Frustrated install

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by m1abrams

You may need to understand that with a HTPC their really is a lot that can go wrong. If you want the type of experience you describe then SageTV would have to be very restrictive on the hardware configuration and also on the software configuration allowed. SageTV and BeyondTV both handle a great deal of configurations.

That said, any HTPC software of this nature is not really a turnkey solution. SageTV is getting closer if you use the media extender. You still would need to build the server end, however the server end is usually the easier part to get going.

I would never recommend to anyone to build a HTPC unless they look at it as a hobby, because you will need to spend that level of time to get things working just right. Now do not get me wrong I can make my SageTV box run fine for months without issue, however I am always tweaking it to make it better.

Or according to my wife....I'm always tweaking it and breaking it! "Why can't you just leave well enough alone".....comes to mind.

[m1abrams]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

Or according to my wife....I'm always tweaking it and breaking it! "Why can't you just leave well enough alone".....comes to mind.

Because if we had the inclination to leave well enough alone we would be using a crapping Cable box DVR or better yet no cable box and recording shows with VHS tape.

[Dalgar]

Ya know... ya guys are right. Maybe i've just had such a crappy last couple of weeks and have had to spend a lot of money on emergency home repairs, that dropping almost 300 on hw then another 100 on the software I kinda snapped.

I do realize that HTPC systems are fairly new hobby so I do plan on getting into it.

Course I've been after my wife to let me do this for awhile. The only reasons I am allowed to now is
1) TiVo is charging a monthly fee... She hates sending people money for things with no material value and I don't blame her. 14/mth arrrrrrggggg savings right there.
2) TiVo is full of her sappy movies and weekly shows aka Men in Trees.. Brothers and Sisters.... all my recordings are nice n' safe on the network drive.

Now if I can get it running and keep me bloody 'ands off it.... yeah right

[Dalgar]

OK folks. I have done everything you all suggested and....
drum roll........
IT'S WORKING!!
I even was able to make WMCE go bye bye. After reading all the posts everywhere on how to disable it, MCE kept launching when I stuck a dvd in the drive. grrrr so being the person I am I found the directory where all the MCE crap is and renamed it! C:\Windows\eHome

Renaming it and rebooting makes MCE GO AWAY. Anyway, now onto the next step(s). Figure out how to make my Harmony remote work and get the dir's setup correctly, comskip etc. This is going to make everyone at home happy.

I do have a question though. I want to keep the server in the den and put together a small client box with nothing more than winXP a small HD and a DVD drive.

QUestion: Will putting the Hauppauge IR device on the client make the server change channels, record and etc?

Thanks a Mil! for EVERYONE's input here. Makes feel better about spending the money.

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by Dalgar

QUestion: Will putting the Hauppauge IR device on the client make the server change channels, record and etc?

Thanks a Mil! for EVERYONE's input here. Makes feel better about spending the money.

Congrats on getting it to work....

To answer your question.....Sage does allow for what we call "network encoders" where a "client box" can also capture video and save it to the Sage server. The problem is that in order to run a network encoder, you have to have a second full Sage Media Center license. The client license is not good enough unfortunately......

I know that isn't what you wanted to hear....

[Dalgar]

Hold on you're saying that the server which will have the cable and stb connected to it can not be controlled from a client box?

I want to set the client box up simply as an extender since I already have all the hardware I didn't see the need to spend the money to buy an extender box.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Dalgar

Hold on you're saying that the server which will have the cable and stb connected to it can not be controlled from a client box?

I want to set the client box up simply as an extender since I already have all the hardware I didn't see the need to spend the money to buy an extender box.

I think he thought you wanted to install a tuner on the client & have it record shows too.

All clients use the same interface as the server, with full ability to play any of your media (that is allowed to be streamed) and full ability to handle all details of your recordings -- scheduling, playing, deleting, etc.

- Andy

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by Opus4

I think he thought you wanted to install a tuner on the client & have it record shows too.

All clients use the same interface as the server, with full ability to play any of your media (that is allowed to be streamed) and full ability to handle all details of your recordings -- scheduling, playing, deleting, etc.

- Andy

Yes my apologies. Dalgar stated "will putting the hauppauge HD-PVR on the CLIENT"...so with that I thought he meant he will be hooking the HD-PVR to the client and not the server.

[Dalgar]

Actually what I needed to know is if I put the IR USB for Hauppauge remote on the Client machine if it will work.

I will keep the USB-IRT on the server machine. I brought the manual into work so at lunch I can read through that.

basic priniciples...RTFM!!! DoH!

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by Dalgar

Actually what I needed to know is if I put the IR USB for Hauppauge remote on the Client machine if it will work.

I will keep the USB-IRT on the server machine. I brought the manual into work so at lunch I can read through that.

basic priniciples...RTFM!!! DoH!

Ahhh. I believe there is a setting in the client setup that allows you to use the hauppauge remote. I personally prefer the Microsoft Media Center Remote as it just feels nice (hauppauge remote is too small). Others here perfer their Harmony remotes....

[Opus4]

The Hauppauge receiver doesn't work unless there is a Hauppauge tuner on that PC.

But, if the Hauppauge tuner is an MCE kit, then it comes with an MCE IR receiver/blaster and you could use that with the appropriate drivers.

- Andy