Sage Media Extender!?!

[mlbdude]

I keep getting hosed with extenders anyway. I am a big MCE user too, and they have great extender support - almost. I cannot play my networked DVD's nor my Divx or XVid. I have almost always had to go the route of client PC myself. If somone could come out with a cheap full featured extender I would be so happy.

[GbrNole]

you know the extender doesn't even have to be cheap. i'm more than willing to pay xbox 360 money if the xbox 360 wasn't so crippled as an extender (no xvid, divx, vob file, iso and issues streaming renamed vob's) then i would jump ship to MCE.

as it is sage has provided an incredibly robust pvr and users such as mlb, nielm and deria just keep helping to make it better and as such i decided to pickup the 3 mvp's i have (for the kids tv's) and hope that a super thin client box might be made available at some point.

i'd love to have a buffalo link theater with a sage interface - that would be my ideal box.

[JUC]

What about the mediaready---wayne seems to have gotten it to work as a client. More rubust than thin but it is an option now i guess-not cheap though. As far as a rebadged MVP or support--i hope they include the ability to adjust the Aspect Ratio and vertical and horizontal positioning on the screen because it is just not centerring properly for me and others. Roku or Buffalo Link client support would be awesome and is what we all want/need.
JUC

[lovingHDTV]

Hopefully, more options will be forth coming.

95% of what I record and watch on Sage is HD content, 4% is DVDs, and the last 1% SD. I need HD streaming for my client.

[dkardatzke]

I understand that many of you are requesting a HD extender and that work is still forthcoming. The initial integrated extender support (enable server, plug in extender, up comes SageTV UI, no other software required) will only be supporting SD at this time. Just wanted to deliver this news now in case any of you are holding out for the HD support at this time.

As a side note and why we feel SD is the most important at this time. Many people are now beginning to record in HD along with SD (myself included) however, most people still only have one TV that supports the playback of HD content and what they need is an extender that can bring SageTV into their bedroom, living room or kitchen from their office or family room. This is why SD support for an extender is so important at this time over a HD model. Don't fret though as we are working towards a HD solution and as always we appreciate everyone's patience. In the meantime I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with our SD extender support and how easy it is to setup (that is if you know how to plug in a network cable )

[lovingHDTV]

Thanks for the update. Yes, we are all impatient, demanding, critical, avid SageTV users, but what else would you expect from a customer?

Your planing does make a lot of sense, and I will be adding a SD extender to my kids TV as I do have a HD solution in the theater already. You know us too well

[mlbdude]

Thanks Dan! I am not so interrested in displaying HD on the extender, but since my main setup is HD I tend to record most of my shows in HD. So I guess to get TV to the bedroom I will have to record the shows both in HD and SD? Is this possible with SageTV? Maybe the extender can downconvert the HD to SD? That would probably be too much for the MVP I would guess.

[JUC]

Dan, the update is much appreciated. Since I know how to plug in a network cable I am looking forward to any improvements you have over the existing MVP plugin (once again--AR adjustments is a MUST with the MVP!!!).

-a little OT but a question I think i misworded earlier----If I am only recording SD content at this time, will the MVP provide inferior PQ outputting to a HDTV versus a PC Client that can output via DVI/Component (the whole garbage in garbage out thing). Thanks and this answer is important for me as it might enable me to hold off some for an HD extender as I don't plan on upgrading to HD content for a little bit.
Thanks
JUC

[GbrNole]

actually all i really care about right now is having an extender that can stream the 3 formats i use - xvid (with both ac3 and mp3 sound options) dvd ripped files (i don't mind having to rip to a single .vob and rename to .mpg but i really don't want to have to recode the sound track to mp3 too) and the ubiquitous mpeg2 sage recordings which all extenders can pass anyway.

the added bonus is that i would prefer that the extender have a dvd tray - not that i would use the dvd tray that much but much like with sage i rarely play a CD but the need does arise from time to time and you look like an ass when you have to start grabbing the mouse

[GbrNole]

juc - the only caveat to the mvp picture quality is that:

1. it's an svid connection and svid just never looks as good as component (to me at least)
2. the picture is a bit darker for some reason so you have to compensate for that.

other than that the mvp picture quality is very good and can be excellent if your tv has a good scaling chip inside to deinterlace the signal from the mvp and upconvert to (take your pick based on the tv you own) 480p/540p/720p/960i/1080i

[Bohica]

I am just sitting here laughing and wondering if Dan gets the sweats now and then when posting to this board. He must read -- re read, and re read before hitting the "submit reply" button. It's like throwing a bloody bone in the middle of a pack of wolves. It really is a good company to put up with the likes of us if you think about it.

[RicardoD]

The "extender" I am using with my SageTV is a Linkplayer2 from IODATA (Network DVD player). It supports HD playback of Xvid/DivX but I don't record HD at the moment so I haven't used that feature much. .

Plays XVID, DivX, MP3 etc, vob, mpeg2. Works great with my SageTV. New units are $250, refurbished ones go for $200.

www.iodata.com/usa

superlong thread about player here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=459759

The only thing I don't like is that jumping forward/backward is a bit slow, not instantaneous like on my PC when viewing through SageTV.

All the best,
Ricardo

[JUC]

Originally Posted by RicardoD

The "extender" I am using with my SageTV is a Linkplayer2 from IODATA (Network DVD player). It supports HD playback of Xvid/DivX but I don't record HD at the moment so I haven't used that feature much. .

Plays XVID, DivX, MP3 etc, vob, mpeg2. Works great with my SageTV. New units are $250, refurbished ones go for $200.

www.iodata.com/usa

superlong thread about player here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=459759

The only thing I don't like is that jumping forward/backward is a bit slow, not instantaneous like on my PC when viewing through SageTV.

All the best,
Ricardo

I think when we are talking about extender--we are wanted the sage UI with all of Sage's features.

[GbrNole]

yep call me greedy but i want the interface!

[AirJunky]

A Linkplayer2 - like device that runs the Sage UI would be the best of all worlds.

[JasonJoel]

Yup, that would be ideal. For now I've given up on that though.

I just use my PVR extender for PVR recordings (HD/SD), and then my Buffalo LinkTheater for all DIVX/XVID/VOB/Ripped DVD support.

Would rather use one device, but it isn't THAT big of a deal for me.

Jason

Originally Posted by GbrNole

actually all i really care about right now is having an extender that can stream the 3 formats i use - xvid (with both ac3 and mp3 sound options) dvd ripped files (i don't mind having to rip to a single .vob and rename to .mpg but i really don't want to have to recode the sound track to mp3 too) and the ubiquitous mpeg2 sage recordings which all extenders can pass anyway.

the added bonus is that i would prefer that the extender have a dvd tray - not that i would use the dvd tray that much but much like with sage i rarely play a CD but the need does arise from time to time and you look like an ass when you have to start grabbing the mouse

[Mahoney]

Most people still only have one TV that supports the playback of HD content and what they need is an extender that can bring SageTV into their bedroom, living room or kitchen from their office or family room. This is why SD support for an extender is so important at this time over a HD model.

Sadly I'm in the opposite boat! I want to use my PC in the office as my all-in-one PC for doing everything, so it will be the SageTV Server; and then I need something in the main living room, where the HDTV will be, to give access to it.

Don't fret though as we are working towards a HD solution and as always we appreciate everyone's patience.

Good to hear.

[jlindborg]

Back when 4.x came out I remember someone saying something about a new media extender coming out soon. Is there any confirmation on this? Are we talking "soon" in the glacial, ice age, moutain building sense of the word or "soon" in the I can get my hands on it over Christmas vacation sense of the word?

I'm assuming (hoping) this extender has something better than S-video out on it... The MVPs are nice for regular TV but on the new plasma they're coming up a bit short.

I really don't want to go pop for a new client rig for my living room and then have a nice, small extender come out, but I'm also not keen on waiting months for this thing to materialize - any hints/clues/rummors on this?

[merged with above thread]

[SprDtyF350]

I would have no problem at all with a MVP setup that would play divx, live tv, recordings, etc. Sounds like what this would be. I use Matts MVP client right now and it works just fine, but I would really like to be able to watch movies too. Don't have a fancy HD set yet. Don't really care if I ever get one so this sounds ideal.

Just needed to throw this out there because I don't know how many folks are out there that really like MVP's but I think they work fine, it is all I need, and I would bet there are plenty of others that like them too. And for $39.00 at Radio Shack (I bought 4) I don't think you can beat it for value....

Don't forget us non-HD watching, don't need the fanciest gadget type folks please Sage

Randy

[jlindborg]

ah - Looks like my post got moved over here - all my questions are answered.

Guess now I just need to figure out the best way to get a client rig setup for HD playback in my living room...