Ja Phule,
I am working on setting up my DVD server using xbmc(on an xbox). I have been ripping my movies as .iso but I am having problems on the xbox side with playback (i.e. music starts but never leaves xbmc gui, after you press play in the menu of a DVD the playback of the disc hangs for awhile before it starts). I am currently running the latest t3ch build (T3CH XBMC 2008-07-28 SVN rev14439) and the Aeon skin (xbox mode enabled and backgrounds resized to 720P). I know that people have memory problems with the Aeon skin but I have the same issues whether I am in Aeon or Project Mayham III. The server is also plenty beefy (P4 2.4ghz, 1GB Ram, Gigabit Ethernet). Let me know what you think. Any advice would be much appreciated.

-Bahndit


Bad Build.... backup 2 builds to the June Release. 7/14 was bad too

These releases are not quality controlled they literally just build whats in the library that day. I have no problem with that but the fact that there has not been an offical release in almost 2 years is problematic....

SEan

Bad Build.... backup 2 builds to the June Release. 7/14 was bad too

These releases are not quality controlled they literally just build whats in the library that day. I have no problem with that but the fact that there has not been an offical release in almost 2 years is problematic....

SEan

I agree. And they want to be voted best project on SourceForge awards.

C'mon we all love the efforts of XBMC team and what they've put in, but it seems like they are going the Old Microsoft way in terms of HOUSE CLEANING when it comes to their code.

Can't they even do checkpoint releases in 6 months or an year?

Bugs are easier found early and more difficult to trace later.

Does this TV Sharp LC-52D64U not support 1080i / 1080p through Component inputs? i.e. Xbox XBMC with Xbox HD AV Pack for playing movies?

Does the xbmc upconvert to 720p both DVD iso files and DVDs that you play in its DVD drive?

Does this TV Sharp LC-52D64U not support 1080i / 1080p through Component inputs? i.e. Xbox XBMC with Xbox HD AV Pack for playing movies?

Every HDTV should support 720p and 1080i via component including the Sharp. It is recommended that you run XBMC at 720p as it begins to choke at 1080i.

Does the xbmc upconvert to 720p both DVD iso files and DVDs that you play in its DVD drive?

XBMC will upconvert anything it can play to 720p.

Feature thats a bug:

XBMC changed the default behavior when playing music and you hit B for back and the visualization is running that the music stops about 2 years ago. This is really annoying. It used to just turn off the visualization (like pressing X) and take you back to the music screen. Anyone know how to change this so it does not do that?

Sean

Answered my own question....

Change this to this in XBMC\userdata\keymap.xml

<Visualisation>
<remote>
<left>PreviousPreset</left>
<right>NextPreset</right>
<up>IncreaseRating</up>
<down>DecreaseRating</down>
<back>LockPreset</back>
<title>ShowPreset</title>
<select>XBMC.ActivateWindow(VisualisationPresetList)</select>
<menu>XBMC.ActivateWindow(MusicOSD)</menu>
<start>OSD</start>
<info>Info</info>
</remote>

<gamepad>
<A>Pause</A>
<B>Stop</B>
<Y>XBMC.ActivateWindow(VisualisationPresetList)</Y>
<black>ShowPreset</black>
<white>Info</white>
<start>XBMC.ActivateWindow(MusicOSD)</start>
<back>LockPreset</back>
<leftanalogtrigger>AnalogRewind</leftanalogtrigger>
<rightanalogtrigger>AnalogFastForward</rightanalogtrigger>
<dpadleft>SkipPrevious</dpadleft>
<dpadright>SkipNext</dpadright>
<dpadup>NextPreset</dpadup>
<dpaddown>PreviousPreset</dpaddown>
</gamepad>

<keyboard>
<f>FastForward</f>
<r>Rewind</r>
<period>SkipNext</period>
<comma>SkipPrevious</comma>
<return>ActivateWindow(MusicOSD)</return>
<m>ActivateWindow(MusicOSD)</m>
<i>CodecInfo</i>
<t>Info</t>
<p>ActivateWindow(VisualisationPresetList)</p>
<v>ActivateWindow(VisualisationSettings)</v>
<n>ActivateWindow(MusicPlaylist)</n>
<left>SkipPrevious</left>
<right>SkipNext</right>
<up>IncreaseRating</up>
<down>DecreaseRating</down>
<!--<back>NextPreset</back>!-->
<s>ShowPreset</s>
<l>LockPreset</l>
</keyboard>
</Visualisation>

to

<Visualisation>
<remote>
<left>PreviousPreset</left>
<right>NextPreset</right>
<up>IncreaseRating</up>
<down>DecreaseRating</down>
<back>LockPreset</back>
<title>ShowPreset</title>
<select>XBMC.ActivateWindow(VisualisationPresetList)</select>
<menu>XBMC.ActivateWindow(MusicOSD)</menu>
<start>OSD</start>
<info>Info</info>
</remote>

<gamepad>
<A>Pause</A>
<B>Fullscreen</B>
<Y>XBMC.ActivateWindow(VisualisationPresetList)</Y>
<black>ShowPreset</black>
<white>Info</white>
<start>XBMC.ActivateWindow(MusicOSD)</start>
<back>LockPreset</back>
<leftanalogtrigger>AnalogRewind</leftanalogtrigger>
<rightanalogtrigger>AnalogFastForward</rightanalogtrigger>
<dpadleft>SkipPrevious</dpadleft>
<dpadright>SkipNext</dpadright>
<dpadup>NextPreset</dpadup>
<dpaddown>PreviousPreset</dpaddown>
</gamepad>

<keyboard>
<f>FastForward</f>
<r>Rewind</r>
<period>SkipNext</period>
<comma>SkipPrevious</comma>
<return>ActivateWindow(MusicOSD)</return>
<m>ActivateWindow(MusicOSD)</m>
<i>CodecInfo</i>
<t>Info</t>
<p>ActivateWindow(VisualisationPresetList)</p>
<v>ActivateWindow(VisualisationSettings)</v>
<n>ActivateWindow(MusicPlaylist)</n>
<left>SkipPrevious</left>
<right>SkipNext</right>
<up>IncreaseRating</up>
<down>DecreaseRating</down>
<!--<back>NextPreset</back>!-->
<s>ShowPreset</s>
<l>LockPreset</l>
</keyboard>
</Visualisation>

Sean

I had that issue too. Which file to update?

I had that issue too. Which file to update?

Sorry its in


XBMC\userdata\keymap.xml

Sean

Thanks--I'll be on it soon!

Sean,

I've done a few hard drive upgrades on softmods. Every time I upgrade the hard drive, I have to redo the softmod. Is there something I'm doing wrong when I do the upgrade? I used this tutorial (http://www.techfreaks.org/articles/modxbox2.shtml).

Sean,

I've done a few hard drive upgrades on softmods. Every time I upgrade the hard drive, I have to redo the softmod. Is there something I'm doing wrong when I do the upgrade? I used this tutorial (http://www.techfreaks.org/articles/modxbox2.shtml).

I think that's normal. I had to do the same thing. And Sean (who offered me guidance) said he has always had to do it, as well - just part of the process.

Sean,

I've done a few hard drive upgrades on softmods. Every time I upgrade the hard drive, I have to redo the softmod. Is there something I'm doing wrong when I do the upgrade? I used this tutorial (http://www.techfreaks.org/articles/modxbox2.shtml).


Not to side track this too much but you should re-do your post about the new skin you had on here the other day.

It looked really good...........

"Every time I upgrade the hard drive, I have to redo the softmod."

That tends to be an issue with having a Shadow C: set up as with the ndure stuff. I haven't really looked in to a way of fixing it, but I assume turning off Shadow C would remove that problem. When you FTP over your C: for your xboxhdm iso build, you are grabbing the original contents of the Shadow C, not what is actually on your xbox's C:.

Sean,

I've done a few hard drive upgrades on softmods. Every time I upgrade the hard drive, I have to redo the softmod. Is there something I'm doing wrong when I do the upgrade? I used this tutorial (http://www.techfreaks.org/articles/modxbox2.shtml).

Yes its normal. The problem is when you make the backup its see's the virtual C (which is the stock dash_ and not the real C so after upgrading it loads the stock dash. There is some way around this but I never investigated it.... I just do the softmod a 2nd time...

BTW: exactly as darklordjames said above...

Sean

Ok. Glad I'm not the only one experiencing this.

Check out the new skin for XBMC.

Website: http://teamrazorfish.co.uk/mediastream.html

Screenshots:
http://japhule.collinsreport.com/avs/xbmc/MediaStream/MediaStream001.jpg

http://japhule.collinsreport.com/avs/xbmc/MediaStream/MediaStream002.jpg

http://japhule.collinsreport.com/avs/xbmc/MediaStream/MediaStream003.jpg

http://japhule.collinsreport.com/avs/xbmc/MediaStream/MediaStream004.jpg

http://japhule.collinsreport.com/avs/xbmc/MediaStream/MediaStream005.jpg

http://japhule.collinsreport.com/avs/xbmc/MediaStream/MediaStream006.jpg

Guys,

got an iPhone 3g last week. There built in remote control app for Itunes is very very slick and works super reliably. I have 3 air port expresses mostly outdoors and in the garage so this will nicely there...

I downloaded the XBMC iPhone web server and I wish it was as good. It works part of the time. I was able to hose it up pretty easily. It doesn't work with library mode or virtual directories it seems... transport controls seem to have issues with re-drawing or getting stuck. Anyone tried this and had any better luck?

http://tlrobinson.net/projects/xbmciphone/

EDIT:

It looks like some of the issues might have to do with API Changes...

I'm going to try this one...

http://code.google.com/p/iphone-xbmc-controller/

Sean

All,

Dunno if I posted this already but there is this new tools called XBMC skin manager. I have been using the 0.6 version for a while and it works well.. It downloads most of the new skins -AEON and the latest one JA Phule posted. He will keep adding new ones unless the developers dont want him too...

This tool

downloads the Skins (up to 23 of them) from the SVN Server
Builds them
and FTP's em to your xbox autoamtically

you just pick the ones you want...

http://s205077464.onlinehome.fr/images/upload/screenshot0._.png

and then let it do its thing. Its not very fast (downloading) but it gets the job done reliably...

beats the heck out of doing it by hand...

http://s205077464.onlinehome.fr/index.php

Sean

New T3CH release of XBMC is out. I've got it updated and it seems to be much more stable that the previous two builds. The dvd player issues I had in the last 2 builds seem to be fixed for me.

It looks like they are finally looking to get to making xbmc completely stable in about 2 months. This new release is ALPHA3 and they announced a feature freeze to concentrate on fixing the bugs.

Download it here: http://t3ch.yi.se/

Thanks Ja, also Sean that skin program looks awesome. I'll check it out.

All,

Dunno if I posted this already but there is this new tools called XBMC skin manager. I have been using the 0.6 version for a while and it works well.. It downloads most of the new skins -AEON and the latest one JA Phule posted. He will keep adding new ones unless the developers dont want him too...

This tool

downloads the Skins (up to 23 of them) from the SVN Server
Builds them
and FTP's em to your xbox autoamtically

you just pick the ones you want...
---snipped----
and then let it do its thing. Its not very fast (downloading) but it gets the job done reliably...

beats the heck out of doing it by hand...

http://s205077464.onlinehome.fr/index.php

Sean


Thanks Sean, I will have to try this.
2 quick questions.
1. Does it come with instructions on how to use it.
2. Is there a place where I can go and check out the new skins before downloading them? All the sites I have found so far seem out-dated. (Nevermind-it looks like you can preview them from the pic you posted)

Thanks Sean, I will have to try this.
2 quick questions.
1. Does it come with instructions on how to use it.
2. Is there a place where I can go and check out the new skins before downloading them? All the sites I have found so far seem out-dated. (Nevermind-it looks like you can preview them from the pic you posted)


Unfortunately the answer to your questions is no and no. you have to preview them on the xbox but once you know which ones you like you can skip building the rest....

running and using it is basically self explanatory

1. check the skins you want
2. fill in the ip ADDr and path to XBMC for the xbox in question
3. pic the resolution for some of the skins
4. hit go and wait...

its really very straightforward.... One of the skins will complain that XBMCtex is not available. Its been broken for a while. hope the author the skin will fix his build.bat. This is not an issue with the skin manager but the skin itself...

Sean

Unfortunately the answer to your questions is no and no. you have to preview them on the xbox but once you know which ones you like you can skip building the rest....

running and using it is basically self explanatory

1. check the skins you want
2. fill in the ip ADDr and path to XBMC for the xbox in question
3. pic the resolution for some of the skins
4. hit go and wait...

its really very straightforward.... One of the skins will complain that XBMCtex is not available. Its been broken for a while. hope the author the skin will fix his build.bat. This is not an issue with the skin manager but the skin itself...

Sean

Hmm, I don't see AEON or the other new one Ja posted - Mediastream.

Sean - did you say these are available when you tried the skin manager?

Those two are not in the skin manager yet. 26 skins so far total.

They are not in there for 1 of 2 reasons...

1. Its new and has not been added.
2. the skin developer does not want their skin to be accessed in this fashion. The author of the skin manager gets permission from the skin's developers before adding it.

SEan

New T3CH release of XBMC is out. I've got it updated and it seems to be much more stable that the previous two builds. The dvd player issues I had in the last 2 builds seem to be fixed for me.

It looks like they are finally looking to get to making xbmc completely stable in about 2 months. This new release is ALPHA3 and they announced a feature freeze to concentrate on fixing the bugs.

Download it here: http://t3ch.yi.se/

Amen.

It will be great to get a team endorsed stable build out there again.

Howdy again,
I am having trouble connecting out to the internet. I can see all my network share without any problem. But I can't get weather or RSS or any XBMC updates. I looked at the Wiki and it didn't seem to help. If I run Avalaunch it can read the RSSs though...
Any tips?

Howdy again,
I am having trouble connecting out to the internet. I can see all my network share without any problem. But I can't get weather or RSS or any XBMC updates. I looked at the Wiki and it didn't seem to help. If I run Avalaunch it can read the RSSs though...
Any tips?

Check your router setting and subnet settings

If using DHCP try static IP configuration and see if that changes anything...

some recent builds also had some internet connectivity issues... Which build are you using?

Sean

Those two are not in the skin manager yet. 26 skins so far total.

They are not in there for 1 of 2 reasons...

1. Its new and has not been added.
2. the skin developer does not want their skin to be accessed in this fashion. The author of the skin manager gets permission from the skin's developers before adding it.

SEan

The skin manager pulls the skins from their SVN. Aeon and MediaStream currently don't have their skin on SVN.

MediaStream is going to be bundled with new T3CH releases beginning with the next release.

Unfortunately the answer to your questions is no and no. you have to preview them on the xbox but once you know which ones you like you can skip building the rest....

running and using it is basically self explanatory

1. check the skins you want
2. fill in the ip ADDr and path to XBMC for the xbox in question
3. pic the resolution for some of the skins
4. hit go and wait...

its really very straightforward.... One of the skins will complain that XBMCtex is not available. Its been broken for a while. hope the author the skin will fix his build.bat. This is not an issue with the skin manager but the skin itself...

Sean


I have never used anything except for PMIII, the default. But I have noticed in settings that there is a drop down box under appearance/skins. When I load some skins will they show up in the drop down box? Is it actually that easy to switch skins, just click on the box and pick one that has been installed?

Thanks again


One none skin question. I now have 2 xboxs going with xbmc. The bedroom xbox boots right up to xbmc no problem. The living room xbox always boots to a screen with the time and date on it, and no matter how many times I set it, it does the same thing the next time, always defaulting to a 2004 date.
Is there an internal battery like in a regular computer in the xbox? Im thinking if it is bad thats why it never remembers the date and wants it set.
Maybe?

Check your router setting and subnet settings

If using DHCP try static IP configuration and see if that changes anything...

some recent builds also had some internet connectivity issues... Which build are you using?

Sean

Cox cable doesn't allow static IP addresses. My build is the June 2008 one. I haven't been able to get the weather for MANY builds but hadn't figured out that meant I wasn't seeing the internet. Kind of explains why none of the scripts worked...

Maybe I don't understand correctly, but it seems odd that it can see RSS feeds in Avalaunch and nothing in XBMC. I assume you're correct in assuming it's a problem with XBMC...

What Cox Cable allows has no bearing on what you can or cannot do on your internal LAN. The static IP thing with Cox affects only how your primary PC (or more likely, your router) obtains its Internet-visible IP.

Your Xbox, however, is obtaining an internal IP from your router. That IP is not being allocated by Cox, and is not directly visible to the Internet. It's probably in the 10.* or 192.168.* IP ranges, which aren't even intended to ever directly exist on the Internet (but which are fine on an internal LAN, behind a router or NAT hardware).

Simply look at what IP your router is assigning to the Xbox and pick an IP in the same range, then assign that as the Xbox's static IP in the XBMC setting or the Xbox dash. Make certain that the IP you select is not already in use by any other PC or network-connected device; you don't want an IP conflict. You may also have to tell your router that your selected IP should no longer be doled out via DHCP to any clients asking to be assigned a dynamic IP -- but you could probably delay that step until you've verified whether the static assignment resolves your connectivity issue.

The skin manager pulls the skins from their SVN. Aeon and MediaStream currently don't have their skin on SVN.

MediaStream is going to be bundled with new T3CH releases beginning with the next release.

I got the skin manager to download and build the skins, but it wouldn't connect to my Xbox to upload them for some reason. I set the (static) IP and user/pass are default xbox/xbox. The status just says FTP Connection Failed.

Any ideas?

Henway,

How is your IP configured in XBMC? I think XBMC defaults to "Dashboard", try changing it to DHCP if you haven't already.

I have never used anything except for PMIII, the default. But I have noticed in settings that there is a drop down box under appearance/skins. When I load some skins will they show up in the drop down box? Is it actually that easy to switch skins, just click on the box and pick one that has been installed?

Thanks again


One none skin question. I now have 2 xboxs going with xbmc. The bedroom xbox boots right up to xbmc no problem. The living room xbox always boots to a screen with the time and date on it, and no matter how many times I set it, it does the same thing the next time, always defaulting to a 2004 date.
Is there an internal battery like in a regular computer in the xbox? Im thinking if it is bad thats why it never remembers the date and wants it set.
Maybe?

It sounds like your 2nd xbox is still booting to the original xbox dashboard. Do you have it set to boot directly to XBMC?

It sounds like your 2nd xbox is still booting to the original xbox dashboard. Do you have it set to boot directly to XBMC?

Both my xboxs originally booted to the unleashx dash until Sean walked me through setting it up to boot directly to Xbmc.

Maybe I missed something when I did this box that makes it try to open the original xbox dash. I will look into it tonight.

I got the skin manager to download and build the skins, but it wouldn't connect to my Xbox to upload them for some reason. I set the (static) IP and user/pass are default xbox/xbox. The status just says FTP Connection Failed.

Any ideas?

I believe you can't be running XBMC while doing the update. Go to programs and run Avalaunch or any other program the retains FTP ability. Then try--same thing happened to me yesterday.

I have never used anything except for PMIII, the default. But I have noticed in settings that there is a drop down box under appearance/skins. When I load some skins will they show up in the drop down box? Is it actually that easy to switch skins, just click on the box and pick one that has been installed?

Thanks again


One none skin question. I now have 2 xboxs going with xbmc. The bedroom xbox boots right up to xbmc no problem. The living room xbox always boots to a screen with the time and date on it, and no matter how many times I set it, it does the same thing the next time, always defaulting to a 2004 date.
Is there an internal battery like in a regular computer in the xbox? Im thinking if it is bad thats why it never remembers the date and wants it set.
Maybe?

are you actually setting the date or taking the default. If you are setting the date correctly then your xbox appears broken. Any xbox modded or not will boot to that screen if it has not been plugged in a while. you cant just accept the default date. If you are doing this correctly sounds like battery on your xbox motheboard is dead. dunno how to fix that...

Sean

I have never used anything except for PMIII, the default. But I have noticed in settings that there is a drop down box under appearance/skins. When I load some skins will they show up in the drop down box? Is it actually that easy to switch skins, just click on the box and pick one that has been installed?

Thanks again


One none skin question. I now have 2 xboxs going with xbmc. The bedroom xbox boots right up to xbmc no problem. The living room xbox always boots to a screen with the time and date on it, and no matter how many times I set it, it does the same thing the next time, always defaulting to a 2004 date.
Is there an internal battery like in a regular computer in the xbox? Im thinking if it is bad thats why it never remembers the date and wants it set.
Maybe?


you've got it right, Yes its that easy to switch skins...

Sean

I believe you can't be running XBMC while doing the update. Go to programs and run Avalaunch or any other program the retains FTP ability. Then try--same thing happened to me yesterday.

Yes what he said.... make sure FTP is enabled....

Sean

Yes what he said.... make sure FTP is enabled....

Sean

I stupidly didn't notice the path in the skin manager was wrong - it defaults to E\XMBC and my install is E\Apps\XBMC.

Working now!

I stupidly didn't notice the path in the skin manager was wrong - it defaults to E\XMBC and my install is E\Apps\XBMC.

Working now!


Grrrrr....I was so frustrated that I couldnt get the Skin Manager to connect I ended up ftp'ing all the skins over myself.

Now that i see your post I see exactly what I was doing wrong. Same as you just posted!!!!:eek:

Grrrrr....I was so frustrated that I couldnt get the Skin Manager to connect I ended up ftp'ing all the skins over myself.

Now that i see your post I see exactly what I was doing wrong. Same as you just posted!!!!:eek:

I never tried it with EvoX running I did it with XBMC

worked first try

on 4 different xboxes so far...

Sean

I never tried it with EvoX running I did it with XBMC

worked first try

on 4 different xboxes so far...

Sean

My problem was:
Originally Posted by bswiz
I stupidly didn't notice the path in the skin manager was wrong - it defaults to E\XMBC and my install is E\Apps\XBMC.

Working now!

Your Xbox, however, is obtaining an internal IP from your router. That IP is not being allocated by Cox, and is not directly visible to the Internet. It's probably in the 10.* or 192.168.* IP ranges, which aren't even intended to ever directly exist on the Internet (but which are fine on an internal LAN, behind a router or NAT hardware).

Simply look at what IP your router is assigning to the Xbox and pick an IP in the same range, then assign that as the Xbox's static IP in the XBMC setting or the Xbox dash. Make certain that the IP you select is not already in use by any other PC or network-connected device; you don't want an IP conflict. You may also have to tell your router that your selected IP should no longer be doled out via DHCP to any clients asking to be assigned a dynamic IP -- but you could probably delay that step until you've verified whether the static assignment resolves your connectivity issue.

Thank you for the kind explanation.
My router is at 192.168.1.1 and DHCP is enabled and my IP Subnet is 255.255.255.0
I've also set the IP for the xbox to be static @ 192.168.1.4
There are no blocked ports or services or parental control.

On the XBOX I've tried Dashboard and DHCP to no avail.
The xbox is at 192.168.1.4 and I've also set that to be static.

IP 192.168.1.4
Netmask 255.255.255.0
Gateway 192.168.1.1
Primary DNS 192.168.1.1
Seconday DNS 0.0.0.0

Still no internet connection but I can still see my network. Anything obviously wrong?

Henway,
Are you using the default PM3 skin? Are you using custom RSS or the default xbox RSS? What "xbmc updates" are you trying to access?

Thank you for the kind explanation.
My router is at 192.168.1.1 and DHCP is enabled and my IP Subnet is 255.255.255.0
I've also set the IP for the xbox to be static @ 192.168.1.4
There are no blocked ports or services or parental control.

On the XBOX I've tried Dashboard and DHCP to no avail.
The xbox is at 192.168.1.4 and I've also set that to be static.

IP 192.168.1.4
Netmask 255.255.255.0
Gateway 192.168.1.1
Primary DNS 192.168.1.1
Seconday DNS 0.0.0.0

Still no internet connection but I can still see my network. Anything obviously wrong?

so if you go into weather you get no weather.... What version of XBMC is it... I did donload one version a month or two back where RSS and Weather was broken but I could still access Last.FM

BTW: JaPhule. The skin manager handles web skins in addition to SVN. The reason why AEON, etc on there is one of the two reasons I posted.

Sean

I was using Incidious skin with the build from 6/30/08.

I changed it this morning to PM3 and it still shows in the System, Network, that the xbox isn't connected to the internet. Weather still won't work (obviously).

I was trying to use the T3CH upgrader script under Incidious, and under PM3 it doesn't appear among the scripts...

I was using Incidious skin with the build from 6/30/08.

I changed it this morning to PM3 and it still shows in the System, Network, that the xbox isn't connected to the internet. Weather still won't work (obviously).

I was trying to use the T3CH upgrader script under Incidious, and under PM3 it doesn't appear among the scripts...

hmm... weird

are you sure your router resolves DNS (a very few dont) you might plugging your ISPs DNS in the DNS field....

Also dont depend on the status page thing. Mine always says disconnected but it actually works.... Lemme try 6/30 later....

Sean

Finally figured out the problem: HTTP Proxy was enabled.
As soon as I deselected it, the xbox could see the outside world without any problem.

This week I will be getting an Xbox 360 Elite. My understanding is that Xbox 360 cannot run Xbox Media Center and that I will not be able to play VIDEO_TS folders using the xbox 360 as a microsoft media extender. Is this correct?

I am thinking of getting the original xbox as well so I can mod it and use XBMC to play movies from VIDEO_TS folders. However, because of the location of my entertainment center and my computer, I would only be able to use a wireless network. Will I be able to stream video over a wireless network? Or do I need a wired network? Or is there some other way to solve the problem (external hard drive attached to xbox)?

1. you are correct on the 360 at least with respect to xbmc. you can hack your MCE to get it to play DVD's....

2. depends on the house. wifi is like a cell phone. it works sometimes and not others and can lead to high frustration levels. Investigate powerline network or just pull some cat5.... you can put a bigger disk inside an xbox but not externlly attached.

Sean

crookedsoulz,

Wireless depends on your wireless setup. I'm running N wireless and it works fine with XBMC using a N bridge. It did stutter a few times while watching a dvd for me but then I moved the bridge to a slightly different location and haven't had problems since. It really depends on your signal quality and strength. I would say my N bridge downstairs with my N router upstairs gets anywere from 27mbps to 108 mbps. Usually around the 54-80mbps range according to my router.

Can't speak to the wireless as I always stream over copper.

In the two birds one stone category...Put a NAS box next to XBOX w/XBMC. Connect them with a wireless router. XBOX can stream all day from the NAS (via copper) and you can copy content to the NAS at wireless speeds whenever you like.


This week I will be getting an Xbox 360 Elite. My understanding is that Xbox 360 cannot run Xbox Media Center and that I will not be able to play VIDEO_TS folders using the xbox 360 as a microsoft media extender. Is this correct?

I am thinking of getting the original xbox as well so I can mod it and use XBMC to play movies from VIDEO_TS folders. However, because of the location of my entertainment center and my computer, I would only be able to use a wireless network. Will I be able to stream video over a wireless network? Or do I need a wired network? Or is there some other way to solve the problem (external hard drive attached to xbox)?

Sean - you can hack mce to play video_TS, but will these play on the xbox360?

Slack, I like your idea of putting NAS next to XBOX w/XBMC. I am really a NOOB, so could you make recommendations on a NAS setup?

Sean - you can hack mce to play video_TS, but will these play on the xbox360?

Slack, I like your idea of putting NAS next to XBOX w/XBMC. I am really a NOOB, so could you make recommendations on a NAS setup?

I thought once you hacked the MCE computer that any MCE media extender like the 360 would be able to play it. I may be wrong but I think thats the case....

On NAS....

good: Infrant Ready NAS, Now netgear.... the qnap seems to be a decent option. My fiends have had good luck with that one.

cheap: Buffalo Terastation (slow but it will serve DVD's all day long with no issues)....

Avoid: Thecus products....

Lots of detailed NAS reviews here....

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/blogcategory/50/75/

Sean

Can't speak to the wireless as I always stream over copper.

In the two birds one stone category...Put a NAS box next to XBOX w/XBMC. Connect them with a wireless router. XBOX can stream all day from the NAS (via copper) and you can copy content to the NAS at wireless speeds whenever you like.

Thats a reasonable suggestion.... I just have had too many problems with wifi in the dozens of installs I have done so I am jaded... :)


Hows XBMC on Linux progressing?

Sean

"I thought once you hacked the MCE computer that any MCE media extender like the 360 would be able to play it. I may be wrong but I think thats the case...."

Not quite. The 360 still doesn't know what to do with the VOB files. More steps are required to get DVD rips to play, and it's still rather a cludge of a solution.

http://www.htpcug.org/DVDLibraryonExtendersHowTo/tabid/168/Default.aspx

I was looking at this to replace the bedroom XBMC that just died, but it's still a no-go for me.

"I thought once you hacked the MCE computer that any MCE media extender like the 360 would be able to play it. I may be wrong but I think thats the case...."

Not quite. The 360 still doesn't know what to do with the VOB files. More steps are required to get DVD rips to play, and it's still rather a cludge of a solution.

http://www.htpcug.org/DVDLibraryonExtendersHowTo/tabid/168/Default.aspx

I was looking at this to replace the bedroom XBMC that just died, but it's still a no-go for me.


Ouch... not exactly simple like XBMC....

Sean

Hows XBMC on Linux progressing?


I've experimented a bit with the recent "Atlantis" alpha 3 release on Ubuntu 8.04, running on an Intel Core 2 Duo E4600. XBMC played everything that I threw at it out-of-the-box -- including the usual SD stuff (ISO, VOB, Divx/Xvid, etc), hi-def 720p and 1080i MPEG2 PS/TS files, hi-def 1080p MKVs containing X264-encoded video, hi-def 1080p WMVs containing VC-1 video, etc. The "killa sampla" (Planet Earth sample with thousands of flying birds) that is often referenced on the XBMC forums even seemed to play fine, but pushed both cores quite hard at a few points.

The skip forward/back didn't work on a couple of the MKV files, but that may simply be the result of a bad mux (didn't try remuxing the files). And based upon my quick experiments with XBMC on Windows, I'd expect that WMA Pro audio -- sometimes used with WMV-HD encodes -- won't work. No open source decoder, apparently. But that should be a relatively minor concern.

On the Windows port, most stuff also seemed to work well. The exception was MPEG-2 content, which seemed to push the CPU harder than either H264 or VC1. A bit odd, considering that none of the XBMC decoders use hardware acceleration -- so MPEG-2 should have been easier to decode. Perhaps the Windows port of the MPEG-2 decoder is simply less optimized than the Linux port. The Windows tests were done on a different system -- an AMD X2 4850e (2.5GHz) running Vista X64 SP1.

I've experimented a bit with the recent "Atlantis" alpha 3 release on Ubuntu 8.04, running on an Intel Core 2 Duo E4600. XBMC played everything that I threw at it out-of-the-box -- including the usual SD stuff (ISO, VOB, Divx/Xvid, etc), hi-def 720p and 1080i MPEG2 PS/TS files, hi-def 1080p MKVs containing X264-encoded video, hi-def 1080p WMVs containing VC-1 video, etc. The "killa sampla" (Planet Earth sample with thousands of flying birds) that is often referenced on the XBMC forums even seemed to play fine, but pushed both cores quite hard at a few points.

The skip forward/back didn't work on a couple of the MKV files, but that may simply be the result of a bad mux (didn't try remuxing the files). And based upon my quick experiments with XBMC on Windows, I'd expect that WMA Pro audio -- sometimes used with WMV-HD encodes -- won't work. No open source decoder, apparently. But that should be a relatively minor concern.

On the Windows port, most stuff also seemed to work well. The exception was MPEG-2 content, which seemed to push the CPU harder than either H264 or VC1. A bit odd, considering that none of the XBMC decoders use hardware acceleration -- so MPEG-2 should have been easier to decode. Perhaps the Windows port of the MPEG-2 decoder is simply less optimized than the Linux port. The Windows tests were done on a different system -- an AMD X2 4850e (2.5GHz) running Vista X64 SP1.


Thanks for the info.... looks like it might be time to build up a system.... and give it a try....

Sean

Thats a reasonable suggestion.... I just have had too many problems with wifi in the dozens of installs I have done so I am jaded... :)


Hows XBMC on Linux progressing?

Sean

A friend has had a workable build up for a few months. Really likes it. Seems super smooth with no glitches whatsoever in the main items. Of course the PM3 skin is the same so you have "programs" where no programs should be in Linux. Materially though, I think with the alpha build it's pretty much primetime for someone who knows tech a bit.

I was very close to building a machine a couple months ago but couldn't afford a time sink and managed to find an original Xbox for $35 on Craigslist. Compared to roughly $1K and a potential time sink this was an easy deal as I needed to get something set up to stream again. I'll probably build a HTPC later this year and move the Xbox to the bedroom or something. Note that I've been putting off a HTPC build since 2003-4. Hardware issues tend to become massive time sinks for me so naturally I'm scared as hell of a HTPC where so much on the hardware/software ends can go wrong (usually for no reason at all).

Anyone tried Boxee yet... sounds cool.....

http://www.boxee.org

Its based on XBMC

For a video overview of it check this out...
http://zdpub.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ziffdavisplayer/flvplayer2.html?show=PCMAG&movie=267

Sean

If I upgrade to anything it will be a Popcorn Hour A-110.

If I upgrade to anything it will be a Popcorn Hour A-110.

to me personally it sounds like a downgrade... I have enough (6) HD players with bad interfaces... It would be nice if we could get a nice OS on some of these HW players....

Sean

I've been loving my XBMC, but I just ran into what I'm sure is a simple snag. To this point I am mostly ripping TV on DVD for play on my SD 4x3 set in the bedroom. I've been ripping The Shield just fine, but when I got to 2x09 something happened; the episode is coming up "letterboxed", but not quite in a natural ratio. I played it on the XBMC DVD, and the DVD looked the same as the ripped file. So then I played it on a DVD player on my 16x9 plasma, and it filled the whole screen. But when I play it on a DVD player on the 4x3 set in my bedroom, I get full-screen.

I think it's "optimized" for wide-screen, but my XBMC isn't fullscreening it on my 4x3 set; it's "squeezing" it. What do I need to change?

Thanks,
CD

I've been loving my XBMC, but I just ran into what I'm sure is a simple snag. To this point I am mostly ripping TV on DVD for play on my SD 4x3 set in the bedroom. I've been ripping The Shield just fine, but when I got to 2x09 something happened; the episode is coming up "letterboxed", but not quite in a natural ratio. I played it on the XBMC DVD, and the DVD looked the same as the ripped file. So then I played it on a DVD player on my 16x9 plasma, and it filled the whole screen. But when I play it on a DVD player on the 4x3 set in my bedroom, I get full-screen.

I think it's "optimized" for wide-screen, but my XBMC isn't fullscreening it on my 4x3 set; it's "squeezing" it. What do I need to change?

Thanks,
CD


Can't say I have seen the exact behavior you are describing.

1. while the video is playing press the start button on the control to bring up the on screen display. (menu on the IR remote)
down one menu item from pause and hit select.
2 items below that you can adjust the screen format. Hopfully one of those will make you happy....

Sean

I have a question about storage of all my media for the xbmc. Right now I have an external 1tb drive and an internal 500gb in my pc. They are both mapped to my xbox and work fine.
I also have a 1tb internal that I havent even taken out of the package yet.
The issue I have is my pc always has to be on.
At first I considered building a simple pc and just using multiple hd's in it, but I wouldnt actually be gaining anything. So then I looked at some NAS units but they are very expensive.
So finally I came across the Linksys NAS200. It will hold 2 internal hd's and also has 2 usb ports for adding externals. It plugs right into your router and looks like it would work great for network storage.

Any thoughts on this?

(Heres a link)
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=14505717

Haven't used one but it should work OK. you dont need too much speed to support streaming a few DVD's....

Sean

I am thinking of getting the original xbox as well so I can mod it and use XBMC to play movies from VIDEO_TS folders. However, because of the location of my entertainment center and my computer, I would only be able to use a wireless network. Will I be able to stream video over a wireless network? Or do I need a wired network? Or is there some other way to solve the problem (external hard drive attached to xbox)?

I had a similar problem and ended up using a Slinglink to get a network connection to my Xbox in the upstairs bedroom.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8385847&st=slinglink&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1179876185243

This thing is so simple and works so good. Media streams better over that then on my wireless 360 that in the room next to my router.

Quick question - without having changed any settings, for some reason I get an error when trying to access the network.

Movies > Windows Network > error that says file share not available.

It hasn't happened in the past, any idea of what this could be? It's frustrating to have all these movies and not be able to watch them, lol. Thanks in advance.

Quick question - without having changed any settings, for some reason I get an error when trying to access the network.

Movies > Windows Network > error that says file share not available.

It hasn't happened in the past, any idea of what this could be? It's frustrating to have all these movies and not be able to watch them, lol. Thanks in advance.

On your PC I would un-share and then re-share each of your folders. Give that a try.

Can't say I have seen the exact behavior you are describing.

1. while the video is playing press the start button on the control to bring up the on screen display. (menu on the IR remote)
down one menu item from pause and hit select.
2 items below that you can adjust the screen format. Hopfully one of those will make you happy....

Sean

That helps some Sean, but selecting a format that fills the 4x3 screen, now things look ever so slightly compressed. Nothing I can't live with. It's not possibly some setting in DVDShrink, that I could have ripped a file like this differently?

CD

That helps some Sean, but selecting a format that fills the 4x3 screen, now things look ever so slightly compressed. Nothing I can't live with. It's not possibly some setting in DVDShrink, that I could have ripped a file like this differently?

CD

Make sure your appearance settings and video settings both have 4:3 as your output format. Pressing the "Y" button while the video is playing will also toggle between the various aspect ratio modes, I'm sure one of them will make it look right.

A while back someone had posted keystrokes to use on an xbox game controller to exit a game and get back into the XBMC(or maybe it was just to restart the Xbox)? Anyone know what they are, I don't remember who it is done?

THanks

A while back someone had posted keystrokes to use on an xbox game controller to exit a game and get back into the XBMC(or maybe it was just to restart the Xbox)? Anyone know what they are, I don't remember who it is done?

THanks


I think what you are looking for is the soft reset combination: hold both trigger buttons, start, and back all at the same time. There are times when this doesn't work for me, but most times it does.

I think what you are looking for is the soft reset combination: hold both trigger buttons, start, and back all at the same time. There are times when this doesn't work for me, but most times it does.

Yep, thats it....

Sean

thought is was black,back, ltrigger, rtrigger.


I think what you are looking for is the soft reset combination: hold both trigger buttons, start, and back all at the same time. There are times when this doesn't work for me, but most times it does.

thought is was black,back, ltrigger, rtrigger.

nope... not on any of my 11 modded boxes

Yeah, it's the classic SNES reset. L+R+Start+Select. :)

I added over 100 movies to my xbmc so far and couldnt be happier.
Now I am about to add a season of 24, a couple seasons of Survivor, and a couple of other tv shows.
Do I set a different folder for the tv shows than the movies? Add that folder as a source?
Or do I put them in the same folder as my movies are?

Also, do I scan them to my library or keep them seperate?

Thanks for any help.

I put my TV shows into a different folder than my movies. You need to use a different scraper for TV Shows to import them into the library for TV Shows.

I added over 100 movies to my xbmc so far and couldnt be happier.
Now I am about to add a season of 24, a couple seasons of Survivor, and a couple of other tv shows.
Do I set a different folder for the tv shows than the movies? Add that folder as a source?
Or do I put them in the same folder as my movies are?

Also, do I scan them to my library or keep them seperate?

Thanks for any help.

Dan, I got my XBMC almost solely for the purpose of streaming ripped TV from DVD. Here's my set-up, which I think works out very well: I have a folder for TV Shows, the sub-folder is the show name, for you '24' or 'Survivor'; rip the episodes to a single file (I use .iso, but you do as you wish) and then rename the file by Season and Episode # (example, Season 1, Episode 3 is 1x03). I use thetvdb.com scraper and it pulls art for the Series, art for the Season, and art (if available) and synopsis for the episode. It's great!

Good luck,

CD

I put my TV shows into a different folder than my movies. You need to use a different scraper for TV Shows to import them into the library for TV Shows.

Thanks everyone for the tips. I will give it a try this weekend.

Dan, I got my XBMC almost solely for the purpose of streaming ripped TV from DVD. Here's my set-up, which I think works out very well: I have a folder for TV Shows, the sub-folder is the show name, for you '24' or 'Survivor'; rip the episodes to a single file (I use .iso, but you do as you wish) and then rename the file by Season and Episode # (example, Season 1, Episode 3 is 1x03). I use thetvdb.com scraper and it pulls art for the Series, art for the Season, and art (if available) and synopsis for the episode. It's great!

Good luck,

CD

Glad its working great for you.... I dont do TV. I do use XBMC for videos and photo but I use it 10+ hours a day as a music server. It handles my large library so much better than my SB3/SQueeze Center 2.0 and Itunes/Airport.

With the advent of the Itouch/Iphone I prefer that over the SB3/Squeeze center now. I love the SB3 and I am sure the duet is nice but SC2 is F&*^&*^ slow and its buggy as hell. It cannot even correctly scan my library and download cover art without crashing. Plus its interface is jus poor IMO. TV Versity has the same thing but even worse....

XBMC and Itunes will both process the same library without crashing and do it faster. Especially XBMC, its interface for music and the speed at which it handles huge libraries is just fantastic. The Milkdrop screen saver, its robust support for every audio codec is just icing on the cake. The latest addition of Artist thumbs and info is the cherry on top.

Now if they get the Iphone/Itouch remote control app working as well the apple provided one for itunes..... :)

Sean

I have an interesting problem and not sure if its XBMC related or network related. Till a couple days back, XBMC was working fine. It is setup to get its IP address using DHCP. However, this morning when I turned on the Xbox, it did not have an IP address assigned to it. So obviously I was unable to connect to any of my shares or to the internet through Xbox/XBMC. If I change it from DHCP to manual IP address and assign an IP address to the Xbox, it works fine - can access shares and internet without any problem.

As I mentioned earlier, am not sure if this is related to the network or to XBMC since the computer I am typing this post on seems to connect just fine to the internet through the router, its able to ping the router and get a response.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
-Topper

On your PC I would un-share and then re-share each of your folders. Give that a try.

Thanks, I tried this a couple times, but no luck.

Even before after going to movies then windows network, it was a hit or miss for it to pull up the files.

Now that share not accessible error is driving me crazy. :mad:

Question - does anyone see the ps3 being able to run something similar to xbmc in the future? I've used tversity with good results, but .vob files need to converted into one file to really use it more seamlessly. For audio, I found both wmp and tversity to work very well though.


I think with the hd content and newer bells and whistles, the ps3 would be a much cleaner setup. Sean mentioned the iphone/itouch, I'm anxious to see how the remote features will be integrated as well.

Question - does anyone see the ps3 being able to run something similar to xbmc in the future? I've used tversity with good results, but .vob files need to converted into one file to really use it more seamlessly. For audio, I found both wmp and tversity to work very well though.


I think with the hd content and newer bells and whistles, the ps3 would be a much cleaner setup. Sean mentioned the iphone/itouch, I'm anxious to see how the remote features will be integrated as well.

Well, it may not get the best reception here...because even though we are in the "console-neutral" digital streaming forum, we are in the XBMC thread...I do believe PS3 will become a better streamer in the future and compete with XBMC. It already does so much: hd gaming system, "best" blu-ray player on the market...and Sony has already started working on making it a better streamer with improvements to the XMB.

For me, a couple of more codecs supported natively (FLAC is an absolute must!), a couple more tweaks to the navigation, and it will be a near perfect all-in-one box. Will Sony do it? Now that the hd wars are over, I'm sure all their efforts are in keeping the bd format growing, but I think eventually they'll get around to these changes, and see that a couple of quick fixes could remedy the only weak links in the PS3; or just save it for PS4?

OTOH, if they give us everything we want in one box, what do they have left to sell us...lol. As for the PS3 v XBMC argument, XBMC will still have cost on its side.

.02,

CD

Well, it may not get the best reception here...because even though we are in the "console-neutral" digital streaming forum, we are in the XBMC thread...I do believe PS3 will become a better streamer in the future and compete with XBMC. It already does so much: hd gaming system, "best" blu-ray player on the market...and Sony has already started working on making it a better streamer with improvements to the XMB.

For me, a couple of more codecs supported natively (FLAC is an absolute must!), a couple more tweaks to the navigation, and it will be a near perfect all-in-one box. Will Sony do it? Now that the hd wars are over, I'm sure all their efforts are in keeping the bd format growing, but I think eventually they'll get around to these changes, and see that a couple of quick fixes could remedy the only weak links in the PS3; or just save it for PS4?

OTOH, if they give us everything we want in one box, what do they have left to sell us...lol. As for the PS3 v XBMC argument, XBMC will still have cost on its side.

.02,

CD


Geat points there CD. The one thing that XBMC on the xbox will never be able to overcome is the lack of HD support.
For that reason alone its a shame the xbox360 or PS3 arent taken to the next level and made into the 'ultimate' streaming machine.
(Then again, for the price of the xbox/xbmc it sure is nice having one in each room-I have 3 now)

Well, it may not get the best reception here...because even though we are in the "console-neutral" digital streaming forum, we are in the XBMC thread...I do believe PS3 will become a better streamer in the future and compete with XBMC. It already does so much: hd gaming system, "best" blu-ray player on the market...and Sony has already started working on making it a better streamer with improvements to the XMB.

For me, a couple of more codecs supported natively (FLAC is an absolute must!), a couple more tweaks to the navigation, and it will be a near perfect all-in-one box. Will Sony do it? Now that the hd wars are over, I'm sure all their efforts are in keeping the bd format growing, but I think eventually they'll get around to these changes, and see that a couple of quick fixes could remedy the only weak links in the PS3; or just save it for PS4?

OTOH, if they give us everything we want in one box, what do they have left to sell us...lol. As for the PS3 v XBMC argument, XBMC will still have cost on its side.

.02,

CD

You don't have to think of it as PS3 vs XBMC. XBMC is not limited to just the xbox, it is also ported on Linux, Windows, and Mac if you really want to take it that far, where it can play HD content. There's a lot of speculation of getting XBMC on the PS3 also (but I don't see that happening anytime soon). I don't see the PS3 straying too far from its XMB interface to get it to where XBMC is. But then again, MS did make a significant change from its current 360 interface to the new one to be released later this year that looks more appealing.

Dan, I got my XBMC almost solely for the purpose of streaming ripped TV from DVD. Here's my set-up, which I think works out very well: I have a folder for TV Shows, the sub-folder is the show name, for you '24' or 'Survivor'; rip the episodes to a single file (I use .iso, but you do as you wish) and then rename the file by Season and Episode # (example, Season 1, Episode 3 is 1x03). I use thetvdb.com scraper and it pulls art for the Series, art for the Season, and art (if available) and synopsis for the episode. It's great!

Good luck,

CD



Worked great for me CD.
Thanks

Its too bad the PS3 is locked down as tight as it is because it would rock with XBMC. I love both of em that I have and about to buy a 3rd PS3 for the new 1080P plasma I bought for downstairs... The potential is there...

I find the XMB interface kludgy at best. It does not handle large music libraries, it does NOT do gapless, it does NOT do flac at all, no real support for auto libraries like you get in XBMC and overall I have been having poor luck with tversity. Same things can be said about the Direct TV HR20 HD DVR which I have 4 of those...

Its a real shame. even CD playback is crippled on the PS3. from a physical disc it will up sample to 24bit/192khz but not on streamed wave. Until someone cracks the PS3 which seems very unlikely at this point I seriously doubt we will ever see a good media player on the PS3. too bad....

Sean

Its too bad the PS3 is locked down as tight as it is because it would rock with XBMC. I love both of em that I have and about to buy a 3rd PS3 for the new 1080P plasma I bought for downstairs... The potential is there...

I find the XMB interface kludgy at best. It does not handle large music libraries, it does NOT do gapless, it does NOT do flac at all, no real support for auto libraries like you get in XBMC and overall I have been having poor luck with tversity. Same things can be said about the Direct TV HR20 HD DVR which I have 4 of those...

Its a real shame. even CD playback is crippled on the PS3. from a physical disc it will up sample to 24bit/192khz but not on streamed wave. Until someone cracks the PS3 which seems very unlikely at this point I seriously doubt we will ever see a good media player on the PS3. too bad....

Sean



:eek: You have 4 DTV DVR's, 3 PS3's and how many xbmc'd xbox's?

Are they all sharing off the same NAS unit?

:eek: You have 4 DTV DVR's, 3 PS3's and how many xbmc'd xbox's?

Are they all sharing off the same NAS unit?

11 Modded xboxes total. I have 2 residences and 4 theaters between them so its not as bad as it seems.... I also have a wii and quite a few other assorted streamers and IP devices in the house like my SB3, Roku Streamer, etc... Each residence has a single NAS and yes it always works great. I use the Thecus in Raleigh, The Infrant in Utah and the Buffalo at girl friends house in Palo Alto...

Sean

I'm looking for ways to make a Movie Jukebox. I came across XBMC and I became interested but I have a lot of questions. If I mod my Original XBOX (Not XBOX 360) will I be able to play HD Content or do I need a XBOX 360. Do I need to make any more modifications to make my original XBOX play HD content.

HD playback is not something reasonable to expect of a Celeron 733mhz. XBMC on the Xbox is awesome for everything up to 480p sources, upconverted up to 720p. Pass 480p for your source, or 720p for your output, and it starts to choke hard.

I'm looking for ways to make a Movie Jukebox. I came across XBMC and I became interested but I have a lot of questions. If I mod my Original XBOX (Not XBOX 360) will I be able to play HD Content or do I need a XBOX 360. Do I need to make any more modifications to make my original XBOX play HD content.

The original xbox does not have enough horsepower to play HD content. If you really want to play HD content on the xbox, you can convert it to low bitrate divx at 720p and it might play decently. Personally, if you want HD playback, you need to look at other options. If you want the XBMC interface, try the htpc version of xbmc thats available for linux, mac, and windows.

Thanks guys, Very helpful. Sadly, I have no budget for a new HTCP. I recently just brought a new receiver and speakers. I was thinking, instead of a new HTCP, I could just buy an apple tv and hack & install either Linux or Mac OS and run XBMC on that. Any other suggestions?

I have an interesting problem and not sure if its XBMC related or network related. Till a couple days back, XBMC was working fine. It is setup to get its IP address using DHCP. However, this morning when I turned on the Xbox, it did not have an IP address assigned to it. So obviously I was unable to connect to any of my shares or to the internet through Xbox/XBMC. If I change it from DHCP to manual IP address and assign an IP address to the Xbox, it works fine - can access shares and internet without any problem.

As I mentioned earlier, am not sure if this is related to the network or to XBMC since the computer I am typing this post on seems to connect just fine to the internet through the router, its able to ping the router and get a response.

Any thoughts?
Thanks,
-Topper

Anyone? If not XBMC problem, wonder if someone could recommend a networking forum?

Anyone? If not XBMC problem, wonder if someone could recommend a networking forum?

This is most likely one of the PC's installed a service pack or some other reason. WinCCX is a great choice for those not skilled in maintaing MS Networks....

Sean

Anyone? If not XBMC problem, wonder if someone could recommend a networking forum?

Also try checking your router's settings and clearing any settings it may have stored for your xbox. Also make sure DHCP is enabled on your router just in case.

I have also had some "interesting" network issues with the latest builds - silly things like I couldnt browse my photos stored on the NAS however the screensaver (which uses the same folder on the NAS) worked fine - go figure.

I just went back to an older build and all works ok so perhaps its related to the last few builds.

Glad to see familiar faces still around here. :)

Stopped by to give an update and look for a fix to a certain problem. I just put another Xbox together with a T3CH 6-16-08 build date (May be 6-30-08, I selected the 6-16-08 build from a drop down based upon reading some posts here about the latest reliable but somehow it shows as a different date). I loaded the latest .89 release of Mediastream and get an error that states it will not work on anthing but rel 2.0. Now, I can not read all the message because it overlays on top of the default PM3 skins white text for selecting an an option.

Anyone know what it is saying and what I need to do?

Now, I have upgraded my Ubuntu Video server to be used as an HD HTPC as well as a back end video server for the Xbox Xbmc for SD content. There is no visable difference in SD content being displayed on either machine, well I think the Xbox looks better and I would give it an edge in that area (Due to so many codecs in play on the Linux version right now). Controlling the output and filling the screen (Aspect Ratio, Zoom) right now as well as Audio 5.1 surround is heavily in favor of the Xbox. It is easier to use, simplified, polishtized. :D That being said, any new features and capabilities are heavily in favor of the Linux port, but right now it is Bleeding edge stuff, not for the PC Challenged.(Just getting the right drivers for DVI HD out content/display (MY PJ) without locking up or losing your system display altogther is a real pain, took me a week and 6 complete Ubuntu installs to get it right). Trying to get 5.1 or 7.1 sound and full screen videos without PC type borders is a PIA. Took me 4 days to get sound through a Turtle Beach Riveria sound card using 5.1 on a optical Spidf connections and 3 complete Ubuntu installs (setting up drivers, codecs, hard drives, mounts for drives, etc. etc. etc.). And I never could get it 5.1 output in analogue only stereo. It is not a plug and paly like the Xbox, the Xbox is the Sherman tank of media Centers. The other ports will be worked out eventually and standard hardware recommendations can and will be made to make life easier, but right now the Ubuntu hardy 8.04 is challenging to say the least, (with 8.10 coming to take advantage of the Intel G45 HD chipsets amoung other things) that should be better but again will probably have bugs. MHO or MHBO (My humble bleeding opinion) Take note that your HTPC needs to be a complete working sound and video system beofere you load Xbmc, just like the Xbox, Xbmc does not bring video and audio to a broken system. And I haven't even added a BD or HD drive yet since I need to upgrade my 2.8 sinigle core to a 2.6-3Ghz and up dual core processor to handle HD stuff. :(
It would be nice if they hacked into the 360, it would be a better and cheaper solution for sure. (Youtube had somtheing about the 360 being hacked)

PS. Whenever I get frustrated I just turn on old reliable Xbox and watch a movie to bring a smile to my ugly face. :D

Glad to see familiar faces still around here. :)

Stopped by to give an update and look for a fix to a certain problem. I just put another Xbox together with a T3CH 6-16-08 build date (May be 6-30-08, I selected the 6-16-08 build from a drop down based upon reading some posts here about the latest reliable but somehow it shows as a different date). I loaded the latest .89 release of Mediastream and get an error that states it will not work on anthing but rel 2.0. Now, I can not read all the message because it overlays on top of the default PM3 skins white text for selecting an an option.

Anyone know what it is saying and what I need to do?

Now, I have upgraded my Ubuntu Video server to be used as an HD HTPC as well as a back end video server for the Xbox Xbmc for SD content. There is no visable difference in SD content being displayed on either machine, well I think the Xbox looks better and I would give it an edge in that area (Due to so many codecs in play on the Linux version right now). Controlling the output and filling the screen (Aspect Ratio, Zoom) right now as well as Audio 5.1 surround is heavily in favor of the Xbox. It is easier to use, simplified, polishtized. :D That being said, any new features and capabilities are heavily in favor of the Linux port, but right now it is Bleeding edge stuff, not for the PC Challenged.(Just getting the right drivers for DVI HD out content/display (MY PJ) without locking up or losing your system display altogther is a real pain, took me a week and 6 complete Ubuntu installs to get it right). Trying to get 5.1 or 7.1 sound and full screen videos without PC type borders is a PIA. Took me 4 days to get sound through a Turtle Beach Riveria sound card using 5.1 on a optical Spidf connections and 3 complete Ubuntu installs (setting up drivers, codecs, hard drives, mounts for drives, etc. etc. etc.). And I never could get it 5.1 output in analogue only stereo. It is not a plug and paly like the Xbox, the Xbox is the Sherman tank of media Centers. The other ports will be worked out eventually and standard hardware recommendations can and will be made to make life easier, but right now the Ubuntu hardy 8.04 is challenging to say the least, (with 8.10 coming to take advantage of the Intel G45 HD chipsets amoung other things) that should be better but again will probably have bugs. MHO or MHBO (My humble bleeding opinion) Take note that your HTPC needs to be a complete working sound and video system beofere you load Xbmc, just like the Xbox, Xbmc does not bring video and audio to a broken system. And I haven't even added a BD or HD drive yet since I need to upgrade my 2.8 sinigle core to a 2.6-3Ghz and up dual core processor to handle HD stuff. :(
It would be nice if they hacked into the 360, it would be a better and cheaper solution for sure. (Youtube had somtheing about the 360 being hacked)

PS. Whenever I get frustrated I just turn on old reliable Xbox and watch a movie to bring a smile to my ugly face. :D

Thanks for the update on the HTPC/XBMC. I cant comment on the MediaStream skin I have not tried it yet. I still like PDM the best for me but skins are a highly personal thing.... I am really considering a MAC mini for my HTPC just so I dont have tinker too much. SHould work well for running boxee too....

and BTW: I feel for you on linux. I have been writing software for over 25 years and worked with unix daily for 20 years and I still have fits with linux. It took me an entire day just to get Wifi to work on Fedora... Linux is not competition for anything other than itself when it takes a pro to get wifi working. Dont get me started on the other stuff. I am heavily leaning toward osx and boxee and xbmc for that platform for that reason.

Sean

I use the MediaStream skin on my xbox that is connected to my front projector and love it.

I use xTV for the xbox connected to my SD TV and it works great for SD TV.

I use the MediaStream skin on my xbox that is connected to my front projector and love it.

I use xTV for the xbox connected to my SD TV and it works great for SD TV.

What are the releases of Mediastream and t3ch (Xbmc) are you using?

I am on 6-30-08 Xbmc (I think, I thought I loaded 6-16-08 but I will double check tonight) and .89 on Mediastream. Maybe I need to use earlier release of Mediastream.

You need to upgrade to at least 8-25-2008 T3CH xbmc

I had been using 6-30-2008 T3CH and I was having problems with some of the on screen menus.

Thanks for the update on the HTPC/XBMC.
I have been writing software for over 25 years and worked with unix daily for 20 years and I still have fits with linux. It took me an entire day just to get Wifi to work on Fedora...
Sean

LOL. Oh, yeah, that also was part of my getting everything up and going including the WIFI, it was part of the etc., etc., etc.. in my post. Started with Ubuntu Edgy video server for the Xbox. Worked great using a Pentium III and 256 MB Ram as a 1.5TB file server with no monitor. Once it was set up I would power on and it would mount the various drives and when I was done I would do the alt T - D - Alt D to shut it down. Worked great but the HD bug was a calling and I decided I would upgrade it and add DVI to Hdmi to my AVR, new processor and MB, 1 GB DDR pc3200 and use on-board 5.1 analogue sound out to AVR muliple channel in connection. It looked good on paper but I just had to add a sound card because I couldn't get anything other than 2 channel stereo off the integrated sound on MB and just did get the optical toslink working in 5.1 with the Turtle Beach sound card. So I am going to get there and will provide the hardware I am using and codecs for someone if they want to throw something together. It will be an HD HTPC and Xbox SD media center file server when I am done. I plan on using the Xbox's (Now have two) to hook up to the HT room Ubuntu HTPC and watch movies, streaming TV, music, etc with only the xbox's placed in other rooms with TV's. I only want HD on the 120" big screen, everything else is great at upscaled 720p or 1080i up to 46" flat panels and 61" RPTV's using the ole Xbox.

You need to upgrade to at least 8-25-2008 T3CH xbmc

I had been using 6-30-2008 T3CH and I was having problems with some of the on screen menus.

Thank you, I will do that later tonight. Has anyone used the upgrade option on-line with these newer T3CH releases? If so, does it work?

I guess that is in lieu of downloading and FTP'ing. I have nothing installed in this new box that I would need to backup other than the EEprom and MS stuff that is already done.

Edit: To late, downloading the latest build and installing. This is pretty cool, just hope it works and is a stable release. :)

Geat points there CD. The one thing that XBMC on the xbox will never be able to overcome is the lack of HD support.
For that reason alone its a shame the xbox360 or PS3 arent taken to the next level and made into the 'ultimate' streaming machine.
(Then again, for the price of the xbox/xbmc it sure is nice having one in each room-I have 3 now)

I've just bought a PS3 so I could have Blu-Ray in my basement. I use old Xboxes running XBMC in my living room and bedroom to stream standard def DVD files (single, large VOB files with AC3) and they work great. But I've gotten tired of the Buffalo in the basement due to its clunky interface.

What I'd really like is to get the PS3 to stream all of my VOB content that works great on my XBMC Xboxes. But in my basement, I want full surround quality (not needed in my living room or bedroom). Ideally this would be with the PS3 and something like Tversity. But so far, Tversity is artifacting the VOBs pretty badly.

Questions:
1) Could I make the PS3 work for this if I had the right codecs on my Tversity server with full surround and no quality loss?

2) Or do I need to convert all of my VOBs into something that the PS3 doesn't need Tversity to transcode? If I did this, would the XBMC Xboxes still be able to play them?

3) Or am I dreaming? At this point in time, do I need another XBMC Xbox in my basement with the digital audio module to handle all of my VOBs and give standard DVD quality without added artifacts from Tversity and surround sound?

I've just bought a PS3 so I could have Blu-Ray in my basement. I use old Xboxes running XBMC in my living room and bedroom to stream standard def DVD files (single, large VOB files with AC3) and they work great. But I've gotten tired of the Buffalo in the basement due to its clunky interface.

What I'd really like is to get the PS3 to stream all of my VOB content that works great on my XBMC Xboxes. But in my basement, I want full surround quality (not needed in my living room or bedroom). Ideally this would be with the PS3 and something like Tversity. But so far, Tversity is artifacting the VOBs pretty badly.

Questions:
1) Could I make the PS3 work for this if I had the right codecs on my Tversity server with full surround and no quality loss?

2) Or do I need to convert all of my VOBs into something that the PS3 doesn't need Tversity to transcode? If I did this, would the XBMC Xboxes still be able to play them?

3) Or am I dreaming? At this point in time, do I need another XBMC Xbox in my basement with the digital audio module to handle all of my VOBs and give standard DVD quality without added artifacts from Tversity and surround sound?

1 and 2. I am sure it can be made to work in some respect and although I have done quite a bit of tinkering with Tversity my success rate at most things is pretty poor... I think you would find a lot more knowledgeable people on the Tversity forums.

on 3. Clearly the xbox will do what you want and passes through DTS and AC3 from VOB and ISO with no issues. I wish you the best and if you get it work I would not mind a post on how you did it. I have an increasing # of friends who are all struggling to try and make the PS3 a viable alternative to the xbox but no one has succeeded yet.

Cheers,
Sean

If you are on Gamestop's mailing list, they are selling Xboxs for $20 off right now. That means an Xbox for $40. I'm finally going to replace my misbehaving bedroom one.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2831015591_cf4894d54a_o.jpg

Here's the coupon :) Figured I'd Flickr it for you guys that want to put one into yet another room.

If you are on Gamestop's mailing list, they are selling Xboxs for $20 off right now. That means an Xbox for $40. I'm finally going to replace my misbehaving bedroom one.

Sweet. too bad. bought 2 there last week

Sean

Just got one from ebay for $20 + $20 shipping. Still gotta get a mod chip though.

Just got one from ebay for $20 + $20 shipping. Still gotta get a mod chip though.

Use the new softmods. Forget the modchips. The softmods have gone a long way. This comes from someone who prefered chips, installed lots of them, and only recently lost his version 1.0 xbox with the original Xecuter2Pro in there.

Use the new softmods. Forget the modchips. The softmods have gone a long way. This comes from someone who prefered chips, installed lots of them, and only recently lost his version 1.0 xbox with the original Xecuter2Pro in there.

Agreed....

Sean

I just bought my first xbox and softmodded it and set it up with XBMC. I want to put my movies on my basement server and stream it to the xbox. So far I have tested it by ripping a movie and then converting it to avi. What is the optimal type of file to put on the server to view and quickest method as converting to avi takes a while.

I just bought my first xbox and softmodded it and set it up with XBMC. I want to put my movies on my basement server and stream it to the xbox. So far I have tested it by ripping a movie and then converting it to avi. What is the optimal type of file to put on the server to view and quickest method as converting to avi takes a while.

Strip the stuff you dont want with Shrink or you favorite ripper/authoring software and rip to ISO.

ISO starts playing faster than vob and is also easier with the xbox controller and equal with the IR remote.

Sean

Converting to avi does take forever however you do save on disk space, so it all depends on how much you plan on ripping and how much space you have available.

If you are on Gamestop's mailing list, they are selling Xboxs for $20 off right now. That means an Xbox for $40. I'm finally going to replace my misbehaving bedroom one.

Thanks for the heads up! Snagged a couple from my local Gamestop stores - one with the Philips drive and one with the Samsung. Also picked up a memory unit so I can use my existing XBMC box to copy the requisite gamesav files for the new mods.

On a different note, I've been playing around with Handbrake to create avi's of some DVD's I own. I use Xvid for video and AC3 for audio codecs. The resultant avi's playback fine but when I try to fast forward through the movie, XBMC shows the fast foward speeds ("4x", "8x" , etc) at the top of the screen but the movie continues playing back at regular (1x) speed without any audio. Some other avi's previously created with VirtualDubMod (using Xvid video and AC3 audio codecs as well) fast forward and rewind just fine. Any thoughts why files created with Handbrake may not be fast forwarding as expected?

Thanks,
-Topper

Thanks for the responses. I did a test and put an avi and iso of a movie on the server, but for some reason only the avi would play. I thought maybe the iso being larger just needed to 'load' but it never did. Any idea why? Could it be because the xbmc version I am using is the Jan 10 (around that date) version?

What size does an AVI file end up being? I just use DVDFab to burn an ISO which ends up being 6 to 8GB and then use XBMC to play back. This is real easy and conveinient. Why would anyone want to convert to AVI?

ISO is easier to do, but the file is around 3-4 gb for me whereas the avi came in at only 1.4 gb. The quality of the avi was great, but unfortunately I couldn't get it to play the ISO that I made with shrink so I have nothing to compare it to. I'll try DFab tonight and see how that goes.

What size does an AVI file end up being? I just use DVDFab to burn an ISO which ends up being 6 to 8GB and then use XBMC to play back. This is real easy and conveinient. Why would anyone want to convert to AVI?

I use DVD shrink and set my iso's to be 4gb final size. I just rip the movie itself, no menus or extras. Works out great with xbmc.

Why would anyone want to convert to AVI?

smaller file size with no perceived reduction in visual or audio quality. (provided you don't overcompress, and you keep digital audio tracks as is.

Smaller files then lend themselves to mobility on business / vacation trips on storage challenged players or laptops.

If you have the hard drive space, its nice to just rip the main movie to an ISO. It only takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Very fast and easy.

smaller file size with no perceived reduction in visual or audio quality. (provided you don't overcompress, and you keep digital audio tracks as is.

Smaller files then lend themselves to mobility on business / vacation trips on storage challenged players or laptops.

I can see it for mobility. I'm looking at it from the point of view that HD's are cheap now for alot of space so taking the time to shrink em up is almost not worth it. But if you want a bunch on a laptop I can see where you would want a small file and your not playing on a big screen.

Time is a strong argument, but for some reason I can't seem to play ISO files on my xbmc. :confused:

Time is a strong argument, but for some reason I can't seem to play ISO files on my xbmc. :confused:

Try Dvdfab. The ISO's they create work just fine on mine.

Hmm, dfab didn't help me.

I'm wondering if anyone is willing to help me out on the basic setup of the xbmc. At the moment, I am trying to figure out how to set up scrapers so that the couple of movies I have already done will have the movie info pulled from IMBD. It might be easier to do it through email so not to clutter this thread. PM me if you can help.

Just name the movie the same as it is on IMDB, eg Movie name (2008)

HTH

Just name the movie the same as it is on IMDB, eg Movie name (2008)

HTH

Yep,

update to a known working version. I still prefer 6/16/2008 as a good known working version. 8/25 is not too bad but definitely has some memory leakage issues. I dont think that all the linux merges are helping the xbox branch.

Its probably that simple... IMDB setup is simple and well documented in the XBMC wiki.

get the thing to play ISO's correctly before you worry about that. One thing at a time...

Info on scrapers here.. http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=IMDB

Sean

I still have to figure out why mine won't play iso files :( but when I do, are you saying to put the (year) after the title?

EDIT: Could it be the latest version isn't playing well with ISO files? Would it possibly work with an older version such as the 6/16 you are using, or are you referring to the IMDB with that version.

I still have to figure out why mine won't play iso files :( but when I do, are you saying to put the (year) after the title?

EDIT: Could it be the latest version isn't playing well with ISO files? Would it possibly work with an older version such as the 6/16 you are using, or are you referring to the IMDB with that version.

No need to put the year.

I am using version from 6/16 also. No problem with isos.

Quick question--are you using smb to share?

I still have to figure out why mine won't play iso files :( but when I do, are you saying to put the (year) after the title?

EDIT: Could it be the latest version isn't playing well with ISO files? Would it possibly work with an older version such as the 6/16 you are using, or are you referring to the IMDB with that version.

name the files on the same is IMDB

see here for an exmaple.

http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=transformers&x=0&y=0

The year is optional but helps it match when there is more than one movie with the same name.

I generally just called the movie

transformers.iso

if there is an issue I will add the year.


ISO playback has been broken on a # of recent builds. I thought you posted earlier you were running a jan 2008 build. Other builds have has IMDB issues. is weather working. you need to make sure Internet access works before IMDB will work.

try 6/16 its known to work.

Sean

First, thanks for all the help :)

I'm at work, so unfortunately I can't test try these things for a few hours. I was using the Jan version, but using the updater am now on the latest. I will try out the 6/16 later on and see how that works. Downloading it now to my thumbdrive ahead of time.

Yes, I am using SMB to share from my server to the xbox. The avi files on it stream just fine though.

I think weather is working, but after clicking around a while I was able to use the youtube script so I know the net connection is there.

I never got on this issue before, but especially for Sean, how do you best deal with a huge audio library?
I've got 100G+ of music on the local drive. Each folder can only have 2000 (forgot exact number) songs in it. So my files are in Genres. Usually I like to have a complete mix of music, so I want to span genres. Now I manually yellow button the genres I want and it queues up TO A CERTAIN POINT. It will choke on more than maybe 4000 files and hang.

Is there any way to just have it randomly play all the songs when I boot up by default?

Thanks in advance,

Wow, what a difference. I uninstalled the 9-1 version and ftp'd over the 6-16 and everything works great! ISOs are playing and I got the IMDB stuff to work as well. Thanks a lot to everyone for their help. :D

Wow, what a difference. I uninstalled the 9-1 version and ftp'd over the 6-16 and everything works great! ISOs are playing and I got the IMDB stuff to work as well. Thanks a lot to everyone for their help. :D


Glad to hear it!!

I never got on this issue before, but especially for Sean, how do you best deal with a huge audio library?
I've got 100G+ of music on the local drive. Each folder can only have 2000 (forgot exact number) songs in it. So my files are in Genres. Usually I like to have a complete mix of music, so I want to span genres. Now I manually yellow button the genres I want and it queues up TO A CERTAIN POINT. It will choke on more than maybe 4000 files and hang.

Is there any way to just have it randomly play all the songs when I boot up by default?

Thanks in advance,


I have about 800G of music. I just pruned away some. Its about 30,000 songs now....

I have all my stuff tagged really well but you bring up some valid points that I have seen......

1. When creating playlists once you get past several thousand songs, everything stops working.

Yep, been there done that....

My solution to your problem is to use the PartyMode.xsp smart playlist. This only picks 5 songs at a time and adds one as it finishes the one its playing. using this approach I can play random songs out of my big library with no performance issues.

thats the good news...

Bad news, is that from my expirementation, on boot up you can only specify a regular playlist not the partymode.xsp

If anyone knows how to get XBMC to boot up and auto play partymode.xsp please chime in because that would solve the issue.

Other than that I would say manually select party mode. or have it play a smaller static playlist. I know of no other solutions for this issue at the moment... Maybe some others do. I am in the same boat as you and would like a better solution.

It would also be nice if you could specify a STREAM file for internet radio as the default playlist but that does not seem to work either...

Sean

Wow, what a difference. I uninstalled the 9-1 version and ftp'd over the 6-16 and everything works great! ISOs are playing and I got the IMDB stuff to work as well. Thanks a lot to everyone for their help. :D

Sweetness.....

Sean

Why is the ISO better than the VOB?

It just loads like 5 seconds faster. On the other hand, without VOBs, you can't hack up a solution to stream to the 360 (or MCEs). It just depends on what you want to do, as to which one you choose. I use VOBs myself for the added flexability.

I had a couple of XBMC-related questions. Any help is appreciated :)

1. For anyone that's tinkered with XBMC on all 4 platforms (XBOX, Windows, Linux, and OS X) how do they compare to each other in terms of bugs, OS smoothness, HD playback speed, and overall performance? I'm assuming the Linux platform is ahead in its development compared to Windows and OSX, but is there 1 platform that you prefer for some reason or shows the most promise?

2. What's the minimum hardware requirements for decent 1080p playback? Is XBMC most dependent on a fast CPU? Lots of RAM? A fast video card?

3. Does XBMC take advantage of multiple core processors or x86_x64 processing on any platforms?

4. Is there any built-in live TV / DVR (MythTV/TiVo-esque) support on XBMC via tuners or cablecards?

5. Are there any standalone Digital Media Servers or Content Streamers (like a Tvix / Popcorn Hour / MediaGate) that can be hacked (with linux/win/osx) to run XBMC?

Is XBMC ever going to work on Xbox 360?

no.

no.

Why not?

It just loads like 5 seconds faster. On the other hand, without VOBs, you can't hack up a solution to stream to the 360 (or MCEs). It just depends on what you want to do, as to which one you choose. I use VOBs myself for the added flexability.

There are at least 2 more reasons to use ISO over VOB with XBMC.

1. In file mode if you use ISO you get a nice library of thumbs. with vob's you have to go into the directory to see the thumbnail which will be associated with IFO file.

2. Again with file mode if you use the VOB's there is also that you have to browse into the folder and select the IFO file. or at least with the xbox controller as there is no play button.

minor difference but enough for me to always use ISO mode...

Sean

Why not?

No one has been able to hack the 360 to run unsigned code. At this point I think most people have given up on making that happen. So there is no way to write XBMC for the 360.

Why not?

1. There have been rumours of running unsigned code on xbox but it has not seem to develop into much.

2. If this were to become an effective and easy way to run unsigned code then someone would have to port XBMC to this platform. All the developers are busy working on porting to linux , and OSX, and windows etc.....


But one needs to be addressed before any of this can happen. Given the 360 has been out for 2+ years now the
likelyhood of any of this happening is next to none.....

Therefore the answer is no.....

Sean

"Why not?"

What JBNY means to say is, "I don't know". There is definitely not the geek-homebrew force aimed at the 360 that there was at the Xbox, but it is still quite possible for a future group to release a Linux build for the machine. The natural progression from there is of course XBMC for Linux for 360.

In short, the correct answer is "There is no current news in regards to XBMC for 360, but it is absolutely possible."

"2. Again with file mode if you use the VOB's there is also that you have to browse into the folder and select the IFO file. or at least with the xbox controller as there is no play button."

Or hit "white -> play".

"Why not?"

What JBNY means to say is, "I don't know". There is definitely not the geek-homebrew force aimed at the 360 that there was at the Xbox, but it is still quite possible for a future group to release a Linux build for the machine. The natural progression from there is of course XBMC for Linux for 360.

In short, the correct answer is "There is no current news in regards to XBMC for 360, but it is absolutely possible."

There was a lot of effort into modding the 360 when it first came out, after more than two years no one has successfully modded the 360 the way they were able to with the original xbox. If you can not get homebrew to run on the 360, which right now you can not, and most likely will not, as the efforts has mostly stepped back eg team executer announcing that they will not be working on any modchips for the 360 anymore. Also the way the 360 is made any exploit from a game save lcan easily be patched by MS.

So yeah you could say I don't know. But there is more than enough history to say no

"2. Again with file mode if you use the VOB's there is also that you have to browse into the folder and select the IFO file. or at least with the xbox controller as there is no play button."

Or hit "white -> play".

yep, which is still an extra click compared to iso.

the differences are not big so I am point them out just as you are...

nice to have a knowledgable group of users around here...

Sean

There was a lot of effort into modding the 360 when it first came out, after more than two years no one has successfully modded the 360 the way they were able to with the original xbox. If you can not get homebrew to run on the 360, which right now you can not, and most likely will not, as the efforts has mostly stepped back eg team executer announcing that they will not be working on any modchips for the 360 anymore. Also the way the 360 is made any exploit from a game save lcan easily be patched by MS.

So yeah you could say I don't know. But there is more than enough history to say no


Yep, I agree. my good friends and former colleagues at IBM did a fine job of locking down the main CPU subsystems on both the 360 and PS3. damn them.... :)

Sean

1. There have been rumours of running unsigned code on xbox but it has not seem to develop into much.

2. If this were to become an effective and easy way to run unsigned code then someone would have to port XBMC to this platform. All the developers are busy working on porting to linux , and OSX, and windows etc.....


But one needs to be addressed before any of this can happen. Given the 360 has been out for 2+ years now the
likelyhood of any of this happening is next to none.....

Therefore the answer is no.....

Sean


Ah, ok I understand. Thank you for the explanation.

Yep, I agree. my good friends and former colleagues at IBM did a fine job of locking down the main CPU subsystems on both the 360 and PS3. damn them.... :)

Sean


I really like how my XBMC on the xbox has worked out the last few years buy it still has its glitches and I would really like to be able to playback full HD content. What is the most reasonable progression from here? XBMC on another platform or move to some other type of media bridge?

I really like how my XBMC on the xbox has worked out the last few years buy it still has its glitches and I would really like to be able to playback full HD content. What is the most reasonable progression from here? XBMC on another platform or move to some other type of media bridge?

I've been on the verge for a long time. The issue I run into is that XBMC is so damn good that I really don't want to deal with any other media box. Now that the Linux port is out, I'm just waiting for it to get a stable beta build (code freeze is in process now), cheap parts (1080p with no drops from MKV), and time on my hands (elusive at best).

I fried an Xbox network port a few months ago and due to having no time I wound up modding another as a stop gap. Sometime this year I'll likely go HTPC but with work, family, and a new baby on the way I can't devote the time right now and honestly- I no longer enjoy wasting my time trouble shooting stuff and a HTPC is a potential nightmare.

I've been on the verge for a long time. The issue I run into is that XBMC is so damn good that I really don't want to deal with any other media box. Now that the Linux port is out, I'm just waiting for it to get a stable beta build (code freeze is in process now), cheap parts (1080p with no drops from MKV), and time on my hands (elusive at best).

I fried an Xbox network port a few months ago and due to having no time I wound up modding another as a stop gap. Sometime this year I'll likely go HTPC but with work, family, and a new baby on the way I can't devote the time right now and honestly- I no longer enjoy wasting my time trouble shooting stuff and a HTPC is a potential nightmare.



I hear ya! With an 8 and a 2 year old time is limited for this stuff. When I get to sneek in a little me time with the AV gear I need it to work without messing with it!

BTW: There is a paid app available on the Itunes store that is a good working XBMC remote app for the iPhone. Nicely written and everything so far seems to work except playlists for some reason.

supports tv show and movie cover art in addition to music cover art.

Virtually a clone of the iTunes remote app I like so much....

cost is $4.99

Sean

BTW: Playlists dont work and I cant get cover art on movies and TV, but movies and tv play fine and I have full cover art on music.... have it working on 4 different xboxes here at the house...

Well,

running out of storage here again and I decided to try and an unraid setup. The price just cannot be beat.... Here's what I got.... Less than $300 for everything - disks. THere is also $70 of rebates to bring the price down to $230 if all that goes well.... THen just start adding sata drives. The mobo supports 6 and I can add more with a PCI Express card... I am pretty excited. One weird thing is that it appears unraid does not support powering down based on a signal from a UPS. Anyone have any experience there or usng there unraid setup with a MAC on the network.

Any tips would be appreciated...

Sean

CPU COOL CM|DK8-9GD4A-0L-GP R - Retail (Qty=1, Price=$9.99)
(Shipped from Edison, NJ)
MB GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 740G RT - Retail (Qty=1, Price=$59.99)
(Shipped from Edison, NJ)
FLASH 1G|LEXAR FLDRV JDFF1GB-431 R - Retail (Qty=2, Price=$17.98)
(Shipped from Edison, NJ)
MEM 1Gx2|OCZ DII800 OCZ2G8002GK R - Retail (Qty=1, Price=$37.49)
(Shipped from Edison, NJ)
CASE ANTEC|SONATA III 500 BK RT - Retail (Qty=1, Price=$129.99)
(Shipped from City of Industry, CA)
CPU AMD|A64 X2 5400+ 2.8G AM2 R - Retail (Qty=1, Price=$77.00)
(Shipped from Edison, NJ)
DISCOUNT FOR COMBO #125992 (Qty=1, Price=$-77.00)


Extended Warranty Fee: 0
Subtotal: 255.44
TAX: 0.00
Shipping and Handling Charge**: 44.51
Rush Order Fee:2.99
Total: 299.95

BTW: Just discovered on the iphone app if you flip it upside down you get transport controls and more...

Here's a link to their website...

http://remote.collect3.com.au/

SEan

Well,

running out of storage here again and I decided to try and an unraid setup. The price just cannot be beat.... Here's what I got.... Less than $300 for everything - disks. THere is also $70 of rebates to bring the price down to $230 if all that goes well.... THen just start adding sata drives. The mobo supports 6 and I can add more with a PCI Express card... I am pretty excited. One weird thing is that it appears unraid does not support powering down based on a signal from a UPS. Anyone have any experience there or usng there unraid setup with a MAC on the network.

Any tips would be appreciated...

Sean

---snipped----

Hi Sean

I have been looking at the same thing as my search for a NAS box always seems to run into some roadblock.
Just curious from looking at the system you are putting together. Any reason you are using the processor you listed? When pricing out mine I was looking at an AMD Sempron . Its only $23 and I would think would be plenty of horsepower for my simple server.
Any reason I should look at something more powerfull?
Thanks

PS..any reason I couldnt start with something like this:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3827656&CatId=31

@Sean, what kind of hard drives are you looking to put into that? I'm looking into hard drives for mine as I am ripping my movies and running out of room on the small 80gb drive fast (was just an mp3 server first, so 80gb wasn't too bad for me).

I'm also looking to upgrade my box which has an AMD 3000 (1.8) socket 939 and 512mb ram. I have a spare Core 2 Duo E2180 and would only need a decent mobo for it.


@Dan, it's not a bad "frame" to start with, but I would junk the power supply and be sure to get a quality one into there.

@Sean, what kind of hard drives are you looking to put into that? I'm looking into hard drives for mine as I am ripping my movies and running out of room on the small 80gb drive fast (was just an mp3 server first, so 80gb wasn't too bad for me).

I'm also looking to upgrade my box which has an AMD 3000 (1.8) socket 939 and 512mb ram. I have a spare Core 2 Duo E2180 and would only need a decent mobo for it.


@Dan, it's not a bad "frame" to start with, but I would junk the power supply and be sure to get a quality one into there.

Good advice on the power supply.

My second choice would be to get one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817332017

and load it with hard drives. I have 2 internal wd 1tb drives now. I usually get them from newegg for about $130.

Hi Sean

I have been looking at the same thing as my search for a NAS box always seems to run into some roadblock.
Just curious from looking at the system you are putting together. Any reason you are using the processor you listed? When pricing out mine I was looking at an AMD Sempron . Its only $23 and I would think would be plenty of horsepower for my simple server.
Any reason I should look at something more powerfull?
Thanks

PS..any reason I couldnt start with something like this:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3827656&CatId=31

I was looking at that processor to begin with but new egg has a deal right now where you get the ANtec Sonata Case, PS and the CPU for $77 total.

It was too good a deal to pass up and if they even get dual cpu support on unraid then it will run even faster.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103289

Case:
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15137

Power Supply:

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=27500

Sean

Hi Sean

I have been looking at the same thing as my search for a NAS box always seems to run into some roadblock.
Just curious from looking at the system you are putting together. Any reason you are using the processor you listed? When pricing out mine I was looking at an AMD Sempron . Its only $23 and I would think would be plenty of horsepower for my simple server.
Any reason I should look at something more powerfull?
Thanks

PS..any reason I couldnt start with something like this:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3827656&CatId=31

The only down side I see to that system and its a biggy is that is does not have a Gigabit ethernet. You could add a Gig-E NIC in the PCI Express x1 slot but you would want to be sure it works with unraid.

THe sonata setup is a few $$ more one you add the CPU Fan $10 and the Mobo $60

I have a Sonata II case and its seriously nice case. best I have ever owned. from reviews the sonata III should be even better. THe PS is 500 watts and a super efficient green design.

BTW: I am going to put in Seagate 1TB Barracudas. 3 to start and then 6 soon after if I like the way the whole setup works....

I found a good review on storage review that looks at power consumption and the drives consume about 14 watts while running and seeking and max out at 35 amps during startup.

Given the power consumption of the rest of the system. The stock supply I beleive will easily support 8-10 of these sata drives..... THe case holds nine stock but with a 5-3 converter it will hold 12 drives. 12 might be a stretch on that PS but we'll see.... drives are very power friendly these days. If they call all power up and post correctly then (when they all fire at once), normal operation should prove not to be a challenge.

Link to the article.

http://www.storagereview.com/1000.sr?page=0%2C6

http://www.storagereview.com/images/1000_peak.png


Sean

Hi Sean and others,

I was have been working on building a linux raid server to use as a media storage solution paired with XBMC. I was initially planning on using unraid but in the end decided to just use a standard linux distribution and configure RAID myself. I'm not a linux expert at all so there was a little pain but I basically have things working at this point.

The hardware I used was pretty similar to the the lime-tech MD-1500/LL:
http://lime-technology.com/wordpress/?page_id=35

Case - LIAN LI PC-A17B:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112164&Tpk=PCa17b
Power supply - PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005
Mobo - GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128086
Processor - Intel Celeron 440 Conroe-L 2.0GHz LGA 775 35W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116038
Video- ZOTAC ZT-73TEG2P-HSL GeForce 7300GT 256MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500033
RAM - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098
Drives - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 750GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148298
Backplane - SUPERMICRO CSE-M35T-1B Black 5 Bay:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121405

You could clearly build a system much cheaper than this, but I wanted to invest in a really solid and expandable case/power supply/backplane setup that I can use for a long time into the future. I am very happy with both the Lian Li case and the supermicro backplane. I currently have only one backplane which is populated with five drives. The case will handle two additional 5x3 backplanes for a total of 15 drives, if I ever find myself with the need for that much space. The motherboard has 8 SATA controllers; to go past that many drives I will need to add additional controller cards. I chose the processor because it is very low power. I will probably try to pull the video card at some point and run headless if the motherboard will allow it.

I am using ubuntu 8.04 and with RAID and LVM configured from the installer. I setup each of the drives to have two partitions, 250MB for /boot and the rest to be allocated to the main storage array. I then assembled all of the 250 MB partitions into a raid1 array and mapped it to /boot. The big partition on each drive was added to a raid5 array which I added as the physical volume of an LVM volume group. I currently have four active drives in the array with an installed hot spare. That way, if one of the drives fails the spare will automatically go active and the array rebuild will begin without manual intervention. I have tested drive failures both via software and by physically pulling a drive. Seems to work very well. I have configured SAMBA to allow the array to be accessible to XBMC via SMB. I currently have only one xbox but am planning on adding more over time. Overall I am very happy with the setup so far.

If anyone has questions about how to do the ubuntu install and RAID/LVM configuration, let me know and I will try to provide what help I can.

Hi Sean and others,

I was have been working on building a linux raid server to use as a media storage solution paired with XBMC. I was initially planning on using unraid but in the end decided to just use a standard linux distribution and configure RAID myself. I'm not a linux expert at all so there was a little pain but I basically have things working at this point.

The hardware I used was pretty similar to the the lime-tech MD-1500/LL:
http://lime-technology.com/wordpress/?page_id=35

Case - LIAN LI PC-A17B:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspxItem=N82E16811112164
Power supply - PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005
Mobo - GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128086
Processor - Intel Celeron 440 Conroe-L 2.0GHz LGA 775 35W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116038
Video- ZOTAC ZT-73TEG2P-HSL GeForce 7300GT 256MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500033
RAM - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098
Drives - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 750GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148298
Backplane - SUPERMICRO CSE-M35T-1B Black 5 Bay:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121405

You could clearly build a system much cheaper than this, but I wanted to invest in a really solid and expandable case/power supply/backplane setup that I can use for a long time into the future. I am very happy with both the Lian Li case and the supermicro backplane. I currently have only one backplane which is populated with five drives. The case will handle two additional 5x3 backplanes for a total of 15 drives, if I ever find myself with the need for that much space. The motherboard has 8 SATA controllers; to go past that many drives I will need to add additional controller cards. I chose the processor because it is very low power. I will probably try to pull the video card at some point and run headless if the motherboard will allow it.

I am using ubuntu 8.04 and with RAID and LVM configured from the installer. I setup each of the drives to have two partitions, 250MB for /boot and the rest to be allocated to the main storage array. I then assembled all of the 250 MB partitions into a raid1 array and mapped it to /boot. The big partition on each drive was added to a raid5 array which I added as the physical volume of an LVM volume group. I currently have four active drives in the array with an installed hot spare. That way, if one of the drives fails the spare will automatically go active and the array rebuild will begin without manual intervention. I have tested drive failures both via software and by physically pulling a drive. Seems to work very well. I have configured SAMBA to allow the array to be accessible to XBMC via SMB. I currently have only one xbox but am planning on adding more over time. Overall I am very happy with the setup so far.

If anyone has questions about how to do the ubuntu install and RAID/LVM configuration, let me know and I will try to provide what help I can.

Nice setup.... congrats.... Thanks for sharing another example of doing a home brewed NAS.....

Sean

Sean (or anybody else). I see there is a new PM3.HD skin out. Supposedly they have modded and cleaned up the PM3 skin and have added it to some of the latest svn releases.

Have you seen/tried it?
I'm still using 6/16 since it works so well, but if the newest releases are working and the new skin looks good I may give it a try.
(Though mediastream is also pretty tempting)

The only down side I see to that system and its a biggy is that is does not have a Gigabit ethernet. You could add a Gig-E NIC in the PCI Express x1 slot but you would want to be sure it works with unraid.

THe sonata setup is a few $$ more one you add the CPU Fan $10 and the Mobo $60

I have a Sonata II case and its seriously nice case. best I have ever owned. from reviews the sonata III should be even better. THe PS is 500 watts and a super efficient green design.

---snipped-----Sean

Have you started on this yet? I'm really going to be watching your progress since I also want to go this route. Just nervous since I have never built a pc before.

Sean (or anybody else). I see there is a new PM3.HD skin out. Supposedly they have modded and cleaned up the PM3 skin and have added it to some of the latest svn releases.

Have you seen/tried it?
I'm still using 6/16 since it works so well, but if the newest releases are working and the new skin looks good I may give it a try.
(Though mediastream is also pretty tempting)

I tried the 9/1 build and it failed to scan my music library. Seems to leak memory badly... went back to my 6/16 build which does not have this issue.

you can always try the new skin on he 6/16 build it may work.....

Sean

Have you started on this yet? I'm really going to be watching your progress since I also want to go this route. Just nervous since I have never built a pc before.

I wont comment on the effort of building PC's since I can do it my sleep and have been building em for over 25 years so I am not a good gauge. But all the parts show up today and I am going to build it tonight...

BTW: 1.5 terabyte drives are out. At least from Seagate....

SEan

I tried the 9/1 build and it failed to scan my music library. Seems to leak memory badly... went back to my 6/16 build which does not have this issue.

you can always try the new skin on he 6/16 build it may work.....

Sean


Yea, I may try the new skin. I'm more excited about the 'xbmc live' I was just reading about. Looks like a nice way to try XBMC on the pc with just a flash drive!
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1067762

Yea, I may try the new skin. I'm more excited about the 'xbmc live' I was just reading about. Looks like a nice way to try XBMC on the pc with just a flash drive!
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1067762

Exciting news about the live install framework. I heard about it a couple of weeks ago, but wasn't sure if it was targeted for the Atlantis release or not. It is great to see that they have builds posted. I plan to try it out soon on a PC and see how it looks. Assuming it is pretty stable, I might be ready to take the HTPC plunge. Any thoughts on the following parts list:

hec Black 7KJ9 Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16811121068
hec HEC270FN2RX 270W Power Supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16817339023
Foxconn M7PMX-S Micro ATX Intel Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813186140
Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 2.53GHz:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16819115052
G.SKILL 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231121
Patriot Xporter XT 4GB Flash Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220251
Microsoft A9O-00007 WinXP Media Center Infrared Remote Control:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16880100851

Total is a little over $350 with the shipping.

Exciting news about the live install framework. I heard about it a couple of weeks ago, but wasn't sure if it was targeted for the Atlantis release or not. It is great to see that they have builds posted. I plan to try it out soon on a PC and see how it looks. Assuming it is pretty stable, I might be ready to take the HTPC plunge. Any thoughts on the following parts list:

hec Black 7KJ9 Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16811121068
hec HEC270FN2RX 270W Power Supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16817339023
Foxconn M7PMX-S Micro ATX Intel Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813186140
Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 2.53GHz:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16819115052
G.SKILL 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231121
Patriot Xporter XT 4GB Flash Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220251
Microsoft A9O-00007 WinXP Media Center Infrared Remote Control:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16880100851

Total is a little over $350 with the shipping.

The only thing you should really consider is a stronger processor. From reading over at XBMC.org it seems you should be looking at a 3.0mhz processor for 1080p playback.

From a post by Gamester17:
"Many people have reported that a Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 (3.0GHz) is able to perfectly playback 99,99% of all 1080p H.264 videos they tried."

Does the new t3ch include Atlantis?

Does the new t3ch include Atlantis?

Yup. Just released yesterday.

That's what I thought. The download speed is terrible. Must be getting hit pretty hard right now.

I wont comment on the effort of building PC's since I can do it my sleep and have been building em for over 25 years so I am not a good gauge. But all the parts show up today and I am going to build it tonight...

BTW: 1.5 terabyte drives are out. At least from Seagate....

SEan


Did you get this done Sean?

Did you get this done Sean?

System is built and burning in. Waiting on the 1.5 TB drives to show up....

Sean

System is built and burning in. Waiting on the 1.5 TB drives to show up....

Sean

Great! Cant wait to hear about how it works!

Seagate 1.5 TB Sata Drives. 5 Year Warranty.

$189 shipped from newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148337

Sean

Wow. That's even at the same price-per-GB as the 750GB, and cheaper than the 1TB. Damn, I was about to grab a second 750, but now I might as well just get the 1.5. :)

It's cheaper because it's a Seagate. ;)

I was comparing price-per-GB within the Seagate family. Regardless, IBM doesn't make HDDs these days, so there isn't a company that consistently makes terrible drives anymore. :) Given that prices are very comparable across the board between manufacturers, why wouldn't I go with the company that offers the longest warranty? Maybe I hate being taken care of as a customer? :)

I had a several of the IBM "death stars" fail on me. :mad:

I was comparing price-per-GB within the Seagate family. Regardless, IBM doesn't make HDDs these days, so there isn't a company that consistently makes terrible drives anymore. :) Given that prices are very comparable across the board between manufacturers, why wouldn't I go with the company that offers the longest warranty? Maybe I hate being taken care of as a customer? :)

The Seagate drive I linked to has an industry leading 5 year warranty.... Seagate warranty is easy. goto to their website. enter the serial# to create RMA. put in a visa # so they will cross ship a new drive with return packaging (and its all free, they just want a visa# in case you dont return the broken drive).

Works great. done it twice in the last year with 0 headaches and without even having to pick up the phone.

Sean

The Seagate drive I linked to has an industry leading 5 year warranty.... Seagate warranty is easy. goto to their website. enter the serial# to create RMA. put in a visa # so they will cross ship a new drive with return packaging (and its all free, they just want a visa# in case you dont return the broken drive).

Works great. done it twice in the last year with 0 headaches and without even having to pick up the phone.

Sean

Hows the new server working?

Hows the new server working?

All Three 1.5TB drives were DOA. My buddies also had 1 of 1 that he bought die within 48 hours. So I sitll have no drives.... more should be here monday

Sean

All Three 1.5TB drives were DOA. My buddies also had 1 o 1 that he bought die within 48 hours. So I sitll have no drives....

Sean

Wow :eek: Looks like I may push back my own plans for investing in one of these drives. ;)

Am also trying to figure out why I am unable to stream some internet video streams (e.g. this one for the in-laws (http://94.75.220.137/idesitv.com-sony-sdlnd3bdd). I have a 1.5Mbps connection (consistently get atleast 1.2Mbps download speeds) and the streams hardly seem to go over 400kbps per statistics in VLC and WMP. The streams used to playback fine till a few weeks ago when I used to previoulsy stream it through the PC and transmit it using a 2.4Gz a/v transmitter/receiver solution - but that ended up creating it own interference problems with microwave and the 802.11g wireless solution.

For XBMC, I have created a .strm file with the URL above as the only line in it and it streams fine for sometime (~10-15minutes) before it starts losing audio/video sync, and in the worst case scenario the video freezes and there's no audio - when this happens, I have to manually reboot the xbox.

BTW, Xbox is wired directly to the router through a wall jack (same as the PC) and content streamed from within the network (movies, music, etc from my PC/server) works just fine. Also, setting Cache size to 512kb seems to work best but still does not elimiate the buffering/playback issues. Maybe the quality of the source streams has deteriorated over the past few weeks but just wanted to check here if there may be something I could try in XBMC?

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
-Topper

Wow :eek: Looks like I may push back my own plans for investing in one of these drives. ;)

Am also trying to figure out why I am unable to stream some internet video streams (e.g. this one for the in-laws (http://94.75.220.137/idesitv.com-sony-sdlnd3bdd). I have a 1.5Mbps connection (consistently get atleast 1.2Mbps download speeds) and the streams hardly seem to go over 400kbps per statistics in VLC and WMP. The streams used to playback fine till a few weeks ago when I used to previoulsy stream it through the PC and transmit it using a 2.4Gz a/v transmitter/receiver solution - but that ended up creating it own interference problems with microwave and the 802.11g wireless solution.

For XBMC, I have created a .strm file with the URL above as the only line in it and it streams fine for sometime (~10-15minutes) before it starts losing audio/video sync, and in the worst case scenario the video freezes and there's no audio - when this happens, I have to manually reboot the xbox.

BTW, Xbox is wired directly to the router through a wall jack (same as the PC) and content streamed from within the network (movies, music, etc from my PC/server) works just fine. Also, setting Cache size to 512kb seems to work best but still does not elimiate the buffering/playback issues. Maybe the quality of the source streams has deteriorated over the past few weeks but just wanted to check here if there may be something I could try in XBMC?

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
-Topper

testing that stream now... I'll let you know what I discover

testing that stream now... I'll let you know what I discover

That stream would play for 15 to 30 minutes just fine and then looks like it would receive network congestion and stop. simply restarting it worked. It did never hang but I have seen XBMC hang while streaming video when starvation occurrs.. Did not notice any lip sync issues after 20 minutes. I did not A/B compare to WMP11 or try changing the cache size. I would figure that increasing the cache size to 2MB should help but only trial and error will tell...

Sean

Check out this helpful tool to run on your pc to help organize your movie/tv information. It will scan your movies and create nfo and tbn files on your computer and lets you modify/change them easily instead of having to do them remotely in xbmc.

XBMC Media Companion
http://www.billyad2000.co.uk/
Screenshots
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/billy.adamson1/ScreenShots.htm

There's also this other tool that lets you export your XBMC db into xml exports that lets you extract the info from your current xbmc db into nfo files.

XBMC-DB
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/billy.adamson1/nfo_extractor.htm

GOt the replacement 1.5 TB Hard Drives... no more loud clacking noises and everything has been working fine. Its been copying data back and forth all weekend reliably....

First impressions of unraid.

1. Its a bare bones solution. It lacks the richness in protocol and feature support you get from a NAS like the Infrant ReadyNAS NV+.

2. Its easy to setup

3. SMB performance at the moment is good but not exceptional. Reads are faster than the NV+ but not the Thecus N5200. Write performance seems to be a fairly slow 6 megabytes a second with the parity drive enabled. It was 20 without it. I need to do some tuning here and I think I can make the performance much better. Unraid needs to support dual cores to accellerate the parity calculation.

4. SMB operation has been flawless....

5. unraid lacks even basic features like support for email notifications, powering down when instructed by a UPS and bonjour suppport for talking with Macs.

6. The OS is based on linux so most of the above issues can be addressed by loading linux modules....



Overall, not bad but I expected a bit more performance considering the hardware I have. I love the concept of unraid but at this point I will spend some time tweaking performance and trying to add some features but I am going to try FreeNAS and using the AMC chipsets native raid-5 functionality.

Thanks,
Sean

I got an original xbox this weekend and did a softmod to install xbmc. I encountered a problem though, when trying to share my media over the network. Here is my setup: I have laptop with a small (40 GB) internal hard drive, and I have two external hard drives (one 250 GB Western Digital Media Center, and one 1 TB WD My Book Essential Edition)connected to my laptop. I had no problem sharing the 1 TB MyBook, but I have not been able to share the 250 GB, even though I followed the same steps. I have Windows XP. If anyone could offer any help or suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it.

I got an original xbox this weekend and did a softmod to install xbmc. I encountered a problem though, when trying to share my media over the network. Here is my setup: I have laptop with a small (40 GB) internal hard drive, and I have two external hard drives (one 250 GB Western Digital Media Center, and one 1 TB WD My Book Essential Edition)connected to my laptop. I had no problem sharing the 1 TB MyBook, but I have not been able to share the 250 GB, even though I followed the same steps. I have Windows XP. If anyone could offer any help or suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it.

Can you go into specifics as to why it is not sharing? Are you setting it as shared and not seeing it?

t3ch Atlantis Beta 2 released

Mmmm... new XBMC. :)

hey guys, how's it going? OK, I have a question. Has anyone put a USB wireless card and attached it throuhgt the joystick port?

I have found a cable that takes usb to Xbox game port. I then should be able to attach a Ram stick for more system memory or a WiFi device. At least make them available to the system, may need some SW mods to get them to work. (Drivers)

Anyone ever try?

I am at work and Xbmc.org is banned from our firewall side. :(

Ja Phule, still happily using your program for creating .TBN files using DVDprofiler, I will check out your last post on "XBMC Media Companion and XBMC Db Nfo" stuff. But so far yours takes up less valuable disk space. Ordering some 1TB Hatachi drives for $102 each since I am about out of space again.

That usb cable is used mostly for attaching a keyboard/mouse or flash memory for storage which works. The xbox would need driver software to work with usb wireless stick. It seems usb wireless adapters are too many for anyone to write a program for a specific one for the xbox. The xbox's usb ports are also 1.1 so even if wifi worked, you'd be limited to ~10mbps.

I'm glad my program still works for you. I would use it more if I actually kept up with updating my dvd profiler but having the xbmc scan what it finds takes much less time from me.

That usb cable is used mostly for attaching a keyboard/mouse or flash memory for storage which works. The xbox would need driver software to work with usb wireless stick. It seems usb wireless adapters are too many for anyone to write a program for a specific one for the xbox. The xbox's usb ports are also 1.1 so even if wifi worked, you'd be limited to ~10mbps.

I'm glad my program still works for you. I would use it more if I actually kept up with updating my dvd profiler but having the xbmc scan what it finds takes much less time from me.

Yep what JL said.....

BTW: support for USB hard drives in the xbox is only up to 8 gig.

if you need wireless just use a wireless ethernet bridge which is ethernet to wifi and requires no driver support...

Sean

I've been reading seemingly endless posts on XBMC and since you guys obviously know what you're talking about, I was just hoping to get some final advice.

1. I need to do the wireless ethernet bridge option like Sean just talked about. Will one like the Linksys WGA600N work - or is wireless n overkill?

2. Do you personally recommend upgrading the xbox hard drive or should I just stream over the wireless network from my server? It seems like most are streaming, but I was hoping for some feedback.

3. Finally, is it possible to stream HD .mkv files. I keep reading conflicting opinions, but I would think not possible. Just wanted to double check on this one.

Thanks!

I've been reading seemingly endless posts on XBMC and since you guys obviously know what you're talking about, I was just hoping to get some final advice.

1. I need to do the wireless ethernet bridge option like Sean just talked about. Will one like the Linksys WGA600N work - or is wireless n overkill?

2. Do you personally recommend upgrading the xbox hard drive or should I just stream over the wireless network from my server? It seems like most are streaming, but I was hoping for some feedback.

3. Finally, is it possible to stream HD .mkv files. I keep reading conflicting opinions, but I would think not possible. Just wanted to double check on this one.

Thanks!

1. thats what you want....
2. you can put media anywhere... Its easier to stream of PC or NAS especially if you end up with more than one zone.... One alternative is to use a simple Ethernet NAS connected via a hub/switch to the xbox and then hook that whole thing to the wireless bridge. That way you only use the Wifi when you want to push new media on to it and when its streaming its using wired ethernet.
3. No if the Xbox is the hardware platform running XBMC. Yes if you have an HTPC running XBMC. The xbox only has enough MIPS for DVD content. you can get it play 720P if its encoded absolutely the perfect way but this as much as you can get out of the 733Mhz Pentium and 6 year old Nvidia GPU.

Sean

I'm using the Linksys WGA600N with my xbox, works pretty well with my Dlink N router (but it also depends on your signal strength). DLink has a good ethernet bridge that I wanted to get but couldn't find stock so I got the linksys instead.

Until recently I have been using Smart FTP to transfer files to my xbox ,but they no longer offer it for free so I was wondering what free FTP software is recomended

Thanks
Adi999999999

Filezilla works pretty well. And it's free.

Thanks Sean. Good idea about using the wireless to transfer files and have an ethernet connection to the xbox. Didn't even think about that...

I have the DLink DIR-655 so may look for the DLink wireless bridge also, but that's good to know that the Linksys works well too Ja Phule.

Thanks again. I'm looking forward to polishing this up and having some fun! :)

@Ja Phule - Are you getting 300mb between your DLink and Linksys wireless bridge?

Thanks Sean. Good idea about using the wireless to transfer files and have an ethernet connection to the xbox. Didn't even think about that...

I have the DLink DIR-655 so may look for the DLink wireless bridge also, but that's good to know that the Linksys works well too Ja Phule.

Thanks again. I'm looking forward to polishing this up and having some fun! :)

@Ja Phule - Are you getting 300mb between your DLink and Linksys wireless bridge?

I usually get anywhere from 54 to 108mbps with my xbox with my router in the floor above it.

I know the native Windows FTP isn't the best out there but it's not bad in a pinch:

ftp: // username : password @ IPAddress
Take the spaces out. Stupid forum emoticon crap.

Opens a window and you drop/drag. If you aren't a heavy FTP user this can work just fine for the occasional use.

I know the native Windows FTP isn't the best out there but it's not bad in a pinch:

ftp: // username : password @ IPAddress
Take the spaces out. Stupid forum emoticon crap.

Opens a window and you drop/drag. If you aren't a heavy FTP user this can work just fine for the occasional use.

Yep, still like filezilla for eveything else.... Its my favorite and its free....

Hey guys,

I've been using an XBMC setup (with the help from you all) for a while now, but I'm suddenly experiencing a lot of hiccups during playback. I've tried to identify the problem, and I think it may be signal strength at my wireless access point, but I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm currently using a Ready NAS NV+ 2TB drive holding maybe 100 SD DVDs, linked via ethernet to my Dir-655 Wireless N router. The signal is supposed to stream to my SMC Web-N wireless N access point, to which a modded Xbox is attached running XBMC. I have the caches in XBMC all cranked up to the maximum. Now, I can load movies and watch them to some extent, but I'm experiencing A LOT of studders and hiccups during playback (much more than a few months ago). I'm guessing that the problem is signal strength, possibly caused by interference from a new wireless network nearby or something.

Anyways, I've logged into my SMC Web-N AP and it's only getting 60 to 80% signal strength, with no receiving packets dropped but lots of errors reported.

Do you think my problem is signal strength, or some other issue? If signal strength, any suggestions? Anything else I should try? I'd appreciate any suggestions or feedback.

Edited to add: the router and AP are set to scan for best available channel, I'm running WPA encryption, and the router is set to broadcast and the AP set to receive at mixed N and G speeds.

Hey guys,

I've been using an XBMC setup (with the help from you all) for a while now, but I'm suddenly experiencing a lot of hiccups during playback. I've tried to identify the problem, and I think it may be signal strength at my wireless access point, but I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm currently using a Ready NAS NV+ 2TB drive holding maybe 100 SD DVDs, linked via ethernet to my Dir-655 Wireless N router. The signal is supposed to stream to my SMC Web-N wireless N access point, to which a modded Xbox is attached running XBMC. I have the caches in XBMC all cranked up to the maximum. Now, I can load movies and watch them to some extent, but I'm experiencing A LOT of studders and hiccups during playback (much more than a few months ago). I'm guessing that the problem is signal strength, possibly caused by interference from a new wireless network nearby or something.

Anyways, I've logged into my SMC Web-N AP and it's only getting 60 to 80% signal strength, with no receiving packets dropped but lots of errors reported.

Do you think my problem is signal strength, or some other issue? If signal strength, any suggestions? Anything else I should try? I'd appreciate any suggestions or feedback.

Edited to add: the router and AP are set to scan for best available channel, I'm running WPA encryption, and the router is set to broadcast and the AP set to receive at mixed N and G speeds.

I'm using the D-Link 655 also. Try logging into the 655 and check the wireless status. It should be under "Status" from the top menu and "Wireless" from the left menu. It will show all wireless clients connected to your network and find the SMC AP (since this is where your xbox is connected to) and it should show you the signal strength and transmission rate (mbps).

Hmmm. The AP shows up with an IP address of 0.0.0.0, but signal strength is solid (between 90 and 100%) according to the D-Link, with throughput in the 108 range. But at the exact same time, the SMC Access Point is showing ~60% signal reception (I don't know how to see its measure of throughput). Xbox is still skipping during this. I would think 108 Mbps is plenty, unless it's being cut back by the SMC AP's poor reception.

I can only think of two other potential problems. The first is that I have both a wireless n and wireless g cards in my laptop, and perhaps they are getting priority over the movie signals going to the Access Point. The second is that perhaps it really is the Xbox or the hard drive skipping for some reason. I would think having the caches cranked up to max would eliminate the Xbox skipping, but maybe not?

Any ideas of what to try next? Any tests to identify my problem? Music streams fine, of course, just having skips during movie playback.

Hmmm. The AP shows up with an IP address of 0.0.0.0, but signal strength is solid (between 90 and 100%) according to the D-Link, with throughput in the 108 range. But at the exact same time, the SMC Access Point is showing ~60% signal reception (I don't know how to see its measure of throughput). Xbox is still skipping during this. I would think 108 Mbps is plenty, unless it's being cut back by the SMC AP's poor reception.

I can only think of two other potential problems. The first is that I have both a wireless n and wireless g cards in my laptop, and perhaps they are getting priority over the movie signals going to the Access Point. The second is that perhaps it really is the Xbox or the hard drive skipping for some reason. I would think having the caches cranked up to max would eliminate the Xbox skipping, but maybe not?

Any ideas of what to try next? Any tests to identify my problem? Music streams fine, of course, just having skips during movie playback.

Its 99% chance the wifi not the xbox. plug in a long ethernet cable and you can easily prove it to yourself.

The simple stats and numbers you are getting from the router firmware and not effective for diagnosing problems.... There are many better tools for network diagnosis and debug. that said wireless is a tricky beast an IMO unusually unreliable....

positioning makes a big difference

play with placement

up high usually helps....

power off other devices like laptop for test purposes and see if they have an effect....

Sean

I also have my xbox set up with DLINK's WISH (Wireless Intelligent Stream Handling) where it gives wireless bandwidth priority to the xbox's IP address. This is under the Advance/WISH settings.

Anyone know of a good WM5/WM6 remote control program, similar to the iPhone application? I am looking for something to run on my PPC to cue up music, skip songs, etc. when I am outside or when the TV is off that is more elegant than simply firing up the XBMC webserver in Opera.

Anyone know of a good WM5/WM6 remote control program, similar to the iPhone application? I am looking for something to run on my PPC to cue up music, skip songs, etc. when I am outside or when the TV is off that is more elegant than simply firing up the XBMC webserver in Opera.

Try this...

http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?p=182903

Sean

I'm getting the itch to mod another xbox. Where is the current best source for getting an HD AV pack that works good.

I'm getting the itch to mod another xbox. Where is the current best source for getting an HD AV pack that works good.

You can go here (http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=18821) to check if a local Gamestop may have a used one in stock. Even if they don't, they could request it to be transferred from a different store that has it in stock at their discretion (my local store did this for me).

Alternatively, you can get this Psyclone (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009X1OPS) or this Monster (http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00005TN7U) that Sean and other members had posted previously.

Good Luck,
-Topper

Excellent. Two stores one by the house, one by work supposedly have this in stock. Thanks for the link.

For this last mod I think I am going to go all out. Crystal Case, LCD etc... Put it in my kids room.

You can go here (http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=18821) to check if a local Gamestop may have a used one in stock. Even if they don't, they could request it to be transferred from a different store that has it in stock at their discretion (my local store did this for me).

Alternatively, you can get this Psyclone (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009X1OPS) or this Monster (http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00005TN7U) that Sean and other members had posted previously.

Good Luck,
-Topper

Noticed our local Gamestop stores were selling the original Xbox's for $49.99 (or a bundle price incl extra controller + 2 used games 9.99 or less for $59.99). Not sure if this is their new 'regular' price or a limited time/holiday promotion, I just noticed the flyer while walking by the store in the mall.

-Topper

3. SMB performance at the moment is good but not exceptional. Reads are faster than the NV+ but not the Thecus N5200. Write performance seems to be a fairly slow 6 megabytes a second with the parity drive enabled. It was 20 without it. I need to do some tuning here and I think I can make the performance much better. Unraid needs to support dual cores to accellerate the parity calculation.
I just noticed this and I have to comment that the processor doesn't really play a huge role in slowing down parity calculations. unRAID is limited by hard drive and bus speeds. I have no problem getting 20MB/s writes to my unRAID array with a Celeron 430 @ 1.8 GHz. I'm guessing the slow speed is due to your set-up. Are you using any IDE drives? Perhaps you're using PCI SATA cards?

Softmod dudes lemme your ears.

I've always done chip mods before. But they are getting hard to come by, and well, why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?

I downloaded SID Version 5 Final (softmod installer deluxe version 5 final) via torrent. And read the manual. Collected the bits I needed, Mechassault action replay pc sw, used hd av pack etc. I Fashioned a memory card from a USB thumb drive, and the adapter that came with my old Xenium chips (allows one to stick a usb drive straight into xbox game port)

So long story short, I got the installer and the mechassault savegame exploit onto the usb drive. The stock xbox dash sees the mem card, and the two items. Yet I cannot copy them over to the hard drive (which the manual says it necessary).

Dunno what to do. Suppose I could spend $$ on a xcecuter3. But though I'd ask here first. This would be my fifth modded box. 1 Chameleon, 3 Xenium, and hopefully 1 softmod. But I'm not sure why the copy option is not present when I select the mem card items.

EDIT: mmmmmkay, a quick google and the answer is mine. Gotta hit right on the dpad, then the copy option becomes available. I feel pretty stupid bout now.

"EDIT: mmmmmkay, a quick google and the answer is mine. Gotta hit right on the dpad, then the copy option becomes available. I feel pretty stupid bout now."

I actually got caught by this on the 6th or 7th Xbox I softmodded. :) I had to turn it off and walk away for like half an hour before it dawned on me "Oh yeah. Select the save, not the game!".

A quick question.

Can the XBMC stream blu ray .iso rips? If not, can the 360 stream them?

From my reading, I gather that the XBMC cannot stream blu ray content and the 360 cannot stream .isos. Is that correct?

I just noticed this and I have to comment that the processor doesn't really play a huge role in slowing down parity calculations. unRAID is limited by hard drive and bus speeds. I have no problem getting 20MB/s writes to my unRAID array with a Celeron 430 @ 1.8 GHz. I'm guessing the slow speed is due to your set-up. Are you using any IDE drives? Perhaps you're using PCI SATA cards?

Its limited by somthing but not HD speed.

mysetup is all built mobo Sata-II's, 2G ram, dual cores and 1.5 TB sata II drives....

these drives stand alone in window will do 60MB/s on large trasfers... in raid 0 I can measure over 120MB/s

throughput in unraid is 1/4 to 1/5 that. writing a 4 GIG iso is pretty slow. comparable to the NV+ though....

something about unraid is terribly inefficient...

Sean

A quick question.

Can the XBMC stream blu ray .iso rips? If not, can the 360 stream them?

From my reading, I gather that the XBMC cannot stream blu ray content and the 360 cannot stream .isos. Is that correct?


There is no Software or media player in existance that will stream BD iso rips

XBMC and other players and HTPCs with the right HW/SW combo can play MKV videos but I repeat nothing in EXISTANCE plays BD ISO rips....

Sean

Its limited by somthing but not HD speed.

mysetup is all built mobo Sata-II's, 2G ram, dual cores and 1.5 TB sata II drives....

these drives stand alone in window will do 60MB/s on large trasfers... in raid 0 I can measure over 120MB/s

throughput in unraid is 1/4 to 1/5 that. writing a 4 GIG iso is pretty slow. comparable to the NV+ though....

something about unraid is terribly inefficient...

Sean

from reading the boards I dont see anyone claiming to get fast read or write performance with unraid. What do others here get writing and reading a 4G ISO file....

EDIT: I should note I am seeing 14-18 Megabytes/Second on Writes now since I originally posted this a few weeks ago

after I adjusted the read lookahead buffer I am getting 24-26 MB/s on reads.....

Sean

Its limited by somthing but not HD speed.

mysetup is all built mobo Sata-II's, 2G ram, dual cores and 1.5 TB sata II drives....

these drives stand alone in window will do 60MB/s on large trasfers... in raid 0 I can measure over 120MB/s

throughput in unraid is 1/4 to 1/5 that. writing a 4 GIG iso is pretty slow. comparable to the NV+ though....

something about unraid is terribly inefficient...

Sean

Probably on the fly parity calcs and checks. Not the processor but the process of going through all of that when writing files. As I recall no one is reporting unraid as a speed demon or anything close. Actually for server performance - don't even bother. That said, for warehousing and streaming media at home or with limited users in a flexible expandable environment with a higher margin of fault tolerance (i.e. 1 drive content lost on a parity + 1 drive failure rather than entire array) - it's a very solid option. You might post over at the Unraid boards and see how everyone else's speeds compare.

EDIT: mmmmmkay, a quick google and the answer is mine. Gotta hit right on the dpad, then the copy option becomes available. I feel pretty stupid bout now."

I actually got caught by this on the 6th or 7th Xbox I softmodded. :) I had to turn it off and walk away for like half an hour before it dawned on me "Oh yeah. Select the save, not the game!".

Been stuck on the same thing. Never during a softmod but definitely when transferring a save.

Probably on the fly parity calcs and checks. Not the processor but the process of going through all of that when writing files. As I recall no one is reporting unraid as a speed demon or anything close. Actually for server performance - don't even bother. That said, for warehousing and streaming media at home or with limited users in a flexible expandable environment with a higher margin of fault tolerance (i.e. 1 drive content lost on a parity + 1 drive failure rather than entire array) - it's a very solid option. You might post over at the Unraid boards and see how everyone else's speeds compare.

I agree with you on the writes... but even on the reads its slow...

I do like the +'s on unraid and will stick to it for that....

What I have done is the following....

moved all my media content from my Thecus N5200 (which I still think is a POS, especially after my data loss incident 3 months ago). I just put my Docs and Source Code stuff for work on there because its fast. moved all media to the unraid box. I also auto backup the contents of the thecus once a day to the unraid box as a backup. so far this approach is working well....

I have done a lot of reading at the unraid forums and no one really posts benchmarks of their performance. The talk about parity calc performance but not much else like real world network performance. Still have some more tweaking to do. I was going to load the new Multiprocessor beta...

Sean

Been stuck on the same thing. Never during a softmod but definitely when transferring a save.

same here, I think that may have been the most confusing part about doing my first softmod....

Christmas is coming... gonna build 4 750Gig boxes for some friends starting next week....

Sean

There is no Software or media player in existance that will stream BD iso rips

XBMC and other players and HTPCs with the right HW/SW combo can play MKV videos but I repeat nothing in EXISTANCE plays BD ISO rips....

Sean

OK. Can the XMBC play and uncompressed blr ray rips (obviously not in iso format) I see the Popcorn Hour can stream m2ts files

OK. Can the XMBC play and uncompressed blr ray rips (obviously not in iso format) I see the Popcorn Hour can stream m2ts files

Sure its supported... assuming the HW is fast enough. meaning you need a PC and run XMBC for linux, os/x or windows. not on the original xbox...

Sean

Sure its supported... assuming the HW is fast enough. meaning you need a PC and run XMBC for linux, os/x or windows. not on the original xbox...

Sean


Yea, I was not looking to build a HTPC and was hoping for as cheap as the original xbox is, it would stream m2ts files.

Yea, I was not looking to build a HTPC and was hoping for as cheap as the original xbox is, it would stream m2ts files.

yeah right $50 for something that plays BD's.....

Thats pretty funny...

buy a popcorn hour then its your only other choice....

Sean

buy a popcorn hour then its your only other choice....

Not so: the TViX M-6500A (based on same Sigma Designs chipset, I believe, but not Syabas middleware) works at least as well, even streams lossless audio. It has space for internal drive, so you can take it with you (though I just stream).

But it costs twice as much as the PCH . . . .

Not so: the TViX M-6500A (based on same Sigma Designs chipset, I believe, but not Syabas middleware) works at least as well, even streams lossless audio. It has space for internal drive, so you can take it with you (though I just stream).

But it costs twice as much as the PCH . . . .

gotcha.... I did not include that because of cost...

Are you saying the Tvix has some audio streaming functions the new PCH doesn't. I have been waiting for loslsess HDMI audio support to stabilitze before I buy another player.

What formats is the tvix now supporting beyond what the PCH does....

Sean

:DJust modded my first xbox with SID 5.

I used an existing XBMC setup (modded by someone else) to copy the softmod and SID 5 files to the mem card and transfer it to the new xbox. Backed up eeprom and MS dash and selected "Standard" softmod under "Install Single Boot Softmod". Selected UnleashX and install went fine. Interestingly, even tho' I selected UnleashX, I noticed the xbe file in E:\ is evoxdash.xbe. Anyways, Xbox got its IP address. and then noticed SID 5 mod didnt create the Apps folder under E drive and so I wasnt able to see any app (other than Text Editor) under Applications in the UnleashX dash. No big deal - just created the E:/Apps folder and ftp'd the entire XBMC folder (downloaded from t3ch) from PC to E/Apps. Now, going into Applications menu under UnleashX shows XBMC and I can launch XBMC from there.

But each time I reboot the system, it goes into UnleashX. How do I make XBMC the default startup dashboard?

I briefly looked at this article (http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=As_a_Dashboard) but it seems to be for more experienced users (editing BIOS, re-flashing, creating shortcuts, etc).

I thought I read somewhere in this thread that I could simply copy some xbe file (default.xbe?) from the E:\Apps\XBMC folder and replace the (E:\Evoxdash.xbe?) or am I mistaken?

Edit: Tried Sean's instructions here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14353256#post14353256), but when I try to rename the evoxdash.xbe in E:\, I get a message "Permission denied - renaming in Xbox root is not allowed" "Rename failed". I am using FlashFXP it that matters. Thoughts?

Edit 2: Nevermind - I think it was FlashFXP. Switch to FireFox's Fireftp and was able to follow all of Sean's instructions (incl cross my fingers before rebooting :D ) and it works! Woohoo! Thanks, again Sean!

Thanks,
-Topper

:DJust modded my first xbox with SID 5.
--snipped----

Edit 2: Nevermind - I think it was FlashFXP. Switch to FireFox's Fireftp and was able to follow all of Sean's instructions (incl cross my fingers before rebooting :D ) and it works! Woohoo! Thanks, again Sean!

Thanks,
-Topper

Glad you got it. Sean saved me with those step by step instructions!

:DJust modded my first xbox with SID 5.

I used an existing XBMC setup (modded by someone else to copy the softmod and SID 5 files to the mem card and transfer it to the new xbox. Backed up eeprom and MS dash and selected "Standard" softmod under "Install Single Boot Softmod". Selected UnleashX and install went fine. Interestingly, even tho' I selected UnleashX, I noticed the xbe file in E:\ is evoxdash.xbe. Anyways, Xbox got its IP address. and then noticed SID 5 mod didnt create the Apps folder under E drive and so I wasnt able to see any app (other than Text Editor) under Applications in the UnleashX dash. No big deal - just created the E:/Apps folder and ftp'd the entire XBMC folder (downloaded from t3ch) from PC to E/Apps. Now, going into Applications menu under UnleashX shows XBMC and I can launch XBMC from there.

But each time I reboot the system, it goes into UnleashX. How do I make XBMC the default startup dashboard?

I briefly looked at this article (http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=As_a_Dashboard) but it seems to be for more experienced users (editing BIOS, re-flashing, creating shortcuts, etc).

I thought I read somewhere in this thread that I could simply copy some xbe file (default.xbe?) from the E:\Apps\XBMC folder and replace the (E:\Evoxdash.xbe?) or am I mistaken?

Edit: Tried Sean's instructions here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14353256#post14353256), but when I try to rename the evoxdash.xbe in E:\, I get a message "Permission denied - renaming in Xbox root is not allowed" "Rename failed". I am using FlashFXP it that matters. Thoughts?

Edit 2: Nevermind - I think it was FlashFXP. Switch to FireFox's Fireftp and was able to follow all of Sean's instructions (incl cross my fingers before rebooting :D ) and it works! Woohoo! Thanks, again Sean!

Thanks,
-Topper

Glad you got it working... I highly recommend Filezilla FTP over flashFXP. Its faster, works better, and its free....

Sean

Umm sorry to crash the SID5 is great party. But I just did the softmod.

And in the course of trying to make XBMC the default dash I hosed it. I ftpd over XBMC and avaluanch, and I could run both of those from the SID default dash. In the course of trying to determine what exacly SID5 was launching, I determined it was an XBE in a folder off of C called "SIDdashboard" so I replaced the SIDdefault.xbe in that folder with the XBMC shortcut .xbe, (renamed to SIDdefault,xbe) and placed the default.cfg )which points to (e:\apps\xbme\default.xbe) in the same folder.

Upon reboot I get the same dashboard (SID5) I've been trying to get rid of. So I re-launch avalaunch. And see that in the SIDdashboard folder there is a 'recovery' folder. Thinking that SID sees the .xbe aint quite right it copy's the recover xbe over and launches that. I decide to nuke the 'recovery folder. And re-do my default xbe and cfg copies.

Now xbox geves me 21 error. And when I load mechassualt and load the 'Run Linux' game save, mechassualt re-starts.

What can I do at this point????
I tried an evox boot disk I made a very long time ago. Still 21.

I have another xbox hdd from a unit that got it's Ethernet port fried by lightning.


Shoulda stuck with a chip. I could boot to chip os and get FTP access to hdd. Come to think of it I could relocate a xenium just ot get back in. Guess I'll go spelunking into my bedroom unit.

Too many beers. perhaps next weekend.

"Umm sorry to crash the SID5 is great party."

SID is great. Your issues are all user generated. :)

As for what to do? It sounds like you are on the right track with busting out a hard-mod to rebuild the box. Any softmod I have broken I've been able to fix by loading up Agent Under Fire and redoing the softmod, but it sounds like Mechassault doesn't behave as well.

OK that is not a bad idea. I can get agent under fire for $2.99

So since my issues are all user generated, what exactly does SID5 launch??? It does not spell it out in the SID5 user manual. Nor is there an appendix for setting something else as a dash (although there are plenty of appendices for hdd manipulation, which I plan on doing, if I can recover form this.)
"Umm sorry to crash the SID5 is great party."

SID is great. Your issues are all user generated. :)

As for what to do? It sounds like you are on the right track with busting out a hard-mod to rebuild the box. Any softmod I have broken I've been able to fix by loading up Agent Under Fire and redoing the softmod, but it sounds like Mechassault doesn't behave as well.

SID should launch c:\evoxdash.xbe or e:\evoxdash.xbe, depending on which drive you tell it to install to. Additionally, acquiring the HDD's lock code and building a restore disc with XboxHDM should always be the first step after doing a softmod. That way you can pull the HDD out of the Xbox and rebuild it in your PC if need be. Once a restore disc is in hand, then play with different boot softwares.

Umm sorry to crash the SID5 is great party. But I just did the softmod.

And in the course of trying to make XBMC the default dash I hosed it. I ftpd over XBMC and avaluanch, and I could run both of those from the SID default dash. In the course of trying to determine what exacly SID5 was launching, I determined it was an XBE in a folder off of C called "SIDdashboard" so I replaced the SIDdefault.xbe in that folder with the XBMC shortcut .xbe, (renamed to SIDdefault,xbe) and placed the default.cfg )which points to (e:\apps\xbme\default.xbe) in the same folder.

Upon reboot I get the same dashboard (SID5) I've been trying to get rid of. So I re-launch avalaunch. And see that in the SIDdashboard folder there is a 'recovery' folder. Thinking that SID sees the .xbe aint quite right it copy's the recover xbe over and launches that. I decide to nuke the 'recovery folder. And re-do my default xbe and cfg copies.

Now xbox geves me 21 error. And when I load mechassualt and load the 'Run Linux' game save, mechassualt re-starts.

What can I do at this point????
I tried an evox boot disk I made a very long time ago. Still 21.

I have another xbox hdd from a unit that got it's Ethernet port fried by lightning.


Shoulda stuck with a chip. I could boot to chip os and get FTP access to hdd. Come to think of it I could relocate a xenium just ot get back in. Guess I'll go spelunking into my bedroom unit.

Too many beers. perhaps next weekend.

First rule of thumbs with softmods is to never install or touch anything on c:\

SID5 is booting something on E:\

This is documented in the SID5 package somwhere....

make sure you have the eeprom.bin backed up in case you really screw up. I would uninstall and then re-softmod then put the shortcut in the proper location on the e drive....

I'm looking for the specifics now

never EVER mess with the C drive on a softmod.

Sean

Sean