Saber 2020 : Use analog cable / STB on one card?

[dmiraclejr]

For all you 2020 owners out there.

Can you use one analog cable input and one set top box input at the same time, on one card, under SageTV ver5 or 6? The FAQ of the DualTV on the Nividia site says that theirs can't. I really want one dual tuner SD card that can do this with good PQ.

If not I'm not sure if I should just by two Haup 150's or two ATI 550 pros. Advice?

Thanks.

[dmiraclejr]

Anybody tried this or willing to try it? I believe it may be possible but would like to avoid the hassle of an RMA and shipping if it doesn't.

Thanks.

[PGPfan]

All my receivers are satellite boxes connected via s-video so I can't answer for sure, but I don't see why it couldn't work. Did the Nvidia FAQ specify 'why' it couldn't? Seems to my like it should as well.

-PGPfan

[dmiraclejr]

Here is the reply from VistaView (still not definitive):

"The question is a question of the application, not the card. In SaberView
(our application) you certainly can do it. I am pretty sure that MCE will
let you do it as well. I think that SageTV and BeyondTV both allow it as
well. You should check with the vendor of the software you plan to use to
make sure.

Currently the Saber 2020 supports S-Video input, but not composite video.
So make sure that the set top box's output is S-video.

Please let me know what you decide.

Vista View Support Team"


Here is what the Nvidia site says about the DualTV:

"This is a MCE limitation. Dual tuner usage in Media Center Edition 2005 requires both TV provider sources (channel lineups) to be identical. For example, you can configure two set-top boxes or two cable out of the wall connections, but you cannot use one set-top box and one out of the wall cable connection or one satellite and one antenna connection. The reason for this is pretty simple. Windows XP Media Center 2005 uses a single Program Guide and uses the "first available analog tuner" to complete each task that requires an analog TV tuner.

If you have two different set-top box models from the same provider, you can use them as long as they both receive the same programs on the same channels. For example, you can use a Motorola/General Instruments DCT5100 and a DCT6200 set-top box to configure dual tuner support."

I had forgotten the Nvidia FAQ was directed at MCE. Maybe the DualTV is OK with Sage.... still don't know. I guess I'm really still interested in the Saber 2020 anyway.

I guess I'll just have to buy one and try it out if I don't get someone with direct experience to reply.

Thanks for your reply PGPfan.

[blade]

I'm pretty sure the Nvidia site is correct about MCE. I started to post yesterday that the limitation you read was probably MCE specific, but it would have been a guess.

Sage does in fact let you do what you're wanting to do. So if VistaView says it is up to the software you should be fine. Of course I don't own the product and have never tried it so I'm going by what they told you and what Sage can do with other tuner cards.