Do I have to have MVP software installed for MVP to work properly?

[Beerman]

I just hooked up my MVP yesterday, and it seems to be working ok. I did not install the included MVP software. I just connected all the cables and turned on the MVP. It located the GB-PVR server pretty quickly, and seems to be working ok. I did not install the MVP software as I had read on the forums that it is not necessary. However, as I have been browsing the forums today, I read that one does need to install the MVP software as some of the MVP components are reused by GB-PVR in order for it to function properly on the MVP. So I'm not confused as to whether I should also install the MVP software. I know that If I do go ahead and install the MVP software that the 2 services need to be stopped and then set to manual for GB-PVR to work.

Can anyone clear this up for me? Thanks.

[jksmurf]

This one's so easy, even I can answer it.

Nope, you do not need it :-)

See Note 6 of http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/FAQ/MVP#toc2

and http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Hardware/MediaMVP for more info.
k.

[cosmocat]

The only time you might want the MVP software is to change the MVP into widescreen mode. They ship as 4x3 aspect ratio by default. If you are connecting it to a widescreen 16x9 aspect ratio tele then there is a utility in the MVP software to adjust for this.
You only need to run this once per MVP and when its set to the aspect ratio you want, uninstall the MVP software so that it doesn't interfere with GBPVR.

Regards

[Killing2Live]

I think you also might need it installed to play AVI files.

[jksmurf]

Killing2Live

Apparently this use to be the case, but there are now other tools which you can use instead, so it is not imperative (although easiest in the absence of anything else). I'm sure someone will chime in with exactly which tools shortly.

k.

[sub]

The Hauppauge software is only required if you try to play a WMV file. Otherwise it's not required.