Questions about setting up one tuner with multiple inputs for Analog and DTV cables

[WeatherB]

Hey guys,
I will be getting a digital TV set-top-box and was wondering what is the best way to get everything set up. I currently have just one PVR-250 tuner card and would like to connect my analog cable through the cards coax tuner and then connect my set-top-box using the PVR-250s s-video port.

1. In terms of configuration, I assume I just go through the source selection twice and set them up that way (both using the same guide data).

2. How exactly does Sage know which input to use for viewing Live TV

3. How does it know which input to use for TV recordings?

4. Will I be able to purchase a USB-UIRT for just sending the signals to my STB? Cause I'm using the MCE receiver and remote right now.

5. Does Sage have fully working support for the USB-UIRT blaster with the Scientific Atlanta 3250 HD?

tnx

[Opus4]

Since you want the connections to go to the same encoder card, you will have to make sure that when you go through the source Setup Wizard that you choose a different provider/lineup for each source. Then, in Channel Setup, make sure that you remove any channels that both lineups contain, otherwise I believe the 2nd source will kick the first one out. You'll probbaly want to remove repeats from the STB connection so those channels will simply use the analog connection. Again: the key is that both sources must use different providers in the Setup Wizard -- around step 9/p. 115 in the v2.1 manual.

Then, since each lineup has a unique channel list, SageTV will know which of that single card's connections to use for a specific channel.

As long as the USB-UIRT can learn the remote codes for that STB, you should be able to add a new device and teach it the codes for your STB while using the Setup Wizard (see p. 113 of the v2.1 manual for that step).

- Andy

[WeatherB]

Thanks... Is it enough if one source uses Rogers cable while the other uses Rogers Digital Cable?

I can go through the channel lineups and make it so that only the HD channels are available on the Digital Cable lineup.

Also, anyone use the USB-UIRT with Sage? Can you confirm whether it works out of the box as an IR Blaster for controlling STB or whether you need to play around with Girder?

[jptaz]

I assume that your Digital Box will actually convert the HD Channels to NTSC for Svideo Out. I was not aware that HD boxes would down convert.

Also yes Rogers Cable and Rogers Digital Cable ( assuming they are listed seperately in the line up list ) would work as two seperate providers.

[m1abrams]

I am curious as to why you would do the setup this way?

Is it because channel changing is faster in the analog domain?

Cause I may try a similiar setup but with 2 tuners and 2 STBs and that may get hairy.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by WeatherB

Also, anyone use the USB-UIRT with Sage? Can you confirm whether it works out of the box as an IR Blaster for controlling STB or whether you need to play around with Girder?

It can be used directly by SageTV. I pointed you to one part of the manual using the USB-UIRT (teaching it a new device to be controlled), but here's another section: p. 197 of the v2.1 manual mentions the USB-UIRT a bit more when it talks about built-in support for IR receivers/transmitters in Appendix F.

Originally Posted by m1abrams

I am curious as to why you would do the setup this way?

Is it because channel changing is faster in the analog domain?

It probably is faster , since you don't have to go through an IR blaster, but it is also a bit more certain that you will get the channel you want. I don't know how often it happens, but I believe people have mentioned missing a channel change with an IR blaster from time to time. Serial control of the STB is also faster/more certain from what people have said.

- Andy

[WeatherB]

Thanks Opus, I read that document and it does mention specific setup with the UIRT but I rememember reading somewhere that people were having problems with it and had to use Girder.

The reason for setting it up this way is because I want to use the HD box for recording HDTV shows only so I don't tie it up (meaning the parents can watch their shows as well).

Not really sure what quality the outputted S-video feed from the HD box would be but I assume it is higher quality than the tuner. If not, then there is no point in hooking up the STB to Sage.

[m1abrams]

Ok one item i could use clearing up on. If say I use my analog channel lineup for my area for the analog capture and the digital one (minus the analog channels) for the STB. What happens when a channel lineup change occurs? Say a new analog channel is added, it will also get added to the digital one and then get activated, won't it?

Do you just have to constantly stay up on it?