Sagetv needs to jump on this opportunity....

[mikejaner]

http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/i...sues/#comments

At $240, I can see SageTV putting together a box which does exactly this same thing, and no doubt at a better quality. Just a simple, self contained box which records OTA and gets it's guide from the signal.

[pjpjpjpj]

I first started looking into "cutting the cord" (from cable/sat) a year ago, when my wife said we could get an HDTV if we could go OTA "but keep Tivo functionality". This box had just been previewed at CES and they were planning on releasing it in July (2008).

With a little internet research, I went with Sage, rather than waiting for July (good thing, since it was not released until November or December!).

With 2 HDHRs and some HD Extenders, and a basic, low-end server that I don't use for watching, I think I am light years ahead of anything the DTVPal could have offered. Sure, I spent a little more up front, but the benefits are so much greater, it's not even comparable... apples and oranges. Plus, my system is already paid off, in the money I am saving by not having cable/sat anymore.

Just off the top of my head, the advantages of Sage with extenders and HDHR, over a DTVPal:
1. All content available on all TVs
2. Internet content available
3. MP3s, photos, videos available
4. DVD collection on the system without needing a standalone player at each TV
5. Expandability (plug-ins) make Sage keep getting better and better
6. HDHRs being networked means I put them near the antenna, run CAT5/6 to the router, and I am done... I don't have to fish coax to every TV (and endure the losses of long coax runs, or deal with amps)
7. OTA EPG service only goes a few days into the future, Sage goes two weeks
8. Now that I am "set up", an HD Extender is $50 less than a DTVPal when I want to add another TV to the system

I could go on, but you get the point....

[mikejaner]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

I first started looking into "cutting the cord" (from cable/sat) a year ago, when my wife said we could get an HDTV if we could go OTA "but keep Tivo functionality". This box had just been previewed at CES and they were planning on releasing it in July (2008).

I was doing the same research for my grandfather last year. He was about to buy an HDTV, and this Dish box seemed like the perfect thing. All he had before was rabbit ears and he had no intention of paying for or watching cable channels. After waiting so long for it to come out and hearing about the problems with it, I am glad I didn't try to do it.
I was implying SageTV could take advantage of the market for people who just want this simple setup and not one where they would involve network encoders etc.... People like you and me would have no use for this, but the technology is there for SageTV to throw together a self contained box, which can record and playback HDTV using their interface. I know the guide data which come over the air is only 3 or so days worth, but with setting up favorites etc... it shouldn't be a problem.