Trying to understand the consumers of ServerWMC

[af22 6]

I'm a bit confused on the full future vision of the MB3 platform regarding the Live TV ServerWMC plugin. 

 

Today I have 2 computers

1) HTPC connect to TV - Win 7 Media Center + MB3 Classic + HDHomeRun Tuners for Live TV / DVR

2) Server - Windows Server 2008R2 (headless) - i5 4670k + MB3 Server + 24TB storage pool

 

So, if i installed WMC and ServerWMC on my Server.  I believe I would potentially be able to stream LiveTV to my iOS / Android / Web devices via the MB3 Server.

 

However, what would I use on my HPTC?  Would i eventually switch over the HTPC to use MB3 Theater and use it to connect to my MB3 server for Live TV?  Or would the HTPC still use MB3 Classic ontop of WMC ?  Will the consumers of LiveTV always be transcoded on-the-fly from the Server? 

 

I'm not sure what the most appropriate way to set this up once it's fully production.  I'm really enjoying the ride so far.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Luke 42077]

Either way you want.

[Latchmor 584]

Hi, it fine the way you have it. ServerWMC should be installed on your HTPC and you configure MBS on your server to use it. HTPC still uses WMC but so can MBS to dish out to other clients.

 

Cheers

[af22 6]

Ok, i had forgotten that ServerWMC can run from another PC.  So if i run ServerWMC on my HTPC, and configure my Server & MBS to use it, I would be able to modify my DVR scheduling from the web interface.  What happens if my HTPC goes to sleep?  Would MBS just fail to connect to ServerWMC? 

 

Right now my HTPC goes to sleep after 15 minutes (it auto wakes to record livetv) and my Server is on 24/7.

 

Ideally I want the concept of of a LiveTV server, with a centralized DVR scheduling that i can access from the web.

[ebr 16169]

Also remember there will be other live TV implementations.

[AgileHumor 123]

Currently, you can only use MB3 Live TV with basic channels (5 for me: PBS, CBS, Fox, ABC, NBC).  

 

Would i eventually switch over the HTPC to use MB3 Theater and use it to connect to my MB3 server for Live TV? Yes, if you don't need CableCard non-basic channels.  You could also use a smaller Roku or other Mediabrowser supported device instead of an HTPC.

 

If you need CableCard, you will need to stick with a Window Media Center. 

[Luke 42077]

It sounds like you can only use it with five channels, but there are others using it with 700 channels.

 

And see what Ebr said. There will be other tv plugins that provide the same features but come from a different source (e.g., not wmc).

[gcw07 347]

Currently, you can only use MB3 Live TV with basic channels (5 for me: PBS, CBS, Fox, ABC, NBC).  

 

Would i eventually switch over the HTPC to use MB3 Theater and use it to connect to my MB3 server for Live TV? Yes, if you don't need CableCard non-basic channels.  You could also use a smaller Roku or other Mediabrowser supported device instead of an HTPC.

 

If you need CableCard, you will need to stick with a Window Media Center. 

I'm in the same boat as you. I can get locals, but beyond that everything is copy once, so it is worthless. Unfortunately that is always going to be the case for anything outside of WMC. I wish it wasn't. Others that don't have that restriction are lucky and have a lot more options which is where MB's Live TV can come into play. Unfortunately for users like us we are stuck with WMC (or in my case I've switched back to Tivo).

[af22 6]

I have a ClearStream 4 antenna on my roof, so I only use the unencrypted OTA channels.  I have been Windows Media Center ever since Vista back in the day.  When XBMC live TV support came out, i imediately tried it with NextPVR / Argus / and finally ServerWMC.  The MB3/ServerWMC so far is one of the best implmentations i've seen.  There are always two big issues:  1) really slow channel changing 2) poor / lack of epg support and interface.  ServerWMC utilizies microsofts epg, which is not only way more polished but also free.  The MB3S epg interface is also much cleaner then every solution i've seen (and utilizing modern day technology).

Edited January 26, 2014 by af22

[AgileHumor 123]

@@Luke, I have 800+ with CableCard (but disable all but 83 channels that I ever watch)...but only 5 are unencrypted and streamble. If they are getting them, it's via the analog composite (non HD) interconnect with a set top box and IR blaster.  With the Hauppauge wintv and the Windows Media Center IR blaster engine, you can suck in everything your set top box has, albeit in analog 480p. This would be streamable. I could also see how some channels are still on analog (available without a HDTV) on some cable systems.  Again, this would all be 480p (which would be fine streamed to a smart phone).

 

Any details on how you've heard others get more than ClearQAM digital TV channels (only basic channels are unencrypted ClearQAM in the US)?  This would be some awesome news  

[gcw07 347]

Agile - It 100% depends upon your provider on if they flag things copy once or not. Verizon FIOS for instance mainly only flags HBO, Starz, etc. as copy once. Everything else is copy freely. So if your provider locks things down then there is nothing you can really do. 

[AgileHumor 123]

Gosh I want FIOS.  Sadly not planned in our San Diego are for sometime, if at all.  I hear the internet is pretty fast too.

Edited January 27, 2014 by AgileHumor

[gcw07 347]

FIOS stopped expanding a year or so back. So if it isn't in your area already it probably never will be. It isn't in mine either.