Newb Help on OTA HDTV, Server/Client Setup

[acegolfer]

I have been using GB-PVR for 1 year and BTV for 1 week. I love GB-PVR but want to explore SageTV.

I have 2 Fusion 5 Lite cards that works perfectly in my old PC but not so well in new PC (compatibility issue).

Old PC: AMD XP1800, 512MB, 400 GB in the basement
New PC: C2D E6400, 1GB, 7900GS in the family room connected to 60" HDTV
2 pc's are connected via 100mbit LAN

Here are my questions. (I know I can use the trial version, but I don't want to exercise that one time option now, if it doesn't satisfy my need.)

1. I believe I can install sagetv server in the old and client in the new pc, with one copy of SageTV. Correct me, if I'm wrong. How smooth/stable is this configuration? Pros and cons? I've experienced a little lag in starting shows in GB-PVR server/client setup.

2. Can I watch live HDTV (not SD) from the client? In GB-PVR setup, if the server is recording the file in DVR-MS format, the client can't access the same file. Playing pre-recorded file is perfect except for 1 second lag at the beginning.

3. I have a 3rd PC (laptop) that I want to occasionally watch recorded shows. I'm using wireless G which is not consistent enough to file share a 19mbit HDTV stream. Is it possible to stream (not file share) the shows from either the server or the client?

4. GB-PVR has a very good web interface, where I can schedule TV shows over internet (even from my work). Does SageTV offer this service?

[hocky98]

Originally Posted by acegolfer

1. I believe I can install sagetv server in the old and client in the new pc, with one copy of SageTV.

I dont know about this one.

Correct me, if I'm wrong. How smooth/stable is this configuration? Pros and cons? I've experienced a little lag in starting shows in GB-PVR server/client setup.

Its supposed to work but I have a feeling this wasnt tested all that much. Sometimes the menus lockup or some of the graphics dont get drawn on the client.

2. Can I watch live HDTV (not SD) from the client? In GB-PVR setup, if the server is recording the file in DVR-MS format, the client can't access the same file. Playing pre-recorded file is perfect except for 1 second lag at the beginning.

Yes with a 100mbit hardwired lan. Even my wifi managed to do this with one client. Make sure you set the server and client's buffers and numbuffers to 256K and 512K for demux in the registry. This helps a lot.
Further improvement was made when I installed java 1.6 instead of using java 1.4.0_11 that came with SageTV 5.04.

3. I have a 3rd PC (laptop) that I want to occasionally watch recorded shows. I'm using wireless G which is not consistent enough to file share a 19mbit HDTV stream. Is it possible to stream (not file share) the shows from either the server or the client?

Wireless G is borderline. If you have a solid 54Mbps connection, then it will work since HD uses about 18% of the bandwidth. If it fluctuates, then so will your viewing. You might get better performance streaming from the tuner PC instead of the "hub" PC. At least that is what I found which is contradictory.

4. GB-PVR has a very good web interface, where I can schedule TV shows over internet (even from my work). Does SageTV offer this service?

Not sure.

[blade]

Originally Posted by acegolfer

1. I believe I can install sagetv server in the old and client in the new pc, with one copy of SageTV. Correct me, if I'm wrong.

No, you'd need a server and client license.

How smooth/stable is this configuration? Pros and cons? I've experienced a little lag in starting shows in GB-PVR server/client setup.

It is very stable and how I would imagine the majority of users who frequent the forums run Sage. I have a dedicated server and 2 clients and it's very stable.

4. GB-PVR has a very good web interface, where I can schedule TV shows over internet (even from my work). Does SageTV offer this service?

Yes, there is a plugin that allows you to configure Sage via a web browser.

[blade]

Originally Posted by hocky98

Its supposed to work but I have a feeling this wasnt tested all that much. Sometimes the menus lockup or some of the graphics dont get drawn on the client.

Sage has used a server/client setup for years and I would imagine a very large number of users run Sage this way (if not the majority). Saying that it's not well tested is a load of crap. If you're having problems with the client it's almost certainly something with your particular setup. If it wasn't hundreds or thousands of other people would not be able to run it without issue.

[hocky98]

Originally Posted by blade

Sage has used a server/client setup for years and I would imagine a very large number of users run Sage this way (if not the majority). Saying that it's not well tested is a load of crap. If you're having problems with the client it's almost certainly something with your particular setup. If it wasn't hundreds or thousands of other people would not be able to run it without issue.

I'm reporting what I experienced. If thats crap then nevermind it.

Also it is beyond me why I see these issues with the same setup as the majority, even on a hardwired lan.

[blade]

Originally Posted by hocky98

I'm reporting what I experienced. If thats crap then nevermind it.

Also it is beyond me why I see these issues with the same setup as the majority, even on a hardwired lan.

I don't doubt you're having problems and it's good that potential users know that it's not always smooth sailing, but that doesn't mean the server/client architecture is something that was just thrown together and not well tested. It's one of the biggest selling points of Sage and a huge part of how the product functions. So speculating that it isn't well tested just because you're having problems when you know that a vast number of people are running server/client setups is crap. I fail to see how you can believe a product that is built around a server/client architecture could be in use for years without the feature being well tested by both developers and users. That's not to say there won't be some problems, but saying it's not well tested is untrue.

Anyway we've gotten off topic. The OP can easily read the other threads and see how many people are successfully running a basic server/client setup and make up his/her own mind. I will say I run a server with 2 clients and have no problems with the server/client setup.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by acegolfer

4. GB-PVR has a very good web interface, where I can schedule TV shows over internet (even from my work). Does SageTV offer this service?

In addition to the web server plugin mentioned above (see the Customizations forum), SageTV has a Placeshifter client that provides the full SageTV interface over the internet to a remote location, including the ability to transcode your media for playback at your remote location.

- Andy

[acegolfer]

Does SageTV client work only when SageTV is running on the server? Enabling TV service will not do? It's a bit confusing.

[ke6guj]

If SageTV service is running, with the Server portion enabled (that is what allows clients to connect to the main server), then, yes, sageTV client will work on a separate computer. You don't have to have the SageTV user interface actively running on the server for the client to connect.

[acegolfer]

Originally Posted by ke6guj

If SageTV service is running, with the Server portion enabled (that is what allows clients to connect to the main server), then, yes, sageTV client will work on a separate computer. You don't have to have the SageTV user interface actively running on the server for the client to connect.

I just found that I had to open 2 ports manually for this to work. It's not automatic.