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<blockquote data-quote="CyberSimian" data-source="post: 1282262" data-attributes="member: 141969"><p>Firstly, I must mention that I have forgotten whether you are using MP1 or MP2. The "TV Server" part is identical for both products, but the MP part differs between MP1 and MP2.</p><p></p><p>I use MP1 exclusively, and [USER=128337]@joecrow[/USER] currently uses MP1, but is being tempted by the Dark Side (MP2). Below I can only tell you how MP1 would do it. If you are using MP2, someone else will need to reply.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Various manufacturers have produced remote controls for Windows Media Center (WMC). These have substantially the same set of buttons on each, with only one or two additional buttons that differ between remotes. If you purchased the HP remote, that is a WMC remote control ("MCE RC6"), and it works with the default MP config.</p><p></p><p>However, you can customise most (possibly all) buttons on the remote to do whatever actions you prefer. Obviously the actions are pre-defined by MP, but you can choose the subset that you want for your remote control.</p><p></p><p><strong>MP1:</strong> In "MP Config", click the "Mapping" button on the "HID" tab in the "Remotes and Input Devices" section. There you can see what each button does and change it if you want (this panel may take a bit of learning to understand how to use it).</p><p></p><p></p><p>Microsoft set the standard when they introduced WMC, so most other media-center applications use the same remote control. You can probably use the HP remote to control Kodi, NextPvr, and so on.</p><p></p><p>If the question is "can the HP remote be used to control other devices such as my TV, my DVD player, my DVR?", the answer is "no". For that, you would need a programmable universal remote control that can control multiple devices. You still need to use the HP IR receiver for the HTPC, though.</p><p></p><p>I use a Logitech Harmony 650 remote control, which can operate up to six devices. Harmony remotes implement "activities" that make switching between devices "one press" actions. But Harmony remotes are not without their disadvantages, so Harmony is not an unqualified recommendation.</p><p></p><p></p><p>You don't. Instead you choose a password that consists entirely of numbers.</p><p></p><p>I initially set up my system (Windows 7) so that it did not require a password. But then I found that I could never connect to it over my home network from my laptop. To move files between them, I had to copy the files to a USB memory stick, carry the memory stick to the other system, and then copy the files from the memory stick. I got fed up with that after a few months, so I gave in and defined a password on the HTPC, after which the systems connected immediately (doh!). To allow the password to be entered from the remote control, I used numeric digits.</p><p></p><p>There is one caveat: when I setup my system I defined two users, so the logon screen has two user icons, and I need to click the one I want to logon (I use an Ortek/Hama remote to do that, as it has a built-in mouse). With Windows 10, it defaults (I think) to the previous logged-on user, so you need only to enter the password (numeric digits) and press the OK button on the remote.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>MP1:</strong> As [USER=128337]@joecrow[/USER] mentioned, there is a startup option that you can select to cause MP to start automatically when Windows boots, and (independently) to start fullscreen.</p><p></p><p><strong>MP1:</strong> With your remote, you should be able to start MP from the Windows desktop by pressing the "green marble" button on the remote. There is another config setting to enable this <a href="https://www.team-mediaportal.com/wiki/display/MediaPortal1/Additional+3rd+Party+Checks" target="_blank">Additional 3rd Party Checks</a> (you want to enable the "MpTray" utility).</p><p></p><p></p><p>I believe that Windows 10 Update sometimes needs to perform a reboot after updates have been installed. This is not always the case, as some updates don't require a reboot.</p><p></p><p>Very rarely I have encountered an unexpected system restart. There is a tool called "Blue Screen View" that provides a readable interpretation of the Windows dump info, and in my case the reboot is usually caused by the TV tuner driver. Not much that I can do about that (my tuner is long out of production, so the driver is no longer maintained by the manufacturer).</p><p></p><p><strong>MP1:</strong> Recent versions of MP have an occasional tendency to terminate, but MP then restarts immediately. This <em>is</em> an MP problem, but no solution is available at the present time (and this does not cause a system reboot).</p><p></p><p></p><p>For Windows 10, you could try enabling the <strong>I am using a metered internet connection</strong> setting (this is located somewhere in Windows internet settings). On a different Windows 10 laptop, this has (so far) successfully prevented Windows updating from version 1609.</p><p></p><p>For Avast, if you cannot disable automatic updates, I am minded to ask whether you need antivirus at all if you don't connect to the internet for other purposes (youtube, netflix, web browsing, email, social media). In fact, if you are using the broadcast EPG, you need never connect to the internet except when installing a new version of MP (and maybe to synchronise the system clock with a web-based time server).</p><p></p><p>I run my HTPC without any additional antivirus/antimalware software -- I use only what is provided with Windows.</p><p></p><p></p><p>When I used WMC, I had eight tuners in my system, because WMC used one tuner per channel. I have now reduced that to six tuners, because MP uses one tuner per MUX. Nevertheless I do occasionally end up performing eight simultaneous recordings <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite9" alt=":eek:" title="Eek! :eek:" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":eek:" />, but all without problem. I draw the limit at eight simultaneous recordings. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big Grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /></p><p></p><p>Make sure that the disk being used for the recordings is:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Not a slow disk (e.g. not a 4200 rpm laptop disk),</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Internal to the HTPC (e.g. not a USB disk or NAS disk),</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Has plenty of empty space (writing to a disk that has very little empty space takes longer, because Windows has to move the read/write heads all over the disk to use the empty space).</li> </ul><p></p><p>Tuners in HTPCs are less sensitive than tuners in TV sets or tuners in DVRs. This means that you need a stronger signal for an HTPC in order to have reliable reception. Also, in the UK the various MUXes differ in broadcast signal strength. For example, at my location:</p><p></p><p>(1) Three MUXes broadcast at 200 kW power</p><p>(2) Three MUXes broadcast ar 50 kW power</p><p>(3) Two MUXes broadcast at 20 kW power</p><p></p><p>My TBS tuners can receive (1) and (2) without problem, but (3) is marginal (so I have excluded those from the EPG). My Pinnacle tuners can receive only (1), with no trace of (2) or (3). I use a loft aerial, and I could probably receive all MUXes if I installed an external roof-top aerial.</p><p></p><p>Obviously, the MUX powers are likely to be different at your location, but you should go to one of the internet web sites to review the broadcast powers of your transmitter. Try <a href="https://www.freeview.co.uk/help" target="_blank">this web site</a>, click "What channels should I get", enter your postcode, click "Check", and then scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Detailed view". Scroll down a bit until you see the MUXes listed for each transmitter. If you hover the mouse pointer over the channel number, it will show various data, including the power in kW (it is the last item of data in the hover text).</p><p></p><p>It may be instructive to observe which channels fail to record, or which have pixelation. If the problem is signal strength, you will have more problems with channels in the weak MUXes.</p><p></p><p>Some people use aerial amplifiers (indeed, I do <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big Grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /> ), but remember that an aerial amplifier does not improve signal to noise ratio -- in fact the amplifier will worsen signal-to-noise ratio (because the amplifier will add its own noise). But if you already have an aerial amplifier (or can borrow one), it might be worth trying. Otherwise is means paying £300 to an aerial installer to install a better aerial system. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite9" alt=":eek:" title="Eek! :eek:" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":eek:" /></p><p></p><p>-- from CyberSimian in the UK</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CyberSimian, post: 1282262, member: 141969"] Firstly, I must mention that I have forgotten whether you are using MP1 or MP2. The "TV Server" part is identical for both products, but the MP part differs between MP1 and MP2. I use MP1 exclusively, and [USER=128337]@joecrow[/USER] currently uses MP1, but is being tempted by the Dark Side (MP2). Below I can only tell you how MP1 would do it. If you are using MP2, someone else will need to reply. Various manufacturers have produced remote controls for Windows Media Center (WMC). These have substantially the same set of buttons on each, with only one or two additional buttons that differ between remotes. If you purchased the HP remote, that is a WMC remote control ("MCE RC6"), and it works with the default MP config. However, you can customise most (possibly all) buttons on the remote to do whatever actions you prefer. Obviously the actions are pre-defined by MP, but you can choose the subset that you want for your remote control. [B]MP1:[/B] In "MP Config", click the "Mapping" button on the "HID" tab in the "Remotes and Input Devices" section. There you can see what each button does and change it if you want (this panel may take a bit of learning to understand how to use it). Microsoft set the standard when they introduced WMC, so most other media-center applications use the same remote control. You can probably use the HP remote to control Kodi, NextPvr, and so on. If the question is "can the HP remote be used to control other devices such as my TV, my DVD player, my DVR?", the answer is "no". For that, you would need a programmable universal remote control that can control multiple devices. You still need to use the HP IR receiver for the HTPC, though. I use a Logitech Harmony 650 remote control, which can operate up to six devices. Harmony remotes implement "activities" that make switching between devices "one press" actions. But Harmony remotes are not without their disadvantages, so Harmony is not an unqualified recommendation. You don't. Instead you choose a password that consists entirely of numbers. I initially set up my system (Windows 7) so that it did not require a password. But then I found that I could never connect to it over my home network from my laptop. To move files between them, I had to copy the files to a USB memory stick, carry the memory stick to the other system, and then copy the files from the memory stick. I got fed up with that after a few months, so I gave in and defined a password on the HTPC, after which the systems connected immediately (doh!). To allow the password to be entered from the remote control, I used numeric digits. There is one caveat: when I setup my system I defined two users, so the logon screen has two user icons, and I need to click the one I want to logon (I use an Ortek/Hama remote to do that, as it has a built-in mouse). With Windows 10, it defaults (I think) to the previous logged-on user, so you need only to enter the password (numeric digits) and press the OK button on the remote. [B]MP1:[/B] As [USER=128337]@joecrow[/USER] mentioned, there is a startup option that you can select to cause MP to start automatically when Windows boots, and (independently) to start fullscreen. [B]MP1:[/B] With your remote, you should be able to start MP from the Windows desktop by pressing the "green marble" button on the remote. There is another config setting to enable this [URL='https://www.team-mediaportal.com/wiki/display/MediaPortal1/Additional+3rd+Party+Checks']Additional 3rd Party Checks[/URL] (you want to enable the "MpTray" utility). I believe that Windows 10 Update sometimes needs to perform a reboot after updates have been installed. This is not always the case, as some updates don't require a reboot. Very rarely I have encountered an unexpected system restart. There is a tool called "Blue Screen View" that provides a readable interpretation of the Windows dump info, and in my case the reboot is usually caused by the TV tuner driver. Not much that I can do about that (my tuner is long out of production, so the driver is no longer maintained by the manufacturer). [B]MP1:[/B] Recent versions of MP have an occasional tendency to terminate, but MP then restarts immediately. This [I]is[/I] an MP problem, but no solution is available at the present time (and this does not cause a system reboot). For Windows 10, you could try enabling the [B]I am using a metered internet connection[/B] setting (this is located somewhere in Windows internet settings). On a different Windows 10 laptop, this has (so far) successfully prevented Windows updating from version 1609. For Avast, if you cannot disable automatic updates, I am minded to ask whether you need antivirus at all if you don't connect to the internet for other purposes (youtube, netflix, web browsing, email, social media). In fact, if you are using the broadcast EPG, you need never connect to the internet except when installing a new version of MP (and maybe to synchronise the system clock with a web-based time server). I run my HTPC without any additional antivirus/antimalware software -- I use only what is provided with Windows. When I used WMC, I had eight tuners in my system, because WMC used one tuner per channel. I have now reduced that to six tuners, because MP uses one tuner per MUX. Nevertheless I do occasionally end up performing eight simultaneous recordings :eek:, but all without problem. I draw the limit at eight simultaneous recordings. :D Make sure that the disk being used for the recordings is: [LIST] [*]Not a slow disk (e.g. not a 4200 rpm laptop disk), [*]Internal to the HTPC (e.g. not a USB disk or NAS disk), [*]Has plenty of empty space (writing to a disk that has very little empty space takes longer, because Windows has to move the read/write heads all over the disk to use the empty space). [/LIST] Tuners in HTPCs are less sensitive than tuners in TV sets or tuners in DVRs. This means that you need a stronger signal for an HTPC in order to have reliable reception. Also, in the UK the various MUXes differ in broadcast signal strength. For example, at my location: (1) Three MUXes broadcast at 200 kW power (2) Three MUXes broadcast ar 50 kW power (3) Two MUXes broadcast at 20 kW power My TBS tuners can receive (1) and (2) without problem, but (3) is marginal (so I have excluded those from the EPG). My Pinnacle tuners can receive only (1), with no trace of (2) or (3). I use a loft aerial, and I could probably receive all MUXes if I installed an external roof-top aerial. Obviously, the MUX powers are likely to be different at your location, but you should go to one of the internet web sites to review the broadcast powers of your transmitter. Try [URL='https://www.freeview.co.uk/help']this web site[/URL], click "What channels should I get", enter your postcode, click "Check", and then scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Detailed view". Scroll down a bit until you see the MUXes listed for each transmitter. If you hover the mouse pointer over the channel number, it will show various data, including the power in kW (it is the last item of data in the hover text). It may be instructive to observe which channels fail to record, or which have pixelation. If the problem is signal strength, you will have more problems with channels in the weak MUXes. Some people use aerial amplifiers (indeed, I do :D ), but remember that an aerial amplifier does not improve signal to noise ratio -- in fact the amplifier will worsen signal-to-noise ratio (because the amplifier will add its own noise). But if you already have an aerial amplifier (or can borrow one), it might be worth trying. Otherwise is means paying £300 to an aerial installer to install a better aerial system. :eek: -- from CyberSimian in the UK [/QUOTE]
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