newbie: RF remote, PVR 350, shared computer. plz help

[elconcho]

Hi all,

I'd like to go over what i'm thinking of putting together for my first PC-PVR setup to see what everyone thinks. I'm currently using a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8000 PVR with my cable service. The thing's slow menus, bad UI and $40/month fee have driven me into thinking about investing in my own custom SageTV setup. (Thanks to the Explorer 8000 i'm addicted to skipping commercials and watching programming that I like--No more channel surfing; ever)

I have an Athlon 1900XP with 1GB RAM and plenty of HD space on my 2nd floor that I'd like to use as the PVR for the TV on my main floor. This way I could get away with not purchasing a dedicated PVR computer. I have some questions about this:

• If I run SageTV with the PVR-350 using the card's decoder for tv-out will I be able to use my computer while someone else watches tv using the PVR functionality?
• I'm thinking of buying a Firefly remote from Snapstream. It's RF and I could use it to run SageTV. However, it doesn't have IR as well, so i couldn't use it to control TV volume, etc. Are there other remotes that have IR as well as RF that I should consider?
• Will I be able to watch AVI's and other non-mpeg2 formats using the PVR-350's video output?
• Of course: where can I buy SageTV, the PVR350 and the Firefly for dirt cheap? ;)

Any opinions, words of wisdom, etc are greatly appreciated.

[kny3twalker]

well you picked the most expeneince pc based remote
the most expensive hauppauge card

but the 350 can be found bundles with SageTV
for 200 before shipping
http://www.pcalchemy.com/index.php/cPath/43

and the firefly remote was 58 with shipping only available at snapstream store

X10 sells remote that do ir and RF
ATI remote wonders sell for cheaper than the firefly
another option is buy an USB UIRT and use any remote with the setup
they are about 50 plus shipping

[justme]

If I run SageTV with the PVR-350 using the card's decoder for tv-out will I be able to use my computer while someone else watches tv using the PVR functionality?

Simple answer, yes. I'll leave it up to current 350 users to say more.

Will I be able to watch AVI's and other non-mpeg2 formats using the PVR-350's video output?

Nope, just mpeg. That also means no DVD out thru the 350 since the Vob Mpeg stream is encoded.

[Brett]

Originally posted by kny3twalker
and the firefly remote was 58 with shipping only available at snapstream store

The firefly remote is actually already available at Frys Electronics, and select CompUSAs. It will be available nationally at all CompUSAs and BestBuys shortly. I actually have all three of the remotes you described and the FireFly has by far the easiest setup for adding unsupported applications (however sense the supported number of apps tops 70 there only a few), and is the smallest of the three.

-Brett

[Scriber]

Originally posted by Brett
...I actually have all three of the remotes you described...

Do you have a RW2 or RW1? I have a RW1 now and I'm considering either a Firefly or RW2. I'm hedging towards the Firefly since it seems more customizable but the RW2 mouse control looks impressive. How is mouse mode in the Firefly? Does the FFly work OK with Sage 2? A post in another thread indicated that both are rumored to be adding IR support later too so its real close for me...

[Brett]

The FF works most excellent with Sage2. Infact I have a custom profile somewhere lying around that upgrades it so that the 'FireFly' button maps to Sage Home, and the Music/Photo/DVD/etc maps to the proper section within Sage. I can upload it if anyone is interested.

My roommate had the RW1, the RW2 is only available with the 9600 AFAIK. It was suppose to be available last September seperately but they had trouble producing it, right now I am not sure whats going on with it.

The FireFly's one fault to the RW2 would be the mouse mode. FireFly does have a mouse mode, but it was not the main intention of the remote. However, honestly I have never used the mouse mode on any of my remotes I have a mouse for that! From 10ft or more I want to use the remote as a remote.

I have heard the same "rumors" about the FireFly remote and can not confirm that any development is currently in the process for this to happen.

-Brett

[mlbdude]

Man, if a FF comes out with IR I will be happy . That is one great remote but I need the IR for my other components.

[Scriber]

Originally posted by Brett
The FF works most excellent with Sage2. Infact I have a custom profile somewhere lying around that upgrades it so that the 'FireFly' button maps to Sage Home, and the Music/Photo/DVD/etc maps to the proper section within Sage. I can upload it if anyone is interested.

My roommate had the RW1, the RW2 is only available with the 9600 AFAIK. It was suppose to be available last September seperately but they had trouble producing it, right now I am not sure whats going on with it.

The FireFly's one fault to the RW2 would be the mouse mode. FireFly does have a mouse mode, but it was not the main intention of the remote. However, honestly I have never used the mouse mode on any of my remotes I have a mouse for that! From 10ft or more I want to use the remote as a remote.

I have heard the same "rumors" about the FireFly remote and can not confirm that any development is currently in the process for this to happen.

-Brett

If I get a FF I'd be interested in the profile. Others would too I'm sure. Btw, how's the FF's range?

It was delayed but the RW2 is now available separately. See HERE for example.

True, 10' is important, but when your TV is the computer display and your comfortable in your leather chair, you gotta have mousemode once in awhile!!

[elconcho]

Any comments about my tv out on the PVR350 question? Will the OSD display with transparancy out of the 350? Will I be able to use my computer while someone is using the pvr?

[Alex0230]

Originally posted by elconcho
Any comments about my tv out on the PVR350 question? Will the OSD display with transparancy out of the 350? Will I be able to use my computer while someone is using the pvr?

Will your OSD display transparency on a 350?
If you mean transparency like, like how the screen shots are on the website where you can have a recording playing while navigating the menu....yes. I can do this with my PVR350 with just default settings, you just have to make sure the UI is enabled in setup.

http://www.sage.tv/stvscreenshots.html?sageSub=tv

Will you be able to use the computer while someone else is using the PVR?

This depends on how they are going to control Sage. If you are going to use the silver remote and the default remote control software that comes with the Hauppage package, not without some tweaking. This is because the Sage window has to have focus while navigating the menus and such. One solution is to use Girder and the send message plugin.

Andy (Opus4) is a genius when it comes to remotes and has posted something in the FAQ about how to get the Silver remote (and others) to work with sage without focus: http://forums.freytechnologies.com/f...8641#post38641 This will allow the remote to talk to Sage without the program being the topmost window, hence you being able to use the computer while someone else uses Sage.

Now when it comes to computer games and how they change the screen and take over in that way; I'm not sure how girder or even these other methods respond to that. I think they will still work and still will be able to receive the remote messages and process them. I personally don't have experience in this department. But I do know that I can surf the web and stuff and still use Sage without an issue because it does not have to have "focus" in order for my remote to talk to it.

[elconcho]

Thanks for the info. I was planning on using the Firefly given that my computer is on a different floor than my tv. Will the firefly be able to control sage without the focus?

[Alex0230]

I'm not sure how the firefly software works, but I do know there is a plugin for girder:

http://www.snapstream.com/Download/firefly/default.asp

I would download Stanger's gml file:

http://forums.freytechnologies.com/f...1062#post21062

and then in girder, you would basically "learn" each of the Sage commands to a button on the firefly remote. Also in girder you would have to make sure that the firefly plugin and sendmessage plugins are enabled via FILE->PREFERENCES->PLUGINS.

Girder is available at http://girder.nl, there is a link to the "free" version of girder floating around on the forums somewhere here. What "that" is, is the old version of girder, 3.29. It was legally free according to their licencse agreement in that version, "Free for personal use". I use this version without a problem....and I don't think there is any legal problems with using it.

Now this is all with the assumption that the FF remote has the range you need to reach your computer (or atleast the RF receiver) from the tv.....

[Brett]

FireFly has the girder plugin to pacify one of the beta testers, it really is unneccessary and can still be configured to any button combination with the software alone. If you want focus back to Sage just hit 'TV' and then it will automatically assume focus. Its impossible (the way windows is currently designed) for systems to have dual focus.

-Brett

[Alex0230]

But with Girder (also can be done without girder), Sage doesn't have to have focus. You can use the send message plugin to send api messages to the program. This isn't like sending a keystroke to the application that has focus, and what this allows is to control an application via api that doesn't have focus.

This is what I believe he wants to be able to do since he'll have a 350 card and won't know what applications are loaded on the computer at the time...all the tv will see if the OSD. Also, something he wanted to be able to do is have someone watch tv and then he will be able to use the computer. If you're hitting the TV button on Firefly and changing window focuses, that makes it awful hard to use the computer at the same time. By using the girder plugin, it doesn't matter if Sage is the foremost window, the last window, or minimized to the task bar, it can still receive messages and function.

[kny3twalker]

just one thing though
if you spike the CPU while someone is watching TV it is going to cause problems with playback
I can only think of a few things that do that but it will cause problems the same as recording and causing spikes in CPU will cause recording to have a dropped frame or two

also the OSD is only currently working on Nforce2 mobos and it has to run cool or lock up problems
someone said intel based ATI mobos but then they could not get v2 to even work on their computer

here's the link to free girder

http://translate.google.com/translat...8%26oe%3DUTF-8

[Alex0230]

Originally posted by kny3twalker
also the OSD is only currently working on Nforce2 mobos

Your mileage may vary, I have an ECS K7VTA3 board that utilizes the via chipset. This works really good for me. I use additional cooling for my 350 with: http://www.thecardcooler.com/shopcar...ard_cooler.htm It's not a bad idea to try and keep the 350 cool....even if you just move a case fan over to it.

As for CPU spiking, yeah that can be an issue, but as is with all applications. If I'm ripping a CD, then decide to go play CounterStrike....that can have an affect on the performance of the rip. But I think if the inentions of the person were to say maybe just surf the web or chat online....I don't think that hurts watching Sage that much, especially with a 1900+.

What I would imagine being real cpu intensive is if Sage is recording, someone is watching another recording, and someone working on the computer. Again your mileage may vary and you would probably have to test the waters to see how things work out for you.

[mikejaner]

Basic rundown of working chipsets with 350 output and OSD

Chipsets working:
Nforce 1,2
ATI IGP 9100
Some VIA Chipsets (KT133,KT266)
Older Intel Chipsets (440BX,i815)

Chipsets not working:
Intel (i820,i845,i850,i865,i875)

Unknown chipsets
SIS

[Scriber]

Originally posted by mikejaner
Basic rundown of working chipsets with 350 output and OSD

Chipsets working:
Nforce 1,2
ATI IGP 9100
Some VIA Chipsets (KT133,KT266)
Older Intel Chipsets (440BX)

Chipsets not working:
Intel (815, 850, 865, 875)

Unknown chipsets
SIS

The i815 works here thus far (new box).

Add the i820 and the i845 to the no workie list

[mikejaner]

Done, thanks for the correction

[kny3twalker]

well actually recording and watching on a TV with a 350 should not use very much CPU
probably 0-2%
but if you throw someone one the computer and they do something CPU intensive they can cause skips in the playback