What equipment do i really need??

[CrimsonT]

Looking to try and install Sage for home use. I will designate 1 machine to store and feed up to 3 TV's, recorded TV footage and stored movies. If i want to record more than 1 program at the same time, do i need a video capture card with 2 cable inputs(do they even make em)? Or do i have 2 single input cards? And what is suggested for the power of the machine i use? I have a P4 1.8ghz spare machine i had planned on using. Is that enough, and any suggested RAM to put in? It currently has 768 MB. Not really looking to use it to work with live TV, just to feed recorded shows and stored movies. all feedback is really appreciated.

Another question, do i need any license for each extender that i have? I plan on getting 3 for the 3 TV's.

[GKusnick]

You need one tuner for each simultaneous show you want to watch or record. So for two simultaneous shows you need two tuners. That can be in the form of two separate cards, or one dual-tuner card. (Yes, they do make them; check pcalchemy for currently available models.)

You need one extender license for each simultaneous MVP connection. If you have three MVPs, but only one is ever turned on at a time, then you need just one license. If you want to run more than one MVP simultaneously, then you need more licenses.

With good hardware encoders I should think 1.8 GHz would be sufficient for standard-def analog recording and playback. (HD is a whole different story.) 768 MB of RAM might be enough; try it and see. You can always add more later. Use the Commit Charge counters on Task Manager's Performance tab to gauge how much you're actually using. If the Total or Peak numbers regularly exceed your installed RAM, you need more.

In Sage there's no difference between live and recorded TV. If your machine can handle watching one recorded show while recording another, then it can handle watching a show while it's still in the process of being recorded (aka "Live TV").

[CrimsonT]

If i get the dual tuner bundle (STVSMB), and 1 media extender to start with, do i need anything else?

[Protoman]

Originally Posted by CrimsonT

If i get the dual tuner bundle (STVSMB)

I would spend the extra $20 and get the STVSMBR (the only difference is that is comes with a remote control). This is the tuner and remote I started with, and still use, and I would and have recommended this as a starter package. Chalk up a new SageTV user for me now that I got my dad into this and he is going to chuck his VCRap!


Hope that helps!
Protoman

[matt91]

Originally Posted by Protoman

I would spend the extra $20 and get the STVSMBR (the only difference is that is comes with a remote control).

Just curious why someone who is buying a MVP (which comes with a remote) would need a second one from the 500?

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by matt91

Just curious why someone who is buying a MVP (which comes with a remote) would need a second one from the 500?

I didn't think the PVR500 came with a remote except for the MCE bundle. And that's the MCE remote-won't work with the MVP.


Gerry

[Protoman]

Matt91:
Didn't see that you were getting an MVP. I was under the impression you were going to have Sage installed on a single computer and use that same PC to view Sage, which is why I suggested a remote as well.

If you do not plan on using a computer to view Sage TV on, then there is no need for a remote control.


Gerry:
I was referring to the bundled PVR500, SageTV and Remote... STVSMBR
The remote is StreamZap, and has worked great for me, but as always YMMV.