Calling Media Portal users

[nikko1974]

Hi,

Gee compared to the MCE and Vista rooms time moves slow in here eh?

Thats cool...hey have just spent the past 1/2 day putting a Media Portal HTPC in place and am in the process of configuring and actually trying it all out soon.

Just wondering if there's many other MP users in here......if so:

1) Do you use MP full time or as a compliment to another HTPC software solution?

2) ANy advice to new users of MP?

3) Heck any thoughts on it at all would be great.

Thanks in advance....all is going well so far for me so I am knowing that I have a fall just around the corner.

Cheers, Nikko

[vbap]

I gave up on MP a long time ago - it is a very promising app, and with the new TV Engine providing client/server options, it could be a winner.

However, it was too unstable for me at the time, and without the luxury of Development / test / production machines, plus the addition of children to the family, I didn't have the time to do all the testing required.

MCE has just been really stable, and aside from a TV Tuner issue over the last 6 months, we've really just been able to watch TV the way we want. When I do get time, I've started to explore other aspects of MCE (or media PC in general) eg centralising photos/videos/music on servers and sharing them to the MCE box (my daughter loves watching the clips from her 2nd birthday party!).

One day, if I truly have nothing more to explore, I might revisit MP. But I'll probably check out Vista before then or Windows Home Server or renovating the house

[nikko1974]

Hey VBAP, cheers for your reply.

Can you recall the codecs you found best to use on MP?

I am a bit confused on the best solutions......mixed msgs out there.

Cheers, Nikko

[vbap]

Originally Posted by nikko1974

Can you recall the codecs you found best to use on MP?

I am a bit confused on the best solutions......mixed msgs out there.

Yes, well, I found same as you (at the time). I haven't used it in such a long time, so my suggestions would just add to your confusion!

A scan on the forums here would also show "mixed msgs". Unfortunately, codecs are one of those things that is mostly subjective and works differently for different hardware (including TV the machine is attached to).

For what it's worth, with MCE2005, I have used PureVideo almost exclusively (along with ffdshow for DiVX). (tested others, but can't really tell the difference).

[maral]

I used MCE for a few weeks and recently switched to MP. I can't comment on reliability as I haven't used it long enough however I can say usability is much better than MCE and there are alot more things you can do with it (via plugins etc).

Im using the nvidia purevideo codec. Works great.

Btw, I'm not using tvserver. Just the standard single user MP solution.

[Vidarparry]

Hi all,

Having fought with MCE 2005 for several weeks, and suffered the MS MAPS subscription problem (only got Vista Home, so couldn't try a Vista MCE), I downloaded and tried MediaPortal. Within a few hours I had it working on XP as a media server and other PC's streaming TV from it.

OK, it's not in "production" in my house yet, but it was certainly easier to get to a basic level of functionality.

Having said that, there are quite a few things on the user interface I'm yet to resolve, and it's also shown up a problem with my wired network that I didn't know I had:-))

Due to work commitments, I've not done much for the last 3-4 weeks, but I'm intending to pursue MP a bit more.

Cheers
...Steve

[maral]

I tried the tv server and "it just works". A nice feature is it keeps the timeshift buffer even if you switch channels. In MCE once you switch you lose it.

The fact that you have to download a nightly snapshot of the codebase may put many people off. However, I think people need to look past that as the benefits for me have outweighed the risks thus far.

Crickey I worked out today it can even interface with my antec vfd just like MCE did.

[arkay]

I used MP for a while but switched back when I got my new TV tuner that wasn't supported at the time. They were also switching to the client/server tv model and I didn't need the stress of all those beta's..

That being said though for the time I did use it I found it very good. It wipes the floor with MCE in terms of functionality.

You have to weigh up what is more important. Extra functionality or extra glitz.

MP has the functionality but not the snappy transition effects on the menus. Of course, no one has a PVR to watch the menu's so things like ffdshow DVD upscaling can be a real serious reason to switch over.

It works a little different to MCE but can be every bit as stable. It's just a different learning curve than what we've been through here.

The fact that multiple and mixed tuners are also supported is something that should appeal. Turn around time on problems is faster as it's open source but conversely the rate of change is fast (thus introducing problems). If you're like me and you have to try out the new features then you will suffer the instability. If you get a stable config and are happy to stop reading what other goodies you could have if you upgrade you should be fine

Cheers,

Arkay.

[leigh]

Im currently setting up my first HTPC, and i am going to try and set up media portal.
this has only been happening for the last few days and im up to configuring the tuner card. I am using the DNTV live! dual hybrid tuner card. Im not sure whether the remote control that comes with the card will work with media portal, but i will be finding out very soon. Hopefully tonight i can get all of the channels tuned in.
I am really only after a basic setup, so if media portal can run smoothly i will most likely stick with it. if its no good, i'll pay a bit of cash for vista.

[mick5au]

You could also try GBPVR from http://www.gbpvr.com/

This is similar to Media Portal.