I am building my first HTPC and have taken some time to get to know Media Portal, codecs etc before I get all my components. After some testing, I have some questions and problems to solve.
As I wait for the parts to build the new HTPC, I am testing and getting to know the in and outs of Media Portal RC1 using my current machine. This machine doesn't have a TV tuner, so I am limited to testing with videos, music and DVDs.
I have set the screen resolution to 720 x 576 at 50Mhz to my CRT TV.
My current test machine:
P2 733
MS Via Motherboard
512MB RAM
250GB WD IDE Drive
Geforce FX5200 128MB (S-video to CRT TV)
Creative Sound Blaster Live
LG Dual DVD drive
Windows XP Pro SP2
Cyberlink PowerDVD 7 codecs
I realise that the test box may not even met min requirements, so some of these problems may be solved with a more modern machine. My problems are:
1. When playing an MPEG 2 DVD that has been copied to HD the screen often freezes, which usually requires a reboot to fix. I am using the Cyberlink PowerDVD 7 codecs, but have experienced similar problems with MPV.
2. When playing music, I am unable to shuffle all of the songs in the list, or shuffle a series of mp3s within directories.
3. I am finding it very difficult to play a DVD from the DVD drive. I have ticked autoplay when I new DVD is found in the drive, however MediaPortal usually starts the process, but I end up with a blank screen and the hard drive just ticking - thus requiring a reboot.
Now, my new HTPC will have the following specifications (most parts have been purchased already).
Athlon 64 5000+
Gigabyte GA-MA78GH-S2H
2GB Patriot PC2-6400 800Mhz DDR2
Samsung Spinpoint 500Gb
Sapphire HD 3450 256MB Video Card PCIE
LiteOn Dual-Layer DVD
Altec V2 Fusion case
Asus WiFi network card PCI
I have a few decisions to make on the last few components, namely the TV tuner, remote control and OS. This is what I would like the TV tuner to do:
1. Record a TV program (either analogue or digital), or program from Satellite PayTV (via analogue link from set-top box), while watching another channel.
2. Watch two TV programs, from either from TV aerial or satellite PayTV (AUSTAR), at the same time.
The TV tuner I have been most interested in so far is the Leadtek PxDVR3200 H, as it has an analogue input for the payTV box. However, will I be able to record a TV channel from HD and watch another HD channel, or must I record from analogue, or visa versa?
This leads onto my second question.. Which OS? I currently have Windows XP Pro, but I have read issues with XP with multiple TV tuners, or one dual (hybrid) tuners. Does XP limit recordings from the one TV tuner, but with two or three inputs (i.e. analogue TV, digital TV and input device (such as PayTV box)?
The last question is the remote control. Is the remote control that comes with the TV tuners usually satisfy the requirements for navigating MediaPortal. I already have a remote control (Yamaha) that can learn from commands of another, however its needs a remote to learn from. Is the MCE remote worth the investment?
So far, I have been very happy with MP and its been a big learning curve. I realise a lot of the problems I have had with my testing box should be solved with the new components. Since this machine will be used as a digital tuner and recorder most of the time, getting the right TV tuner seems to be the priority.
Thanks for help in advance.
As I wait for the parts to build the new HTPC, I am testing and getting to know the in and outs of Media Portal RC1 using my current machine. This machine doesn't have a TV tuner, so I am limited to testing with videos, music and DVDs.
I have set the screen resolution to 720 x 576 at 50Mhz to my CRT TV.My current test machine:
P2 733
MS Via Motherboard
512MB RAM
250GB WD IDE Drive
Geforce FX5200 128MB (S-video to CRT TV)
Creative Sound Blaster Live
LG Dual DVD drive
Windows XP Pro SP2
Cyberlink PowerDVD 7 codecs
I realise that the test box may not even met min requirements, so some of these problems may be solved with a more modern machine. My problems are:
1. When playing an MPEG 2 DVD that has been copied to HD the screen often freezes, which usually requires a reboot to fix. I am using the Cyberlink PowerDVD 7 codecs, but have experienced similar problems with MPV.
2. When playing music, I am unable to shuffle all of the songs in the list, or shuffle a series of mp3s within directories.
3. I am finding it very difficult to play a DVD from the DVD drive. I have ticked autoplay when I new DVD is found in the drive, however MediaPortal usually starts the process, but I end up with a blank screen and the hard drive just ticking - thus requiring a reboot.
Now, my new HTPC will have the following specifications (most parts have been purchased already).
Athlon 64 5000+
Gigabyte GA-MA78GH-S2H
2GB Patriot PC2-6400 800Mhz DDR2
Samsung Spinpoint 500Gb
Sapphire HD 3450 256MB Video Card PCIE
LiteOn Dual-Layer DVD
Altec V2 Fusion case
Asus WiFi network card PCI
I have a few decisions to make on the last few components, namely the TV tuner, remote control and OS. This is what I would like the TV tuner to do:
1. Record a TV program (either analogue or digital), or program from Satellite PayTV (via analogue link from set-top box), while watching another channel.
2. Watch two TV programs, from either from TV aerial or satellite PayTV (AUSTAR), at the same time.
The TV tuner I have been most interested in so far is the Leadtek PxDVR3200 H, as it has an analogue input for the payTV box. However, will I be able to record a TV channel from HD and watch another HD channel, or must I record from analogue, or visa versa?
This leads onto my second question.. Which OS? I currently have Windows XP Pro, but I have read issues with XP with multiple TV tuners, or one dual (hybrid) tuners. Does XP limit recordings from the one TV tuner, but with two or three inputs (i.e. analogue TV, digital TV and input device (such as PayTV box)?
The last question is the remote control. Is the remote control that comes with the TV tuners usually satisfy the requirements for navigating MediaPortal. I already have a remote control (Yamaha) that can learn from commands of another, however its needs a remote to learn from. Is the MCE remote worth the investment?
So far, I have been very happy with MP and its been a big learning curve. I realise a lot of the problems I have had with my testing box should be solved with the new components. Since this machine will be used as a digital tuner and recorder most of the time, getting the right TV tuner seems to be the priority.
Thanks for help in advance.