Sage or MythTV ?

[G00SE]

I got interested in making my own PVR after finding that there are many solutions out there, a few free.
My problem is this: I've built a MythTV setup & it's been a real experience; I'm just an intermediate level Linux user, but just generally regarding MythTV, I can't find ANYPLACE where the system is completely described and every feature discussed in depth. It's kinda' like, go to forum X & see if you can find out how to get picture in picture working, go to forum Z to see how to improve the picture quality, go to the ivtvdriver.org site for this.....; it's a great piece of software, but it's almost like someone developed a beta software and just never got around to tying up all the loose ends and fixing many small things.
If I purchase the OEM linux version of Sage, will it provide a good quality picture on my 36" TV ? I'm just hooked up to plain old cable (SD), and would like to have Sage access from 3 TV's in 3 locations.
It's honestly not that I'm lazy, I just don't have time to search and search and try this and try that, and experiment around with different settings for things.
Any comments appreciated, as I'm at the short end of my rope with MythTV.
If I had the time, I might want to stay with it just for the challenge, but paying for a solution that will do what it's supposed to do, and do it professionally means more to me right now.

[jominor]

Originally Posted by G00SE

I got interested in making my own PVR after finding that there are many solutions out there, a few free.
My problem is this: I've built a MythTV setup & it's been a real experience; I'm just an intermediate level Linux user, but just generally regarding MythTV, I can't find ANYPLACE where the system is completely described and every feature discussed in depth. It's kinda' like, go to forum X & see if you can find out how to get picture in picture working, go to forum Z to see how to improve the picture quality, go to the ivtvdriver.org site for this.....; it's a great piece of software, but it's almost like someone developed a beta software and just never got around to tying up all the loose ends and fixing many small things.
If I purchase the OEM linux version of Sage, will it provide a good quality picture on my 36" TV ? I'm just hooked up to plain old cable (SD), and would like to have Sage access from 3 TV's in 3 locations.
It's honestly not that I'm lazy, I just don't have time to search and search and try this and try that, and experiment around with different settings for things.
Any comments appreciated, as I'm at the short end of my rope with MythTV.
If I had the time, I might want to stay with it just for the challenge, but paying for a solution that will do what it's supposed to do, and do it professionally means more to me right now.

I don't use the Linux version, but just a general comment. Why say you are not lazy? I've worked on Unix and Linux systems in addition to Windows and *I* wouldn't want to jump through hoops to get the thing working. You get a PVR to watch TV, not to learn Linux.

Also, how is it a challenge struggle to get someone else software to work? That is a challenge and it is no reflection on anyone's intellectual prowess. I think people who don't want to spend time fighting someone's product get bad rap because they have better things to do with their time. I certainly do.

Is a doctor stupid because he doesn't want to learn Linux? No. He's a doctor and Linux is a tool. He wants to use a tool, so he can spend time healing. Or watching TV.

If the thing isn't well documented, switch to something that is and enjoy watching your shows.

[Panzer]

Originally Posted by G00SE

If I purchase the OEM linux version of Sage, will it provide a good quality picture on my 36" TV ? I'm just hooked up to plain old cable (SD), and would like to have Sage access from 3 TV's in 3 locations.

I don't believe that the picture quality will be much different than myth on your clients. Do you get good quality from your cable now? Running it through multiple splitters,amps,etc?

About the clients you're planning on, are they windows or linux?


I've been using the linux version on a third standalone server and I have to say it's fairly easy to get going. I haven't gone to the latest release but it seems to be even simpler. I do have a linux placeshifter client on an ubuntu laptop connecting to a windows server and basically just had to apt-get a few packages and change which java to use. Took just a few minutes.

[Dekard]

Originally Posted by G00SE

I got interested in making my own PVR after finding that there are many solutions out there, a few free.
My problem is this: I've built a MythTV setup & it's been a real experience; I'm just an intermediate level Linux user, but just generally regarding MythTV, I can't find ANYPLACE where the system is completely described and every feature discussed in depth. It's kinda' like, go to forum X & see if you can find out how to get picture in picture working, go to forum Z to see how to improve the picture quality, go to the ivtvdriver.org site for this.....; it's a great piece of software, but it's almost like someone developed a beta software and just never got around to tying up all the loose ends and fixing many small things.
If I purchase the OEM linux version of Sage, will it provide a good quality picture on my 36" TV ? I'm just hooked up to plain old cable (SD), and would like to have Sage access from 3 TV's in 3 locations.
It's honestly not that I'm lazy, I just don't have time to search and search and try this and try that, and experiment around with different settings for things.
Any comments appreciated, as I'm at the short end of my rope with MythTV.
If I had the time, I might want to stay with it just for the challenge, but paying for a solution that will do what it's supposed to do, and do it professionally means more to me right now.

You sound like me. The linux version isn't too bad to setup, the documentation for the linux version is non existant since its an 'oem' product. There is no real attempt at end user support, though these forums are a decent source. Just not populated enough to stay active.

I'd suggest you use the Windows version if thats an option. If you want to stick with Linux its decent, though I still find there's a tremendous ammount of screwing around that needs to be done.

[mayamaniac]

Personally, I think for SDTV, run the windows version of SageTV if possible. The linux version is less than a year old, so it might have more problems in it than the windows version. I think for your setup and needs, buy SageTV Windows version, set it up to run as a service, and buy the MVP Extender which includes the Extender license. Use the MVP to connect to your TV and you will get the best picture quality possible. You can probably run the linux version too, but I haven't tried it so I can't comment much on its stability versus the Windows version.

So SageTV is $80, and the MVP extender is $110, thats $190 more than the cost of MythTV (free), but you'll get better picture quality for your SDTV, official tech support from a real company, and a one-stop award-winning forum that contains all the info about the product, and the user-to-user help you need.

[Lucas]

I too, when evaluating software for my PVR, 2 years ago considered all these things. Back then SageTV was only available on Windows. Many people where advising me to go to "free" solutions on Linux or Windows.

Even though I 've been Unix literrate for the last 20 years, I couldnt justify the time needed to get a Linux based solution up and running reliably according to my preferences. After I put the numbers down, eg total cost of hardware, extenders, decoders, and other software I realised that the cost of the PVR software is a negligible part (80 out of a couple of thousand $).

I then evaluated all software irrespective of cost of initial licence and came to buy SageTV, because on non-restrictive licencing, support, excellent user community, ease of setup and reliability.

I don't regret making the move since the whole family uses the system and the technology behind it is totally transparent to them....