Media Portal????

mdbarber · 2008-05-10, 18:23

3 weeks ago i downloaded the installer for media portal rc1, used for a couple of weeks and a few issues arose which i put down to system not mp.

Today i built a new setup and installed vista, then using the installer collected 3 weeks previously, i started to set up mp.

Immediately I noticed no option for request for standalone (wo tv server and sql ), half an hour later totally lost as to what was going on i un-installed the lot, incl all the sql crud.

Some of us have got used to the same setup routine over a year of installs, and whilst i don't wish to be a stick in the mud, installation alone is no improvement at all

Requiring a full blown database server running on machine with inherent security risks, a zillion features and coding that will never be used and way over complicated setup is a joke and has ruined any user friendliness that existed

No offense guys but this is one step forward two steps back, i can understand the need to move to a consolidated approach instead of developing multiple applications but no warning and no finished product on the standalone side??

Within seconds of install i came across first problems,, OK so scanning for channels is now launched from within mp, does a box come up telling u to scan before launching mytv,,no and trying to select any uk scan sites involved pressing page down a 100 times as pressing u key equated to "go scan"? instead of move down to list items starting with U

WTH is going on,, major changes like this should be published a wee bit more,,, loudly??

Maybe its me, maybe i'm missing something here but i was well impressed with the install 3 wks ago but now?,, for me a promising media application making the worth over a dedicated network media has vanished.

mdbarber · 2008-05-15, 15:34

Not a single comment?
Just out of curiosity how many people actually run Media portal as anything other than a single stand alone box vs network player

shwan · 2008-05-15, 16:16

Up until Wed I used MP for streaming media from another PC on my network, since Wed I've stuck a DVB-S card in it to watch Freesat and BBC HD - so now it does both things. But I had to update to the latest RC1 MP + TV Server.
I agree that the installation is a little more complicated, with the setting up of sql etc, but I wouldn't say that it ruined the application, the installation itself was automatic, it's just the aftersteps that might be a little daunting to some.
I had a problem with a .dll file, but it was all documented on wiki, so after a quick read up it was all clear.
The documentation will arrive eventually when people with the experience and time get round to writing it =)

Shwan

posterberg · 2008-05-15, 18:51

I used MP a few year ago bu t gave it up because it didn't have the TV server so I moved to MythTV.

I never liked Myth mainly because it doesn't look good and can be a pain to set up.

Anyways, the TV server option is the best news that has happened to MP! I've removed any remains of MythTV now and run entirely on MP and am satisfied with the result.

There are still some things on the wish list, but MP is really cool now.

PS. 1 dedicated server and 3 clients...

funkstar · 2008-05-15, 21:47

If you don't need the TVServer functionality, you don't need to install it and can just use the classic MP TV engine without all the extra SQL installs.

I'm running a client/server PC and a second client in the bedroom. Personally I found the install much much easier with RC1, mainly because it does all the installing for you. In previous releases you had to manually download and install SQL etc.

mdbarber · 2008-05-15, 22:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkstar

If you don't need the TVServer functionality, you don't need to install it and can just use the classic MP TV engine without all the extra SQL installs.

I'm running a client/server PC and a second client in the bedroom. Personally I found the install much much easier with RC1, mainly because it does all the installing for you. In previous releases you had to manually download and install SQL etc.

see thats what wouldn't work for me, even selecting standalone insisted on the tvserver/sql install has this now been fixed? or set

Marcusb · 2008-05-16, 01:41

this is all determined by the questions about TV in the early steps.

If you answer that you will be watching HD TV then you will get the TV Server, since this is the only way to get HD TV.
If you say you will not be watching HD TV and you will not watch on more than one PC, then you will get the built in TV Server. It's trying to make things much simpler for people who don't know the difference between the two engines, as was causing a LOT of confusion on the install process. Most people consider this a big improvement

For me, I love the TV Server so much more and have it serving tv to two PCs and a laptop around the house. Even in single seat, the TV Server works much better than the built in engine in most circumstances.

James · 2008-05-16, 06:01

As Marcusb said,

If you answer No to the HD TV question, the next question is which TV engine would you like to use in-built or server. If you answer Yes to HD TV you don't get asked.

Marcusb · 2008-05-16, 08:39

thanks James. I've never said No to that question before, so never knew what happened after that step ;-)
Just the basics on what waqs supposed to happen.

2008-05-10, 18:23	#1 (permalink)
mdbarber Portal Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 77 Thanks: 5 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Country:	Media Portal???? 3 weeks ago i downloaded the installer for media portal rc1, used for a couple of weeks and a few issues arose which i put down to system not mp. Today i built a new setup and installed vista, then using the installer collected 3 weeks previously, i started to set up mp. Immediately I noticed no option for request for standalone (wo tv server and sql ), half an hour later totally lost as to what was going on i un-installed the lot, incl all the sql crud. Some of us have got used to the same setup routine over a year of installs, and whilst i don't wish to be a stick in the mud, installation alone is no improvement at all Requiring a full blown database server running on machine with inherent security risks, a zillion features and coding that will never be used and way over complicated setup is a joke and has ruined any user friendliness that existed No offense guys but this is one step forward two steps back, i can understand the need to move to a consolidated approach instead of developing multiple applications but no warning and no finished product on the standalone side?? Within seconds of install i came across first problems,, OK so scanning for channels is now launched from within mp, does a box come up telling u to scan before launching mytv,,no and trying to select any uk scan sites involved pressing page down a 100 times as pressing u key equated to "go scan"? instead of move down to list items starting with U WTH is going on,, major changes like this should be published a wee bit more,,, loudly?? Maybe its me, maybe i'm missing something here but i was well impressed with the install 3 wks ago but now?,, for me a promising media application making the worth over a dedicated network media has vanished.

2008-05-16, 06:01	#8 (permalink)
James Portal Developer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Switzerland Posts: 1,348 Thanks: 4 Thanked 55 Times in 34 Posts	As Marcusb said, If you answer No to the HD TV question, the next question is which TV engine would you like to use in-built or server. If you answer Yes to HD TV you don't get asked. Last edited by James; 2008-05-16 at 10:34.

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2008-05-15, 15:34	#2 (permalink)
mdbarber Portal Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 77 Thanks: 5 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Country:	Not a single comment? Just out of curiosity how many people actually run Media portal as anything other than a single stand alone box vs network player

2008-05-15, 16:16	#3 (permalink)
shwan Portal Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 8 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country:	Up until Wed I used MP for streaming media from another PC on my network, since Wed I've stuck a DVB-S card in it to watch Freesat and BBC HD - so now it does both things. But I had to update to the latest RC1 MP + TV Server. I agree that the installation is a little more complicated, with the setting up of sql etc, but I wouldn't say that it ruined the application, the installation itself was automatic, it's just the aftersteps that might be a little daunting to some. I had a problem with a .dll file, but it was all documented on wiki, so after a quick read up it was all clear. The documentation will arrive eventually when people with the experience and time get round to writing it =) Shwan

2008-05-15, 18:51	#4 (permalink)
posterberg Portal Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Malmö Age: 35 Posts: 12 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country:	I used MP a few year ago bu t gave it up because it didn't have the TV server so I moved to MythTV. I never liked Myth mainly because it doesn't look good and can be a pain to set up. Anyways, the TV server option is the best news that has happened to MP! I've removed any remains of MythTV now and run entirely on MP and am satisfied with the result. There are still some things on the wish list, but MP is really cool now. PS. 1 dedicated server and 3 clients...

2008-05-15, 21:47	#5 (permalink)
funkstar Portal Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Home Posts: 386 Thanks: 5 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Country:	If you don't need the TVServer functionality, you don't need to install it and can just use the classic MP TV engine without all the extra SQL installs. I'm running a client/server PC and a second client in the bedroom. Personally I found the install much much easier with RC1, mainly because it does all the installing for you. In previous releases you had to manually download and install SQL etc.

2008-05-16, 01:41	#7 (permalink)
Marcusb Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,932 Thanks: 67 Thanked 28 Times in 28 Posts Country: My System	this is all determined by the questions about TV in the early steps. If you answer that you will be watching HD TV then you will get the TV Server, since this is the only way to get HD TV. If you say you will not be watching HD TV and you will not watch on more than one PC, then you will get the built in TV Server. It's trying to make things much simpler for people who don't know the difference between the two engines, as was causing a LOT of confusion on the install process. Most people consider this a big improvement For me, I love the TV Server so much more and have it serving tv to two PCs and a laptop around the house. Even in single seat, the TV Server works much better than the built in engine in most circumstances.

2008-05-16, 08:39	#9 (permalink)
Marcusb Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,932 Thanks: 67 Thanked 28 Times in 28 Posts Country: My System	thanks James. I've never said No to that question before, so never knew what happened after that step ;-) Just the basics on what waqs supposed to happen.