Media Centre Forum?

[Oliver]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of starting a media centre section within this forum and wanted some feedback.

Yesterday I was trying to pick up the 5 new BBC HD that started being broadcast in the UK, after some research and indiviual transponder scans I managed it.

I have so many issues with media centre its probably best in its own forum, or would it be better to join an established media centre forum? If we decide to use another forum we can link to it so we are all in the same place for media centre help.

Here are some of my issues...

* The EPG does not sort the channels very well and it is hard to find the channels you want.

* The EPG guides is often missing, for example I never seem to get a guide for 4hd, because of this I can't record future programs on these channels

* When switching between freesat and freeview the channel says unavailable until I click channel down and back up again.

* having to research and then search for new channels rather than it auto picking them up.

* Loads of duplicate/scrambled and test channels that clutter the EPG.

I have considered just buying a set top box with built in recording features like a Humax but that feels like giving up and all the set top boxes I've seen either do FreeSat or FreeView but not both and I don't really want 2 set top boxes and a media centre under my TV using up HDMI slots especially when my VAIO should be able to do all 3 and in one neat box.

Most of the issues I can live with, but the wife hates the fact it is far from seem less, she wants everything to just work.

If anyone has any solutions to some of the issues please let's hear it, and if people want a media centre section let me know or/and vote at the top of this post

Cheers,

Oliver

[IT Troll]

I would say it can't hurt to have a Media Center forum, especially for the cross-over issues between hardware and software. The dedicated Media Center forums tend to have based in the USA and so have a cable TV bias.

On to your issues:

* The EPG does not sort the channels very well and it is hard to find the channels you want.

I believe it sorts numerically on the channel number. There is a third party tool called Guide Tool (1geek1tool.com/guidetool) which let's perform all sorts of editing on your EPG. I used it once a long time ago and so I am not sure if it will allow you to override the sort with a manual ordering.

* The EPG guides is often missing, for example I never seem to get a guide for 4hd, because of this I can't record future programs on these channels

I haven't experienced this, all my HD channels, including 4HD have guide data. They even have listings for the regional variations e.g. BBC 1 Scotland HD. Sometimes you have to go into Edit Listing to select the correct one if it hasn't auto matched them correctly. If you still can't find it you could always link 4HD to the listing for Channel 4 (SD) as a workaround.

* When switching between freesat and freeview the channel says unavailable until I click channel down and back up again.

Sorry can't help with this as I am Freeview only. I think I have read other reports of this issue though.

* having to research and then search for new channels rather than it auto picking them up.

They should get picked up automatically if you have good signal strength and quality. There are a couple of background processes to handle this. One which scans for new channels through your tuner and one which checks the over-the-air guide and channel data for changes to the line up. The behaviour of these can be controlled with registry settings but they are turned on by default.

* Loads of duplicate/scrambled and test channels that clutter the EPG.

Turn them off. Just go into Edit Channels and untick everything that you don't watch or record. I have less than 20 enabled in my guide which declutters the display and improves responsiveness.

[Oliver]

Everyone: The Poll has been up for over 24 hours, with no objections only support for a media centre section. I am pleased, I feel we have some excellent members here and I hope this section will enable us to hold on to some members even if they eventually change their Media Centre PC

I have added a Windows Media Center section with 3 separate forums. I would like to add a general section for other media center software like XBMC or Mediaportal but I'm not sure how best to implement it.

Help required now

I would like to hear your ideas for the new Windows Media Center section, Should I add any further forums, remove any forums or rename them? advice and ideas much appreciated, just reply to this thread

IT Troll: Thanks for your detailed reply, I will give your advice a go when I have some time to spare, sorting channels can be time consuming, if I run into any trouble I'll use the new media section for help.
(Edit) I have also promoted you to VIP in recognition of your contribution to VGX-XLpedia