Ceton extender beta shipping in Sept

[stanger89]

Well I guess that's that. If it's not even going to support DTS, I can stop reading the Echo thread on AVS. I wish they would have posted that a bit sooner, it would have preempted a lot of unnecessary questions and speculation. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think this thing will do well at $179 if it's just a basic MCX.

[Skybolt]

And it looks like BD playback won't be happening either since it's a MCX.
I am still holding on to see what happens, I just paid for my beta.

If this doesn't workout, what then?
I am NOT going back to Satellite, worst reception in my area, every time it rained, no picture.

Tivo then? Just the same as 7MC I think. Only if two 7MC boxes could co-exist 7MC might still be viable then. One could be an extender and setup with little or no moving parts.

[stanger89]

Well Sage still works fine (DVR wise) for me, so maybe I'll give OpenElec + SageTV plugin a try on my spare i7 3770k machine. I had OpenElec running for a while and it was pretty cool. Need to find a remote (receiver) for that though.

[Skybolt]

Too bad that couldn't run a version 7MC. I am stuck with 7MC for Tv. Not happy about that. But with what the FCC just ruled on, it looks like CableCard is the only route or use thier painfully slow DVR system (back end recording no local HD).

I will most likely keep my Sage server up and running until it dies and only Use 7MC for the HT ... Not the way I wanted to go. Maybe my Echo experience will turn into something. ...

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Well Sage still works fine (DVR wise) for me, so maybe I'll give OpenElec + SageTV plugin a try on my spare i7 3770k machine. I had OpenElec running for a while and it was pretty cool. Need to find a remote (receiver) for that though.

I tested OpenElec with my e450 box and it was nice and fast. I used a WMC remote without issue. It was RF too, so that was nice. I think you said you use a URC system in the past (I remember random things) so you could use an IR WMC dongle (funny word) and be good to go.

OpenElec worked VERY well on that little underpowerd box so I think your i7 system will fly. HDMI audio is kind of a pain, but easy enough with a few min of tweaking. One thing, I don't know if OpenElec supports HD audio yet. Something to keep in mind.

[Biggen]

Originally Posted by Skybolt

But with what the FCC just ruled on, it looks like CableCard is the only route or use thier painfully slow DVR system (back end recording no local HD).

I'm just not sure how much that FCC ruling will make a difference. We are only talking about clear QAM after all, right? Aren't those typically local channels that you could get with an antenna anyway if the cable companies were to encrypt them?

[darcilicious]

Aren't those typically local channels that you could get with an antenna anyway if the cable companies were to encrypt them?

Not necessarily -- OTA reception issues being what they are vs a signal in your home...

[Skybolt]

Originally Posted by Biggen

I'm just not sure how much that FCC ruling will make a difference. We are only talking about clear QAM after all, right? Aren't those typically local channels that you could get with an antenna anyway if the cable companies were to encrypt them?

Yes, but that asumes that you can get all of the channels via antenna. Not every one can. Like me ...

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by Skybolt

Yes, but that asumes that you can get all of the channels via antenna. Not every one can. Like me ...

Geeze dude, it sounds like you have to have a wired connection for everything. No OTA, no satellite. That's how I get everything (with the exception of internet). I couldn't imagine having TW cable or U-verse. Yuck. I feel for you.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

I tested OpenElec with my e450 box and it was nice and fast. I used a WMC remote without issue. It was RF too, so that was nice. I think you said you use a URC system in the past (I remember random things) so you could use an IR WMC dongle (funny word) and be good to go.

Know a good one? There seem to be a bunch out there and lots of them seem to have quirks. Doesn't seem you can buy the Microsoft ones anymore.

OpenElec worked VERY well on that little underpowerd box so I think your i7 system will fly. HDMI audio is kind of a pain, but easy enough with a few min of tweaking. One thing, I don't know if OpenElec supports HD audio yet. Something to keep in mind.

I had it running at one time, but then sort of got distracted by WMC/Echo, so I killed the OpenElec and put Windows 7 on. Now that that's out, I'll probably toss OE back on and play some more.

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by Biggen

I'm just not sure how much that FCC ruling will make a difference. We are only talking about clear QAM after all, right? Aren't those typically local channels that you could get with an antenna anyway if the cable companies were to encrypt them?

It depends where you live. My dad is about 50 miles from the closer towers. Luckily he has a tower from the pre-cable days, just needs a new antenna and amp, and someone that can climb it. Best thing is, he has 3 cities in the 50-70 mile range, and if you can get a good 50 mile picture, you can a 70. If he did that all new, it'd be about $1000 for a good system, as is, it'll be about a $300-$400 "fix"

I think a lot of people forget there are still a lot of people outside the "rabbit ear" range of most TV towers.

[Skybolt]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

Geeze dude, it sounds like you have to have a wired connection for everything. No OTA, no satellite. That's how I get everything (with the exception of internet). I couldn't imagine having TW cable or U-verse. Yuck. I feel for you.

Thanks, It does suck. People talke about cutting the cord, I think my house would deflate ...

[Skybolt]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Know a good one? There seem to be a bunch out there and lots of them seem to have quirks. Doesn't seem you can buy the Microsoft ones anymore.

http://www.amazon.com/Azend-MediaGat.../dp/B00123UGWQ

[cncb]

They apparently just added VC-1 support in the latest beta firmware so there may be some hope for this thing yet...

[stanger89]

Yeah, but despite a press release that they'd support DTS (from way back), they sound uncertain that they'll ever get even DTS in, so that, plus not even supporting 1080p at "launch" they just really don't seem interested in producing a high-end product.

[cncb]

I know, I posted a link to the press release on the previous page . DTS is big for me too but there was never a mention of VC-1 and they added it so I'm holding on to (small) hope for DTS.

[stanger89]

I guess for me, it's as much as anything the IMO amateur, poorly planned, poorly organized launch and, sorry state of the product at this point. It just doesn't seem like they know what they're doing.

I broke down and posted on AVS, got suckered in by a misunderstading of 1080i, but then a comment that it shouldn't be compared to Sage.

If you compare the Echo beta launch to the HD100 beta launch, the HD100 was (IIRC and this was a long time ago) basically complete when the beta testers got it. It could pass DD and DTS, decode VC1, H.264, MPEG2. You could pick resolutions, I think it had native output switching, it could play DVDs. SageTV knew what it could do and what it was planned to support (like max bitrates/codec profiles in addition to features).

In contrast the Echo has sketchy/confusing specs, semi-conflicting information, a product launched in a relatively laughable state. Seriously output resolution isn't even selectable? That would seem to be one of the first (and easiest) things to get working. And now there's VC1 support which wasn't anywhere on any spec list we were given. Surely someone knew they were going to put that in three days ago (or whatever) when they released the "final" specs?

Yeah, it's a beta, but this seems like a proof of concept, not even an alpha at this point. Sure the Extender stuff works, but apparently they licensed that code form Microsoft so they didn't even do that part....

[cncb]

I agree with all of that and have expressed many of those same thoughts all along (even starting back when their promised "updates" turned out to be just the date of the next "update"). The problem is that thanks to Google there really aren't many options.

[Skybolt]

Originally Posted by stanger89

... I broke down and posted on AVS, got suckered in by a misunderstading of 1080i, but then a comment that it shouldn't be compared to Sage. ...

I think I might have been that person, Just to clear things up, I agree with just about all that has been said by everyone. Especially your views on what you expect from the Echo. I have the same needs for my HT.

I think trying to comare anything to what sage is/was turning into or is, is next to impossible. It does so much that others don't. WMC especially, the limitations of DRM alone are enough of a show stopper for most. IMO WMC can only be used for recording/wating live tv, it's pretty much the only option for CableCard.

The Echo could have been the stb that changed the game like the HDx00 stb's. But for some reason they chose not go in that direction. Who knows why, but I think it wouldn't have taken much to go the extra step. I sort of understand no DTS, but not supporting passthrough, no so much.

There are absolutly no other options out there which does everything that Sage does. And the sad part for some, Sage doesn't fully support CableCard tech. so we're left with very limited options for live recording.

If the Echo doesn't support 1080p at some point, it won't even be what the xbox is for $20 more. IMO I doubt we will ever see anything that compares to Sages unrestricted capture and playback support.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Skybolt

I think I might have been that person, Just to clear things up, I agree with just about all that has been said by everyone. Especially your views on what you expect from the Echo. I have the same needs for my HT.

Nope, it was someone else who said it's "unfair" to compare the Echo to Sage because it's "tailored for a whole other market". They obviously don't understand that Sage (like WMC) is first and foremost a DVR, and the HDxxx's were made specifically to extend the SageTV experience to other TVs, just like MCX's are made specifically to extend the WMC experience to other TVs. And if you look at what the SageTV or WMC experience are, they are very similar, primarily a DVR, but with support for Music, Pictures, and Videos on the side.

I think trying to comare anything to what sage is/was turning into or is, is next to impossible. It does so much that others don't.

I agree you'll be largely unsuccessful trying, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't compare them. IMO Sage made the benchmark, and others should be held to it.