User guide is too geeky (1 Viewer)

[Charlotte Wolter]

Hello,

I must confess that I'm a little disappointed by the user guide for Media Portal. I just wanted to know how to set up my tuner so Media Portal could I could watch and record TV. I don't even care about a channel guide. Instead, the TV section started out with a discussion about servers and streaming video around the house. Why not just deal with setting up the tuner and making it show TV?
I have a Kworld USB2800D and it took 45 minutes to be sure that it probably doesn't work with Media Portal. Why not just deal with that first? Just detect the tuner, see if it works, test whether or not it displays TV and move on. Why a discussion of servers, which is meaningless if your tuner doesn't work with Media Portal?
All in all, the guide uses too much geek terminology and generally starts in the middle of a question rather than at the stone beginning. Not all of us write code. We don't know what the terminology means. What the f*** is a "thumb"? If you walk people through basic setup, step by step, click by click, using normal terms, then they get a basic understanding of what's going on. Then, they can move on to more challenging things, like streaming video around the house, if they want.
But probably 80% of your users just want to watch and record TV. Can we just get simple instructions on how to do that?

 

[mm1352000]

Hello and welcome Charlotte

I must confess that I'm a little disappointed by the user guide for Media Portal. I just wanted to know how to set up my tuner so Media Portal could I could watch and record TV. I don't even care about a channel guide. Instead, the TV section started out with a discussion about servers and streaming video around the house. Why not just deal with setting up the tuner and making it show TV?

Could you please link to the guide you were following.

I have a Kworld USB2800D and it took 45 minutes to be sure that it probably doesn't work with Media Portal.

We don't claim to support such tuners because of the complexity involved in getting them working. Having said that, I think your tuner would work if you can figure out how to install compatible software encoders. The "software encoders" bit is the tricky bit:
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_...rs/5_Scan_Analog/Software_Encoding_Card_Setup

Why not just deal with that first? Just detect the tuner, see if it works, test whether or not it displays TV and move on. Why a discussion of servers, which is meaningless if your tuner doesn't work with Media Portal?

Did you actually try to install MediaPortal? If you did you'd know that the first setup screen is exactly what you've said: if your tuner is detected and can scan then it is compatible. If not then the tuner is not compatible. Takes a matter of moments to figure that out. If you prefer to read the guide first, this guide:
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_MEDIAPORTAL_1/13_Setup_Guides/2_TV_Setup

...devotes the second page to tuner compatibility:
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_MEDIAPORTAL_1/13_Setup_Guides/2_TV_Setup/0_TV_Card_Features

If reading the short general description about MediaPortal's TV solution (which relates to the options presented in the installer) is too much for you then I can tell you right now: MediaPortal is almost certainly not for you. MediaPortal is not for everyone, and we're not afraid to say that.

All in all, the guide uses too much geek terminology and generally starts in the middle of a question rather than at the stone beginning. Not all of us write code.

Too geeky for some is not geeky enough for others. It is impossible to please everyone.
The people who write the guide content are often not developers, though they are usually experienced MediaPortal users. Many of the team and wider community don't speak English as a first language, and I know that is obvious in various places in the wiki. Please at least give us some credit for trying.

We don't know what the terminology means.

We try not to use geeky terms, but there is a glossary for the terms that can't be avoided:
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/9_Glossary

If you found any terms particularly cryptic please list 'em so they can be added.

What the f*** is a "thumb"?

A thumbnail (thumb for short) is a small picture preview for a video, recording etc. Standard Microsoft/Windows terminology used in Windows Explorer etc. etc. etc..

If you walk people through basic setup, step by step, click by click, using normal terms, then they get a basic understanding of what's going on. Then, they can move on to more challenging things, like streaming video around the house, if they want.

Again, please link the guide you're talking about so I can actually engage in a meaningful discussion with you (if that is what you want).

But probably 80% of your users just want to watch and record TV. Can we just get simple instructions on how to do that?

In my opinion setting up a PC to watch and record TV is not simple no matter which software you use. MediaPortal in particular is targeted at people with advanced skills and customisation requirements (so called "power" users). If that doesn't sound like you then with the greatest respect I suggest you consider looking at other options. Again, we know and are not afraid to admit that MediaPortal is not for everyone.

mm

 

[Neild7744]

Charlotte

1) If you want to watch and record TV 'out of the box' then why not just buy a PVR from a supermarket? Or use someting that you cant customise like MCE? You load it, run through the wizard and your done. Mediaportal is more specialist and has in depth customisation, which is what a lot of people want.

2) Kworld tuners are sh*t.

 

[Owlsroost]

2) Kworld tuners are sh*t.

Bit of a sweeping statement - I have three Kworld USB DVB-T tuners that are rock-solid/work perfectly in MP.

Kworld look like they are the same as 95% of the tuner suppliers - they re-brand OEM products from various factories, so you get some good products and others which are so-so. At least they have a reasonable driver/software FTP download site....