What can MVP's do?

[jwarder]

I just wanted to ask a few question about the MVP's before I go out and buy one well 4 actually but anyway, so I think im right in saying you can watch live tv off them through your networked HTPC? Are you able to browse the internet from them or is there a plugin?

Thanks,
Jack

[stanger89]

Extenders (MVPs) provide probably 99% of SageTV functionality on standard TVs (ie LiveTV, recorded TV, scheduling, imported media, etc).

Sage doesn't include internet browsing, so the MVPs don't either.

[jwarder]

Any way that it could provide internet browsing?

Jack

[stanger89]

That's a rather open-ended question. It is theoretically possible I suppose, but I don't see it happenning.

Besides, surfing the internet would be pretty tough on a 720x480i display.

[jwarder]

Is that the maximum output, what if I wanted to hook it up the HD screen would look crap?

[ke6guj]

Originally Posted by jwarder

Is that the maximum output, what if I wanted to hook it up the HD screen would look crap?

Yes, the MVP is a 480i device.

How it would look is dependant on your HD screen. Many people complain about viewing 480i content on a 720p or 1080i/p screen. Different HD displays have different scalers in them, so a upscaled 480i picture may look better on one display instead of another. Its up to your eyes whether it is crap or not.

edit: if you are concerned about the MVP being 480i, then you may want to wait for the upcoming HD Extender that Sage is supposed to be releasing soon.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by jwarder

Is that the maximum output, what if I wanted to hook it up the HD screen would look crap?

It will look like SD. The UI is rendered very clearly, it's designed to be.

[JUC]

FWIW i'm outputting an MVP on a 42" HD plasma (720p) and the quality was much better than I expected.
Juc

[jbarr]

And the latest version of SageTV, combined with the latest version of Java significantly improved the MVP's responsiveness (at least it did for me). It used to be painfully slow between remote button presses, but now, it's nearly as responsive as the client app running on the server.

I haven't yet tried it on our 42" widescreen, but on a 36" SD tube TV, it looks great. (We're using SageMC as the STV.)

[CollinR]

My MVP looks better full screen on my 50" plasma then the server does thats for sure.

[zz5]

Before buying 4 of these, you might want to consider this. The volume output is much lower than normal line-leve. All my devices (VCR's, DVD recorders, DVD players, etc) output about the same volume. The MediaMVP has a much lower volume. On both my receivers, I hear some buzzing because I have to turn the volume up really high for the MediaMVP. This is not a problem with just my MediaMVP, but for some reason no one ever mentions this.

[Taddeusz]

Originally Posted by zz5

Before buying 4 of these, you might want to consider this. The volume output is much lower than normal line-leve. All my devices (VCR's, DVD recorders, DVD players, etc) output about the same volume. The MediaMVP has a much lower volume. On both my receivers, I hear some buzzing because I have to turn the volume up really high for the MediaMVP. This is not a problem with just my MediaMVP, but for some reason no one ever mentions this.

I don't have that problem on my MVP. Volume is good. Sure it's not the recordings themselves that have a low volume?

[PGPfan]

Originally Posted by zz5

Before buying 4 of these, you might want to consider this. The volume output is much lower than normal line-leve. All my devices (VCR's, DVD recorders, DVD players, etc) output about the same volume. The MediaMVP has a much lower volume. On both my receivers, I hear some buzzing because I have to turn the volume up really high for the MediaMVP. This is not a problem with just my MediaMVP, but for some reason no one ever mentions this.

FWIW, this is the first time I've ever heard of a volume problem with the MVP's. All mine are about the same as any of my other gear (except the X-Meridian sound card) and the family never mentioned it before.

-PGPfan

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by zz5

Before buying 4 of these, you might want to consider this. The volume output is much lower than normal line-leve. All my devices (VCR's, DVD recorders, DVD players, etc) output about the same volume. The MediaMVP has a much lower volume. On both my receivers, I hear some buzzing because I have to turn the volume up really high for the MediaMVP. This is not a problem with just my MediaMVP, but for some reason no one ever mentions this.

I have 2 and my parents of have 2 and none of those 4 have any such problem. Sounds like a bum unit to me or is there a problem with your capture device?!?!?! I have noticed that the volume on my MediaMVP in my living room is a touch softer than watching live tv, but hitting volume up twice remedies that (which means there is less than a 10% difference).

[tmiranda]

I have two MVPs and have never heard of this sound problem either.....

[JParedis]

It's not the first time I read about the MVP having a lower volume output as other devices.

I have the same problem, I have to put the TV set volume much higher when playing via MVP (and have the MVP itself at 75%, so I can adjust with the MVP volume when needed), but do not have any buzzing - the sound itself is ok. It's only annoying when switching to standard TV, if I forget to turn down the volume first I wake up the family

The image is on my 16:9 screen of very good quality, but compared to real HD of course less. Consider buying one to test and gain experience with the MVP, and depending on the outcome get others or wait for the HD version.

Jan

[Taddeusz]

I guess you also have to consider that the MVP I have came with the digital out which I am using. Meaning the audio isn't going through any pre-amps before being output to my receiver which happily plays back whatever is set to it.

My only dissapointment is that while it will do pass-through for Dolby Digital audio DTS is a no-go. I don't know if that is a limitation with the hardware itself or if that can be fixed in the SageTV MVP client? DTS pass-through is certainly desireable and shouldn't be that difficult to get working.

[sixdoubleo]

On the issue of MVP quality on an HD TV....

First, let me say that the MVP looks absolutely STUNNING on a regular TV.

That said, I have a Viewsonic 27" HD LCD TV in my bedroom and an MVP connected via S-Video. The standard definition shows look BETTER on the MVP than they do coming from the cable box via the same S-Video connection. When the cable box is connected via Component, the SD shows have a slight edge on the cable box...but not enough to make a signicant difference.

[stevech]

Originally Posted by jwarder

Any way that it could provide internet browsing?

Jack

I do that - but not via Sage. With an 800 x 600 TV display (Std Def) you must be very selective about what web sites you try to see. Font sizes and off-screen stuff. Mine's mostly used for browsing webcams in other cities and weather graphics and so on - not text. No keyboard - just pick-a-site menus on the TV. Menus that I make up.

[joat]

One thing to remember is that SageTV isn't the reason that MVP's exist. They were actually designed for another purpose and have been around long enough that people have come up with alternate firmwares (which the MVP loads from the network everytime it cold boots), including SageTV and MVPMC.

- joat