Boxee Box as an extender? (xbmc perhaps?)

[CyRex]

I should have time to test this out on my Box tonight, I'll let you know what happens.

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by CyRex

I should have time to test this out on my Box tonight, I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks. My time over the next two days will be limited.

Remember, what's there now is test code!

[CyRex]

Yeah I'm pretty busy the rest of the week too, hoping I can get the app up and running while making dinner.

I know it's test code, I've been working on it too. (Dan K)

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by CyRex

Yeah I'm pretty busy the rest of the week too, hoping I can get the app up and running while making dinner.

I know it's test code, I've been working on it too. (Dan K)

Sorry Dan, I'm still getting used to real names vs. forum names!

[panteragstk]

Not sure how I missed this thread, but wow do you guys work fast. I know it is a test, but the progress is impressive.

[CyRex]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

Sorry Dan, I'm still getting used to real names vs. forum names!

No problem, same here!

[drewg]

How does Boxee deal with broadcast mpeg2?

One of the reasons that I came to SageTV for the extenders is that the HD100 (and now 300) play back all the weird broadcast HD formats correctly. For example, I have a 720p local broadcaster which shows all its syndicated material telecined. Eg, there will be frames with the repeat field flag set in content that is originally 24fps. So rather than broadcasting 60 new frames / sec, they repeat some frames to save bandwidth. When I would play these recordings back on MythTV, the timeline would show a 60 minute episode as about 48 minutes, and there would be horrible stuttering / skipping.

Similarly, how is the de-interlacing of 1080i? At least 2 of my broadcasters of 1080i also use these RFF flags (and again, MythTV would show a "shortened" timeline, and stutter when playing recordings from these channels).

Whenever I've tried to play stuff like this back on earlier Boxee builds, it would also get the timeline wrong, stutter, and not even automatically enable de-interlacing.

Thanks,
Drew

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by drewg

How does Boxee deal with broadcast mpeg2?

One of the reasons that I came to SageTV for the extenders is that the HD100 (and now 300) play back all the weird broadcast HD formats correctly. For example, I have a 720p local broadcaster which shows all its syndicated material telecined. Eg, there will be frames with the repeat field flag set in content that is originally 24fps. So rather than broadcasting 60 new frames / sec, they repeat some frames to save bandwidth. When I would play these recordings back on MythTV, the timeline would show a 60 minute episode as about 48 minutes, and there would be horrible stuttering / skipping.

Similarly, how is the de-interlacing of 1080i? At least 2 of my broadcasters of 1080i also use these RFF flags (and again, MythTV would show a "shortened" timeline, and stutter when playing recordings from these channels).

Whenever I've tried to play stuff like this back on earlier Boxee builds, it would also get the timeline wrong, stutter, and not even automatically enable de-interlacing.

Thanks,
Drew

Drew,

I think the only way to tell would be to try it out. If you send me a link to some of this "weird" content, I'll try it out and let you know if it barfs.

Tom

[drewg]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

Drew,

I think the only way to tell would be to try it out. If you send me a link to some of this "weird" content, I'll try it out and let you know if it barfs.

Tom

Thanks.. But with my ISP, uploading a meaningfully large sample would be quite time consuming (< 250Kb/s up). I'll give it a whirl again on my laptop as soon as I get a chance.

Thanks,
Drew

[kmp14]

Is it possible to control a Boxee Box via an IR remote, and have the full complement of DVR type controls, or will navigating require the big 6 (Back,Left,Right,Up,Down,Select)?

[CyRex]

There is an add-on IR receiver for the Boxee, so you are not limited to the RF remote.

http://twistedmelon.com/shop/?show=manta-tr1

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by drewg

Thanks.. But with my ISP, uploading a meaningfully large sample would be quite time consuming (< 250Kb/s up). I'll give it a whirl again on my laptop as soon as I get a chance.

Thanks,
Drew

If you want to burn something to a DVD and snail mail it to me, send a PM and I'll give you my mailing address.

[kricker]

Originally Posted by drewg

Similarly, how is the de-interlacing of 1080i? At least 2 of my broadcasters of 1080i also use these RFF flags (and again, MythTV would show a "shortened" timeline, and stutter when playing recordings from these channels).

Whenever I've tried to play stuff like this back on earlier Boxee builds, it would also get the timeline wrong, stutter, and not even automatically enable de-interlacing.

Thanks,
Drew

I am using the win32 Boxee. I had to set the video OSD to auto for de-interlacing and then it seemed to work fine. Also the timeline shows the correct times.

[ThePaladinTech]

Looking great! I've installed the windows version and I think the latest build. Can't wait to try it out (not at home now)

[tmiranda]

Thanks to a lot of work by many people we have an "pre Alpha" app available. Add the following repository to Boxee http://sagetv-boxee.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/repo/

and then install "Boxee for SageTV".

This is VERY early stuff (so no need to post here about visual elements that are not right) but you should be able to browse your TV recordings and play them. If you can't, please let me know.

The first time you launch the app it will prompt you for the Sage server name and port, jetty user name, and jetty password. I strongly suggest using the IP of your server (eg. 192.168.1.100:8080) and not the network name. You can change the settings from Setup->Boxee.

If your sage recordings do not use UNC paths you will need to enter mapping information. To do that go to Settings->Boxee. The format is

d:,//hostname/path;y:,//hostname/anotherpath

If your recordings do not play try replacing hostname with the actual IP address.

The only menu that does anything (besides Settings->Boxee) is "TV". It will bring up a malore style browser with the show names in the left pane and the episodes in the right. You'll notice that when you navigate in the left pane the right pane does not change. To update the right pane press enter in the left pane. I'm trying to figure out how to update the right pane automatically but so far I have been unsuccessful.

Like I said, this is a very early POC. I am interested in hearing if you have any difficulty getting things to play.

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by willplaice

I'm sure i did something wrong ?

just gave ip address "192.168.1.100"
app then asked for a username, so I gave "Administrator" and the password for that account, then nothing...
i can launch the app, nothing happens...

Will

1. The IP address should be the actual IP address of your Sage server. I just used 192.168.1.100 as an example. The port should also be the actual port used by Jetty, which by default is 8080.

2. You must have the "sagex-services" plugin installed on your Sage server.

3. The userid and password are for Jetty (which is installed when you install sagex-services). By default the userid is sage and the password is frey.

[willplaice]

ok so i am an idiot, and didn't have the plugin - sorry

thanks for mentioning it was the Jetty creds that are needed.

Will

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by willplaice

ok so i am an idiot, and didn't have the plugin - sorry

I've got several PhDs in stupid.

[jerryt]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

Add the following repository to Boxee http://sagetv-boxee.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/repo/

This step only works for me if I first login at http://sagetv-boxee.googlecode.com

Next the SageTV app gives error that it can not connect to server at XYZ, would you like to try again. "YES" Always connects fine on second atempt. I am using servers IP address.

Third issue. I can not get any recordings to show. I have try the following UNC paths
\\192.168.0.100\Recordings\
\\192.168.0.100\Recordings
\\Server host name\Recordings\
\\Server host name\Recordings
(The above open the file directory fine when pasted into internet explorer address bar)
G:,//192.168.0.100/Recordings
//Server host name/Recordings/
//192.168.0.100/Recordings

Could the App need to be enabled in Windows firewall? Any ideas on this issue?

[willplaice]

ok so i'm getting there:

i have the list of recordings, but i can't play any of them

my sage server uses a local disk for recording z:\Recorded

this is reachable as

\\servername\Recorded or as \\192.168.1.1000\Recorded..

I've tried both, what should this be configured as in the app?