chaumurky Posted October 20, 2005 Posted October 20, 2005 I got mythtv up and running unnervingly quick running Ubuntu Breezy and following the instructions on http://www.abarbaccia.com/ Breezy also found my DNTVLive! out of the box. The only thing not mentioned on the site is the xmltv and tv_grab_au installation (both no-brainers). I have to agree though - Meedio looks much better (especially the movies section), has a wider range of plugins, internal updating options and an active and helpful forum. There's only one location selectable for videos - that's a little annoying. I still haven't moved over to linux for my HTPC yet but I'd like to. I run my vga output with PAL widescreen timings to a component transcoder and linux won't play ball with that (nvidia doesn't support interlacing and ATI has no hardware motion compensation).
TBAR Posted October 20, 2005 Posted October 20, 2005 There's only one location selectable for videos - that's a little annoying.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Not sure if this was a reference to Meedio or MythTV. Meedio allows additional Modules to be added to the menu, if required, and many root folders to access video/dvd/mp4/... files. I have two menu items one for entertainment videos the other for Home movies (video of family). My videos are spread over three computers and all come together in Meedio - transperent to the user. And as per one of the other threads my 8, 10 and 12 year olds use it without 'training' as their TV player - they wouldn't use the STB. The menus and EPG make it very easy to get hooked. Just need multi Digital card support then I would say ... we need something more
hoolaparara Posted October 20, 2005 Posted October 20, 2005 what DVB card have you got? and do you recommend it? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The card with composite & svideo inputs as well is the kworld pci card which are great value at under $100 from most shops in Melbourne these days. It gives me rock solid dvb reception. It uses the cx88-dvb kernel module for the dvb side of it and the cx8800 module for support for the video in. There are a fair few other happy users on the mythtv list with this card. Ah of course just looked at the page you linked previously and always fall for that, its often known as vstream xpert and is listed on that page.
trax Posted October 20, 2005 Posted October 20, 2005 The card with composite & svideo inputs as well is the kworld pci card which are great value at under $100 from most shops in Melbourne these days. It gives me rock solid dvb reception. It uses the cx88-dvb kernel module for the dvb side of it and the cx8800 module for support for the video in. There are a fair few other happy users on the mythtv list with this card. Ah of course just looked at the page you linked previously and always fall for that, its often known as vstream xpert and is listed on that page. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> is it this card: KWorld DVB-T 100SS
myrantz Posted October 21, 2005 Author Posted October 21, 2005 I got mythtv up and running unnervingly quick running Ubuntu Breezy and following the instructions on http://www.abarbaccia.com/ Breezy also found my DNTVLive! out of the box. The only thing not mentioned on the site is the xmltv and tv_grab_au installation (both no-brainers). I have to agree though - Meedio looks much better (especially the movies section), has a wider range of Yar. Of all the UIs, I prefer Meedio the best, even myHTPC looks good. Eye candy is good, even though it's a minor issue... plugins, internal updating options and an active and helpful forum. There's only one location selectable for videos - that's a little annoying. I still haven't moved over to linux for my A workaround for that is to just create a empty directory called videos, and create symbolic links of all your video paths to that videos directory. You can put your NFS/SMB mounts in there as well. This should accomplish the same thing as having multiple video directories in MythVideo. Personally I prefer to set this up in the OS side as it will be more consistent. Then default MythVideo to the list view, and browse the videos like a tree. HTPC yet but I'd like to. I run my vga output with PAL widescreen timings to a component transcoder and linux won't play ball with that (nvidia doesn't support interlacing and ATI has no hardware motion compensation). Nvidia doesn't support interlace? Where did you buy the transcoder from? Is it an Audio Authority one? I really dun wanna nitpick here, but if only Nvidia has good Linux drivers, and define a minimum quality for the TV-Out chip, I will be a happy camper. video/dvd/mp4/... files. I have two menu items one for entertainment videos the other for Home movies (video of family). My videos are spread over three computers and all come together in Meedio - transperent to the user. Isn't that the same as going into the Video plugin, and see a category (or tree node) that says "Home Movies" and "Entertainment Vidoes"?
TBAR Posted October 21, 2005 Posted October 21, 2005 video/dvd/mp4/... files. I have two menu items one for entertainment videos the other for Home movies (video of family). My videos are spread over three computers and all come together in Meedio - transperent to the user. Isn't that the same as going into the Video plugin, and see a category (or tree node) that says "Home Movies" and "Entertainment Vidoes"? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I guess that's the beauty of Meedio - you can set it up how you want, and change very easily - definately not controlled by the softeware/developer. TB
hoolaparara Posted October 21, 2005 Posted October 21, 2005 is it this card: KWorld DVB-T 100SS <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Slight comestic differences on the box and the label on the tuner on the card but the contents and features on the card are the same. I bought http://www.it-supermarket.com/CAP-VSTEAM-100.html in early June although it was only $78 then!
chaumurky Posted October 21, 2005 Posted October 21, 2005 A workaround for that is to just create a empty directory called videos, and create symbolic links of all your video paths to that videos directory. You can put your NFS/SMB mounts in there as well. This should accomplish the same thing as having multiple video directories in MythVideo. Personally I prefer to set this up in the OS side as it will be more consistent. Then default MythVideo to the list view, and browse the videos like a tree. That's what I did. I find the tree view ugly and quite basic though - no images, blurbs etc. The music module is rather strange too. I have to go into a seperate section to create a playlist then come back to the player to play it. Nvidia doesn't support interlace? Not out of the VGA output, no. It line-doubles so when I BOB Deinterlace DTV it looks like field drop. My ATI car's if fine with the timings but, as you'd be aware ATI doesn't support the open source community like they should... Where did you buy the transcoder from? http://www.crescendo-systems.com/transcoder.html#tcp2200
myrantz Posted December 6, 2005 Author Posted December 6, 2005 For those using MythTV matched with a Nvidia card, Nvidia has finally released their 8xxxx drivers - 8174... http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display...2_1.0-8174.html I've been using the leaked 8168 for a while now and it seems ok, hopefully this will be better.. Oh well, I can hope, can't I?
trax Posted December 6, 2005 Posted December 6, 2005 For those using MythTV matched with a Nvidia card, Nvidia has finally released their 8xxxx drivers - 8174...http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display...2_1.0-8174.html I've been using the leaked 8168 for a while now and it seems ok, hopefully this will be better.. Oh well, I can hope, can't I? thanks for the heads up, I'm still looking a buying a system and its a low profile case but it has a ATI X300 card so I'm hoping that ATI are progressing there drivers as well.
myrantz Posted December 6, 2005 Author Posted December 6, 2005 thanks for the heads up, I'm still looking a buying a system and its a low profile case but it has a ATI X300 card so I'm hoping that ATI are progressing there drivers as well. If ATI somehow can get AVIVO working in Linux I wil jump ship immediately.. In my mind the major hurdle holding MythTV back is video quality.... I have yet to see NVidia 8178 (got it installed on my HTPC remotely, I think), will have more to comment on later tonight. Anybody tried the 8178 driver yet? Does it, errr work?
ocujos Posted December 6, 2005 Posted December 6, 2005 If ATI somehow can get AVIVO working in Linux I wil jump ship immediately.. In my mind the major hurdle holding MythTV back is video quality....I have yet to see NVidia 8178 (got it installed on my HTPC remotely, I think), will have more to comment on later tonight. Anybody tried the 8178 driver yet? Does it, errr work? treblid, Do you believe that the new drivers will improve picture quality? Isn't the PQ directly related to the decoder/deinterlacer that's available in MythTV? MythTV would be my favourite HTPC application only if NVIDIA PureVideo was available for Linux.
myrantz Posted December 6, 2005 Author Posted December 6, 2005 Do you believe that the new drivers will improve picture quality? I think it does. Not sure how to say this, with Nvidia 7667 and 7676, after running X for several days, the colours sort of become less vibrant, and dull. It always appear the colours are better after I restart X, and this only affects video playback I think. Didn't really notice that much on the desktop anyway. With the leaked 8168, I no longer have that old "Where is that nice picture I used to have 2 weeks ago?" feeling anymore. I hope this 8174 will be similar. I thought some how it's nvidia-settings causing the colours to dull, but after testing for months I am sure it is a driver problem. Isn't the PQ directly related to the decoder/deinterlacer that's available in MythTV? I call decoder/deinterlacer video quality.. Maybe I shouldn't.. hee hee.. Decoders/deinterlacer just ain't up to par on Linux... MythTV would be my favourite HTPC application only if NVIDIA PureVideo was available for Linux. MythTV would be my favourite HTPC application if it runs on Windows (and if Windows don't crash that is).. Unlikely PureVideo will work in Linux though. I havn't looked at a PureVideo processed output yet coz I'm afraid I might go back to Windows and have my nightmares all over again... If I set my TV to 50hz, turn off de-interlace and just use "standard" ffmpeg decoder, the picture output is actually quite nice. I havn't used Windows for a while, maybe I should buy a new computer, install MP or MCE and compare the two outputs and determine once and for all which one has the best video quality.
ocujos Posted December 6, 2005 Posted December 6, 2005 maybe I should buy a new computer, install MP or MCE and compare the two outputs and determine once and for all which one has the best video quality. Both Media Portal and MCE utilise whichever decoder you have installed on your system. I've used both MCE and MP and the PQ (video?) quality is about the same using the same decoder. I've tried Cyberlink, Intervideo and Nvidia PureVideo. PureVideo produces the best PQ imho.
myrantz Posted December 6, 2005 Author Posted December 6, 2005 Both Media Portal and MCE utilise whichever decoder you have installed on your system.I've used both MCE and MP and the PQ (video?) quality is about the same using the same decoder. I've tried Cyberlink, Intervideo and Nvidia PureVideo. PureVideo produces the best PQ imho. Sorry. I mean compare Linux video quality (picture?) with windows... Not MCE against MP... BTW, I am under the impression that PureVideo is only available to US customers, did your card comes with PureVideo or did you buy it online somehow?
myrantz Posted December 7, 2005 Author Posted December 7, 2005 I have yet to see NVidia 8178 (got it installed on my HTPC remotely, I think), will have more to comment on later tonight. Can't get XvMC working:( .... It works the first time, and 2nd time I tried to play video with XvMC, the whole bloody machine hangs!! *grumble*... I'd prob switch back to the leaked beta after a few days if I still couldn't get XvMC to work properly..
chaumurky Posted December 9, 2005 Posted December 9, 2005 I've yet to try the new nVidia drivers for my linux HTPC install. If it supports an interlaced modeline for VGA I'll have another tinker - otherwise... It's a pain though because I have the ATI card installed when I use Windows so I have to swap it over for each OS boot .
myrantz Posted December 9, 2005 Author Posted December 9, 2005 I've yet to try the new nVidia drivers for my linux HTPC install. If it supports an interlaced modeline for VGA I'll have another tinker - otherwise... It's a pain though because I have the ATI card installed when I use Windows so I have to swap it over for each OS boot . Hee. I'm back to 8168, to get a working XvMC setup (and a X that doesn't freeze the system entirely). I didn't realise before but playback on ffmpeg and libmepg2 now seems horrible compared to XvMC. Too bad though the new Nvidia driver has alot of new features I like.. Prob over the weekend I will read up on how to actually submit a bug report and hopefully can get this fixed by NVIDIA asap. I suspect also the upcoming 2.6.15 kernel (or maybe new Xorg server) might somehow solve the problem. Well, I have a whole weekend of HTPC troubleshooting work to do now, no house chores, yay!
tephra Posted December 12, 2005 Posted December 12, 2005 treblid what are you talking about bad PQ? what settings are you using? im not using XvMC (to many bugs+jerkyness due to bad nvidia drivers) but I am using bob2x as my filter in mythtv, PQ is perfect...
myrantz Posted December 12, 2005 Author Posted December 12, 2005 treblid what are you talking about bad PQ? what settings are you using? im not using XvMC (to many I sorta described the PQ in my Dec 6 post.. It's sort of a gradual video degration, the overall picture quality just degrades overtime (it's still good, but not as good as when X is fresh), so I just restart X evry week or so to get around this. Nobody else in the world (via google) has this problem, so I guess it's just my brain sub-consiously rejecting the 7xxx series. (It could also be an xorg issue as I'm using relatively new builds). Release 8168 doesn't give me that feeling anymore... I havn't run 8174 long enough to see if the problem has regressed. bugs+jerkyness due to bad nvidia drivers) but I am using bob2x as my filter in mythtv, PQ is perfect... ATM I think there's some locking issues with XvMC & OSD... . But other than that NVidia XvMC isn't that buggy, just don't use libXvMCW. I used the wrapper library before and it is actually slower (obviously) than using native NVidia XvMC. I also turned off OpenGL VSync in both Myth and nvidia-settings, set my TV to 50hz, and XvMC is pretty good (aside from the OSD & XvMC locking issues). XvMC uses some sort of adaptive Bob de-interlacing iirc, which should produce better PQ qualities than the simple bob 2x, which just duplicates the frames and move 'em up and down. So I get bob with XvMC, and a lower CPU load so I can watch HDTV without hogging the CPU much as well - two birds with one stone. BTW, I solved my 8174 hard freeze problem by adding this line in xorg.conf. Option "XvMCUseTextures" "False" I also set NVAgp to "2", but I dun have the agpart module compiled, so I'm not sure if that option fixed anything or is even valid. I'm using a 6600GT... Edit: Correction.. XvMC doesn't bob, i think.. not sure, but as long as it's working..
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