running media portal on media server?

[giantjoebot]

MediaPortal Version: None yet
Windows Version: XP Pro
CPU Type: Celey 2.56GHZ socket 478
HDD: 1 160GB and 1TB spanned RAID
Memory: 1GB DDR400
Motherboard: ASRock
Motherboard Chipset: Intel
Motherboard Bios: NA
Video Card: MX440
Video Card Driver: NA
Sound Card: Onboard
Sound Card AC3: NA
Sound Card Driver: NA
1. TV Card: Lifeview FlyVideo 2000 with Philips SAA7130
1. TV Card Type: NA
1. TV Card Driver: NA
MPEG2 Video Codec: NA
MPEG2 Audio Codec: NA
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Comcast basic
HTPC Case: mid tower
Cooling: CPU stock, VGA passive, 6 80mm case
Power Supply: Thermaltake 420WATT
Remote: NA
TV: Can't think of it at the moment.

I actually have just a couple of quick questions. I currently have DirecTV with a TiVo DVR (It only works with DireTV), but I don't watch that much TV. Everything that I watch is either on basic cable or I download. So I am planning on switching to Comcast's basic cable which would only be like $7 a month after the discount that I get on my internet service through them. I want to use my media server, which is described above, to capture the few shows that I watch, then watch them on my computer or modded xbox. Money might be tight so I am going to use a Lifeview FlyVideo 2000 with Philips SAA7130 that I can get by trading my current capture card that does not have a tuner with someone.

I looked at the compatibility list, and I'm a little confused. Now I'm getting basic cable, the type that actually plugs directly into a TV, which compatibility list should I be looking at?

I was also wondering if you can access the the TV recording in a regular file system?

I'm not going to be using this to watch the video, just capture it, do I still need a DX9 Graphics card?

I can remote desktop into my media server, but is there any other way to contol media portal from another computer?

[onkl]

It might be possible:
With the new TV server, it is possible to record TV programs on a non-DX9 machine. It would be easiest if you do have a DX9 capable machine somewhere in your network, then install MP client there and select the shows to record. Else, you might want to install the client on your mediaserver (even though it won't run) and control it via the web interface.
The recordings are available trough your filesystem, though possibly not in a format Xboxes like. I understood some auto-convert plugin to watch your recordings folder is available, but you can also look for third party programs.

As for compatibility, you can look here, at the two sections with analog cards. Keep in mind that the old tv engine needed at least 2.6 GHz when you use a software encoding capture card, don't know what specs we talk about when regarding the TV server, but you might be on the low end there.

[giantjoebot]

Until everything calms down, and my financial situation looks stable, I might pull out the old VCR, and then When I have the money build a dedicated machine with a nice capture card. I already have a spare ASUS A8N SLI 939 motherboard, and a Athlon XP 2200. So I can either build a socket A or 939 machine. Or upgrade my media server to a 939 machine with a faster processor, and a DX9 card and a nice tuner card. Any recommendations on a tuner card?

Then I can either go with media portal or mythTV. I'm sure that my Modded Xbox can play the file formate. The only thing that it has problems with is some MKV conatiners. And the thing that I like about it is it displays on my CRT type TV perfect, where as I have had problems with Vid cards with svideo ports.

I was not aware that media portal had a web interface. Is it difficult to configure? That sounds like a viable option.

[infinityloop]

EDIT: oops thought its about the TV-Server here

Originally Posted by giantjoebot

I looked at the compatibility list, and I'm a little confused. Now I'm getting basic cable, the type that actually plugs directly into a TV, which compatibility list should I be looking at?

For the TV-Server its no longer required to add the support for new cards. It detects the available TV-Cards and uses them.
But software encoding cards are NOT supported.

dvb-s, -c, -t and analog hardware encoding cards should work out of the box.

Originally Posted by giantjoebot

I was also wondering if you can access the the TV recording in a regular file system?

The TV-Server will store the recorded mpg2 files in a folder which you set in configuration (setupTV).
If you run the MediaPortal TV-Server on a Server-PC and access the files via a LAN, you will have to create a networkshare for this folder where you store your recordings.

Originally Posted by giantjoebot

I'm not going to be using this to watch the video, just capture it, do I still need a DX9 Graphics card?

No. a DX9 card is not required. you can even use a Server2003 installation (like i do)
The TV-Server does not use the Streambuffer Engine of MS.
so you could also be able to run it on a Win2000/NT5 (no tested!)

Originally Posted by giantjoebot

I can remote desktop into my media server, but is there any other way to contol media portal from another computer?

if you want to change something on the TV-Server you will have to access this PC soemhow. localy, RDP or VNC i.e.

Once you configured the TV-Server you can use the MediaPortal Client on your HTPC to watch TV/schedule recordings/watch recorded shows.

there is no difference in using MyTV with the TV-Server/Client compared with MediaPortal 0.2.0.0

[giantjoebot]

Thats a awesome avatar!

I ended up just getting a deal through Comcast for the next year, and I got one of their DVRs which wasn't part of the deal and cost an extra $10 a month. It ended up not being to much more than what I would have been paying. I'll definetly setup the server client when I have the money to buy a good tuner card. Then I can ditch the DVR with comcast and save that $10 a month, and when the year deal is up I'll drop down to basic cable, and get rid of their phone service for another VOIP thats cheaper.

I was wondering about the server, but didn't find much info. I've got one quick question. I'll be using my PC as the client. So can I choose when to run media portal client. I mean its not like MCE. I can boot into XP, and then launch MPC when I want to watch shows right?

[onkl]

Originally Posted by giantjoebot

[...]
I was wondering about the server, but didn't find much info. I've got one quick question. I'll be using my PC as the client. So can I choose when to run media portal client. I mean its not like MCE. I can boot into XP, and then launch MPC when I want to watch shows right?

MP behaves like any normal program, so you'll just have a "Mediaportal" entry in your start menu. There is a "start when the PC is started" option, but it's off by default. For the rest, if not started, MP is fully inactive, so it doesn't interfere with Windows whatsoever like MCE sometimes seems to do.

[giantjoebot]

Sweat! Sorry I didn't reply sooner, but for some reason I didn't get a notification in my email. I'm totally going to run media portal server. It sounds like my best option if I don't want to build another computer.

What is the resource strain like?