What LCD Plugin or Utility to use these days?

[Snooze]

I am preparing on building a HTPC into a nMediaPC Case with a 3 year old machine I built. The new case has a place for their optional LCD display http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811996003

I was wondering what the working options for LCD's (2x20) on 1.4.7 are these days. I see iMon plugin with LCD Smartie is one option reading from a text file. Are there other working options for a non-MCE PC I can try?

I would like it to display what's playing now in PVRX2, and during standby what/when the next recording(s) are going to be, if that is possible.

Thanks
Snooze

[ryanmc]

i use the lcd smartie/imon/gbpvrCli setup, it works well. i use it for whats recording now, soon and also to display now playing along with many other things ive set like weather temp and stuff. the part about in standby displaying recording next i cant really comment on mine stays on 24/7 but doesnt seem impossible if your display stays on when pc sleeps.

i remember the first time around taking alot of time tinkering to get things they way i liked the possiblities are really endless

i also tried the other lcd plugin floating around here somewhere but never had much luck with it probably due to my displays not being compatible or something.

[b00sfuk]

I also still use the lcdsmartie/imon/gbpvrcli solution on PVRX2.

I don't think it can display what is playing, you might need the imon plugin for that.

I display my next recording when the machine is in standby but this does not work with the latest lcdsmartie. The developers will not reintroduce the function (they say it can cause instability but I never saw it) so I use the previous version and it works fine in Windows 7.

Also note gbpvrcli is not being updated for NPVR but batch files with SQLITE commands work just as well.

All the above is documented in other posts.

[pBS]

i have the vfd version of that display and use a customized version of imon plugin with a helper app and smartie lcd that does display the playing video info..
i've done a little work on a npvr version but not even close to done with that..
even got it to display what's next on suspends.. and spectrum analyzer with winamp...but i like more info than bling..
[hard drive temps etc.]
i'll be making a npvr version eventually, and i hear someone else is making another lcd plugin..but haven't heard anything in a while..
i have 4 displays [all vfd's from same company] so shouldn't be long for npvr..
[now that finally have submenus and custom menu items,i may convert..]

[ryanmc]

i have the vfd version of that display and use a customized version of imon plugin with a helper app and smartie lcd that does display the playing video info..
i've done a little work on a npvr version but not even close to done with that..
even got it to display what's next on suspends.. and spectrum analyzer with winamp...but i like more info than bling..
[hard drive temps etc.]
i'll be making a npvr version eventually, and i hear someone else is making another lcd plugin..but haven't heard anything in a while..
i have 4 displays [all vfd's from same company] so shouldn't be long for npvr..
[now that finally have submenus and custom menu items,i may convert..]

nice in the near future il have to setup npvr on my main system with vfd il keep an eye out for it

[Snooze]

Thanks for all the input from all of you!

It sounds like I should look at using lcd smartie/imon plugin/gbpvrcli

@ b00sfuk, do you mind if I ask what version of lcd smartie you are using? I would definitely want the next recording while in standby. I was reading the forums about the batch files with SQLITE commands, that looked sooooo confusing. I am not planning to move to NPVR until some of the plugins I have dont work anymore or they get developed for NPVR. I will migrate eventually though I am sure.

@pBS, this "customized version" of imon plugin with a "helper app"... are these on the wiki or forums somewhere? I cant seem to locate them. I am interested in trying a few options to see what is out there that works with PVRX2.

Thanks again everyone!

[pBS]

naw, i hadn't really released anything, but the imon plugin is just the regular one that also writes info to registry so i can access it with my little app to do the lookups in db..
then it puts extra info back into registry and smartie reads it from there..
sounds like a lot but it's pretty efficient really...no problems for 2 years now..

i have the basics for getting npvr info out into registry, but still lots to learn about npvr data setup yet...

[b00sfuk]

@ b00sfuk, do you mind if I ask what version of lcd smartie you are using? I would definitely want the next recording while in standby. I was reading the forums about the batch files with SQLITE commands, that looked sooooo confusing. I am not planning to move to NPVR until some of the plugins I have dont work anymore or they get developed for NPVR. I will migrate eventually though I am sure.

I use 5.3.2 as it is the last version that will display a non-fixed message in standby. I actually use an old imonsmartie driver in LCD Smartie (probably no longer available online but can send if needed) for the display (iMon 2x16 vfd). Whatever is written to a text file called usbportexit.txt is then displayed as the standby message (e.g. next recording name/time). It is all a but messy but has always worked for me and survived the upgrade over time from XP to Vista to W7.
Happy to post my files (which I also have working in NPVR) but it would require some understanding and work (might be a worry if you find the batch files confusing).

[Snooze]

I use 5.3.2 as it is the last version that will display a non-fixed message in standby.

Ok that's good to know since I would like that feature.

I actually use an old imonsmartie driver in LCD Smartie (probably no longer available online but can send if needed) for the display (iMon 2x16 vfd). Whatever is written to a text file called usbportexit.txt is then displayed as the standby message (e.g. next recording name/time). It is all a but messy but has always worked for me and survived the upgrade over time from XP to Vista to W7.

Thanks, but I dont think that would help me as this is not a iMon (at least I dont think so).

Happy to post my files (which I also have working in NPVR) but it would require some understanding and work (might be a worry if you find the batch files confusing).

I found another post of yours with the different batch files, so I think I can try to sort it out from there. What was confusing to me was all the text files being created and how it all works with LCD Smartie. I will give it a whirl and probably will have some questions.

Thanks for all your input/offers/help! Much appreciated!

[pBS]

what i do for suspend messages is create a page in smartie that has info i want in suspend, then just before suspending it changes to that page and kills smartie..leaving the message on while machine is sleep..when it comes back up, start smartie again and all is well....using latest version and same type lcd from nMedia case..
should work for every lcd/vfd..but required a couple plugins and some setup..

but i found it was too much trouble to mess with, like the spectrum analyser...tho really usefull for some..[if yours is asleep alot]
sure wish someone'd make a new smartie type program...they're all old now..