HDTV

[DKT]

Has Sage ever indicated whether they are going to build in support for HDTV?

Sage only supports Hardware encoding of live TV. I have read that HDTV is already in MPEG2 format, so would there be any encoding to be done, or would the capture merely be geting the MPEG2 stream off the air and onto a harddisk?

As you probably can tell, this is all new to me.

[stanger89]

Back in the Sage 1.4 days there was experimental support for the AccessDTV and Hipix, so I'd guess that there is interest in HDTV support. However as of yet, there has been no official stance given to us on when it might happen.

And FWIW, that's exactly how HDTV cards work, they just capture the transport stream to disk. Sage can play them, although as of now it's somewhat hit or miss if it will work correctly.

Oh, and don't forget to vote in the poll (link in my sig)

[DKT]

Already voted, OTA.

[mlbdude]

I think Frey is waiting for better cards that work with cable boxes and satellite. OTA is such a small % of HDTV that it is not really financially viable for them right now.

[DKT]

Understood. We currently have HDTV through Time Warner. I'm thinking of going OTA and doing away with everything but the basic cable, as we tend to watch and record from the basic cable package. I can't remember the last time I have watched a show with a channel number over 100 (except the HDTV channels). We're probably not mainstream with this viewing pattern though.

[kny3twalker]

OTA is such a small % of HDTV that it is not really financially viable for them right now.

yeah I have to disagree as well
I would watch some HDTV shows from satellite or cable
but most are on the local networks like NFL, NBA. Enterprise, Smallville, Everybody loves Raymond

from cable I would just miss the HBO movies etc....

[mlbdude]

I actually don't know one person that gets their HDTV from OTA. When I got into the HTPC scene I hear of lots, maybe a higher % than normal that use OTA HDTV.

I work for a broadcast company that deals in HDTV broadcasting technology. Our current target market is 20% of all HDTV users and broadcasters - and that is dropping fast as more cable companies offer better HDTV services.

[DKT]

I have heard that OTA PQ is superior to cable. Anyone have any experience with that?

We live about 40 miles from most of the broadcast towers, and was told that I would need a big antenna so I went with Cable. I just met a neighbor that get his HDTV OTA, and has an antenna in his attic, so I could do the same. The number of available stations, the possibility of better PQ and to save some money, I'm looking at OTA. If Sage were capable of scheduling and replaying, I would probably get real interested.

[salsbst]

My understanding is that cable companies use more compression than the OTA broadcasters, hence the lower quality.

[Ralphjb]

I have just ordered the R5000-HD recorder. Apparently they have plans for their software to work with programs like SageTV:

We have made it pretty clear in the past, but it bears repeating: We do plan on making the R5000-HD offer a DirectShow interface. In that case it will show up as a tuner card in applications like SageTV that are DirectShow compatible. Based on the amount of feedback requesting this type of integration we are making this a near term goal.

Here's a link to the discussion forum:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&pagenumber=25

[DKT]

I'm not sure I completely understand how the R5000-HD works, but for $1,000 I'm not sure I want to!!

Could Sage work with the Fusion III? I will need a HD tuner, and for $150, I would be interested in giving this a try, if support by Sage. I've read good reviews of the card.

[Ralphjb]

[QUOTE=DKT]I'm not sure I completely understand how the R5000-HD works, but for $1,000 I'm not sure I want to!!

It is expensive, no doubt. But with it you can record direct to PC and it will allow you to record and archive all HD programming.

Once I have and get setup, I will report on it.

[lovingHDTV]

I get my HDTV OTA, cable is all encrypted so you cannot record anything. That is why I use my accessDTV card.

I'm not sure why Frey would care where the input stream comes from, they don't care with their currently supported capture cards.

I would imagine the wait is based on other factors.

[AndyS]

I've been receiving over 10 channels via OTA HDTV for more than a year (using a MyHD MDP-120). The quality is great and it costs nothing. Having spent a lot of time over on AVS in the past I would suggest that there are plenty of OTA HDTV users around (although of course those numbers are far less than the number of potential Satellite/Cable HD users). The bottom line is that the OTA broadcasts are unencrypted and uncompressed, and provide a remarkable feed for my HT.

I truly hope that Sage will support HD tuner cards before too long (and in particular the MyHD cards) - this could be another differentiator that will increase sales and drive this product forward.

And yes - I've already voted!

Andy.

[AJ Bertelson]

Originally Posted by DKT

I'm not sure I completely understand how the R5000-HD works, but for $1,000 I'm not sure I want to!!

Could Sage work with the Fusion III? I will need a HD tuner, and for $150, I would be interested in giving this a try, if support by Sage. I've read good reviews of the card.

Its basically a USB PVR-250 for HDTV. It takes the transport stream file and places it on your hard drive over a USB connection. I have considered getting it but I am going to check out the HD service that dish offers since I have heard that they are recompressing.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=409442
I talked to the sage guys but never heard back from them.

[edmc]

> Its basically a USB PVR-250 for HDTV.

Then check out the Sasem OnAir box - it runs around $250 and does both Analog(SD) and Digital(HD both ATSC and QAM-256) sending the MPEG-2 stream over USB2.

[lovingHDTV]

It's different than the Sasem, as it only works with Dish and DirectTV STBs.

or so their webpage states.

If you have Direct or Dish this is the only thing that will let you record HD on your computer from their boxes.

[stanger89]

The R5000 is a sat box modded with a USB2.0 connection for capturing the bitstream onto a PC.

[Ralphjb]

Exactly. It is only for DirecTV and Dish Network. Only certain, older, HD boxes can be modded. In my case, a RCA DTC100. I expect to have the unit next week and can not wait to report my experience.

[Bear]

I didn't like the F3Q when I had it, but I will probably try the F3Q-T as well. As for cable offering more HD programming than OTA, I'm curious as to whether you are including the OTA in the cable line-up? If so, then that is kind of definitional. However, the bigger issue for cable is the encryption issue. There are an awful lot of MSOs that encrypt almost everything, and support for those devices could be fleeting. All that being said, I would love a DS link between Sage and CapDVHS/DVHSTool for my Moto 6200. However, I'll settle for getting the other half of my Sasem box inside the friendly embrace of Sage.

Later,
Bill