Can I use a non-Sage MediaMVP?

[mihooper]

Since Sage's store is out of Hauppauge MediaMVP units, can I just use a standard retail non-Sage unit? Is there any difference? I do realize I need the software license from Sage to enable the communications with Sage. But I'm not good at waiting and I'm not sure when Sage will have more units.

[reggie14]

Yes, you absolutely can. But, I recommend that you think about getting an HD100 extender instead of a MediaMVP. The MVPs only handle standard-definition MPEG2 video. Your server needs to transcode to play anything else. If you think you'll ever want to play back mpeg4 videos (i.e. divx) or high-definition mpeg2, then you definitely should get the HD100.

[Brent]

As mentioned above, you can use any MVP and purchase a SageTV license to use on it - that's all you need for an MVP with SageTV. The HD100 extender is definitely a major improvement over the MediaMVP's.

And they are very available used and new on Ebay, AVSForums and elsewhere so they make a nice cheaper alternative. I own two and use one in the bedroom and another in the workshop. The HD100 is located in my family room and a clientPC in the livingroom. The MVP can't handle some HD stuff with a lower-powered processor on the server since it requires the server transcode everything, but works great for most stuff.

[tmiranda]

When the HD100 came out I bought two and "decommissioned" my MVPs with the thought of someday putting one of the MVPs in the guest room (which has a small SD TV). Well someday came last week. I am still amazed how well that little MVP works. Menus are snappy, picture is crisp. What a great device for the money.