6.4.6 & Tuner Input Questions

[Razillian]

I saw this line for the Core Update in 6.4.6 and have a few questions:

4. If the same channel is enabled on multiple inputs for a capture device, SageTV will now always pick the highest quality input to record from.

1) Does this mean encoder merits are no longer used?

2) How does Sage determine which input is highest quality? Is it based on the bits per second or something else? I ask because my nvidia capture is set to higher bitrate than the HDHR, but the HDHR is higher quality?

3) How will this affect over lapping shows on different channels? For instance if my HDPVR can record all 300 channels, but the nvidia dualtv can only record the first 99. I have two shows set to record, one from 8-9 on channel 49, and the next from 8:30-9:30 on channel 260. Will Sage pick the the HDPVR (as a better tuner) to record the first show on channel 49, thus leaving no tuner available to record the second on channel 260?

4) I am assuming, but want to be certain, that this affects which tuner gets used for live TV as well, meaning the HDPVR will always get selected for live tv?

[JREkiwi]

This is more to do with multiple inputs on the same capture card. For example, if the same program is available on the Digital and Analog tuner on a hybrid card like the HVR-2200, then the program will be recorded on the Digital tuner.

John

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by JREkiwi

This is more to do with multiple inputs on the same capture card. For example, if the same program is available on the Digital and Analog tuner on a hybrid card like the HVR-2200, then the program will be recorded on the Digital tuner.

John

If this is the case then it is not a good Idea the best way to have handled this is by merit. A lot of the QAM channels only have a resolution of 528x480 in 4:3 resolution far below the 720x480. In cases like these the analog channels have better picture quality.

[Razillian]

Originally Posted by JREkiwi

This is more to do with multiple inputs on the same capture card. For example, if the same program is available on the Digital and Analog tuner on a hybrid card like the HVR-2200, then the program will be recorded on the Digital tuner.

John

That makes much more sense. Thank you for clearing up my confusion.

[mikejaner]

Originally Posted by nyplayer

If this is the case then it is not a good Idea the best way to have handled this is by merit. A lot of the QAM channels only have a resolution of 528x480 in 4:3 resolution far below the 720x480. In cases like these the analog channels have better picture quality.

I find the opposite to be true. If the QAM signal is at that resolution, you can be pretty much guaranteed that the signal coming out of your cable box is just upscaled to 640X480, or whatever it puts out. At those resolutions, upscaling combined with NTSC color range, ie funky green etc.. no difference at best. On top of that, you have the Digital > Analog > Digital degredation of Standard Definition going on there.

[EDIT]
I don't see a cablebox mentioned in your post, so I am revising a little. Assume we are comparing, Analog (Lower Channels) sent over cable directly to the tuner card vs. QAM into the same or a different tuner card. I still think a QAM picture would be crisper. I haven't directly compared signals this way, but I would bet on them to be the same resolution, whether or not you are capturing at higher or not on the analog tuner.

[nyplayer]

Right now I have a HVR 1600 with a comcast DCH70 box hooked in my capture card through Composite. I have a splitter going before the box... I have the other end hooked up to the digital input of the HVR1600.

I would like to use the Box to record as long as there is not a conflict.. If there is a conflict.. and it has to record Clear QAM I can live with that... But I would like the first option to record from the digital box. I accomplished this before with the Merit settings. It appears right now that the choice is made for me.

[Narflex]

Originally Posted by nyplayer

Right now I have a HVR 1600 with a comcast DCH70 box hooked in my capture card through Composite. I have a splitter going before the box... I have the other end hooked up to the digital input of the HVR1600.

I would like to use the Box to record as long as there is not a conflict.. If there is a conflict.. and it has to record Clear QAM I can live with that... But I would like the first option to record from the digital box. I accomplished this before with the Merit settings. It appears right now that the choice is made for me.

No, this won't affect you at all. This only effects hybrid cards that cannot record from both inputs at the same time. And merit never had any effect on that case before since you can only set merit per-device and not per-input. (the 1600 shows up as 2 devices in SageTV since it can record from both analog and digital at the same time)

[mcaron1234]

Does this setting allow for the following scenarios:

1) Set up sage for both firewire capture from cable stb and s video output from cable stb to pvr-150. The two inputs are setup in sage on separate configurable lineups of the same epg where the firewire only has the hidef channels enabled and the s-video has everything. If there is a conflict sage will record the from the firewire first for hi-def shows AND sage won't try to use both at the same time?

2) Hybrid tuner with both analog and digital inputs enabled in Sage and Sage will only record from one at a time, and only the higher quality one at that?

Thanks,

Matt

[JREkiwi]

1. Not covered by this as it's 2 different tuners, but depending on channel lineup this may be covered by the HD preferred function that came out in 6.4.5

2. Yes, exactly.

John