Software recommendations

[GlenC]

Hi,

I'm in the process of setting up a HTPC and would like a bit of advice with regards to software.

It has installed windows media center 2005, FloppyDTV along with a Cam and Funcard.

The DTV Viewer works fine, and I can view all channels including BBC HD, but I don't really like the bodges and loss of HD when using the native media center interface.

Can you please give me any recommendations with regards to a good allround software solution?

I quite like the look of media portal, but what tv plugin is suitable and integrates well.

I'm open to any recommendations, but ideally would like everything to 'flow' well.

Cheers

Glen.

[jhogg7575]

Vista will do it all inc hd in vmc

[GlenC]

Hi

Thanks for the reply, but having just purchased mce 2005, I don't feel inclined to spend another fortune on Vista

Surely someone must have a nice setup that doesn't include vista

[Confused Stu]

I'm currently using DVB Dream and I'm finding that to be a very competent and comprehensive player. My only complaints centre around having to use the keyboard/mouse for most things, but that's probably just because I haven'tspent the time to find all the shortcut keys and assign them to remote control buttons - most keyboard shortcuts seems pretty arbitrary (F5 is full screen toggle?).

That said, I'm only using this until I get my hardcam set up (just ordered the bits, so lots of fun to come!) and then I'll be using Vista's Media Centre. The UI is simply far too nice to look at, family friendly, and completely remote driven.

How happy are you with the MCE built into your Windows? Is it simply the bodges that you don't like, or is there something in the interface you dislike? Just wondering if it's one particular thing, maybe another user can suggest a different software that does that better, or maybe even a fix for that problem in MCE?

[Cafe.Rcaer]

Why can't you watch BBC HD over cable in MCE2005?

What I mean is, it should work fine - you should be able to watch it, shouldn't you?

[GlenC]

MCE2005 doesn't support HD, nor does it support cable tv.

Finally decided to get hold of vista, ebuyer are doing vista home premium for £60 (OEM), I really don't want to be messing with dodgy copies of vista and all the WGA nonesense.

Thanks for the replies.

Glen.

[willin]

Originally Posted by GlenC

Hi,

I'm in the process of setting up a HTPC and would like a bit of advice with regards to software.

It has installed windows media center 2005, FloppyDTV along with a Cam and Funcard.

The DTV Viewer works fine, and I can view all channels including BBC HD, but I don't really like the bodges and loss of HD when using the native media center interface.

Can you please give me any recommendations with regards to a good allround software solution?

I quite like the look of media portal, but what tv plugin is suitable and integrates well.

I'm open to any recommendations, but ideally would like everything to 'flow' well.

Cheers

Glen.

MCE, DVBViewer pro 3.9.2.0 (paid for), agree with Confused Stu -DVBDream (free)

Originally Posted by GlenC

MCE2005 doesn't support HD, nor does it support cable tv.

Finally decided to get hold of vista, ebuyer are doing vista home premium for £60 (OEM), I really don't want to be messing with dodgy copies of vista and all the WGA nonesense.

Thanks for the replies.

Glen.

Sorry to disagree -http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/m...dtv/about.mspx
do as page 6 on the floppydtv quick install guide for cable on MCE, crack for vi$ta (works well) google vistaloader 2.1.2

[GlenC]

Thanks for the info, I'll take a look into it

Cheers

Glen.

[Cafe.Rcaer]

The FloppyDTV has MCE drivers, what these do is tell MCE that the FloppyDTV is a DVB-T card, not a DVB-C card.

Then, when MCE tunes to a particular DVB-T frequency, the FloppyDTV drivers tune to the ACTUAL DVB-C Frequency (and symbolrate).

You will need a list of the transponder frequencies, though, as there is no way to scan the frequencies.

There's a few people (myself included) that have been running Floppy and FireDTVs this way on MCE and VMC for a while now.

Also, Digital Everywhere are supposed to be working on a NATIVE DVB-C driver for the Vista TV Pack.

[GlenC]

Hi,

Is there a guide anywhere for getting the frequencies into the registry.

I noted when installing the MCE drivers, there is a utility for the MCE setup, will this not handle the frequency conversion automatically?

Cheers

Glen.