pre-installation guidance needed please (1 Viewer)

[mista_o]

Hi everyone,

Following a re-vitalised effort to nail the spectre of a "proper" htpc replacement for the Sky+ subscription (now cancelled), I am coming to the conclusion the MP *might* be the best fit for me. You can get some background here:
More than just another HTPC software thread.... | AVForums.com - UK Online
(and thanks again to Robbo100 for the guidance and feedback there)

So, here's the setup I plan to run MP (or something) on:
Antec Fusion Remote Case
Gigabyte H55M-S2 mobo
Intel i3 chipset
2Gb RAM
Seagate 500GB Hard Drive
TBS 9681 DVB-S2 card
Creative X-Fi audio
Logitech Hamony remote

Here's the key things I am looking fr from a HTPC:
1 - Easy to use for partner and kids; as easy as sky+and that does everything Sky+ did (including series link) We canned the subscription and the pressure is on - the "come back for half price" leaflets are tempting the missus......
2 - It has to be 100% reliable; press power on on the remote, it is on. wakes from sleep to record programs, goes off when idle (MP had a nasty habit of staying on under an older iteration)
3 - plays media files from the NAS; without losing the network mappings on sleep/wake-up (am guessing a windows issue - as opposed to a HTPC software problem)
4 - Audio; plays audio via HDMI lead into standard TV speakers for everday use, but can output via amp if needed (sometimes for TV, when watching blu-rays, or movies from the NAS)
5 - Freesat; can pick up all of the Freesat (maybe freeview?) channels - including the HD ones. I might buy a DVB-T2 card if necessary to hedge my bets on the winning format.....
6 - Nice to haves; netflix, iplayer, maybe lovefilm.

Above all, it has to be 100% reliable (did I say that already?) post installation. I want to avoid repeats of the head pecking when I return from business trips, because something didn't work (or rather, someone didn't listen). Therefore it has to be 100% user-friendly too

Getting to the point of this thread, my pre-installation guidance questions:
a) Which Windows OS; 32-bit or 64-bit? 64-bit *should* give me some benefits on the one hand, but no point if MP is 32 bit and the recommended builds and configs are geared around 32-bit drivers
b) Best TV tuner; Inbuilt MP or 4TR? I previously followed an install guide by bushbrother, but found issues with the tuner. It could be the TV card I was running? Irrespevctive, assuming I want to run 1.2.2 then which is best (given requirements 1 & 2 above)?
c) backend db; MSSQL or MySQL? I read of issues with the latter, so what is the one most used by people - especially taking into account the answer to b)
d) Range of channels for UK; I've got the Freesat HD card (DVB s2) - should I go with freeview HD?
e) Remote mapping; I bought the Harmony as it was receoomended everywhere, but it was never 100%. posssibly my poor installation and config - what do you guys recommend?

Basically, I want to take my time and get this right to achieve the "it just works" situation once installed. All feedback and guidance gratefully received.

thanks for reading!

 

[robbo100]

Hello again

(and thanks again to Robbo100 for the guidance and feedback there)

- No problem

a) Which Windows OS; 32-bit or 64-bit? 64-bit *should* give me some benefits on the one hand, but no point if MP is 32 bit and the recommended builds and configs are geared around 32-bit drivers

Personally, I have gone for 32 bit Win 7. However it isn't perfect. I have also used XP before. Overall, win 7 is better than XP because it it far more stable and it is also more responsive (especially when recovering from standby (it is much quicker than XP). It also allows more features than XP (such as HD Audio, and compatibility with the upcoming MediaPortal 2). However, it is not without its problems, and many people suffer with problems with HDMI switching with win 7 that didn't exist with XP (although a work-around is available - see here: https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/operating-system-330/windows-7-half-fullscreen-71785/index38.html). Regarding the 64 bit vs the 32 bit, it technically shouldn't matter, but MP is 32 bit so it really comes down to what other software you want to run (some report problems with 64 bit and others have no issues).

b) Best TV tuner; Inbuilt MP or 4TR? I previously followed an install guide by bushbrother, but found issues with the tuner. It could be the TV card I was running? Irrespevctive, assuming I want to run 1.2.2 then which is best (given requirements 1 & 2 above)?

Basically, 4TR works in two configurations:

1) using its own "Argus" tuner, and
2) using the MediaPortal tuner.

I have tried both options and found the Argus tuner flaky, but 4TR using the MP tuner had the stability and benefits of the MP tuner, with some additional functions of the 4TR system (most importantly for me was the Web Interface). Overall though I have given up on 4TR because it didn't have the stability I needed (that said, many people say it gives their system more stability). My advice would be not to run before you can walk and just try to get MP running without 4TR until you get more familiar with the system (Paranoid Delusion is a very helpful user on these forums (and as "PD" on the 4TR forum), who can probably give you more advice).

c) backend db; MSSQL or MySQL? I read of issues with the latter, so what is the one most used by people - especially taking into account the answer to b)

Someone else will give you better advice than me. I just install the default settings with MP and it just works.

d) Range of channels for UK; I've got the Freesat HD card (DVB s2) - should I go with freeview HD?

You get loads more channels with FreesatHD (DVB-S2) than FreeviewHD (DVB-T2), however there are some strong benefits of FreeviewHD if you are happy to have less channels. The main benefit is based upon the fact that MP can simultaneously record/stream all the channel on a single Mux using a single tuner (a Mux is a single transmission frequency). Since ALL the HD channels are broadcast on a single Mux with FreeviewHD, this means that you only need a single DVB-T2 tuner to simultaneously record all UK HD channels. With FreesatHD, the free HD channels are spread out across about 4 different muxes, which means you would need 4 DVB-S2 tuners to achieve the same thing. Since there are only about 6 muxes for the whole of Freeview, you don't need many DVB-T2 tuners to have a really massive coverage of channels. The downside is that DVB-T2 has a lower transmission bandwidth per channel than DVB-S2, so the channel quality on FreeviewHD is not quite as good as DVB-T2.

e) Remote mapping; I bought the Harmony as it was recommended everywhere, but it was never 100%. possibly my poor installation and config - what do you guys recommend?

There are lots of Harmony users here, so hopefully someone else can help with this question.

Robbo100

 

[mista_o]

Appreciate the reply (again)


Could someone please give me a steer in respect of best Db (i.e. M$SQL or MySQL)?

Thanks In advance!