Will Sage work for me?

[CrimsonT]

I want to look at Sage, but i would hope anyone can answer whether i can do what i want or not.

I have a machine that i would use only for having Sage on it and recording our family TV shows. I would like to use their extender(though everytime i check it seems that the product is not for sale, at least not thru the sagetv site) and play back whatever is recorded on whichever TV i want in the house. I don't want some recorder tied to one TV and one TV only. We have a TV in main room, 1 in kitchen, 1 in kids playroom, 1 in oldest kids bedroom. I had hoped to use the extender, and just move it to whatever TV we wanted to play back recordings (kitchen TV in the morning when kids are eating breakfast, Playroom in afternoon, main room when kids are asleep)

Is this a feasible idea with Sage?

My previous experience with DVR's is a Dish Satellite tuner that fed to 2 tv's. I liked that limited flexbility, but was hoping i could get more out of Sage...Any input is appreciated.

[GKusnick]

Sage is designed to work as a client/server system, with recording and media storage centralized on one machine, but playable from any number of clients. That can include PC clients or extender (aka MVP) appliances.

I do think that you're quickly going to get tired of moving one extender from room to room every day. In the long run you'll want to get an extender for each TV.

If you can't get the MVP hardware through the Sage store, try pcalchemy.com. You'll have to buy a SageTV extender license separately in that case in order to use the MVP with Sage.

[CrimsonT]

Thanks. And i will probably end up getting more than 1 extender. The big thing was i did not want to have to have a computer by each TV. I just wanted it all kept at 1 tv, and then have an extender or device that could be at a TV to play it. Also, for the past 6 months or so, the Sage website shows out of stock on the wireless and wired extender. Is this common? I was talking to the people at Hauppauge, and they say their extender will work with Sage. I guess that is what i will have to use, but she thought it was strange that Sage didnt have any in stock.

[GKusnick]

The extender you get from the Sage store is the same hardware as the Hauppauge MVP; it's even got a Hauppauge logo on it (or at least mine does). The only difference is that when you buy it from Sage, the client license comes bundled; if you buy it elsewhere, you have to buy the license separately. Price-wise, I think it's pretty much a wash.

I don't know what the deal is with keeping them in stock at the Sage store, but I imagine they don't warehouse very many themselves, but just back-order them from Hauppauge (or elsewhere) as needed.

Note that you should not install the Hauppauge media server software on your PC to use the MVP with Sage; Sage has the necessary Sage-specific server software built in.

Do be aware that the MVP cannot play HD content as HD; instead, the Sage server downconverts it to SD for MVP clients. For true HD playback, a PC client is the only option right now. There's an HD extender in the works, but no firm delivery date for it.

[autoboy]

Also, i have found that the wireless extender's wireless capability is worthless. You will get much better results using wired where available, and I use a wireless game adaptor for my extender. The wireless extender can work wired as well which is nice since that is the way I use mine. The client/server option is a great way to go. I highly recomend it. Any old PC will do as long as you don't have to transcode HD to the regular extenders.

[bcjenkins]

Since you have coax running to each TV already, if you don't have ethernet check out this:

http://www.smarthome.com/30000.html

and you need a target too

http://www.smarthome.com/30000t.html

B

[davephan]

I also think you'll very quickly become tired of moving the MVP around the house. I have two TV that I normally watch. There are other TVs in the house I rarely watch. I have only one MVP which I purchased directly from Hauppauge for the same reason - never seemed to be in stock at SageTV. I rarely move the MVP anymore, because it is such a hassle. I just end up watching TV without SageTV on one of the TVs. I'll probably end up ordering a second MVP pretty soon.

Dave

[CrimsonT]

Thanks for the information. While the cable/ethernet connection looks interesting, i might even just use the Homeplug connection. pretty cheap and just uses the power lines in the house. And since your TV will be plugged in anyways, a power outlet should be available.

[sainswor99]

Originally Posted by CrimsonT

Thanks for the information. While the cable/ethernet connection looks interesting, i might even just use the Homeplug connection. pretty cheap and just uses the power lines in the house. And since your TV will be plugged in anyways, a power outlet should be available.

Just be sure that wherever you buy Homeplug (or even the cable over ethernet option), you have a good return option. Many of the alternatives to wired ethernet have flaky track records. It may work great; it may not. Just be sure you can take it back if it doesn't work for you.

Stu

[CrimsonT]

So to start, i need a media extender, sage media center, sage client, and a video capture card? And do i install media center and client on the same machine? I will not be using Sage for Live TV, i just want to access recorded video stored on the server.

[GKusnick]

Your best bet to get started is probably the SageTV Media Center with MVP license bundle, assuming you're going to buy the MVP hardware separately from somewhere else.

You will need to register the Extender license on the SageTV server to activate the MVP. After you install the Media Center software, there'll be an item in your Start menu for registering Extender licenses.

You do not need a separate client on the server computer. The SageTV Media Center software includes a local client. SageTVClient software is for use with a separate client PC. If (aside from the server) you're going to have only Extender clients, then you don't need SageTVClient (which is not the same thing as an Extender license).

And yes, you'll need a capture device of some sort (PCI card or external USB device) to record TV.