Media Extender support DTV signals?

[Generalg]

I'm wondering if the SageTV Media Extender supports viewing of Digital channels or HD channels from my OTA antenna? Trying to figure out if it would be better to go with a Media extender for my 20" LCD HDTV or just build a seperate PC with HDTV tuner???

SD looks horrible on the LCD 20" TV, so I'm hoping that the media extender supports digital channels.

[Opus4]

The media extender is a Hauppauge MVP, which plays SD mpeg2 video. Other video can be transcoded by the server to be played on the MVP, but it will still play back as SD.

- Andy

[Generalg]

Originally Posted by Opus4

The media extender is a Hauppauge MVP, which plays SD mpeg2 video. Other video can be transcoded by the server to be played on the MVP, but it will still play back as SD.

- Andy

So if I have a SageTV_5 server / main HTPC with only a VBox Cat’s Eye 150 HDTV tuner using it mainly for my HDTV Samsung 50" DLP downstairs I could technically buy the Media extender to play, watch the same shows recorded to my SDTV 27" Panasonic TV upstairs correct??? Realizing that I would not have the same quality as I would downstairs with the HDTV, the upstairs SDTV would play everything that was recorded or even able to watch/pause live TV with the MVP correct?


Just wanting to get everything figured out before making the purchase on an HD Tuner card.

THANKS For the help!

[Opus4]

BTW: Transcoding HDTV is pretty cpu intensive - see this post. (The MVP & Placeshifter clients do the same type of transcoding.)

- Andy

[Generalg]

Originally Posted by Opus4

BTW: Transcoding HDTV is pretty cpu intensive - see this post. (The MVP & Placeshifter clients do the same type of transcoding.)

- Andy

Thanks...

Guess that answers my question. I will just buy the Vbox HDTV 150 Tuner and a cheap SD Hauppauge card for the HTPC just for the Media Extender.

Thanks again!

[JUC]

Originally Posted by Generalg

SD looks horrible on the LCD 20" TV, so I'm hoping that the media extender supports digital channels.

If SD looks horrible on your 20" LCD I would hate to see what it looks like on a larger screen. I'm curious why you are not finding it acceptable?? I am viewing SD on a 42" and think its fine--definately acceptable.
JUC

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Generalg

I will just buy the Vbox HDTV 150 Tuner and a cheap SD Hauppauge card for the HTPC just for the Media Extender.

I don't want to talk you out of anything, but I do want to make sure you are aware of any issues... You can't really assign a particular recording to a specific tuner, unless the channel is available only on that tuner. You could limit a favorite to a single channel. You could also create 2 copies of a favorite, with one assigned to a channel only available on the HD tuner & the other assigned to an SD channel. This is supposed to be able to record the favorite twice so that you have HD and SD copies of it, but I believe people have reported mixed results.

- Andy

[Generalg]

Originally Posted by JUC

If SD looks horrible on your 20" LCD I would hate to see what it looks like on a larger screen. I'm curious why you are not finding it acceptable?? I am viewing SD on a 42" and think its fine--definately acceptable.
JUC

The 20" LCD looks horrible because of using a bad medium to get the signal, junk rabbit ears. Soon to be replaced by an UHF outdoor antenna!

[JUC]

ah yes-its only as good as the input. Makes sense to me.