A Deal on HD-DVR and a Question

[dislecksea]

Hopefully I am putting this in the right place (if not, please feel free to move it) but Brent has posted a deal on the HD-PVR for $209 shipped (http://www.geektonic.com/). This leads me to my real question.

In my previous posts I was looking for advice on good specs for a Sage server to run with a couple of HD-PVRs (attached to DirectTV HD sets) to feed into a couple of Extenders (when they get back in stock). Well, base upon that advice last week I got a Buy.com deal on an HP Pavilion M9250f which comes with the Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1800 installed. Since I will already have the HVR, do you think I should just buy 1 HD-PVR now or will I be so much happier with the PVR that I should just go ahead and buy 2 and just skip/resell the 1800?

[Brent]

I personally would buy just one HD-PVR for now, make sure you're happy with it and its working well. Then once everything is okay and you still want a second one purchase the second one then.

I say this because the HD-PVR is a great device, but sometimes takes some work to get set up so just going with one hopefully will make things easier for you. Either way you should be fine, but that's my suggestion.

[btrcp2000]

Add in the cost of a usb-uirt, as the hauppauge ir blaster will not work well for the hdpvr if you have other hauppauge tuner cards. I just got around to setting up my uirt last night, and it finally seems like it will be stable (knocking ferociously on wood, since it hasn't even been a day yet...)

[Brent]

Originally Posted by btrcp2000

Add in the cost of a usb-uirt, as the hauppauge ir blaster will not work well for the hdpvr if you have other hauppauge tuner cards.

This is really only true if you have an other hauppauge tuner card that ALSO uses the Hauppauge IR blaster. Reason being, the hauppauge IR blaster can only handle a single device. That being said, I had a spare USB-UIRT lying around (you'd be surprised to see the things I have piled in boxes in the basement) and just used that when I first started with the HD-PVR since I knew how to do that and knew it would work.

Alternatively consider the cost of a firewire cable as an even better alternative for channel changing

[btrcp2000]

FWIW, I have other hauppauge internal pci cable tuners, and have never used the blaster until the hdpvr. To clarify though, I think the problem lies somewhere in sage, because I never had issues with using the blaster config program, but sage would inevitably become unable to fire the blaster. There are maybe things I could have tried, but I had the uirt anyway, so never bothered trying to reinvent the wheel.

[mattdcknsn]

I don't think its a Sage issue. I couldn't get the Haupauge blaster program to work right once I plugged one of my 150s. Standalone the HD-PVR IR blaster worked just fine, but once I added another card that had a blaster it would never work.

I went with FW and its been great. Highly recommend it.

Originally Posted by btrcp2000

To clarify though, I think the problem lies somewhere in sage, because I never had issues with using the blaster config program, but sage would inevitably become unable to fire the blaster. There are maybe things I could have tried, but I had the uirt anyway, so never bothered trying to reinvent the wheel.

[Brent]

There is a solution to getting the Hauppauge IR blaster to work. It isn't pretty, but it is Hauppauge's fault for sure. Their solution as I remember it is to install everything, run HWClear to clear out all Hauppauge drivers on your system, then install the IR blaster software, reinstall each Hauppauge driver one-by-one without any other Hauppauge software etc.

I'll have to go back and find that e-mail to see the entire process, but bottom-line its a PITA and a mistake that Hauppauge needs to fix imo.

I'm using the USBUIRT as I said above and plan to use firewire when I have more time to mess with it as firwire should be even faster for channel changes.

[dislecksea]

To summarize:

1. It seems that for control my options are a. use 2 Hauppauge IR blasters but that will be problematic, or 2. use 1 Hauppauge IR blaster and one USB-UIRT which should play well together. What about firewire or something like the Paterson USB-Serial controller? Won't those work with DirectTV HD boxes?

2. Also, please don't forget my initial question: If I want to record 2 programs at once on day 1, should I go for 2 HD-PVRs or 1 HD-PVR and use the 1800 that is coming with the box? WAF is important!

[Skirge01]

Yes, you certainly can use a USB-Serial controller. As someone pointed out in another thread, you can piece together your own for about $10-15 (no soldering or anything, just some parts to connect). I'll be going that route myself when I get my server built.

Brent did respond to your original question and I would tend to agree with him. I don't currently have my HD-PVR running because my server isn't built, but I think you should ensure you like it before shelling out more money for a second one. Get one working to your liking, then get the second one. It should be quite simple to get the 2nd one going after you worked out all the kinks with the first one.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by dislecksea

To summarize:

1. It seems that for control my options are a. use 2 Hauppauge IR blasters but that will be problematic, or 2. use 1 Hauppauge IR blaster and one USB-UIRT which should play well together. What about firewire or something like the Paterson USB-Serial controller? Won't those work with DirectTV HD boxes?

2. Also, please don't forget my initial question: If I want to record 2 programs at once on day 1, should I go for 2 HD-PVRs or 1 HD-PVR and use the 1800 that is coming with the box? WAF is important!

If you get a USB-UIRT that can handle up to 3 IR zones. So you can control up to 3 boxes with just one USB-UIRT. No need to use the Hauppauge blaster.

Gerry