Firedtv dvb-t and technotrend s2-3600 support

[rafahol]

Hi all,

I have been already testing a lot of htpc software and would like to use a client/server software that is stable enough to do the following:

Server:
- dvb-t and dvb-s2 channels (using firedtv dvb-t via firewire receiving digitenne package in the Netherlands and using technotrend s2-3600 dvb-s2 receiving Hispasat)
- movies (most of formats)
- music (from Synology NAS)
- photos (from Synology NAS)
- radio like above from terrestrial and satellite

Hardware used:
- WIN7 RC with 4 GB RAM
- HTPC=MAC MINI 1.83 GHz intel core 2 duo

Client:
- Bedroom with LCD and EEEBOX B202
- OS: WINXP HOME Edition with 1 GB RAM
- CPU: 1.6 GHz (Atom processor)

I have been using a lot MACOSX software like Frontrow/Plex together with Remote Buddy but because of the client/server environment I moved to WINDOWS platform using MediaPortal. This packages was giving me always bugs and so not too stable to be used as a htpc package.

The question is that I discovered your htpc software and would like to know if my Technotrend s2-3600 and firedtv is supported?

If yes I might SageTV a try Can you also describe why SageTV would be 'better' then for example other htpc software?

Regards,
Rafael

[Lucas]

Welcome to our community! This forum is mainly run by the users and as such any answers you get will most likely come from users such as myself. If you want an official answer you should place a support request through Sagetv.com.

Having said that, I can confirm that the TT 3600 should work. I have a TT3650 and it works fine and as far as I know the driver is the same.

The Firedtv DVB-T should also work well since it is in the official support hardware list. I have the corresponding FireDTV-S2 and it works well.

The above apply for the Windows version. For MAC it should be the same but I wouldn't swear by it.

[rafahol]

Yes thanks a lot for your quick answer already! The device I'm using is a technotrend dvb-s usb device the one that can do also dvb-s2 for HD tv channels. So I will test that today and post later my results.

I have some questions you can answer:

1) Is it so that the server part of Sagetv can be installed on my mac mini running windows 7 rc and that a client can be installed in other OS receiving also the live TV channels?

2) Is Windows 7 RC supported? Or do I have to use Windows XP/Vista?

3) I don't know if I'm allowed to use MDAPI like in MediaPortal to be able to watch channels via different cams (legally)

4) Can SageTV also be used as a wakeup machine so that for example I can wake up at a certain time in the morning and the tv is automatically turned on?

Regards,
Rafael

[rafahol]

One question Lucas. When I woud like to scan satellite I have to pick one using the list. I can only use one of the satellites from the list which is Astra/Hotbird etc. Hispasat is not mentioned. How can I make it appear on the sat list so that I can start searching channels?

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by rafahol

One question Lucas. When I woud like to scan satellite I have to pick one using the list. I can only use one of the satellites from the list which is Astra/Hotbird etc. Hispasat is not mentioned. How can I make it appear on the sat list so that I can start searching channels?

You have to add it in the predefineddvbs.frq file in the SageTV install directory.

Just have a look at how others are defined and you 'll be able to add it.

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by rafahol

Yes thanks a lot for your quick answer already! The device I'm using is a technotrend dvb-s usb device the one that can do also dvb-s2 for HD tv channels. So I will test that today and post later my results.

I have some questions you can answer:

1) Is it so that the server part of Sagetv can be installed on my mac mini running windows 7 rc and that a client can be installed in other OS receiving also the live TV channels?

2) Is Windows 7 RC supported? Or do I have to use Windows XP/Vista?

3) I don't know if I'm allowed to use MDAPI like in MediaPortal to be able to watch channels via different cams (legally)

4) Can SageTV also be used as a wakeup machine so that for example I can wake up at a certain time in the morning and the tv is automatically turned on?

Regards,
Rafael

1) Yes. The client can also be the SageTV HD Theater which I would recommend.

2) I believe yes with the latest betas. Just have a read in the forum, some have reported that it works well. By the time Win7 is officially out SageTV will have no issues with it.

3) You could by using some of the plugins for sageTV such as the DVBViewer plugin.

4) Don't know. Haven't tried but anything is possible.

[rafahol]

Originally Posted by Lucas

1) Yes. The client can also be the SageTV HD Theater which I would recommend.

2) I believe yes with the latest betas. Just have a read in the forum, some have reported that it works well. By the time Win7 is officially out SageTV will have no issues with it.

3) You could by using some of the plugins for sageTV such as the DVBViewer plugin.

4) Don't know. Haven't tried but anything is possible.

Here my comments on your answers:

1) Ok I understand. That's should replace a htpc or pc and then using your hardware I would be able to watch everything from the server. In what way this type of hardware (Sagetv HD Theater) is different from using an eeebox for example with SageTV installed?

2) I have installed it under Windows 7 RC using Vista compatibility mode and it's working fast and really easy to configure. Thansk for this great htpc software.

3) If using the plugin for DVBViewer is it then possible to watch live tv using DVBViewer? I have read about a network encoder but can it be used not only for recordings but also for live tv?

4) Ok this would be a point to discuss in the section of customization about the possibility to wake Sagetv at a certain time in day

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by rafahol

Here my comments on your answers:

1) Ok I understand. That's should replace a htpc or pc and then using your hardware I would be able to watch everything from the server. In what way this type of hardware (Sagetv HD Theater) is different from using an eeebox for example with SageTV installed?

2) I have installed it under Windows 7 RC using Vista compatibility mode and it's working fast and really easy to configure. Thansk for this great htpc software.

3) If using the plugin for DVBViewer is it then possible to watch live tv using DVBViewer? I have read about a network encoder but can it be used not only for recordings but also for live tv?

4) Ok this would be a point to discuss in the section of customization about the possibility to wake Sagetv at a certain time in day

1. First of all it's not my hardware! I am just a happy SageTV customer. Yes on the rest. You just setup a server and install SageTV Server software on it. Connect it to the network and it can be accessed by HTPC or SageTV Theater or even by your laptop on the internet while travelling using the same menu interface. I used to run HTPCs on my TVs but they are more expensive, are difficult to get smooth video from h.264 and VC1 and in general only worth the trouble if you want to do more than just watch videos from SageTV.

3. Yes also for liveTV.

4. if you schedule a recording, SageTV will wake up the Server to do the recording if the Server is in S3 standby. The bit I am not sure is how to get the client, say an HD Theater to also start to play a TV channel.
If your client is a PC, then you could have it start up using some automation software, Start SageTV and play a TV channel automatically.
But this cannot be done from inside SageTV client from my knowledge. It requires other 3rd party software running on your SageTV client PC.