Total Noob Question

[Old_Skool]

So we currently have the whole enchilada package from Comcast ($180/month) - but with pay-cuts etc. we need to drastically cut the budget.

Looking at very basic phone and DSL - cutting the cable - and going to digital broadcast TV (our reception is very good - metro area - HD on a few channels).

So can SageTV be a DVR for broadcast TV ? If so - I guess I would get the scheduling info off of DSL for our local broadcasts ?

Once things level out we may put in basic cable but that could be months away.

I've got a decent spare Pentium IV (Dual Core) box I could easily outfit with video HW and Linux (I'm an ex HW designer).

We have an older Hitachi Projection TV (60") that will support 1080i

Any Help is Much Appreciated !!! Video & Video Standards is just not something I ever jumped into - so I guess now is the time.

[GKusnick]

Yes, SageTV works well for OTA digital broadcast TV. Most people here would probably recommend the HDHomeRun dual-tuner device, which connects to your SageTV PC by Ethernet. There are also a number of good PCI and USB digital tuners available.

Whichever tuner you choose, you'll get your program guide info over the Internet from servers operated by SageTV LLC (data provided by Zap2It).

[Old_Skool]

Wow - thanks the info and fast response. I really want to start getting all this nailed down ASAP.

[Tiki]

You just need to be sure that whatever capture hardware you choose is capable of working with the "new" digital ATSC over the air broadcasts. Since the US just transitioned from Analog to digital broadcasting about a week ago, you may still find many devices around that are designed to work with the "old" Analog NTSC broadcasts.

As mentioned above, the Silicon Dust HDHomerun is very popular and works with both ATSC over the air digital broadcasts and QAM Unencrypted Digital Cable. Based on what most people here have posted, it appears to have one of the best tuners for handling both weak and overly-strong signals. It is an external box that connects to your PC via ethernet, so you don't even need a spare slot inside your PC to use it. The only downside to the HDHomerun is that it cannot record shows from a cable or satellite converter box.

[Old_Skool]

Good point - but if I have a converter box (from the government coupon deal) that should convert the digital broadcast to analog format.

So I was looking at a converter card with dual inputs - one analog and one digital.

Does that sound right ?

Again thanks for the help

[stanger89]

But you really, really don't want to use a box with OTA, that adds huge amounts (comparitively) of complexity and quality reduction.

If you use a box you have to use an IR blaster to control it, and you end up recording a crappy analog downconversion of the original signal.

What you really want if you want to record OTA, is an ATSC tuner card connected directly to the antenna. No IR blasters, no signal degredation, no complexity.

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by Old_Skool

... and going to digital broadcast TV (our reception is very good - metro area - HD on a few channels).

Once things level out we may put in basic cable but that could be months away.

OK, here is my suggestion. Get a HDHomerun and a SageTV HD200. This will allow you to record 2 shows (you didn't say how many viewers at the house) and play them back on ANY TV with no worry on stressing the server and no IR blaster etc. issues. The HD200 will set you back a bit, but will make everything easier.

When you going back to cable, you can get yourself a Hauppauge HVR-1600, which would allow you to record off of cable too. (or something older off of ebay)

[enaumchuk]

Check out AVerTVHD Duet PCI-E card. It's a very good inexpensive dual-tuner ATSC (no analog) card. I got two of them at newegg.com and very happy with them. With two cards I have 4 tuners and so far I didn't get ANY recording conflicts.

[ex-tivoman]

i made the switch 4 months ago but kept my directv w/ tivo for 2 of them. by the end of 2 months wew were not using tivo at all.

check out the WHS version as well. im sure the linux version is great but the WHS works as a great headless server. the operating system is about $100 bucks.

i use the hdhomerun and love it. i messed around awhile trying to get mythbuntu to work, but it was a real pain. the WHS and Sage and WD200 really is a great setup.

after awhile, you'll forget about HBO - i've watched it less and less since sopranos left.

[Old_Skool]

Thanks for all the great info !! I'm still processing and thinking of the best way to do this - but we are going this way.

I'm a somewhere between a competent Linux user and a bit of a hack as I've built and used Linux servers. But that said I don't feel confident I could maintain "peace in the house" if my Linux DVR started acting up due to some minor / obscure issue. This baby needs to be at least a stable as Comcast is leasing us.

Most likely I'll use my XP-Pro box and just nuke it and use it as the SageTv server.

I'm open to any comments on that idea ... thanks again

[tahoetim]

for peace in the house you really need to consider the WHS suggestion over linux and get at least one hd200. You could use a 2250 card in the box too.

[pjpjpjpj]

Old_Skool,

Read the attachment in the first post here:
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?p=354538

[Polypro]

Since you asked for suggestions...

What is cheaper: Basic phone w/DSL or Basic Cable w/Cable Internet?

Would just using your cellphone as the house phone be cheaper? (A DSL only option)

Either way, I'd go HDHomerun for OTA Broadcast or QAM Cable. The only reason you would need to go with an internal card is if you go back to Cable Box/Satellite and you don't want an HDPVR.

I'd do WHS with the HD200 as well. I'd go with Vista (I use it) but I don't think your old XP box hardware would make for a smooth transition. I never liked XP for a Sage Server...it was ok, but I've had 0 problems with WHS or Vista.

P