Au revoir - I'll miss you. (2 Viewers)

[JDWestoby]

ONGGGG term MP user (and donator - why wouldn't you?) and leaving somewhat reluctantly. Few reasons, some that just seem intractable.

1) Microsoft are being a right pain with wanting my TV recorder PC NEEDING a login - it's an appliance guys! Pity really, I was looking forward to them not forcing reboots and updates on me.

2) Used to use MP1 and that was solid and fine for what I wanted (later). But had to reinstall and even with a complete Windows new install I could not get MP1 to work again - no idea why - so I installed MP2, and now we come to a few MP specifics.

3) TV Wish List was BRILLIANT. I was not happy that Huha stopped supporting it. I never managed to get it to work on MP2, so, thud, one nail.

4) I know you can - but 'flicky' interfaces are just annoying. Where's the vaulted 10 foot interface when I can't even see where the active button is and if I move something jumps in or out of view? Bang, another one.

5) Oh well, at least I can record manually and delete than when I've watched them. Oh, no - I can't delete them! I have to get into the file system and delete the files (which has fully public access as a TV recorder box to everyone and his dog) but can I delete it from inside MP - errrrr, no. Strike three!

6) This one is weird - I got two images for each recording, no idea why and nor could I get rid of them - even with a total removal and reinstall (about 6 times over the last month).

I used MP JUST as a PVR and instead it seems to have succumbed to "featuritis!

I just bought a Manhattan PVR and that is just so intuitive, it does one thing and does it ridiculously well.

SO, so sorry, but bye guys - if you ever get a Linux variant that works as a PVR (and I know about the lack of drivers issue) then give me a call.

The work that went into this was amazing and I'm not sorry I used it, I wish it well.

 

[CyberSimian]

LONGGGG term MP user (and donator - why wouldn't you?) and leaving somewhat reluctantly. Few reasons, some that just seem intractable.

Possibly you have already made a firm decision to leave MP. But just in case you are still vacillating...

Microsoft are being a right pain with wanting my TV recorder PC NEEDING a login

TV Server runs as a service, and you don't need to login in order for TV Server to run and record programmes. I use "PowerScheduler" to reboot my system at 04:00 hours each Sunday, but my HTPC still wakes at 06:00 to record a programme and grab the EPG, even though it displays the login screen when I later switch it on.

For the MP client (or a single-seat system), most people use sleep or hibernation when not using their systems, and both states allow the PC to wake without requiring a login password. This setting moved in Windows 10 -- it is now located in "Settings" > "Accounts" > "Sign-in options" > "Require sign-in" > "Never". In Windows 7 this setting is: "Control Panel" > "Power Options" > "Require a password on wakeup" > "Don't require a password".

But had to reinstall and even with a complete Windows new install I could not get MP1 to work again

The current MP 1.36 seems to have an installation problem that affects some users. To check this, I performed a true first-time install of MP 1.36 64-bit on Windows 10 64-bit expecting the install to fail, but in fact it succeeded, and resulted in a fully-working MP1 installation.

If you are one of the unfortunate ones that (for whatever reason) cannot get a successful first-time install of MP 1.36, the workaround is to perform a first-time install of MP 1.33 (32-bit or 64-bit), and then perform an upgrade install from MP 1.33 to MP 1.36 (you can skip 1.34 and 1.35).

TV Wish List was BRILLIANT ... I never managed to get it to work on MP2

Not unexpected, I think. When MP2 was being designed and coded, there was no requirement that MP1 extensions should work on MP2.

'flicky' interfaces are just annoying

This sounds like the "Nereus" skin. I too am not a fan of this skin, but there are other MP2 skins available. (I don't use MP2, so I have not tried any of the alternative skins.)

at least I can record manually and delete than when I've watched them. Oh, no - I can't delete them!

I guess that this point relates to MP2. I have done only very-limited testing of MP2, and I cannot remember whether I actually tried deleting a recording using MP2.

Some MP2 installers have three different TV Servers available (TVE3, TVE3.5, and TvMosaic). Only TVE3 works correctly. If you selected TVE3.5 or TvMosaic, that might explain why you are having difficulties deleting recordings. If you like, you can run the MP2 installer again, only this time select TVE3. The installer will uninstall TVE3.5/TvMosaic, and then install TVE3.

I got two images for each recording, no idea why and nor could I get rid of them

Again, I guess that this relates to MP2. I don't know what might be causing this.

I just bought a Manhattan PVR and that is just so intuitive, it does one thing and does it ridiculously well.

I have a Humax HDR-Fox-T2, which I retain as my "emergency backup" in case my HTPC explodes. DVRs seem to be a disappearing breed. The current Humax DVRs are generally regarded as being worse than the HDR-Fox-T2 with respect to the basics of recording broadcast TV (perhaps they are better for streaming, which is not something that interests me).

In case you have not already seen it, there is a thread on Digital Spy dealing with the Manhattan DVR.

if you ever get a Linux variant that works as a PVR

Unlikely.

The work that went into this was amazing

I certainly agree with that.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[harryzwo]

I think. When MP2 was being designed and coded, there was no requirement that MP1 extensions should work on MP2.

But that would have been good. That would increase the acceptance of MP2 for switching.

 

[framug]

Hello,
Not in my POV.
Because of that, many useful extensions/plug-ins are not available.
And, even if MP2 is a hard work, this is a NO GO for plenty of improvments.
One example is powerscheduler plugin...

 

[JDWestoby]

Hi CyberSimian (and others) just a bit along the coast from me (near Exeter) - I know you are very long-standing!

Not going to make this long winded or anything, but just to point out over the @15 years I've overall donated several hundred quid. And I begrduge NONE of it, not a penny - I do wish MP well - 100%. It is an awesome project with some seriously clever/dedicated people working on/for/advocating it.

TV Service may run as a service, but it was on a Single-Seat install and even so MS would come along and reboot the brute every so often - not MP's fault I know - hence I was looking forward to them NOT doing updates. Oh, this was also a 24/7 box as it runs (sorry, ran) my Home Automation too. C'mon, it was on a 4GHz system - massively overpowered - I over-enginner EVERYTHING.

Already decided - no, I take some slight exception to that, duplicate recordings, not deleting from inside the GUI and a flicky interface - not what my poor tired eyes want to deal with. (Kept forgetting to delete the news and had to try to work out which one I hadn't watched!)

I rarely customise anything - long-term IT support, so anothier skin or tv server - dunno. If I get used to customisations you can bet your bottom dollar I'll have to work on someone's machine that isn't set up 'just so'. (Heck, I'm left handed, imagine the fun for me if I had to use to a right-handed mouse then.)

I never asked MP2 to support WishList - I was thinking about making my own simplified version that would just hit the database and provide a list of things I might want to watch. But there comes a time when it just seems like chasing your own tail.

After persevering with this from early December to Jan, enough was enough.

Please accept, this isn't something I came to lightly, I LOVE OpenSource.