Classic TV Engine or TV Server? (1 Viewer)

hbryce

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I am building a "mini HTPC" using Media Portal. It will be a low-spec machine (single seat) which should cope fine with standard definition TV/DVDs etc.

I would welcome any advice as to which engine to use as I assume that using the TV server will be much more resource intensive. I tried it out on my under-powered trial system (MP v0.2.3.0), P4, 512kb, 40GB Dell GX280) and it would not run; I know I should have had 1GB of RAM but the classic TV engine ran.

Thought anybody please?
 

Marcusb

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    Well, if the machine is a lower spec machine and will not be playing HD content, then I would suggest the built in TV Enigne.
    The onyl real downside is that if you only have one TV tuner card, recording concurrent shows on the same channel may not work.
    IE, if two shows are on the same channel group, the TV server can record both at once, but the classic engine can't. It can only record one stream for one program.

    In the future, if you are looking to upgrade, it would be an easy transition to just add the TV server at a later stage.
     

    Paranoid Delusion

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    if using onboard video gpu, make sure it is directx9 capable and you have 256mb available for the gpu memory. so 1gb minimum memory, preferably in 2x512mb, so it can take advantage of dual channel processing which dramatically speeds thing up.
     

    wjw

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    I see from the above that the TV Server allows multiple concurrent recordings on the same channel even if I only have one card - I assume this means on the same satellite transponder. I'd love to do this but can't find anywhere in the manual how to set this up.

    Would much appreciate some guidance here - either on where to look or some more detailed instructions.
     

    hbryce

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    Marcusb and Paranoid - thank you for your input. With regard to RAM I am stuck with a single 2GB stick but at least I have a dual core CPU.
     

    Mew

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    Hi wjw

    I see from the above that the TV Server allows multiple concurrent recordings on the same channel even if I only have one card - I assume this means on the same satellite transponder. I'd love to do this but can't find anywhere in the manual how to set this up.

    This is a feature of TV Server and is available by default. It allows you to successfully make mutliple recordings for different channels as long as they are on the same transponder (DVB-S) or multiplex (DVB-T) and watch a channel on that transponder/multiplex all at the same time all using one tuner.

    Mew
     

    wjw

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    Hi Mew,

    Thanks for the confirmation that it is possible. Is there any way to easily find out which channels are on each transponder (I am also in the UK and looking at Astra 28.2 east)?

    I assume that as long as I know which 2 - or more - channels that I want to record are on only one transponder I don't have to do anything special in TVServer setup, I just set up recordings in the usual way and MP will tell me if there is a clash?

    Thanks
     

    alank

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    I tried it out on my under-powered trial system (MP v0.2.3.0), P4, 512kb, 40GB Dell GX280) and it would not run; I know I should have had 1GB of RAM but the classic TV engine ran.

    I run the TV Server on a Dell GX270 with 512RAM and it runs just fine. I even have two external tuner cards attached and can record multiple shows at once without issue.
     

    Mew

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    Hi wjw

    Thanks for the confirmation that it is possible. Is there any way to easily find out which channels are on each transponder (I am also in the UK and looking at Astra 28.2 east)?

    This site will give you details of Astra 2 (A/B/C/D) at 28.2 and Eurobird1 at 28.5 east that are usually picked up on the same dish. Astra 2D at 28.2° East - Frequencies & Channels (This gives you Astra 2D, use the Frequencies menu on the left for the other satellites).

    I assume that as long as I know which 2 - or more - channels that I want to record are on only one transponder I don't have to do anything special in TVServer setup, I just set up recordings in the usual way and MP will tell me if there is a clash?

    Yes, that should be the case. There should only be a clash if the programmes are on different transponders.

    Mew
     

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