New to Sage (and rebuilding PVR)

[JDJinTX]

Hi! I've happily used a single-tuner PVR, BTV, basic Comcast cable, and a Buffalo LinkTheater for years, but now it's time to re-think my setup. I've lurked here for a few weeks, read many posts, & done several searches on this forum, but I'm still not feeling like I've educated myself enough to put together the best possible system... As it stands now, I've upgraded my Sage trial to a full version, purchased a wMVP, and ordered two HD extenders. Tests with Sage and the wMVP have left me with mixed feelings, and following is a list of observations/questions/concerns. Any feedback would be very much appreciated!

1. I love the ability to watch live TV through Sage, and I can't believe that wasn't set up in BTV. Configuring every TV in my house to work this way is definitely a priority.

2. wMVP unit is useless as a wireless device. Connected to a wireless bridge it functions, but picture quality for live TV suffers noticeably compared to standard cable TV. FYI - This is without the wMVP software installed, only Sage.

3. I upgraded my Trial version, and have rebooted the PC, the bridge, and the wMVP. I still have the "TRIAL" messages splashed all over the TV when I watch through the wMVP.

4. I'm pretty sure my tuner card is the HDTV Wonder, but I'll need to double check when I get home from work. I'm very pleased with the BTV recording quality, but the few tests I've done with Sage have yielded playback that is inferior to BTV- the most noticeable difference was "jerky" motion.

5. Can I specify to only record "first-run" airings of TV shows (this is not as obvious in the Sage software as it is in the BTV interface)?

6. I want to support live TV viewing on as many as four different HDTV's, but I'm not sure what my best combination of tuners would be. I'm willing to wait if Hauppauge (or anyone else) has something great they are about to release, but if that's not the case, (and assuming I will replace my MOBO to get the necessayr slots) what is the ultimate multiple-tuner setup with currently available products? Will the tuner selection change if switch from OTA HDTV to a cable box?

7. My home does not have a hard-wired network. I am considering running CAT-5 (CAT-6?) wiring, but that will be extremely complicated because of the way my home is laid out. Is there any wireless system setup that will work with a bridge to run the HD100 at it's full potential? What about Powerline options?

Thanks in advance for any help!

jd

[sleonard]

1. After using Sage for several years now, I hate live TV. I only watched a show after it has been recorded. If there is absolutely nothing else to watch and I'm REAL bored, I'll start watching a show 20-30 minutes in so that I can skip the commercials.

2. The consensus seems to agree with you. Wireless doesn't cut it. Picture quality should be outstanding on the MVP.

3. I've seen previous posts with this complaint. I know it's easy to fix but you'll have to wait for someone else for the solution. Sorry.

4. Check your tuner card and report. It's necessary to know.

5. Yes, you can specify First Runs only, Reruns only, or both. To do so, look in the Favorite options (from the main menu go to "Schedule Recordings" and then "Favorites")

6. Live TV on 4 different TV's requires 4 tuners. For OTA you would need ATSC tuners. Output from a cable box can only be recorded in standard definition and would require capture devices such as the Haupage WinTV-PVR 150 or similar.

Hauppage will be realeasing a HD capture device in the next couple of months that can record from component video connections in multiple resolutions from 480i to 1080p. This will be the ultimate capture device for Sage but will be expensive ($250).

7. CAT-5e or CAT-6 or powerline. Wireless doesn't cut it for video streaming. I saw a post earlier today from someone using powerline. He said he would make a comprehensive post on the powerline networking after he plays with it a bit.

S

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by JDJinTX

3. I upgraded my Trial version, and have rebooted the PC, the bridge, and the wMVP. I still have the "TRIAL" messages splashed all over the TV when I watch through the wMVP.

Did you buy an extender license?

There is a PDF manual in your SageTV install dir -- see Appendix M regarding how to register the extender license on your server.

- Andy

[sam99]

Originally Posted by JDJinTX

6. I want to support live TV viewing on as many as four different HDTV's, but I'm not sure what my best combination of tuners would be. I'm willing to wait if Hauppauge (or anyone else) has something great they are about to release, but if that's not the case, (and assuming I will replace my MOBO to get the necessayr slots) what is the ultimate multiple-tuner setup with currently available products? Will the tuner selection change if switch from OTA HDTV to a cable box?

It really depends on what source you are watching? I have two HVR-1600's that are true dual tuners that I watch my OTA HD channels and SD cable channels out of the wall thru. I pay my cable company for basic/standard cable (channels 1-99) and do not rent any cable boxes. Coax straight out of the wall to a two-way splitter and feed the two lines to the coax input on each HVR-1600. Then I have a coax line running down from the attic antenna to a splitter and feed those two lines to the two atsc coax inputs on the HVR-1600's. So I end up with the ability to watch two live channels from my cable companies channels 1-99 and two more live channels from my OTA channels (which include all my local HD channels). Works out great. You can also look into an hdhomerun to avoid a bunch of tuners in your server. It all depends on what source/s you are wanting to watch live.

[JDJinTX]

sleonard: I was mistaken about the tuner card - it is an ADS Instant HDTV tuner, and I'm using the cable input, not HDTV. I have to confess that I have not looked for updated drivers for this card, so I guess I should check that out before I complain. Regardless of the updated drivers, how does this card stack up against what's currently available? I have a feeling I need to ditch it because I remember issues with using this in a multi-tuner setup.

Opus4: Yes I have a license, but maybe I have not activated it properly. I'll check that out.

Sam99: You're describing the setup I have in mind, so maybe a pair of HVR-1600's would be perfect. I have not yet put HD sets in each of these rooms, so I'll wait on the new Hauppauge device & cover those all at the same time.

Thanks, and if anyone else has suggestions/recommendations regarding the recording quality issues or alternatives to the HVR-1600 cards, please speak up!

jdj

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by JDJinTX

sleonard: I was mistaken about the tuner card - it is an ADS Instant HDTV tuner, and I'm using the cable input, not HDTV. I have to confess that I have not looked for updated drivers for this card, so I guess I should check that out before I complain. Regardless of the updated drivers, how does this card stack up against what's currently available? I have a feeling I need to ditch it because I remember issues with using this in a multi-tuner setup.

Opus4: Yes I have a license, but maybe I have not activated it properly. I'll check that out.

Sam99: You're describing the setup I have in mind, so maybe a pair of HVR-1600's would be perfect. I have not yet put HD sets in each of these rooms, so I'll wait on the new Hauppauge device & cover those all at the same time.

Thanks, and if anyone else has suggestions/recommendations regarding the recording quality issues or alternatives to the HVR-1600 cards, please speak up!

jdj

I don't have HVR-1600, but I really like my silicon dust HDHomerun pulling in ClearQAM from my cable company. I don't have a root/attic mounted antenna so it was difficult getting reliable Hidef channels, so pulling in my local HD channels via cable was the best for me (it looks like the HVR-1600 can also do it, but I have no experience with it). For my basic channels I use dual tuner cards (aka Hauppauge PVR500). My setup works great, but I "built" it when the only reliable option for ClearQAM was the HDHomerun and might do it differently today...

[sam99]

i tinkered with clearqam with the hvr-1600 and did not have much luck. It was not implemented at the beginning of production and I read some things about how some model numbers supported clearqam and some did not. But I think i read something about where i had to pay for the digital level of service from my cable company in order for them to transmit the clearqam signals, that standard/basic service did not carry the signal at all. I might be wrong on that tho. The antenna was $60 at Radio Shack and had to be assembled in the attic in position as it is really a roof mount antenna and is too big to move around through the rafters assembled. THe standard/basic service costs me $40 a month. So $60 up front and $40 a month gets me channels 1-99 and HD local channels and the ability to watch/record 4 live channels at a time. I figure I can not beat that value. I am trying to curb my hobby spending and getting one or more R5000s and satellite service is just too much for the amount of additional HD I would probably watch.

We can not keep up with all the stuff we record now and usually sit at right around 420g full on my 500g tv recording drive. That includes about 30 Backyardigans, 65 Jo-Jo's Circus, 55 Wonder Pets, 35 Diegos and 50 Franklins, which all takes up a surprisingly small amount of space. Having all of that, as well as all of their animated movies, instantly accessible in any of 4 rooms in the house to distract them long enough to actually get some work done is priceless and well worth the investment to this point It is the high def Lost, Jericho, Terminator and whatever my wife is recording that is killing the space.

[JDJinTX]

paulbeers: Thanks, I've seen references to the HDHomerun, and I was wondering how that compared to the other options. I had assumed that was a USB connection, but now I understand that it actually connects into the network like any other client. It has great reviews, so I'll add that to my list of toys to order- thanks paulbeers!

sam99: On-demand Mickey Mouse, Little Einstein, Dora, and several of the kids' favorite movies have made this a real winner in my home; my wife finally understands the incredible value provided by my love of gadgets. If this new enthusiasm for my hobbies & tinkering somehow expands to cover firearms, scotch, & large dogs I'll have it made... Thanks Sage!

[JDJinTX]

The changes:

• Ordered (2) HD Extenders (Connected)
• Bought (2) pairs of NetgearHDX101 powerline adapters (they sucked, switching to N wireless)
• Ordered DIR655 router (Connected)
• Orded (3) SMC N bridges (waiting)
• Ordered PVR500 card (Installed)
• Upgraded NIC to Gigabit
• Ordered HDHomerun (Connected)

The results:
It's late & I'm still sorting it out... Looks like some great potential, and I'm thrilled with the Sage/HDHR/HD100 combination. The HD quality (Comcast QAM) isn't as clear as I had hoped, however. To test it, I used a splitter to connect a small HDTV and one of the inputs on my HDHR to the same source. I tuned the TV & the PC to the same channels; the TV reception was perfect, but the Sage LiveTV on my PC stuttered & jumped. I connected an HD100 and got the same result, so it seems that my loss is somewhere in the HDHR/Sage combination.

My brain is fried tonight, so I'm probably overlooking some previous Forum tips, but if someone could show some mercy & point me towards a solution I'd be very grateful.

jdj


Note: Six hours later, I've had some sleep. Found all the posts about 64K clusters. My drive is set up at 512 bytes/sector, so I'll reformat & see how we do...