What do I need ??

[mazakmaster]

I would like to set up a sage tv server. I would like to have 3 mvp extenders attached to the server. I do not want to use any pc's just the media extenders and one sage server. Can I use the HAUPPAUGE mvp's with client software and get the sage interface on the TV? I see sage is sold out and they charge a little more.

[stanger89]

I would like to set up a sage tv server. I would like to have 3 mvp extenders attached to the server. I do not want to use any pc's just the media extenders and one sage server. Can I use the HAUPPAUGE mvp's with client software and get the sage interface on the TV? I see sage is sold out and they charge a little more.

What you will need:

PC with sufficient HDD space
One or more tuners in that PC (you'll need 3 if you want to watch a different channel live on each of the 3 extenders).
1 SageTV license
3 MediaMVPs
3 SageTV Media Extender licenses.

You can't use SageClient, that's for use on a client PC.

Sage MVPs are more because they include a SageTV Media Extender License, if you buy an MVP somewhere else (like newegg) you'll have to purchase an extender license separately.

[mazakmaster]

So if I buy the extenders from sage i dont need to buy the extender license's? Can i do everything on the extender that I can with client? Does the gui look the same?

[SafetyBob]

The screen on the MVP's looks just like the one on the computer. I am doing exactly what you want to do right now. I basically go to my SageTV server and select all the programs I want to record every sunday for the next week or so, then throughout the week I either watch them when I get home after work or (hint, hint) burn the file(s) to a DVD and watch them at work if I have time there.

Just purchase (as stated above) SageTV Media Center Version 5.0 and three SageTV Client Licenses for MVP and you will be set and ready to go. Don't get confused by the Sage people calling the license for the MVP a "client". All of us on the forum generally call a "client" a computer (desktop or laptop) that has SageTV on it that gets the files that you are watching from a server computer on your network. Think MVP license and computer "client" licence and you shouldn't get confused.

Oh, you can buy from Sage the MVP and it does include the necessary license also. If you are in a terrible hurry to get going, I had much satisfaction by getting one online from CompUSA. It was at my house in a couple of days in perfect condition, but you will need to purchase the license from Sage for $29.95, so it will cost you about $20.00 more that way but you will have your stuff by the end of the week.

Good luck setting up your system. And I promise you that you will love this setup. Word of caution, if your MVP's are not "finding the server", look in the troubleshooting section of the manual and make sure you have the MVP options selected in SageTV, you have your services on and started, and then make sure YOUR sageTV server's windows firewall port settings are correct. Mine weren't and it drove me crazy for about a week.

Bob E.

[stanger89]

So if I buy the extenders from sage i dont need to buy the extender license's?

Yes.

Can i do everything on the extender that I can with client?

For TV, yes, for media, almost. Most notably, the MediaMVP doesn't support DVD (rips) playback.

Does the gui look the same?

Yes, though some options not applicable to the extender are not shown.

[mazakmaster]

Can you set recordings from the mvp? This is very important to me. exactly what other limitations are there on the mvp screen. also is there a web interface you can use to set recordings? thanks all

[stanger89]

Can you set recordings from the mvp?

Like I said, for TV, there are no limitation (scheduling, favorite management, viewing, etc).

exactly what other limitations are there on the mvp screen.

That's really about it, due to the nature of the MVP and it's hardware MPEG-2 decoder, it's format support is limited, but Sage will transcode most media for the MVP.

also is there a web interface you can use to set recordings? thanks all

Check out nielm's webserver.

[mazakmaster]

Thanks Stanger. One last question- is the MVP the identical unit if i buy it from Hauppauge? I have read there are different versions out there and some cause problems. If I buy it from sage the license is included for $109.99 and from Hauppauge it is 99.99 and i have to buy a license for 29.99. So it costs more from hauppauge, but sage is out of stock and it might be a while. But is the end result the same or has the unit been modified for Sage? Thanks again

[stanger89]

But is the end result the same or has the unit been modified for Sage? Thanks again

Nope, no difference, use wise. The MVP works by using network boot, it boots and loads it's executable from a host PC. Sage simply replaces the Hauppauge boot server with their own, that loads the Sage "miniclient" instead of the Hauppuge software.

If you buy separate, you can find an MVP for less that retail from places like newegg.

FWIW, I got my MVP from newegg.

[dflachbart]

Nope, no difference, use wise. The MVP works by using network boot, it boots and loads it's executable from a host PC. Sage simply replaces the Hauppauge boot server with their own, that loads the Sage "miniclient" instead of the Hauppuge software.



That's what I always wanted to ask: the description for the MVP on the SageTV site lists "coaxial S/PDIF", but the product page on the Hauppauge site does not mention this in any way ...

So do they differ hardware-wise, or is this feature simply missing in the Hauppauge description ?


Thanks,
Dirk

[stanger89]

I suspect the SageTV site is in error, the MVP doesn't have a digital out.

[garcia21]

For what its worth, I bought my MVP from Sage about a month ago and it does come with a coaxial SPDIF connection, but the picture on the manual does not show it.

[stanger89]

Now that is interesting, maybe there's a new rev out.

[dflachbart]

Now that is interesting, maybe there's a new rev out.

Mhhh, if it is a new revision, it really puzzles me that there is no mentioning of this feature on the Hauppauge product page ...
"Sage exclusive rev" ? :D

Dirk

[Opus4]

That is the new version of the MVP & it is what Hauppuage would be selling too. There was an older discussion around here where the MVP wasn't available anywhere & then Hauppauge put out more, which I thought turned out to be the wireless version w/o the wireless parts. This newer MVP requires the latest version of SageTV to use it as an extender, due to the changes in the new revision.

Anyway, the new wireless version that has been discussed included the SPDIF connection as part of its specs, so it is now an expected connection. :)

- Andy