I want SageTV, but I've got issues

[puckfreak]

I'm gettting close to "pulling the trigger" on a new HTPC + SageTV, but I've got three potentialy fatal issues. I would appreciate some feedback from you wonderfully helpful people

I'll try to make this as brief as possible...

Issue #1: Internet access for the EPG.
I'm on dialup, and I don't have a phone outlet in my family room where the HTPC will go. I have my "main PC" that connects to the internet direcly above the family room in a "loft" where I could semi-easily network the two. Can I use ICS on a dialup connection? I thought that I read on here somewhere that you could(?). Secondly, my main PC is not left "turned ON" all the time, nor do I want it to be, so there would only be certain times during the evening when Sage would be able to get updates. Is there a problem with this? Can you specify when you want updates? The other option I've heard about are those "things" that let you connect to an outlet in a different room via power outlets, although this would be a last resort unless I hear good things about them.

Issue #2: Watching sports
I watch a fair amount of sports. The way I understand Sage, is if you are watching live TV (sports) you can't record something else in the background unless you got an additional tuner. Couldn't I just use a splitter and have one cable going directly into the TV (like it is now) and have the other going into the HTPC, and still be able to record? If possible, I would like to avoid the additional cost of another tuner card, plus the extra compatability issues that I have read about. I'm curious as to how others deal with watching live sports.

Issue #3: Analog audio
This is probably a stupid question but so far I haven't been able to find any answers by searching. I won't be using the HTPC to watch DVDs and I only have analog cable TV so I have no need for digital audio. So, I'm wondering if, and?or how you get analog audio from the sound card into the TV. I would like to do this rather than run it through my reciever. Is there some kind of adapter that will allow me to convert the audio out into RCA cables that I can hook into my TV? If so does it have a name? And, will it be stereo or mono?

Whew! Sorry for the long post. I just want to make sure I've thought everything through before I take the plunge


Thanks in advance.

[stanger89]

#1
You could go wireless to your desktop upstairs. I thing ICS should be able to share the connection. SageTV should keep trying to get the EPG so if the computer isn't on it should keep trying until it succeeds.

#2
Splitting the cable's fine, it would be just like feeding a two different TVs.

#3
You need one of these (or similar):
http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...t%5Fid=42-2483

[puckfreak]

Thanks for the reply stanger, especially the link to that cable

I'm still interested in others opinions as well, especially if anyone has done the ICS with dialup.

[stanger89]

A long time ago I used NT Server (I think) to share a modem to multiple computers. It worked pretty well, dialed when any computer tried to connect, but didn't want to hang up.

[TinnedFish]

I've used ICS with dial up. I got in a fight with my DSL company and threw the modem in the trash. Then I had to use my server w/ a modem and ICS to feed my wireless base station. And I was able to get my email on the laptop (very slowly) while sitting in the living room.

But, be warned that any time a downstream ICS client wants an internet connection, ICS will dial your modem. If you get a crappy spyware app, or antivirus live update, or windows update, etc, the phone will seem to dial every 10 minutes.

But, those warnings aside, ICS works the same, regardless if you have a NIC or a Modem.

TinnedFish