Comcast DTA's and Sage

[themeister]

HDHR is not a good fit because I don't have ethernet switches and cable terminations in the same location. I could solve that; however, why not a USB QAM tuner?

Is there something that I'm missing? What makes the HDHR better than, say a Hauppauge HVR-950Q?

Thanks,
Bill

[doncote0]

Hardware encoding

The HDHR doesn't need to do it (digital source), the 950Q doesn't do it at all with the analog channels. Instead it tells your computer to do the encoding (software encoding).

If you want the USB solution, you might be better off with the HVR-1950. (It also has an IR blaster!)

A few other things about the HDHR:

The cost difference is small compared to the cost of 2 USB tuners. (The HDHR has 2 digital tuners.)
It does not take up system resources (see USB).
It does take up some network bandwidth (especially when recording HD) at 6-24 Mb per tuner pair (up to level of the HD-200 showing HD).
It is shareable to any PC on the network. (In other words, it doesn't have to be right next to your PC. It just needs to be jacked in to your network and connected to cable.

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by doncote0

Hardware encoding

The HDHR does it very well, the 950Q doesn't do it at all. Instead it tells your computer to do the encoding (software encoding).

Yes, the HVR-950Q does software mpeg2 encoding for analog cable TV. But, the HDHR doesn't tune analog TV at all, so it definitely doesn't do hardware encoding very well (or poorly, for that matter). The HDHR just has digital tuners. And, of course, the HDHR and HVR-950Q basically just record the digital video stream directly.

Of course, the HDHR has two digital tuners, instead of just one like the HVR-950Q and HVR-1950. Strictly speaking, it's a little cheaper to buy two HVR-950Qs than one HDHR, but the difference is pretty insignificant (from newegg, 2x$63 vs. $149). The Hauppauge tuners seem to all be very sensitive to signal strength- both low and high signal strengths- which is pretty annoying from a user perspective.

[doncote0]

I agree that some of the Hauppauge tuners can be pretty annoying for the same programmed material. I have a HVR-1600 (QAM) and I have been disappointed from day 1. Reduced signal strength from same source is rock solid with HDHR (100%).

[themeister]

OK....y'all have convinced me. HDHR and GbE Switch to arrive Monday from newegg.

Thanks for all the help. When I get it all hooked up, I'll post the results.

--Bill

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by themeister

Thanks for all the help. When I get it all hooked up, I'll post the results.
l

As a warning, if Comcast recently went all digital you might not have the best luck with the HDHR yet. Apparently, it's been pretty common for Comcast to move around channels early on after moving all digital, and that can screw up your channels until you rescan and remap. After a few weeks I think things settle down.

[doncote0]

Comcast moved a few channels around in my area shortly after going digital. I am watching it closely. Sucks when you think you are recording Cartoon Network's "Clone Wars" and record CSPAN instead.

HDHR setup utility is great for making a quick remap though (then rescan in sage). I have HDHR setup make changes, rescan one one HDHR in Sage, delete the file for the other HDHR tuner and copy the good one to replace the one I deleted.

Silicondust channel map list is great for manually identifying and mapping channels after the initial channel scan.

My recommendation is to start off without enabling the HD channels. Use the digital SD channels until everything is working smoothly and then consider if you want to go HD.

The GB switch is a smart move.


Just keep us posted. Initially experiences setting up the HDHR have been from "smooth as silk" to "WTF".

A few other posts cover the setup of the HDHR with Sage, too.

[themeister]

OK....so far, I spent 6 hours mapping the channels correctly...checking and re-checking. It took SiliconDust support to tell me how to get "View" to work when I clicked on it....lost 2 hours on that one. Their forums aren't much help.

Now, it appears that they point me to this forum for how to get Sage set up; however, there is no hdhomerun thread here that tells me how to do it.....another hour looking with no luck. I click on setup/setup video sources and the hdhomerun tuners are not there.

Help!!!!

Thanks,
Bill....now getting VERY frustrated.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by themeister

Now, it appears that they point me to this forum for how to get Sage set up; however, there is no hdhomerun thread here that tells me how to do it.....another hour looking with no luck.

SiliconDust's instructions page has a link that points directly to the topic on this forum. (The words "SageTV forums" are the link.)

Here, there is a sticky called "Tuner Configuration Tips & Instructions", which also points to the instructions:
HDHR setup for Windows

- Andy

[themeister]

That's great, except between step 2 and step 3, something is missing. I successfully completed step 2. Step 3 says "add the tuner to Sage". When I click on Add Tuner, it's not there.

Thx,
Bill

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by themeister

When I click on Add Tuner, it's not there.

Just in case: you mean "Add New Source", right? Because if it doesn't say that, you may not be using the default STV.

Did you restart SageTV since installing the HDHR?

Is there another program currently using the HDHR?

Are the HDHR tuners listed on the mmc/ignore_encoders line in sage.properties? (They shouldn't be, but you should check.)

- Andy

[themeister]

Restarting Sage did the trick....

Perhaps you should add Step 2.5 to the HDHR set-up instructions.

Thanks a lot.

--Bill

[themeister]

New news.....

Now get "No Signal" when trying to view any of the channels through Sage.

I am able to use another computer with HDHR Setup to view the channels.

Thanks,
Bill

[themeister]

Never mind....another reboot of Sage and it's now working.

Thanks for all the help.

--Bill

[doncote0]

But you were already in good hands. Glad you were able to get it up and running.

Initial impressions?

[themeister]

Yes.... It is a great solution now that Comcast has gone all digital. It covers everything except premium channels and encrypted HD (as I'm sure you know). I retired one of my PVR250s and picked up an extra tuner with the HDHR.

I'm sure once all of this settles down, mapping will become a ton easier. It took many hours to make sure it was right.

At this point, I'd have to agree that, compared to trying to IR-blast Comcast's box into an analog tuner, this is far better. So glad I used the forum to find the solution.

Down the road, it would be sweet if SiliconDust's software could monitor changes in the cable offerings and automatically update with new/moved channels. I dread the thought of having to go back through a manual process.

Thanks again for all the help.

BTW...if anyone wants the mappings for Atlanta Digital, I've got them (at least the way they look at this moment).

--Bill

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by themeister

Down the road, it would be sweet if SiliconDust's software could monitor changes in the cable offerings and automatically update with new/moved channels. I dread the thought of having to go back through a manual process.

I've been wondering how automated the QAM channel mapping could be. Comcast hasn't gone all digital in my area, but I do get the broadcast networks over QAM. I've noticed that my HDTV can figure out the call letters for each station. So, it seems like TV tuners like the HDHR and Hauppauge HVR-series should be able to figure them out too. Do you have an HDTV with a QAM tuner, and does it get the call letters for all your QAM channels?

[themeister]

I agree that it should be able to figure it out. I believe it might rely on databases which contain that info. SiliconDust has a database; however, it was "almost" right.

No, I do not have an HDTV with QAM tuner.

--Bill

[moakes]

Bill:
I'm following in your footsteps . . .

I have a dual tuner Hauppage card and SageTV that I have been using for about 18 months. I'm in Atlanta as well, and was getting 2-78 with no box (but of course now am 2-17 or so). Today I got the two Comcast DTA's and was going to figure out how to do the IR blaster "thing" and was looking to the forums for info. Looks like you have already chewed that dirt and have a better solution.

I'm just confused on one thing, what is the "HDHR"?? Is that a new tuner that I purchase to replace the Hauppage dual tuner card???? Sorry, everyone keeps mentioning the solution . . but I am missing some knowledge

Looks like you solution works well, and I think I'll go down the same path.

[gplasky]

HDHR=HDHomeRun. Available at SiliconDust.

Gerry