Slowing it down... for now.

[Innocence]

When I read posts from users asking if they should they get a PCH the response is lackluster at best

:confused: Well... this certainly wasn't the case when I asked this question only a week ago. The answer was: "I use it, and my partner is able to use it without any trouble". I know I'm a newcomer here, but reading multiple threads regarding your solution left me with the impression that the users look up to you and are amazed at your work.

Never take massive feature requests as a sign of ungratefullness or discontent - to the contrary recognize that this shows the users have faith in your skills and are confident you can fulfill pretty much anything they wish for

I'm sorry to hear developing this isn't fun for you anymore, but I really hope development on this fantastic solution doesn't end here. It's always hard to be the pioneer in any field, but you and sub should take pride in the fact that you're boldly going where no man has gone before

I guess this is still the case with a lot of people these days....from my point of view who would bother trying to make a HD capable PC when you can buy a PCH that with subs & martins effort will basically work out of the box???

Couldn't have said it better myself. It seems to me that the vast majority of users are totally unaware of the Godsend hardware/software combination that GBPVR+PCH, through the hard work of sub and mvallevand, has become.

I've been browsing the forums of various media centers, and finally came down to only two that could deliver the features I need: SageTV and GBPVR.

SageTV's HD extender is properiatary and pretty much impossible to get your hands on here in Europe (not to mention often out of stock). Their new extender was finally released this week, but frankly it's an eyesore

GBPVR is a fantastic product and combined with support for the, very available, PCH extender it's impossible to resist.

I'm sadly still a few months away from getting the tuners, software setup and PCH extenders I'll need (in the process of moving into a new house, feels like taking forever), so I really, really hope GBPVR support for PCH isn't scrapped - there really isn't a comparable alternative.

[martint123]

I'm sorry to hear you are getting disenchanted Martin.
You are doing such a good job that many of us just sit and keep quiet as there is no need to shout or plea for help.

I'm always a little concerned when one person takes on the task that I rely on, both yourself and sub are prime examples.

Sadly, if I just arrived on the forum and read your post, I think I would then have to steer away from the PCH and look at the other alternatives.

regards
Martin

[Paul_B]

Martin,

As you can see from the number of posts I am relatively new to the GBPVR application although I have had it bookmarked for some time. I've had my PCH for about two weeks now and although I still have niggles it is only my own ability to learn and understand.

What I was looking for as a solution was independent TV, recording and DVD library for the main room and bedrooms. Intially I went down the HDMI matrix switch route, but these are horrendously expensive (>£5,000 all in all). I've looked at building a PC for each room, but power consumption, noise and performance would all be too much of a headache. The PCH with GBPVR fits my bill 100% and is pretty cheap for the quality on offer.

The PCH is silent, consumes little power and with hardware decoding does the job very efficiently and easily. I'm already wiring CAT5E room by room to a gigabit switch in the garage, so no complex and expensive baluns needed. I have a rackmount server that I'm filling with disks for my DVD library and recordings. It'll also host up to 4 tuner cards for freesat / Sky (Terrestial freeview is not an option as I am on the south coast and therefore digital transmissions are very low powered).

I think what Sub and you have achieved is incredible and well conceived. The current YouTube videos of potential improvements are jaw dropping. I for one hope that you continue with the development and maybe people like myself who aren't coders can help it be more fun by answering support queries from other users from what we have learnt and you have told us.

Paul

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I can understand your frustration, Martin. I don't understand those guys at the NMT forum, how come there not using GBPVR yet? And why isn't there more support from Syabas, just look at what can be achieved with the new Sage extender. So relax, have a beer, and I'm sure you'll get inspired again some day. Lets face it, you just can't miss us for that long

Chris

[mvallevand]

Thanks to everyone but any rumours of my death are greatly exaggerated. I really am going to be more involved with developing for the pch then I have been. Syabas have been very helpful recently too, so martin123 the knowledge will be spread around more not less. MythTV support will be useful, because it too might spark some interest that gbpvr hasn't.

@nz'ers I totally relate to the latm problems you are experiencing, that is what digital tv has been like here in N.A. have had to deal with on the MVP for several years. I thought that this would lead to more PCH
users here but I think this is still is to come. LATM support on the PCH will likely come with new microcode which might kill mvpmcx2 as it runs today too, but I expect that is many months away.

Martin

[woody9wood]

Hi Martin,
I'm a surfer of both the NMT and GBPVR forums. Before settling with NMT, multiple MVPs, and GBPVR, I did quite a bit of research trying to find a solution that was better/cheaper than what the cable company provided. I also wanted to be able to setup a TV Guide how I wanted it, have access to all my movies, music, pictures, and control all of this from a central location. I wanted to do all of this while making it as easy as possible so my wife wouldn't need classes. When I first purchased my NMT (A110), I realized real quick that the ease of use was very lacking. When I read the GBPVR WIKI and forums, I was amazed to see how many options it had and knew it was exactly what I was looking for to complete the NMT. I end up spending more time in this forum because for me, this is my one stop solution for all of my needs. If all my TVs where HD, I'd have more NMTs connecting to GBPVR but since I don't, I also have some MVPs. I honestly would have dumped the NMT a while back if it weren't for the work that you, Sub, and other contributors have done to make it what it is today. I really appreciate all of your hard work.


Woody

[bungle]

The MythTV clan is much like the .Net heads that denounce Java....their world is the best and nothing will change their mind.

A little Slashdot "there, fixed that for you." I have met plenty of people who have the exact stance with the platforms reversed. (I have used both for years.)

MythTV support will be useful, because it too might spark some interest that gbpvr hasn't.

I have not been active here because I switched to MythTV over a year ago after using GB-PVR for a couple of years. The switch was mostly about the OS - I really liked the GB-PVR/MVP combo. Luckily the Myth/MVP combo works well enough. I have been tracking the Myth/PCH combo as a replacement. So, at least from me, there is interest, and I hope it comes along well. I guess for now I can only offer encouragement and the hope that all camps will cooperate.

[Lindsay]

Thanks to everyone but any rumours of my death are greatly exaggerated. snip
Martin

Whew, so glad to hear that! I was thinking, myself, it was sounding like an obituary!!

But, hey, Martin, not many of us get to hear the nice things people say at funerals

[obiwan]

Martin,
Your frustration with the slow development of the PCH is shared by many.
It is like having a child with tremendous potential only to find him eating the crayons.

Have a FUN and deserved siesta!!!!!

obiwan

[Sheik Yerbouti]

It looks like some guys at the NMT forum are starting to wake up: http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showth...?tid=11911

Chris