyone into one box, or believe that of all these people you are the most knowledgeable or experienced.  Consequently, don't be closed to ideas.
...

1. I highly doubt he meant "you people" in a derogatory fashion; the negative stigma associated with the phrase is related to race and religion, neither of which are remotely related. (get it? "remote"ly... orbiter... I kill myself )

2. Like Thom mentioned in this post (http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=8291.msg55156#msg55156), sometimes there needs to be a hardliner that says, we are going to do it THIS way. I think that's kind of the point of having team leads: the experts can make such decisions because they experience has shown them what will and will not work. The only times I've seen Thom closed to ideas is when he has been in that exact situation. Most of the time, he just says go for it.

3. To me, this project is about having fun. I'd like to start having some more. So... do the core devs have anything to say about the ideas that have been tossed around so far? Are any of you interested in becoming team leads? (please) Do we even know what teams should exist? Is someone already working on the wiki page/skillset table idea?

:Matt

49

Users / Re: Letter to the Community: LinuxMCE 0810 - The Cold Honest Reality

« on: June 24, 2009, 11:38:28 am »

I think massabuntu hit the nail on the head with having teams. With teams come team leads, which is what I think is really needed to turn interest in development into *actual* development. For example, I'm interested in UI work. If there were a definite person in charge of UI, instead of just hacking it out on my own and asking for help when I need it, there would be someone I could go to and say, "here's my skillset; what would you like me to work on first?" or "what would help this part of LinuxMCE most right now and where should I start?". Now this may seem like hand holding, but I bet there's a whole bunch of potential developers out there that could be motivated by such clearly defined organization.


Here's how I see something like that working: (Thom, I'm using you because A. you're the OP and B. you're the resident Designer expert)
Me: Thom, I hear you're the UI Team Lead.
Thom: Yes, I am. Would you like to join the team? What skills do you have that we could use?
Me: Well, I'm decent with graphic design and I know my way around HADesigner and the pluto_main database.
Me: I really like spider-man so I'm going to make a UI that looks like a spider web. How can I do that?
Thom: Don't be stupid. I need you to make new icons for the Myth PVR screens.
Me: Oh... okay. I'm going to make them blue and red so they remind me of spidey.
Thom: That's nice. First, make them to match the new Basic theme. Maybe the spider-man theme should wait until we're done with this one.
Me: Wow - there sure are a lot of icons to do!
Thom: Why don't you start with screen ### and check in with me when you're done?
Me: This isn't so hard now that I know what direction to go. I might not be doing the whole skin by myself but I feel like I'm helping!


Does this add responsibility to the already overworked devs? Yes, but unfortunately, I just don't see many highly-motivated self-starters chomping at the bit to pitch in. Not only that, but those of us that aren't skilled enough to do what the core devs do but have usable skills nonetheless can start contributing and stop feeling like leeches.

Or maybe that's just me.

:Matt

50

Installation issues / Re: Multiple USBUIRT's

« on: June 21, 2009, 02:45:04 am »

Was it ever determined if the Revo actually has an optical out? There was speculation before it was released that the 3.5mm audio jack would include it, but I thought I read somewhere that the final version didn't...

:Matt

51

Installation issues / Re: Multiple USBUIRT's

« on: June 19, 2009, 12:59:09 pm »

Technically, the system is designed to use one MD per room. That being said, there are workarounds (which are not considered supported configurations). It does depend on a number of factors in your setup, though. If all you are doing is using the core for direct a/v control of the receivers, you are better off getting an ir distribution system from Xantech or the like and sticking with the DirectTV remotes. Are you using MythTV? How is the core connected to the tv's? Are you using a vga or hdmi to component converter and sending the signal through a distribution amp? Do you just have the core connected to one monitor? A diagram of your setup would be very helpful in answering your question.

FYI - a component distribution amp and an ir distribution system would end up costing in the realm of $500. You could build 3 brand new MD's for less than $650 shipped. My point is that if you don't already have the components handy for the former, you may as well get the MD's and have a TON more functionality AND a supported configuration. All you have to do then is pipe the IR from each UIRT's output jack over cat5 down to the machine room. If you would like any specific parts info just let me know.

:Matt

52

Feature requests & roadmap / Re: Hauppauge HD PVR

« on: June 11, 2009, 05:50:18 am »

As I recall the problem lies with myth integration, which won't be available until the .22 release. It's a neat product, though.

:Matt

53

Installation issues / Re: Installation Issues with Asus M4N78 Pro MOBO

« on: June 05, 2009, 10:56:46 am »

@Kooma:
The board *will not* work out of the box without some work on your part for 0710 (see previous posts). I can't vouch for 0810 and stability with the board because I haven't spent enough time with it. That being said, what little I did with 0810 went pretty smoothly.

@naiknb:
Did you make sure to change your /etc/init.d/mythtv-backend script to account for HPET? If not, download this and replace it: http://www.mediafire.com/?xyguiltqzkn

:Matt

54

Installation issues / Re: ASUS M3N78-EM

« on: June 03, 2009, 06:27:32 pm »

Rebuilding the image basically wipes the old data from /usr/pluto/diskless/XX and replaces it with a clean version from the /usr/pluto/install/Pluto-MD-i386.tar.bz2 archive. In order to have the updated drivers automatically pushed you need to rebuild the archive per the wiki. Here's a syntax-corrected version:

(Notes - Replace XXX with your kernel version. If you are using amd64 for your MD's, replace i386 with amd64.)

Code: [Select]

cd /tmp
mkdir moonfs_x86
cd moonfs_x86
tar -jxvf /usr/pluto/install/PlutoMD-i386.tar.bz2
cp /boot/vmlinuz-XXX boot
cp /boot/initrd.img-XXX boot
cp -r /lib/modules/XXX/ lib/modules/
tar -jcvpf /usr/pluto/install/PlutoMD-i386.tar.bz2 *
cd ..
rm -rf moonfs_x86

:Matt

55

Installation issues / Re: Installation Issues with Asus M4N78 Pro MOBO

« on: June 03, 2009, 05:51:38 pm »

You might need to look at your xorg.conf settings and manually specify the horiz and vert sync rates. I have a Samsung LN series LCD that worked fine with the standard AV Wizard conf but a Samsung HP series plasma that needed specific (more restrictive) settings.

:Matt

edit: you also should probably update the video driver to at least 180.29 and still run the ALSA update script. As well, make sure the output is unmuted in alsamixer. Audio over HDMI currently does not work either.

56

Installation issues / Re: Installation Issues with Asus M4N78 Pro MOBO

« on: June 02, 2009, 08:11:34 am »

The M4N78 Pro works fine with 0710, just not out of the box. It's kind of a hassle, but here's what you need to do to get it to work:

1. Make sure to use a supported PCI or PCI-X NIC for at least the initial installation
2. Install using 0710RC2 i386 DVD
3. When the installer asks you to remove the DVD and reboot, do so, but hit ESC at the GRUB loader and select recovery mode
4. Upgrade the kernel to 2.6.28 or later following the wiki instructions
     4a. Be sure to build the Realtek PHY into the kernel (Device Drivers->Network Device Support->PHY Device support and infrastructure->Drivers for Realtek PHYs)
     4b. Be sure to pay particular attention to the mythtv-backend script modification section
     4c. Be sure to run an update-grub after copying the new kernel and generating the initrd.img
5. Reboot, but hit ESC at the GRUB loader again and select recovery mode for the new kernel
6. Update your video driver
     6a. wget http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/180.29/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-180.29-pkg1.run
     6b. chmod +x NVIDIA-Linux-x86-180.29-pkg1.run
     6c. ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86-180.29-pkg1.run
7. Reboot
8. If the installer overwrites the 180.29 driver with nvidia-glx:
     8a. switch consoles
     8b. telinit 1
     8c. re-run the NVIDIA installer as in 6c
     8d. Reboot
9. Follow the wiki instructions for http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Single_to_Double_NIC
10. SP/DIF or toslink connections on the M3N78 and M4N78 series boards under 0710 require the Asus breakout board. Just do a search on ebay for ASUS SPDIF. You will also need to run the Alsa update script. See http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=6589810#post6589810

If that is too much work for you, try the 0810 alpha as others have suggested. Remember, though, it is still in alpha for a reason. I have an M4N78 Pro as my core and 3 M3N78-VM MD's working smoothly with 0710; it just takes a little work and a lot of patience.

Best of luck,
Matt

p.s. I wrote this holed up in bed loopy on cough medicine so I apologize in advance if anything isn't clear

57

Users / Sony VGP-XL1B issues

« on: May 21, 2009, 10:03:45 am »

I have a Sony VGP-XL1B jukebox that is giving me some trouble.

What does work:

• Playing DVDs
• Ripping individual DVDs
• Load one
• Load many

What does not work:

• ID All

         The first disc will load, spin up, but then the unit stalls. To eject the disc at that point I need to do a power cycle and reload the router.

• Rip All

         I select location to rip, then the first disc will load, but I immediately get messages saying the ripping has completed for each disc in the jukebox.
         The weird part? The first disc will then ID and actually rip, and then the unit stalls.

Has anyone experienced problems like this with their Powerfiles or XL1Bs? Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt

58

Users / Re: WAYNE-DALTON Z-WAVE® THERMOSTAT

« on: May 12, 2009, 11:10:52 pm »

...I immediately noticed that the buttons on orbiter are not working properly with this thermostat. Heat/Cool buttons seem to be fine, but all the rest seem to send the wrong command or dont do anything to the thermostat at all.

Are the orbiter button issues worked out with the WD thermostat now? If not, is it a device template issue or a driver issue? (In other words, is it a problem I can help solve or should it be left to an expert like hari)

Thanks,
Matt

59

Users / Re: Controlling Direct TV STB

« on: May 09, 2009, 07:47:49 am »

Yeah, I learned that after I made it   I moved on to simply making a whole new skin when I realized I was doing it wrong.

:Matt

60

Users / Re: Controlling Direct TV STB

« on: May 09, 2009, 07:11:24 am »

I created a remote a month or so ago with all standard STB functions and custom graphics for 0710. The designObj you want to look at is 2427 (mnuSatelliteCableBox). I'd be happy to share mine if someone wants to tell me how. As a caveat, I didn't create a new skin for that version, I simply changed/added designObjs in the Basic skin; I think the only already existing designObjs other than 2427 that are affected skin-wide are 2440 (grpLightControl) and 2288 (grpVolControls) since I added new designObjs for the rest.

Anyway, here's a screen in case anyone is interested. The buttons turn yellow when selected so you know when you've pressed something.

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/8226/mnusatellitecablebox.png

It's kinda hodgepodge but it *was* my first HADesigner attempt. Oh yeah, this was before I added lighting so the light control isn't on this one, but the actual designObjs are changed and just need to be re-added to 2427. I have to swap out my HD to get to 0710 db's if anyone actually wants the designObjs, but I have the images handy in both png and psd formats if you want to do your own thing with them.

:Matt