Watching TV while recording

[jmgwilson]

I'm building a pvr now and I'm trying to decide what software. Sage really seems like the way to go but I've got a couple of important question I can't find the answer to. If I set Sage to record something can I flip through stations while its recording? Also If I am watching something is there a simple way to make it record just the rest of that show, and allow me to flip channels. I am a constant surfer so this is a big issue for me. I would like to start with one tv tuner card and add another later if at all posssible. While I'm here what card would you all suggest I was thinking Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-250 any thing buggy I should know about it.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by jmgwilson

If I set Sage to record something can I flip through stations while its recording?

SageTV always records, so you would have to have 2 tuners to use one to record some show while you use the other to flip through channels.

The Hauppuage tuners are pretty much the standard around here: the 250, 150, 500, pvr-usb2. I believe he 150 replaced the 250, so you might have a harder time finding that one.

- Andy

[aperry]

One other thing to note on channel surfing. Because Sage "always records", you will wind up with a bunch of MPEG files on your hard drive from the brief stops at each of the channels you go to. Not a big problem as Sage does clean up these files, just something to be aware of.

I doubt though that you will be doing much surfing, at least the way you do now. If you've never had exposure to an on-screen program guide, you will quickly learn to love that. And, if you're like me, eventually your surfing will be running through the guide looking at program listings and descriptions, and selecting channels that way.

Of course, the true indication that you have "arrived" is when you no longer watch anything live, everything is time-shifted. The only thing I watch live any more (due to the wife wanting to see it right away) is Survivor (and I delay starting to watch to avoid commercials and still finish about the same time the show does).

[JUC]

Another thing to consider is if you are a constant channel surfer and use an external cable/satellite box--you will want to make sure you can control it by serial cable. The blaster's are awefully slow for channel surfing.
JUC

[aperry]

That's a good point, and another good reason to consider changing the way you watch.

[jmgwilson]

Thanks for all the info, and right now I have no cable box so that won't be a problem and I will definately be using the on screen guide more than surfing. I had it forever ago and loved it. I wasn't really thinking about that when I asked. Looks like I'm gonna go with sage and Happ Win TV PVR 500, since its a dual. One other question I have since my post, and this is a complete noob question, but hey thats me right now. If I am recording and look at the channel guide will it record the channel guide info that comes up? Also will I have to instruct sage as to which tuner to record on so I can "surf" with the other? I think this is the last of the questions then I begin to build.

[aperry]

No, the recording will happen normally while you look away in the guide.

As far as which tuner to use, Sage handles all of that internally. If there is one available, just select a channel in the guide, and it'll go there (and use the free tuner). I assume if there were no free tuners, it would tell you that (I have 6 tuners, so I never have run into this problem).

[jmgwilson]

6 tuners?! That must be nice i was looking at getting a 200g hd but I'm wondering if I should get something smaller and go with 2 wintv pvr500s since that would give me 4 tuners.

[mdmint]

Originally Posted by jmgwilson

6 tuners?! That must be nice i was looking at getting a 200g hd but I'm wondering if I should get something smaller

Why smaller than a little 200G! Recording at a decent DVD Standard Quality 200GB only about 61 hours space. Or did you mean larger? I'm getting by with 1.495TB main video storage plus 500GB additional library partition.

and go with 2 wintv pvr500s since that would give me 4 tuners.

Decent choice. Just be aware if it's an issue the PVR150 & 500 don't support closed caption IRRC. The PVR250 does.

[jmgwilson]

Sweet storage space, but I don't have the cash to throw down on that kind of equipment at the moment. I have a dvd burner anyway so anything I want to keep indefinately will go to disc and free up space. Don't use any closed captioning but thanks for the info.

[aperry]

Yeah, 6 tuners is sweet... I have two 200GB drives that Sage selects from to record to.

Last night, I had 5 of them recording at once (doesn't happen often, but enough). I was recording Alias, Revelations, American Idol results show, Jack & Bobby, and World Poker Tour. If I had fewer tuners, I assume it would have done something like record Revelations on CNBC, USA, or Sci-Fi when it airs there, or record J&B on Sunday. Sage does a good job of shuffling programs to get everything recorded, I just didn't want to have to worry about it.

[jmgwilson]

that's good to know cause my girl and i watch a few shows with conflicting times. i can't wait to get this going but i'm gonna have to wait cause I've got a trip to england coming up that is putting a serious crimp in my wallet. as soon as i get back i'm building my pvr.