XBMC Tips, Tricks, Troubleshooting

[APoc184]

Coming from the HP Proliant Microserver, I thought it would be nice to have a dedicated thread for all things XBMC.

Here we can share our setup, tips, tricks, advice and of course try to solve any problems we might encounter.

As time goes by I will add guides and important info to the original post.

DOWNLOADS

XBMC
Sabnzbd+
Sickbeard
Couchpotato

HOW TO VIDEOS:

INSTALLING XBMC

[video=youtube;hHV6uM2pDmA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHV6uM2pDmA[/video]

and then the rest of the videos here:

INSTALLING AND CONFIGURING SABnzb - Download Client [PART 1]
INSTALLING AND CONFIGURING SABnzb - Download Client [PART 2]
INSTALLING AND CONFIGURING SICKBEARD - TV Shows Grabber
INSTALLING AND CONFIGURING COUCHPOTATO - Movies Grabber

 

[_Jakes_]

Which version do you prefer for a standalone htpc? Im using openelec.

 

[APoc184]

I'm running a HP N54L Microserver with Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and XBMC installed.

Extras:
2GB RAM (4GB Total)
1TB Seagate HDD
ATI Radeon HD5450 1GB Graphics Card
Playon Wi-Fi Dongle - (Attached to internal USB port)
Wireless Keyboard + Mouse
Remote Apps for both Samsung Galaxy S3 and iPad - (Must say I love the iPad app)

Skin: Aeon Nox

Have not really played that much with Add-ons and haven't got around to try and set up Live TV streaming yet.

 

[APoc184]

Which version do you prefer for a standalone htpc? Im using openelec.

I prefer Windows because I also do all my downloads from the server now. So I have uTorrent and my News Servers also set up from there.

 

[_Jakes_]

I prefer Windows because I also do all my downloads from the server now. So I have uTorrent and my News Servers also set up from there.

Openelec works very well with transmission for torrents and sabnzbd for news servers. Evrrything can be automated using Sickbeard.

 

[APoc184]

Openelec works very well with transmission for torrents and sabnzbd for news servers. Evrrything can be automated using Sickbeard.

I've read about that yes. Still want to get around to trying it.

I must also add. I do DSTV streaming on the server via the website.

 

[_Jakes_]

I've read about that yes. Still want to get around to trying it.

I must also add. I do DSTV streaming on the server via the website.

Unfortunatly no luck streaming dstv on openelec but there are more than enough alternatives like 1 channel and sportsdevil to stream what you need. For me the main reason for using openelec is because it is a lot less resource intensive and therfore runs quiter since the fans dont have to work so hard to keep it cool.

 

[Grouter]

For me the main reason for using openelec is because it is a lot less resource intensive and therfore runs quiter since the fans dont have to work so hard to keep it cool.

+1 for openelec

 

[123Eish]

This is my setup:
Core2 Duo
Nvdida Card which outputs hd, and surround sound.
4gig ram
Wireless keyboard and mouse
Blutooth dongle plus ps3 blueray remote.
6tb of storage
Sickbed plus sabnzb for series
Rss feed of yify torrents for movies via bittorent.
Uncapped account
Plex for other devices such as phones and laptops.
Windows 8, with netflix and hulu app, on windows 8
Skin on xbmc is aeon mq5
I also use one channel and ice films

I have programmed the ps3 remote to work flawlessly with windows 8 works really nice hardly ever touch they keyboard. I also schedule downloads between midnight and 7am so that it doesn't disrupt streaming.

 

[cpu.]

Yatse on Android (Apple?) as remote control for XBMC.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...urce=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_term=yatse

 

[Radioboy]

/subscribes

This is a great idea. Thanks!

Been using XBMC for a few days now, awesome program but a lot to get used to. Still trouble shooting my sloppy tagged music.

Using it on HP Microserver, Windows 7 Ultimate, 4 Gb Ram, GT210.

Only one thing that i cant figure out. Im trying to try out other skins but nothing appears when I select 'get more'. What am i missing? My internet connection works fine.

 

[APoc184]

Only one thing that i cant figure out. Im trying to try out other skins but nothing appears when I select 'get more'. What am i missing? My internet connection works fine.

Go into Get add-ons, open the context menu for XMBC.org Add-ons (right click mouse or 'c' on keyboard) and then select Force Refresh.

You might have to close and open XBMC again after it finished (I had to)

 

[DJ...]

/subscribes

This is a great idea. Thanks!

Been using XBMC for a few days now, awesome program but a lot to get used to. Still trouble shooting my sloppy tagged music.

Using it on HP Microserver, Windows 7 Ultimate, 4 Gb Ram, GT210.

Only one thing that i cant figure out. Im trying to try out other skins but nothing appears when I select 'get more'. What am i missing? My internet connection works fine.

Sometimes the "Get More" link doesn't update properly. Rather do it from the add-ons menu itself...

 

[Zenbaas]

Apoc you're way ahead of me I see Finally got around to installing everything today and have loaded openelec onto a USB and put it into the internal USB port. Will wait until I can go grab a nice long ethernet cable so I can access the net and move my movies etc over so I can start testing it out. Can you guys recommend some good guides for setting up xbmc and scraping content etc..? This is seeming very foreign at the moment.

 

[DJ...]

Apoc you're way ahead of me I see Finally got around to installing everything today and have loaded openelec onto a USB and put it into the internal USB port. Will wait until I can go grab a nice long ethernet cable so I can access the net and move my movies etc over so I can start testing it out. Can you guys recommend some good guides for setting up xbmc and scraping content etc..? This is seeming very foreign at the moment.

Well there's not all that much to know, other than to maintain a good naming convention of your media. For movies I use the movie title and year in the folder name, then in the scraper options I set it to "folder names match movie title". For tv shows, I use Show Name > Season > Showname.S01E01. You can use a tool like The Renamer to rename your existing tv shows if necessary.

But it really is simple. And can be even simpler if you add XBMC Watchdog add-on. It monitors your video folders for any changes, so as you add media it will auto-update the database with the new content without having to manually scan. That really is as simple as it is imo...

 

[APoc184]

Apoc you're way ahead of me I see Finally got around to installing everything today and have loaded openelec onto a USB and put it into the internal USB port. Will wait until I can go grab a nice long ethernet cable so I can access the net and move my movies etc over so I can start testing it out. Can you guys recommend some good guides for setting up xbmc and scraping content etc..? This is seeming very foreign at the moment.

Hehe. With no DSTV I have plenty of time on my hands now.

It is quite easy to add content/sources.

Videos > Files > Add Source > Browse > Point to Directory/HDD/Network/Source > Click Ok.

Then you can set content as Movies / TV Shows / Music Videos. The scrapers are included with XBMC. It should update your library and download everything automatically after the above steps. Otherwise right click and select Update Library.

 

[Zenbaas]

Well there's not all that much to know, other than to maintain a good naming convention of your media. For movies I use the movie title and year in the folder name, then in the scraper options I set it to "folder names match movie title". For tv shows, I use Show Name > Season > Showname.S01E01. You can use a tool like The Renamer to rename your existing tv shows if necessary.

But it really is simple. And can be even simpler if you add XBMC Watchdog add-on. It monitors your video folders for any changes, so as you add media it will auto-update the database with the new content without having to manually scan. That really is as simple as it is imo...

Thanks DJ. I have been lazy so my movies and series are all over the place with the names they came straight from sickbeard / SABnzb so that will take me some time. Do you place all your movies in a folder or does each have its own folder?

Hehe. With no DSTV I have plenty of time on my hands now.

It is quite easy to add content/sources.

Videos > Files > Add Source > Browse > Point to Directory/HDD/Network/Source > Click Ok.

Then you can set content as Movies / TV Shows / Music Videos. The scrapers are included with XBMC. It should update your library and download everything automatically after the above steps. Otherwise right click and select Update Library.

Yeah with the new addition in the house it feels like I have no time whatsoever I'm very keen on getting it nicely setup and will add an anime section as well which should be awesome once properly setup.

 

[digitalp]

My setup:

Dell studio 17 Laptop for the lounge
- 6 GB RAM
- Corei7
- 500BG internal HDD, 4TB external HDD attached
- BluRay Drive

Running
- Windows 8
- XBMC with Bello skin
- Sickbeard and SABnzbd installed
- HeheHunter for torrents over http

Remote
apple iphone remote app
Android remote app

Streaming options
- Netflix with unblockus
- aljazeerasports.tv for all my sports needs in HD(cost R190) also with unblockus
- Futubox
- ntv.mx(Free channels)

Toshiba Satellite lappy for the bedroom
- corei5
- 4 GB Ram
- 200 GB HDD
- running xbmcubuntu with Bello skin

Android Tablet
- xbmc for android

Internet connection
- TI 4/10 Meg.

 

[DJ...]

Thanks DJ. I have been lazy so my movies and series are all over the place with the names they came straight from sickbeard / SABnzb so that will take me some time. Do you place all your movies in a folder or does each have its own folder?

Each movie is in its own folder. It doesn't have to be in order for the database to update, but does if you intend to make use of fanart, which is the background pictures. If they're not each in their own folder then the fanart for movies will in all likelihood be the same picture from the wrong movie. It is possible to use a file renaming tool to automatically create the folders from the file title, on the basis that the files are named correctly.

XBMC relies heavily on accurate folder and file names to work properly. I'd suggest investing a little time to get this fixed once and for all, and then use theRenamer to do all of your file renaming from now on. I find that my files are downloaded with the correct titles using torrents though, which I have also automated. 1 out of every 100 episodes might require a renaming.

Just do yourself a favour and get your media naming sorted properly. XBMC will try its hardest to make a disjointed system work, but it will really struggle when it comes time to using skins like Aeon Nox that relies heavily on artwork. I've spent an age getting to know the ins-and-outs of XBMC. I started with Openelec but I've since moved over to Windows 7 with nothing but a browser and XBMC - works far better for me than Openelec did, which can have its limitations...

 

[DJ...]

My setups:

HP Proliant microserver for the main lounge (which serves as central media server and output to tv)
4 gig ram
5TB hard drives
GT520 video card
Windows 7
XBMC Gotham nightly with Aeon Nox 4.0.9 and Showcase mod

Second Lounge - Oldish laptop with a gt520
Windows 8
XBMC Gotham nightly with Aeon Nox 4.0.9 and Showcase mod
Content delivered via WiFi from central box

Bar - Old PC hidden away in the cupboard
Windows 7
XBMC Gotham nightly with Aeon Nox 4.0.9 and Showcase mod
Content delivered via WiFi from central box

Bedrooms - old laptops/PCs
Various Windows versions
XBMC Gotham nightly with Aeon Nox 4.0.9 and Showcase mod
Content delivered via WiFi from central box