xp vs mce on new build, etc

[mtinode]

First off, thanks to all the posters for the information that I've learned over the past couple of months while I've been lurking around the forums.

I'm planning a new build HTPC (PVR) for the initial purpose of recording OTA DTV that is already being broadcast in my local area. I have no plans for analog since I already have plenty of soon to be obsolete equipment for that. I have no plans for cable or satelite and will not as long as they try to dictate how I can use my own property. Any future plans for the system would be merely more media center aligned. This is will not be a game system.

So far thesystem plan looks like this:
AMD Athlon 64 processor, or X2 upwards of 3500+
2 Gb RAM (Windows loves RAM, and I plan for 4 tuners)
Abit Kn8 Ultra mother board (3 PCI, 3 PCIe x1)
Gigabyte GV-NX66T256 (heatsinked PCIe nvidia 6600GT video)
Auzentech X-plosion (optical output)
Seagate 500Gb SATA disk
NEC ND-3550A DVD burners (already on hand)
SST-LC03 case
Antec NeoHe 430 PSU
BTC 9019URF wireless keyboard
SageTV

I'm also planning the necessary/optional motherboard fan upgrades or heatsinks for noise reduction. I plan to use a couple of the new Vbox dual ATSC tuners. According to the seemingly conflicting press releases that I read they are DTA-e154 or DTA-e164, but that's all the information that I've found. I'm really counting on them being Sage compatible. I have no desire to purchase obsolete NTSC tuners unless I absolutely have to.

My questions are still,
1.) Is there an advantage in using Windows Media Center over XP Home/Pro. 2.) Does anyone have a particular remote that they would recommend due to features, ease of use or compatibility with Sage?
3.) Will I have any problems, difficulties, nuisances or inconveniences viewing the captured ATSC signals on my old analog TV's via the non-tuner inputs (realizing the 480i resolution limitation) while we transition to DTV.

And finally, please forgive the typically lengthy first posting.

[stanger89]

1) If you have to buy a license, buy XP MCE, it's cheaper than XP Pro, and is (for all intents and purposes) the same OS, but with the MCE package added. Don't get Home IMO, due to it's crippled file sharing.

3) Not if you're outputing from your video card.

If you watch stuff not on broadcast TV, and don't have an HDTV, there's no point getting an ATSC tuner card, they're essentailly worthless for cable/sat.

[mtinode]

Thanks for the clarification, that's great news. I was under the impression that MCE was based on XP Home. That was most of the concern. I wasn't sure if they had added stuff outside the MCE application layer to enhance (cripple) the media that would make it worth having the limitations of Home instead of going with Pro. So MCE it is.

[mtinode]

One more question. Does anyone know of any plans for a wireless SageTV media extender. That would be sweet.

[stanger89]

Hauppauge has a Wireless MediaMVP, that should work just like the current MVP. I say should though because I don't think there's been any official confirmation on that.