HDHomeRun EXTEND H.264 and SageTV

[brandypuff]

Just picked up a Extend because it encodes to h.264 natively and i thought it would be better for bandwidth on my network. I am running OpenDCT along with a HDPrime on Windows 10 x64.

The issue is that Sage (V6 as i haven't upgraded yet) won't play or record any of the Extend's channels even though it scans for them OK. I can play OTA channels from the Extend fine outside of Sage.

So what can i do? Do i need to return it and buy a connect? Does Sage V9 support H264 files? Can i install a codec in Sage?

Also, do i really need to go though OpenDCT like i do for the Prime because it uses a cable card, i guess? Will that be better?

[Fuzzy]

You only need to use openDCT if you want to use the transcoding of the extend. SageTV itself doesn't support that feature, and will instead just grab the stream directly as broadcast.

To help you any further, though, we'd need some logs. sagetv_0.txt, sagetvclient_0.txt and opendct.log for a short run (start sagetv, guide, watch live ota channel, stop sagetv, zip up and post logs).

[brandypuff]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

You only need to use openDCT if you want to use the transcoding of the extend. SageTV itself doesn't support that feature, and will instead just grab the stream directly as broadcast.

To help you any further, though, we'd need some logs. sagetv_0.txt, sagetvclient_0.txt and opendct.log for a short run (start sagetv, guide, watch live ota channel, stop sagetv, zip up and post logs).

Since the EXTEND encodes natively in MPEG4 and Sage doesn't support MPEG4 playback, then will I need to transcode MPEG2 to be able to view the channels and recordings with Sage which is less than ideal.

I just tried grabbing some logs but nothing was created. I took OpenDCt out of the equation and added the EXTEND directly to Sage. L am using the Server Sage UI to tune a channel so there isn't a SageTVclient_0.txt file. I don't see a SagetTV_0.txt file either. does it take awhile before it's created? I am running SageTV v6.x btw.

[EnterNoEscape]

Originally Posted by brandypuff

I will grab a log for analysis. However, since the EXTEND encodes natively in MPEG4 and Sage doesn't support MPEG4 playback, then will I need to transcode MPEG2 to be able to view the channels and recordings with Sage which is less than ideal.

It's not that SageTV doesn't support H.264 playback, it's because it defaults to an MPEG-PS container and you can't encode H.264 into MPEG-PS. You can change a property on your capture device to enable the use of MPEG-TS which does support H.264.

1. Stop the SageTV service
2. Edit Sage.properties
3. Change mmc/encoders/<encoder_id>/100/0/encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream=true to mmc/encoders/<encoder_id>/100/0/encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream=false for each of your EXTEND entries
4. Save Sage.properties
5. Start the SageTV service

[glenner]

Originally Posted by EnterNoEscape

It's not that SageTV doesn't support H.264 playback, it's because it defaults to an MPEG-PS container and you can't encode H.264 into MPEG-PS. You can change a property on your capture device to enable the use of MPEG-TS which does support H.264.

1. Stop the SageTV service
2. Edit Sage.properties
3. Change mmc/encoders/<encoder_id>/100/0/encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream=true to mmc/encoders/<encoder_id>/100/0/encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream=false for each of your EXTEND entries
4. Save Sage.properties
5. Start the SageTV service

I tried doing these steps on a spare SageTV v9 rig I'm setting up. I'm running v9 on a Win7 laptop, and using an EXTEND. The only way I've been able to get Sage to tune and record shows is to set the "Default Transcode Profile" to "None" on the EXTEND.

I tried changing my encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream entries to false, and setting the transcode profile to "Heavy". This does not work as it will not tune or record... In some cases, it seemed like the Sage windows client would hang and I'd have to kill it. How can I debug this or any suggestions I can try?

You were able to get this to work Brandypuff? You are now recording shows in H.264 using only Sage v9 + Extend?

[EnterNoEscape]

Originally Posted by glenner

I tried doing these steps on a spare SageTV v9 rig I'm setting up. I'm running v9 on a Win7 laptop, and using an EXTEND. The only way I've been able to get Sage to tune and record shows is to set the "Default Transcode Profile" to "None" on the EXTEND.

I tried changing my encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream entries to false, and setting the transcode profile to "Heavy". This does not work as it will not tune or record... In some cases, it seemed like the Sage windows client would hang and I'd have to kill it. How can I debug this or any suggestions I can try?

You were able to get this to work Brandypuff? You are now recording shows in H.264 using only Sage v9 + Extend?

If the recordings started to end in .ts instead of .mpg, and you still can't use the transcode profile, I'm not sure what would be holding you back. I would post a log file with this problem in case something jumps out.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by EnterNoEscape

It's not that SageTV doesn't support H.264 playback, it's because it defaults to an MPEG-PS container and you can't encode H.264 into MPEG-PS. You can change a property on your capture device to enable the use of MPEG-TS which does support H.264.

1. Stop the SageTV service
2. Edit Sage.properties
3. Change mmc/encoders/<encoder_id>/100/0/encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream=true to mmc/encoders/<encoder_id>/100/0/encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream=false for each of your EXTEND entries
4. Save Sage.properties
5. Start the SageTV service

Hi. If you're not using an EXTEND, but instead a Dual or Duo, which natively record in mpg format, this changes the recording format to mpeg-TS? What, if any, would be the benefit for making this change using the latter units - file size?

[BobbyDing]

Is there a way to force SageTV without OpenDCT to save the recordings as .TS? I have the tuners "encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream=false, but the recordings (from HDHR 3) still save as mpg. Any suggestions?

Thanks

[brandypuff]

Good. Now I am making progress. I added one HDhomerun tuner to Sage without using OpenDCT. Sage was able to scan for the channels and actually preview them after I changed encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream false for the device. I can now open the guide via the SageUI and watch a OTA channel. Yeah!

However, for some reason, a lot of the OTA channels don't show up I the program guide screen for some weird reason even though they are enabled. See attached.

[graywolf]

V6 you have to turn logging on in detailed settings
Not at home so can't give you direct path.
Once turned on it will start writing to sagetv_0.txt.

V9 logging is automatic

Remember to upgrade to V9 & Schedules Direct soon since the Sagetv EPG source goes away end of the month

[brandypuff]

I will turn it on. V9 upgrade is on my task list. needed to upgrade to win10 first as my win7 install was broken. will do it soon once stable with the EXTEND.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by brandypuff

Good. Now I am making progress. I added one HDhomerun tuner to Sage without using OpenDCT. Sage was able to scan for the channels and actually preview them after I changed encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream false for the device. I can now open the guide via the SageUI and watch a OTA channel. Yeah!

However, for some reason, a lot of the OTA channels don't show up I the program guide screen for some weird reason even though they are enabled. See attached.

I'm guessing you also still have your Prime configured and enabled, correct? Sage will combine the channel lists from whatever sources you have, so if the same 'channel' is listed in more than once source, it will only display in the guide once. Which 'logical' channel number, and therefore placement in the guide, it uses I'm not sure the logic on. My guess is that sage is preferring the logical numbers of the prime lineup.

[brandypuff]

this could be the issue. I've attached two images. one for OTA 2-1 and the other from the Prime chan 782. Each channel has the same channel ID: 28055.

I have had this issue when I was using the prime with the Hauppauge HVR-1600. both chan 2-1 and chan 782 were listed in the guide simultaneously.

What is the solution? I want to be able to have the option of recording on either tuner as sometimes the shows are different.

I am using two different lineups for OTA and the prime.