Just a thought -- STB Mode??

[dadof4]

Prior to receiving an HD-PVR I was using Time Warner's provided 8300HDC set top box to watch live TV premium and record premium channels. Now that I have the HD-PVR I do not require the 8300HDC so I can exchange it with a standard STB.

Just a thought ....

What if SageTV had a "STB Mode" (for premium channels only) where it could act to directly control the STB? In that mode, using the cable company's program guide one could schedule recording directly on the STB (in my case an 8300HDC). Also in that mode one could select recorded programs to view.

The advantages....

- Using one STB a program could be recorded internally on the STB while another one is watched. As the cable company's PVR have two tuners this would be possible.

- No need for two HD-PVRs. As the STB is internally recording a program the HD-PVR could be used to watch live TV using the STB's second tuner.

- A less complex physical set up costing less.

The disadvantages...

- No favorites. Only manual recordings.

- A learning factor to learm the "STB Mode " for premium channels.

- While watching a recording from the STB the HD-PVR would be in use. A live premium program could not be watched at the same time on another TV.

Any thoughts about this?

Rich

[GKusnick]

Can't you do this by just running the S-Video output of your cable DVR box into a second input on your TV and using the DVR's own remote to program it?

Of course either way, you'll have to manage any conflicts manually, since Sage will have no way of knowing what you have scheduled on the DVR box and will assume it has the freedom to change channels whenever it needs to.

[dadof4]

Originally Posted by GKusnick

Can't you do this by just running the S-Video output of your cable DVR box into a second input on your TV and using the DVR's own remote to program it?

Of course either way, you'll have to manage any conflicts manually, since Sage will have no way of knowing what you have scheduled on the DVR box and will assume it has the freedom to change channels whenever it needs to.

Good thought. Using S-Video would limit the STB output to one TV whereas if Sage had this capability it could be used on all Sage clients. In my case the SageTV server is in a walk in closet far from any set. Regarding conflicts, I agree, they would have to be handled manually.

Rich

[shadeblue.com]

Originally Posted by dadof4

...
What if SageTV had a "STB Mode" (for premium channels only) where it could act to directly control the STB? In that mode, using the cable company's program guide one could schedule recording directly on the STB (in my case an 8300HDC). Also in that mode one could select recorded programs to view.

...
Any thoughts about this?

Rich

I have thought about almost this exact type of feature this in the past, a mode or channel that you could go to to view and control direct access to the STB. I was not thinking of using this mode for DVR recording because of the contention that Sage may try to start using it for recording, but rather for performing setup tasks or accessing video on demand or pay-per-view. One issue for this feature would be that since any channel you are viewing "live" is still being recorded by Sage and thus delayed, so passing thru remote commands to the STB would appear very slow, so that somewhat reduces the general appeal, but it would still be nice to access the features of the STB from a Sage viewing station. By using Sage, I am not able to easily access the other features of the STB.

[dvd_maniac]

It would be very nice to control the stb through Sage for VOD services. I know it would be easy to use the STB remote to record VOD video while watching LiveTV but it would be very hard when watching through an Extender or even in the server room where all 3 of my STBs are in the same place and would all be affected by the remote commands.
Does anybody have other commands working besides #'s?
I think it would only require an additional 5 commands:
Left, Right, Up, Down and Select for the STB itself...