Reliable source of HD-300s?

[oldmike60]

Both of my HD-300s failed. Probably the ethernet problem I have read about, but didn't know better so got rid of them. I have been trying WMC plus a pair of XBOX 360s; complete crap. Won't stay connected more than one day. Just looked into Tablo. Looks great on paper; lots of complaints, but on their site and Amazon reviews. Silicon Dust doesn't have anything besides the tuners. Plex refuses to support a DVR. All of these REALLY make me want to get back to SAGETV, even if it would only be for a few years until the marketplace catches up.

So, would appreciate any tips as to where one might buy two units that are known good.

[will]

Have you considered going the client route and building mini-computers to replace your two HD300s?

You have a lot of options and it is probably the best way to extend the life of SageTV.

[tmiranda]

I am reasonably sure Google will never sell a single HD300. Your best bet is to buy them from people off this forum or go the client route.

[oldmike60]

I have a MSEE, but not practiced for years and not familiar at all with the various file conversions, etc. But home brewing a SAGETV extender sounds like fun; garage on the weekend kinda thing. Is there a link that spells it out? I assume you mean with something like a Raspberry Pi or other single board computer.

Meanwhile, I lost my SAGE license key, so gotta get that straightened out, or nothing to feed the extender with. (Posted for tech support alreadyh).

[UgaData]

You could try E-bay for the extenders, but expect to pay through nose and maybe a few other orifices.

Not sure a Raspberry Pi has enough oomph, if your doing HD. Hopefully, some one else can verify for sure. I think you would need a Linux client for a PI as well.

There are a number of small form factor PCs that will run a Windows 7 (or 8) OS that have onboard (accelerated) video (an Intel NUC is one I can think of). I believe this is what another poster was referring to.

Keep in mind, Linux or Windows you need a client lis. for Sage (if you don't already have one or 2). The licenses for Windows, Linux and OSX clients (or servers) are specific to the OS and can not be swapped between the OSes. If I am wrong some one will thump me.

Check the for sale section of this forum for licenses (or even extenders) if you don't have them.

[will]

Originally Posted by UgaData

The licenses for Windows, Linux and OSX clients (or servers) are specific to the OS and can not be swapped between the OSes. If I am wrong some one will thump me.

The way the client license works is that only one client can access the server with the same license key. For example, if I have two Clients (A & B) and A connects to the SageTV server, then B cannot connect until I disconnect A and restart the SageTV server service. If you try to connect A & B at the same time then you will receive an error message.

I think client licensees are a lot easier to come by on the forums than extenders and you can typically pick them up at cost ($30).

[UgaData]

Originally Posted by UgaData

The licenses for Windows, Linux and OSX clients (or servers) are specific to the OS and can not be swapped between the OSes. If I am wrong some one will thump me.

What I was referring to is if you buy a SageTV client or server license for Linux and later decide you want to switch to Windows or Apple OS, the license for Linux will not work under for a Windows or Apple OS install. You would need to get a new license for the OS you want to install it under.

The OP mentioned possibly using a Raspberry PI as a client and I think that means a Linux install. If for any reason it didn't work out and He then wanted to use a Windows or Apple machine as a client it would require a different license. Of course, the work around is the 21 day trial install but, 21 days goes by real fast.

Originally Posted by will

The way the client license works is that only one client can access the server with the same license key. For example, if I have two Clients (A & B) and A connects to the SageTV server, then B cannot connect until I disconnect A and restart the SageTV server service. If you try to connect A & B at the same time then you will receive an error message.

Yeah, that is how it works if you're trying to sharing a single license between multiple clients. If you buy multiple client licenses you should be able to connect with each license.

IIRC, If your sharing the client lis. between machines, the server remembers which machine is using the lis. and won't let another machine use the same lis. until the server is rebooted (or maybe SageTV just needs to be re-started, including the service)

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by UgaData

What I was referring to is if you buy a SageTV client or server license for Linux and later decide you want to switch to Windows or Apple OS, the license for Linux will not work under for a Windows or Apple OS install. You would need to get a new license for the OS you want to install it under.

I doubt you could get client to run on an rPi, IIRC that's an ARM device and SageTV is an x86 application. Yes a lot of it is Java, but the media capabilities are all native code I believe.

[will]

Originally Posted by stanger89

I doubt you could get client to run on an rPi, IIRC that's an ARM device and SageTV is an x86 application. Yes a lot of it is Java, but the media capabilities are all native code I believe.

I was going to say the same thing. You would never get a client to run on rPi.

The cheapest CPU that would support Sage would be an Intel Atom or a Via Nano X2. Personally, I would try to build a client using an Atom processor.

If money isn't an issue then I would buy the $499 Mac Mini, install Windows on it and then install your SageTV client. The device looks amazing and has a built in IR port that works with pretty much ANY remote (I use a Tivo remote with my iMac and SageTV).

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by UgaData

Check the for sale section of this forum for licenses (or even extenders) if you don't have them.

This. If you want extenders, post a "WTB" in the sale forum here.

[oldmike60]

Thanks for all the suggestions, but seemed like more than I could take on. I came across the Tablo unit, and the system is terrific. It has a four tuner model connected to the wired LAN (it has wifi, I just prefer wired) with scheduling, etc, though the GUI, etc, are still primative right now. But the key enabler is a Plex channel. So the tuner in the garage, plus three Chromecasts and I have both OTA recordings and downloaded video in one environment. The best part is I can get it all including live TV thru the Plex app on my 4G phone, waiting for my wife at the mall.