New Zealand operates DVB-S (mpeg2) and DVB-T (mpeg4/H.264) and has no readily accessible net based EPG (at least without registry hacks etc provided on this site). I use Media Portal/ Media Portal-Server because it is the only relatively simple windows based system that allows me to manually set up my HVR-3000 tuner card. EPG is downlinked from the satellite. It also has the ability to use 3rd party installed codecs to play mpeg4/H.264 streams. Its biggest drawback is its stability, much improved in recent times
, but still not rock solid.
So on this side of the Tasman VistaMC could do with:
1. A way to manually configure DVB (S & T) tuner cards,
2. Codecs for mpeg4/H.264/AACS,
or at least allow connection to 3rd party TV servers so we can use the VMC frontend.
If someone from MS views this I suggest they sneak a peak at the MediaPortal website. While I recognise VMC is a global consumer product, some manual configuration options for areas without EPGs and future proofing with H.264 codecs would be handy. Even if it was provided as a patch for specific countries.
NZ VMC - Manual Tuner Configuration
