New HD user

[Belgrath]

Hi all,

I'm currently a SageTV user for many years and I'm about to plunge into the unknown waters of HD with the purchase of a new HD TV. Currently I have a Hauppauge TV tuner card that allows me to record up to two shows at the same time, so I've been spoiled and I hope to be able to do the same now with SD/HD from a new Rogers (Ontario) digital box.

Equipment
- HD TV
- HTPC running SageTV
- Hauppauge 1212
- Rogers compatible HD digital box (suggested models appreciated)

Since I haven't done any of the purchases yet I'm still trying to figure out all of the connections and how I can get the various program recording setup such that the HTPC is still controlling what is to be recorded, and when.

Wall Jack -- (coax) -- HD receiver --(component)-- Hauppauge 1212 -(usb)- HTPC --(VGA)-- HDTV

If I can swing it, then there should be a component or HDMI also going from the HD receiver to my HDTV.

Where I'm confused is that there is a IR blaster that goes from the Hauppauge to the HD receiver in order for this HDPVR to control which channels need to be tuned/recorded. But how can I have sageTV be the master of all of the recordings. I guess I would need to have another IR blaster from my PC going to the Hauppauge 1212??

Would much appreciate anyone out there that has SageTV working with the Hauppauge 1212 that is about to record HD to let me know how everything is interconnected and how they manage the various shows they are recording and what box is doing what.

Thanks ahead of time,
Belg

[stanger89]

Sage talks to the HD PVR over USB, just like any other tuner/capture "card".

[Belgrath]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Sage talks to the HD PVR over USB, just like any other tuner/capture "card".

Cool thanks...

[Belgrath]

Hmmm...

So I picked a Hauppauge 1212/19 up today, it comes with an IR blaster, however I thought that it would connect directly into the rear panel of a digital cable box, rather than a face mounted IR.

I was thinking of getting a SA 8300HD box so that I'd get the additional capability of recording, plus the dual tuners. but what caught my eye on the 8300HD was the fact that it seemed to have an IR port on the back as well. Perhaps that is an IR out as well??

My concern is that if I tape this blaster to the front of the box that the HD box won't be able to respond to its own remote.

[vikingisson]

No worries about the blaster blocking the normal remote. If everything else works well you won't be using the native remote very often however it shouldn't be affected. I'd be surprised if that IR port on the STB does what you think it should, it might but then most likely only with specific models of specific boxes just like everything proprietary. Sad fact of the market and too bad we have to resort to silly blasters or even firewire which is something to check if your box can do that, it will be more reliable and not look as bad. The blasters do work, just a little tricky to get right.

[Belgrath]

Originally Posted by vikingisson

No worries about the blaster blocking the normal remote. If everything else works well you won't be using the native remote very often however it shouldn't be affected. I'd be surprised if that IR port on the STB does what you think it should, it might but then most likely only with specific models of specific boxes just like everything proprietary. Sad fact of the market and too bad we have to resort to silly blasters or even firewire which is something to check if your box can do that, it will be more reliable and not look as bad. The blasters do work, just a little tricky to get right.

Cool, I'll give it a whirl this weekend.

How about multiple recordings at the same time. In the past with my TVTuner card I was able to do 2 recordings, while still being able to watch a third (one feed into the TVTuner while a second feed going to the TV) From what I can gather so far, I'm going to need another HD box to something remotely close to this.

[Belgrath]

Originally Posted by Belgrath

Cool, I'll give it a whirl this weekend.

How about multiple recordings at the same time. In the past with my TVTuner card I was able to do 2 recordings, while still being able to watch a third (one feed into the TVTuner while a second feed going to the TV) From what I can gather so far, I'm going to need another HD box to something remotely close to this.

connected up SageTv6.5 and the HDPVR, for whatever reason I cannot get SageTV to control the Hauppague, in addition when I use the supplied Hauppague remote, I can't get it to control the digital box either. Yes, the blaster is setup correctly, and I've used the Blaster config to do a few tests.

I'm using a Scientific Atlanta 4250HD ... selected the 4200 option in the config.

[Belgrath]

Originally Posted by Belgrath

connected up SageTv6.5 and the HDPVR, for whatever reason I cannot get SageTV to control the Hauppague, in addition when I use the supplied Hauppague remote, I can't get it to control the digital box either. Yes, the blaster is setup correctly, and I've used the Blaster config to do a few tests.

I'm using a Scientific Atlanta 4250HD ... selected the 4200 option in the config.

The IR config file test seems to be working as intented, I'm going to see if there's any config menu specifically for the IR blaster within sage.