Client to TV Server connection issue (1 Viewer)

[mm1352000]

Hello again Tony

Sorry to bombard you with questions...

Yeah, this is seriously getting quite overwhelming for me. Can we please try to deal with one thing at a time.

I understand that you might not have thought that necessary when you started out as I'm sure you were concentrating on getting everything working, but it would be much appreciated now.

Okay. I take your feedback on board. This isn't something that is going to happen in TVE 3 so you're going to have to work with what we have for the foreseeable future.

The change to the firewall entries occurred a day after I had installed the MP server software on that machine; so I am non-plussed as to how it happened. Today, two days after installing MP Server, the 'allow other network users' checkbox was enabled when it hadn't been before (see below)

I can't explain the changes you're seeing. All I can say is that categorically:

1. The MP and TV Server installer is the only "MediaPortal component" that modifies firewall settings.
2. The installer does not modify firewall settings unless requested.
3. The installer is only able to modify Windows firewall settings.

When a programme runs late or runs longer, does MP recognize the schedule change and automatically record the programme with the new schedule?

Only if the schedule change occurs before the program starts and MP picks up the schedule change.

If there is a signal loss, does MP search for another occurrence of the programme (say on ITV+1 when the original was on ITV)?

No, not in the way that "search" implies.
In your example, MP has no knowledge that ITV and ITV +1 are related.
If signal loss occurs during recording (ie. you get a partial recording) then MP almost certainly won't re-record, because it isn't aware that the recording is partial.
If MP is unable to start a recording for whatever reason, it will repeatedly re-attempt to start the recording for the programme duration. MP may also record a programme that previously failed to record if another opportunity arises, but it depends on the schedule type you select. The "record every time on every channel" schedule type may be the only schedule type that does this.
Plugins such as TvWishList may give you more robust results.

Honestly, from my perspective these kinds of questions are moot. If you're running into "signal loss" problems often enough to worry about it then there is something seriously wrong, which should warrant attempts to improve the reliability of signal reception. I don't know about the UK, but in NZ we say it is always better to have the ambulance at the top of a cliff (ie. solve a problem as early as possible and/or at the source) rather than the bottom.

Forgot to mention that when I set up my shares for programmes on the server and then go to Video, MP displays the detail of the first video folder, rather than a list of the video folders. Would it be possible to change the code so that when there is more than one folder the folder list is displayed first?

RonD answered this question for you. Clear the check box in configuration.

Sorry to bombard you with questions but is there a quick way to remove the navigation bar after the mouse has activate it?

Please refer to mrj's answer.

Regards,
mm

 

[CyberSimian]

When a programme runs late or runs longer, does MP recognize the schedule change and automatically record the programme with the new schedule?

The following recent thread is worth reading, particularly the post from Hurley:

https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/threads/recording-epg-issue.131072/

If there is a signal loss, does MP search for another occurrence of the programme (say on ITV+1 when the original was on ITV)?

MP does not currently support series recording in the manner of WMC; MP instead supports various flavours of repeated recording (see above).

The series recording offered by WMC and commercial DVRs (e.g. my Humax DVR) use unseen series ids and programme ids contained within the EPG, but these ids are not currently utilised by MP. Consequently, MP cannot tell that programme Y is actually identical to programme X, and hence MP cannot record Y if the recording of X fails.

In the UK, lack of true series recording is a significant limitation of MP compared to WMC, but it is rare for any product ever to be perfect -- you have to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of competing products, and decide for yourself which product is the best match for your requirements.

The "TvWishList" plugin is the one usually recommended to give you enhanced recording capabilities.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[Anthony Vaughan]

Hi mrj

Hmmm. It's not there for me:

Tony

 

[HTPCSourcer]

TVWishList is a plugin that you have to download and install separately.

 

[Anthony Vaughan]

Hi mm

Sorry to have bombarded you with these questions. It's just that I don't want to switch from WMC to MP until I am fully aware of the features, some of which are unlikely to be documented. I don't ask questions just for the fun of it. I've been using WMC for 7 years and know it pretty well, (including having developed some utilities for it).

The signal loss issue can be caused by interference in the incoming signal. Doesn't happen often, but when it does, WMC knows to try to find the programme, including in another channel, and records that (if one exists).

Finally, I have been able to reproduce an issue on the MP server. Whenever I run the configuration tool and press the Ok button, the power settings for 'Put the computer to sleep' option, which I set to never, are changed to 30 minutes. Is there somewhere where I can disable this 'feature'? Otherwise, I will have to remember to reset the power setting whenever I make a change in the server configuration.

Tony

 

[mm1352000]

Finally, I have been able to reproduce an issue on the MP server. Whenever I run the configuration tool and press the Ok button, the power settings for 'Put the computer to sleep' option, which I set to never, are changed to 30 minutes. Is there somewhere where I can disable this 'feature'? Otherwise, I will have to remember to reset the power setting whenever I make a change in the server configuration.

Have you enabled the PowerScheduler plugin?

 

[Anthony Vaughan]

Hi mm

Are! Yes, I had.

I'll disable all of the server plugins and work on them one at a time.

Thanks again.

Tony

 

[Anthony Vaughan]

Hi mrj

I get it. I needed to be in Expert Mode.

Tony

 

[CyberSimian]

I'll disable all of the server plugins and work on them one at a time.

Be aware that if PowerScheduler is disabled, MP won't wake to perform unattended recordings. However, if you leave your "TV Server" system switched on 24/7, you don't need PowerScheduler to wake the system.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[Anthony Vaughan]

Hi CyberSimian

Yes, my media machine is a rack-mounted server that runs 24/7 and I don't let it sleep or hibernate; which is why the default behaviour of PowerSchedule was so critical. I have developed a windows service that does all sorts of things with WMC and also schedules reboots and that doesn't work if the machine goes into sleep mode. Also, the extenders don't work when the machine is asleep.

Thanks for the advice.

Tony