Slowing it down... for now.

[mvallevand]

Over the past couple of months I have been finding that time spent on mvpmcx2 for the PCH has not been all that rewarding. Instead it has become "work" and not the fun "hobby" that I once enjoyed. When I read posts from users asking if they should they get a PCH the response is lackluster at best, often tending to support getting an MVP instead. I am not complaining, I am really glad people provide honest feedback, but it is still can be disheartening.

On the NMT forums at times I feel I am the only one who even thinks GBPVR is a good choice and maybe that is the bigger sting. I shake my heed when I see that people use other PC server solutions given how much GBPVR offers. It is a bit odd too because NMT users who aren't also GBPVR users also seem to really think the have a pretty media extender, and the critics tend to agree.

Over the last couple of days my frustration limit has really been reached. On one hand I am reading all the excitement on the SageTV forums about their new extender which looks to be just basic Sigma SMP8634 hardware like the A100 with fewer software features but with SageTV support. STV users loved their old extender even with inferior hardware and I'm sure they will continue with this new model.

On the other hand here, many users generally ignore the PCH as a solution, or ultimately want a PC solution or worse (at least for me) ask for some other solution. I'm guessing the opinion is the PCH is too expensive, many of you want a really cheap solution (since if you don't need HD or BluRay 1080p. quality audio etc it is a luxury) or you want a much better solution. I think I really misunderstood the value of comskip, every time I think I have made progress, it is always "What about comskip?"

I therefore have decided to back way off on support for GBPVR, until I can offer you more functionality especially comskip, so no more videos or progress reports they take too much time. I'm not going to be idle, I will be using the information I have from Syabas to revitalize mvpmc for the PCH (MythTV, slimserver) and as I did with mvpmc for the MVP I used the best to create "emulation mode". I really do need some time to rewrite the native internet radio code so it will work as well for me as it does with mvpmc, I still haven't replaced my MVP on the stereo and I have three PCH's!

Of course I will continue to ensure that mvpmcx2 works with new NMT firmware releases. This particular A100 firmware beta cycle has been grueling too (beta 1 broke telnet, beta 2 broke live tv etc) and so that process isn't really satisfying either. I won't be gone, but I will be really try to respond to posts in the two mvpmc forums.

Also if sub wants to fully support resume on the PCH that will be offered in the next firmware release that is great and I will make all the necessary changes otherwise you will get resume on the last file like all the other PCH users. If similar opportunities for improvement come up I will present them too.

Martin

[BrainStormer]

So does this mean you'll be working on the MVPMC Plugin edition that Jon started and integrating emulation mode as well as MythTV, slimserver ?

[topperdude]

I can see where you and your frustration may be coming from. In some ways, it seems you appear to be stuck in between, or limited by, the slightly different roadmap that Syabas is taking for implementing features versus GBPVR users' requests for implementing certain functionality

FWIW, I had narrowed it down to using SageTV + their extender OR GBPVR + PCH for my client/server PVR solution & it was in part due to your contributions (youtube videos, responsiveness to GBPVR users' questions here) that I ended up selecting GBPVR+PCH and saving up for and recently investing in an A-110.

So I just wanted to say I do appreciate your efforts for getting PCH to the point it is today as a front end for GBPVR. Hopefully, one of these days, I will get around to working on setting up the PCH as described in the installation improvement thread.

Thanks for all your efforts!
-Topper

[mvallevand]

So does this mean you'll be working on the MVPMC Plugin edition that Jon started and integrating emulation mode as well as MythTV, slimserver ?

Jon & I have been working on this for a while now., in fact most of the directfb work came from the mvpmcx2 work but yes I want to spend more time on this.

Martin

[mvallevand]

FWIW, I had narrowed it down to using SageTV + their extender OR GBPVR + PCH for my client/server PVR solution & it was in part due to your contributions (youtube videos, responsiveness to GBPVR users' questions here) that I ended up selecting GBPVR+PCH and saving up for and recently investing in an A-110.

I think you still made a good choice. I expect to be just as responsive by being more focused.

Martin

[UncleJohnsBand]

I think all us developers have ups and downs and can become disenchanted with our focal points.

Its good to back off from time to time to see what happens....or what doesn't happen.

Here are some of my thoughts on your thoughts.....

For me I was always a MVP user just for the hardware.....I always used GBPVR for the backend services and to deliver the interface for the MVP. I have always used the EWA extension to GBPVR to schedule and maintain my recordings.

I moved to the PCH to get the HD viewing capabilities and was going to be begrudgingly satisfied with just using GBPVR to schedule and record my programming.

I was very excited and elated when the GBPVR interface came to the PCH through your efforts along with sub.

I contend that GBPVR remains the best PVR software around.

The MythTV clan is much like the Java heads that denounce .Net....their world is the best and nothing will change their mind. There is no use in fighting it......just accept it and move on. I do know that I have seen many posts here over the years from Myth Tv users that switched over becuase of the easier use and more features of GBPVR.

I prefer GBPVR since it is a Lexus and frankly.....I deserve a Lexus.....why settle for anything less when you can have the best with GBPVR and its extensibility into the MVP and PCH!

I don't hang out on the NMT forums for support.....I am only using their hardware and really look for GBPVR and mvpmcx2 to provide the services that the hardware uses. This means I live here in the GBPVR forums. I am not surprised that many over on the NMT forums do not seem interested in GBPVR.

I feel that the NMT people that are happy with their out-of-the box PCH solution are not looking for a PVR....they are looking for a HD media player and that is why they show little interest in how much more they can get out of the PCH when you utilize a true full-featured PVR interface.

The users here that are not looking at the PCH may in-fact have their PC setup as a HPCT box and therfore have not need for it. For some this works....for others it does not. I am one of the ones that it does not work for since I prefer a small footprint in my living room with my media on the NAS where I can get to it from wherever I want to.

People opting for the MVP over the PCH are most likley doing so either because of price or because they do not yet have HD viewing displays that really warrent the PCH.

I think if you have HD viewing capability and are not setup with a HPCT then choosing a MVP over the PCH is probably an unwise choice. You can easily justify the extra $100 for the PCH in the native capabilities it provides and that is only increased by being able to utilize its features through the high-end PVR GBPVR software that is made available via the mvpmcx2.

Take a breather, get relaxed and re-focused and re-grouped. We'll all be here continuing to support sub and you as well as the many skin and plugin developers. We're a happy online family.

Martin.....I personally appreciate and understand the time/effort/focus and commitment that you put into mvpcx2 and extend a hardy thank you. You have made my PCH usability experience much higher than it could ever have been without the ability to use GBPVR via the PCH.

***********

I can not close this post without also extending my sincere thanks and appreciation to sub as well. He is of course the cornerstone of this community.

Thanks sub......for everything you have done over the years to keep this software and community at the top-of-the line level. Not an easy task yet year after year you make it seem like it is no effort at all.

[stustunz]

popcorn hour deal breaker for me is no aac audio that our HD broadcast here is in New Zealand uses otherwise i would have seriously looked at getting one

[Jaggy]

People opting for the MVP over the PCH are most likley doing so either because of price or because they do not yet have HD viewing displays that really warrent the PCH.

This describes me totally, both parts, cost and no HD either TV or broadcast in this area.

I think if you have HD viewing capability and are not setup with a HPCT then choosing a MVP over the PCH is probably an unwise choice. You can easily justify the extra $100 for the PCH in the native capabilities it provides and that is only increased by being able to utilize its features through the high-end PVR GBPVR software that is made available via the mvpmcx2.

I agree with this totally as well even without HD viewing capability if I was setting up today the PCH is the way I would go. I have been surprised over the last three years that I have been following the GB forums at how many people discount (at that time) the MVP as an option (now the PCH). When I was setting up first time I couldn't see why I would bother trying to build a quite PC & poke it into the sitting room with the size & noise, but others thought it the way to go. :confused: 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???

[Lindsay]

Martin, I, too, want to add my sincere appreciation of your, and subs, huge efforts on our behalf. I would also like to say UJB's post was superb and I endorse his feelings.

The functionality of the PCH is excellent but, like Stu said, we in NZ are stuck with no AAC audio on HD. That is no reflection on you or sub but it is a fact we face. We also realistically can't use it in LiveTV mode because of the tardy channel changes. These aspects, and the fact that we have to consider the WAF factor, lead me to seriously consider getting a SKYHDi stb to carry the TV recording/watching load. The aforementioned problems then go away.

But the PCH with mvpmcx2 and GBPVR will still be important for their other great functions. Recording SD will still also be important for some time.

So, hey, have a break and all the best wishes from me for your new direction.

Lindsay.

[pz1]

Martin,
I do share the feelings so well written by UJB. Though not (yet) a PCH user, I closely followed your writings on a daily basis, because "what mvallevand says matters".
It is a sad fact of life that not the highest quality wins, but rather the salesman's show. That is very much the case with the GBPVR-MVP-PCH combo. When I first started looking around, GBPVR superficially looked a bit mediocre in the competition. Only if you are willing to dig deeper you see the difference. One of that differences you only experience later is the community, and above all sub's high dedication to support.
Thanks for your work. Happy to hear that you will hang out here once and a while.
Pieter