SageTV HD Media Extender

[brianblank]

This is GREAT news! I have been waiting for this, and recently gave up and started down the mini PC (actually Mac Mini running XP) route, but I think I will sell my Mini on eBay and wait for the HD extender.

One more question...Will it need a client license? and extender license? or a new HD extender license?

[jdamore]

Thanks for the update!!



When can we preorder?

[BBCritical]

I would also like to thank Jeff for the update. I was ready to go the client route again myself but I can wait

[mikesm]

I'll also thank Jeff for the update. It very much helps me plan the next set of Sage deployment in the house, even to what kind of flat panel to buy for the kitchen, as now I know there will be an HD extender, I can buy an HD panel for it...

Of course we'd like more details, like what resolutions it will support (CE devices tend to be less tweakable on video timings than PC's), but just this news helps a lot of us make decisions that will result in buying more Sage products.

Thanks,
Mike

[geogecko]

Thanks for the update, Jeff. Good news.

I am also wondering about PC resolutions. I have a monitor in our bedroom, that I bought specifically thinking that an HD extender would be headed our way, but it's not quite 1080. It's like 1680 x 1050, which should make a really nice display...

Right now, it's hooked up to an MVP...

[lobosrul]

Must support for me to buy:

1) AAC(5.1) proper decoding in MP4 containers (mencoder, nero command line encoder and mp4box), thats my main method of encoding HDTV streams.

2) Raw AC3 and DTS decoding.

3) Capable of outputting full 1080p. I don't currently have a 1080p TV but I'm sure I will someday.

4) Price, as of right now I have a working client in my living room. So this isnt really a need. I would definantly not pay over $300.

I would also like mkv support, but not absolutely necessary.

Oh I'd also like it, if it will output at 50Hz (in addition to 60Hz) I have some rips from PAL DVD's.

[lobosrul]

Originally Posted by geogecko

Thanks for the update, Jeff. Good news.

I am also wondering about PC resolutions. I have a monitor in our bedroom, that I bought specifically thinking that an HD extender would be headed our way, but it's not quite 1080. It's like 1680 x 1050, which should make a really nice display...

Right now, it's hooked up to an MVP...

Assuming the HD Media Extender can output at 1080p, then the monitor should be able to downscale it properly. Just like with a cable or sat box. The only issue is that its a 16x10 resolution. I have a 24" 1920x1200 monitor on my sage server box that I occasionally use to watch TV. Usually I just zoom in by 114% and lose a bit of the video on either side.

[Narflex]

Here's a few more answers for you:

Q: Can it be used for SD content?

Yes. It has S-Video, Composite and Component outputs

Q: Does it have Component outputs?

Yes

Q: Does HDMI also transmit audio?

Yes it does. We'll post more information on HDMI audio formats later; but there will be compressed and uncompressed audio support over HDMI.

[autoboy]

I am so excited. November? That is a whole month and a half!

I'm gonna guess that this thing will not offer native source output. I would love to have it though. However, as long as it can do good deinterlacing and can pick up the 3:2 pulldown in 480i and 1080i I will be a happy man.

[Motofreak75]

Sweet...


I'm sorry if you feel I'm baiting you Narflex but is it possible give us a ball park on price >

Lets say A: under $500
B: over $500


Cheers and I look forward picking up a few HD extenders, I just hope you have enough of them to supply the masses so close to Christmas.

[CarlR]

This is excellent news - the HD extender has been the last thing holding me back from replacing my ReplayTVs with a Sage server. Perfect timing as the Replay's WAF is beginning to drop off.

Plus, now I get to justify a new TV for the Family Room - we almost never watch live TV so why buy a HD display if you're only going to watch SD recordings?

Thanks for the update!

[bcjenkins]

Originally Posted by Narflex

Here's a few more answers for you:


Q: Does it have Component outputs?

Yes

Mucho gusto

[flavius]

Originally Posted by Motofreak75

Sweet...


I'm sorry if you feel I'm baiting you Narflex but is it possible give us a ball park on price >

Lets say A: under $500
B: over $500


Cheers and I look forward picking up a few HD extenders, I just hope you have enough of them to supply the masses so close to Christmas.

The original ballpark that was given a while ago was <$200.

[95TBird]

Originally Posted by Narflex

Here's a few more answers for you:

Q: Can it be used for SD content?

Yes. It has S-Video, Composite and Component outputs

Q: Does it have Component outputs?

Yes

Q: Does HDMI also transmit audio?

Yes it does. We'll post more information on HDMI audio formats later; but there will be compressed and uncompressed audio support over HDMI.

Hmmm.... I wonder....

Could it be this ??

http://www.syabas.com/solution_dmp.html

& their office is in Fremont, California

[brianblank]

Originally Posted by Narflex

Q: Can it be used for SD content?

Yes. It has S-Video, Composite and Component outputs

Q: Does it have Component outputs?

Yes

HD (720p, 1080i/p) over component?

[HawgGuy]

Here's to hoping it'll support the r5000-hd h.264 PAFF interlaced streams!

[mikesm]

Originally Posted by 95TBird

Hmmm.... I wonder....

Could it be this ??

http://www.syabas.com/solution_dmp.html

& their office is in Fremont, California

There are squillions of these types of devices out there. Why do think this particular one is being sourced to Sage?

BTW, it REALLY would be silly for the HD extender to not be able to play HD-DVD and BR content (forget about the encryption issue for now). Since the product has been delayed to this point, and most of the newer hardware has that capability, the HD extender really should have the decoder support etc... to be able to play those formats, even if Sage today can't.

I've always argued that Sage should support unencrypted BR and HD-DVD playback, just as they support unencrypted DVD playback today. They depend on users to deal with any encryption if that is an issue for the media being played back. Most of the new versions of authoring packages have HD video support now anyway, and the number of HD camcorders is dramatically increasing, so that will provide media that needs playback support even if you ignore the HD titles being produced today.

Since the time the HD extender was demoed at CES, a lot of new development has happened in the device space, and since there really are no new formats in the offing, either for OTA video or published media, it's a relative unusual period in time where Sage could ship a cheap HD extender that is capable of natively playing all media formats, and that it will not be obsoleted for at least 5 years or so. What I am saying is their timing is great to do something and not have to do something else in the extender dept for a long long time.

Thanks,
mike

[Mark57]

Originally Posted by Narflex

Since there's been quite a few posts speculating we're not actually working on this anymore, I wanted to set things straight.

Q: Is SageTV still doing an HD Media Extender?

Yes!!! Yes!!! Yes!!!

This is worth coming out of 'lurk mode" for a first post. Excellent news. Just what I've been waiting for.

Mark

[Sparhawk6]

This is great news. I pray it won't cost more than $200.

[mdnttoker]

woot! Got my money on $249.99. I'll start off with just one...then we'll see how that progresses.