Considering sagetv, need advice!!

[adam1115]

I need some help. I'm current using TiVo through DirecTV, but want to cancel. I've been on the fence about going with either a new Series3 TiVo or a HTPC. I think I've concluded that due to the high cost of the new TiVo and the fact that I don't need cablecard, that I'd like to build a HTPC. I was considering MCE, but decided it doesn't meet my needs.

I've been looking at SageTV. My requirements are:

1) ATSC HDTV Support
2) Dolby Digital Sound
3) Dual ATSC and Dual CableTV tuners, ability to record two shows at once
4) Ability to watch a prerecorded show while recording two others
5) Ability to watch a different pre-recorded show in another room of the house
6) Ability to schedule online
7) Ability to archive shows
8) Relieable name based recording

It sounds like SageTV fits the bill. I'm building a P4 HT 2.8 GHz 800 FSB system with 1.5 Gigs of RAM and a high end ATI video card. (I already have this).

I plan on buying the following:

1) Hauppage WinTV-PVR-500MCE dual tuner card
2) 2 AVerMedia A180 ATSC Cards
3) Microsoft A90-00007 WinXP Media Center Infared Remote Control

Anyone have any advice for me? Am I missing anything??

Thanks!!

[mickp]

Originally Posted by adam1115

1) Hauppage WinTV-PVR-500MCE dual tuner card
2) 2 AVerMedia A180 ATSC Cards
3) Microsoft A90-00007 WinXP Media Center Infared Remote Control

Anyone have any advice for me? Am I missing anything??

Thanks!!

Hi adam1115,

A friend mentioned last week that he is having problems with SAGE not seeing the second tuner on his pvr500mce with the 6 beta. There was a new build released the other day which fixed some tuner bugs so this may no longer be a problem.

There's a thread http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...hlight=pvr+500 that discusses picture quality problems with the 500. I know that people have also been having problems with recent versions of this card over on the Snapstream boards.

I'm in pal/dvb land so can't comment on the ATSC cards.

All of your requirements re: recording and playing back a number of shows are realistic. I can happily record 4 sd shows and watch two back (one on the server another on a client) at the same time on my old Athlon 2ghz/512mb box.

For archiving shows I'd recommend STV Import: SageMC Video Tools v2.0

I'm also very, very, very impressed with sageMC.

Good luck.


Mick.

[jamjam]

For online scheduling and more the web interface plugin is great. Been using it since day 1.

JJ