My setup experience so far, along with some improvement ideas

[ajb]

Hi,

 

I’ve been slowly setting up a TV media system based around DVBViewer for a few months now. Overall I like it a lot. I’ve looked at a lot of forum posts before but I may have missed some so please do not take offence if I suggest or ask something that’s been discussed before. I hope the newbie section is the right place for this.

 

My setup

 

I use DVBViewer to stream the decoded MPEG2 signal straight to the computers in my house using the server. I’ve got notebooks scattered around the house and move from one to the next to watch TV. The server is on my living room media center, where I also ues the client quite a bit. I love the freedom it provides. Even if DVB-T had all the channels I wanted I’d still have to fiddle with a stick and aerial. Streamed from the server all I need is the built-in wireless, which is fast enough (even though I’m considering getting 802.11a to avoid the congestion in the 2.4GHz band in my neighbourhood).

 

System details: DVBViewer 3.9, AthlonX2 3800+, MSI Nvidia 6150 motherboard, 1 Gig RAM, XP MCE, TT S2-3200 card with Cam (latest update), DVI connection to 42 in LCD screen (native resolution at 60Hz).

 

Alternative channel numbering system

 

I’m a subscriber to UK Sky. I got all encrypted channels to work with my valid subscription card. Unlike other countries with plenty of free channels here in the UK pay TV is much more common. Sky is dominant here and has established a numbering system that many people are used to. Hence my first suggestion: to mimick such a numbering system it should be possible to assign arbitary channel numbers to channels and to leave gaps to avoid having to relearn all channel numbers higher up as Sky has done. This should also allow other users to simply recreate the Sky channel numbers and to share the whole assignment with everyone else, saving hours of work for everyone. Sky likes to move its channels around quite a bit, something they can do as it’s a closed system that’s updated automatically (a scan I did in July was completely useless in October). Copying the assignment would make life easier in the setup and the daily use (making the switch easier for other users in the house).

 

Another, more radical idea for channel navigation: how about using a predictive text input method. On your remote number pad start by typing the channel name the same way you would for a text message. A list of matching channel names appears, sorted by most frequently or recently watched, allowing you to skip to your favourite channels quickly. As you type more the list reduces and by selecting the channel you automatically ensure that next time it will be high in the ranking. With thousands of channels that are constantly changing many people would be better served in this way rather than having to painstakingly edit the channel list and re-learn channel numbers every time the line-up changes. You could toggle the selection method using something like a star or hash key on the remote.

 

Linux / web client

 

I’m currently looking at the EEE PC and thought how great it would be to stream straight to that machine using the local network. Given that this is a Linux machine there is no client with which to easily change channels and look at the EPG. While the webserver appears to serve this purpose it would be great if there was also a local network option where no transcoding is done, only the full MPEG2 signal passed through.

 

VMR9

Nvidia bug: after installing 3.9 I had good looking VMR9 output for a short while, until I foolishly decided to upgrade to the latest WHQL version from the Nvidia website. Now it stutters again. While it was working I still had minor tearing in the picture, which does not occur in the bundled Technotrend application in VMR9 mode. Something is still not working 100% here, it should not be necessary to go hunting for particular Nvidia drivers. Never mind, overlay looks quite good in any case.

 

MCE issues

 

MPEG recordings: I’ve tried playing recorded MPEG files through MCE and only got a black screen, which exited after a few seconds. The files play fine in Media Player Classic. I have previously got XP MCE to play .mkv and .mp4 so I’m familiar with some of the tweaks. Any ideas?

 

Automatic encoding

I record some shows for my PDA to watch on my commute. It would be great if I didn’t have to manually kick this off (AutoGK is what I use) but if there was a checkbox that I could use to tell the software to automatically encode with my preferred settings this when it’s done. In DVBViewer it could implemented in a way that I decide on the recording location depending on whether I want it encoded or not; the other program would then watch the folder set up for encoding; once the recording is finished DVBViewer would copy it to that folder and the encoding program would spring into action. Is there such software and is there such functionality in DVBViewer?

 

Other issues

 

I had no luck previously with a Diseqc and an Astra 1/Hotbird dish but that’s a lower priority, one day I hope I’ll get it working.

 

Forum search

 

Finally, it would be great if the forum search didn’t have a 4 letter minimum. How else can I search for Sky related threads?

 

I’m happy to read comments both in English and German (may have to switch forum for this).

[reis]

Linux / web client

 

I’m currently looking at the EEE PC and thought how great it would be to stream straight to that machine using the local network. Given that this is a Linux machine there is no client with which to easily change channels and look at the EPG. While the webserver appears to serve this purpose it would be great if there was also a local network option where no transcoding is done, only the full MPEG2 signal passed through.

 

That's what i first thought of when reading about the EEE PC. Would be great to have a nice Linux client!

[ricabullah]

VMR9

Nvidia bug: after installing 3.9 I had good looking VMR9 output for a short while, until I foolishly decided to upgrade to the latest WHQL version from the Nvidia website. Now it stutters again. While it was working I still had minor tearing in the picture, which does not occur in the bundled Technotrend application in VMR9 mode. Something is still not working 100% here, it should not be necessary to go hunting for particular Nvidia drivers. Never mind, overlay looks quite good in any case.

 

MCE issues

 

MPEG recordings: I’ve tried playing recorded MPEG files through MCE and only got a black screen, which exited after a few seconds. The files play fine in Media Player Classic. I have previously got XP MCE to play .mkv and .mp4 so I’m familiar with some of the tweaks. Any ideas?

 

Hi!

 

VMR9

 

Under Settings > Options > DirectX, check "Nvidia VMR fix" box. It will fix VMR9 issue.

Or try to use GE.

 

 

MCE issues

 

I think your problem with TS files.

Get rid of Nero codecs and Haali splitter.

Choose Elecard mpeg demultiplexer as your default splitter. (It comes with Elecard mpeg2 plug-in) You can use RadLight Filter Manager so as to tweak the priority of this filter.

If i were you i would make VMR9 my default renderer so as to watch recorded media with it on MCE. You can again use Filter manager. Make this preferred+255. (While you are watching recorded media/not DVD/ Windows chooses classical Video renderer by default. So you can never get HA)

But if you are using Vista, you should make EVR default renderer. It is a little bit difficult than XP.

Check this:

 

EVR is default renderer anymore

 

I would advise a tweak for ts files:

Open regedit

Navigate .ts under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

Right click on .ts and select New > String Value.

Popup window will open; rename this value Content Type and enter.

Double click on it; popup window will open. In the box labeled Value data:, enter in "video/ts"

Now we will add another String Value:

Right click on ts and select New > String Value.

Popup window will open; rename this value PerceivedType (must be written adjacent) and enter.

Double click on it; popup window will open. In the box labeled Value data:, enter in "video"

You gonna see this picture finally:

 

Edited November 3, 2007 by ricabullah