Considering a conversion from BeyondTV

[kkoz]

I'm currently using BeyondTV and am considering converting to SageTV. I had a few questions that hopefully some of the forum members could answer for me.

1. I need (or is that want!) to have 5 encoder cards for recording and/or pumping live TV to various places in my house. With BeyondTV, I would need to use two separate server machines as I don't have enough open slots for 5 capture cards. Not to mention that I'd need 3 extra tuner licenses, but that is a different story!

I understand that SageTV has a concept of Network Encoders. I was thinking with this, I could distribute the 5 encoder cards between two machines. Does this work well? I was thinking of putting 3 PVR 250's in one machine running Sage Recorderd, and having the recorded output stored over onto the SageTV server machine that would have a PVR 500. Am I on the right track?

2. There are a few important things I do in BeyondTV that I would like to keep doing:
a. I use the Send to Portable Media Center option in conjunction with a Creative Labs Zen PMC. I really like how the program info is retained when sent down to the device.
b. I use VideoReDo to remove commericials. VideoReDo retains all the program information when removing commericials.
c. With BeyondTV I can add recording from any web browser.
d. I can easily burn a show to DVD from inside the BeyondTV user interface.
e. I can have both DirecTV and basic cable, and BeyondTV supports both program guides in the user interface.
How does SageTV compare in these areas?

3. There are several things about BeyondTV that I don't like, including:
a. No parental controls (well, they have an all or nothing option but that doesn't fit the bill).
b. Can't play DVDs. I'd like to rip my DVDs to a central storage, and then be able to play them from any SageTV Client station.
c. You cannot run the main BeyondTV user interface via Remote Desktop (it won't load).
How does SageTV compare in these areas?

4. Finally, just a few general questions:
a. I see a lot of references to custom STVs. What are these?
b. The general word on the street is that SageTV is very customizable. Where's the best place to learn the customizing capabilities?
c. Does SageTV support MCE remotes?
d. With SageTV can you have the same show record from two sources at the same time. I prefer recording from DirecTV, but I often miss shows if there is a thunderstorm. If I could configure my important shows to record from both DirecTV and standard cable (if the channel is avail), then I'd have a backup in the event that the satellite went out?

Are there any other helpful tips for a current BeyondTV user? Anything to shorten the learning curve would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

-Kevin

[Opus4]

A few that I can sort-of answer...

Originally Posted by kkoz

I understand that SageTV has a concept of Network Encoders. I was thinking with this, I could distribute the 5 encoder cards between two machines. Does this work well? I was thinking of putting 3 PVR 250's in one machine running Sage Recorderd, and having the recorded output stored over onto the SageTV server machine that would have a PVR 500. Am I on the right track?

There are people here using networked encoders as you mention. In the SageTVRecorder forum, there is indication that the full SageTV product can be used as a client + network encoder, so newer devices can be used over the network.

b. I use VideoReDo to remove commericials. VideoReDo retains all the program information when removing commericials.

There is a commercial detecton customization; check those thread for details on ehat all it can do.

c. With BeyondTV I can add recording from any web browser.

neilm's web server customization can be used to control the schedule and your recordings, among some other stuff.

e. I can have both DirecTV and basic cable, and BeyondTV supports both program guides in the user interface.

SageTV can use multiple lineups; even multiple lineups on multiple sources on the same device. Of course, it knows to use only one source on that device at a time.

3. There are several things about BeyondTV that I don't like, including:
a. No parental controls (well, they have an all or nothing option but that doesn't fit the bill).

See p. 126 of the v2.2 PDF manual for info on Parental Controls.

4. Finally, just a few general questions:
a. I see a lot of references to custom STVs. What are these?

STV files are what contain the entire definition for the user interface -- all the menus & features you see in the SageTV window. There is a private beta group of people who have access to the STV development tool & some of them have released custom STV user interface files. See the List of available customizations.

c. Does SageTV support MCE remotes?

Mostly. The manual also contains a list of the multimedia APPCOMMANDs that SageTV responds to. See this Microsoft site for some info on their remotes; SageTV responds to all but the button using WM_INPUT messages. Or, you could use the MCE remote with Girder. See Information Resources for Remotes, Receivers, and IR Blasters

Are there any other helpful tips for a current BeyondTV user? Anything to shorten the learning curve would be appreciated.

Most of the forums here have some sort of index thread(s) stuck at the top; you might want to peruse some of the links they contain. Also, check out the PDF manual -- if you don't already have it, you can download it from my sig lines.

- Andy

[flavius]

Originally Posted by kkoz

Are there any other helpful tips for a current BeyondTV user? Anything to shorten the learning curve would be appreciated.
-Kevin

I used BTV for years and switched a few weeks ago. I can only recommend to read the manual - and to make peace with their UI standards. It's actually not that bad - when you use a remote (I use firefly).

I understand that only one or two of those STV's are currently maintained. Cayars seems to be quite rich and definitely worth to look at. It doesn't not break with the default UI standards, though.

Somebody wrote a "webadmin" - which I haven't seen, since you don't need it, unless you're after additional functionality.

You may also want check out the road map - as laid out in the 3.0 thread (sticky). Personally, I liked what I could gather from that. I don't need OTA HDTV, I'm interested in getting my premium channels in HDTV. The DCT6412 (dual-tuner) takes care of that one.

You will no longer be able to control where specific shows get stored. I used to do that a lot, on the other hand - why care? But you will also notice that Sage handles large archives quite well. BTV never really has been able to do that. As far as that's concerned, you're going to be impressed.

[nielm]

c. With BeyondTV I can add recording from any web

It's not part of the product, but my webserver customisation allows this -- the webserver runs on the sage server so you need a permenant internet connection to use it (unlike snapstream.net)

[kkoz]

Thanks everyone for the replies. This information is very helpful. I decided to purchase SageTV and a client license and will run a set up in parallel with my current BeyondTV set up.

I also found the Sage FAQ sticky page in the forum. This is a great resource, and answered many of my questions.

I did have a few more though:

1. Can SageTV Client play DVDs from a local DVD drive in the client machine?

2. I've accumlated a lot of remotes over the years (Firefly, Streamzap, Harmony MCE, Pronto), and I also recently got a USB-UIRT. I've also read a lot about Girder, and it looks pretty interesting (I like to tinker and fine tune my configuration). Are there any strong preferences on the best remote configuration?

3. Is it possible to run SageTV via Remote Desktop?

Thanks again to everyone for the helpful feedback.

-Kevin

[flavius]

1. Yes.
2. I use Firefly. The manual also talks about the Streamzap. Don't know about any others.
3. For administration purposes? I use VNC which works fine.

[ToxMox]

With the USB UIRT you can pretty much use any remote you like. I use a Home Theater Master MX 700 and absolutely love it.

[aperry]

Originally Posted by kkoz

2. I've accumlated a lot of remotes over the years (Firefly, Streamzap, Harmony MCE, Pronto), and I also recently got a USB-UIRT. I've also read a lot about Girder, and it looks pretty interesting (I like to tinker and fine tune my configuration). Are there any strong preferences on the best remote configuration?

I think you'd be happiest with the USB-UIRT option (with Girder for maximum flexibility). I wish I'd gone that route (I'm using an MCE remote/receiver with some modified drivers I found that allow use of the MCE's transmitters and Girder, took a lot of configuring to get it to work right).