Want to buy, have questions and problems

[cjalphonso]

I Downloaded the software to check it out. Here's my setup:
Pentium 4 1.6
1gig ram
invidia 64 video
Running XP home
NO tv card yet

1. I don't get any of the programming information, should I get this even thought I don't have a TV card yet? This could be a router problem, but want to confirm I should get it before I go down that road.

2. I can't seem to play any DVD's from the local drive. It gives me an error. Could this be a codec problem? I don't want to buy a codec if this should work with something free. Windows MP doesn't play any either, but other programs do.

3. Does the SageTV home theater box need a codec to play dvd's from my XP machine? Does the video get rendered on the Home theater box or does the PC need to do the work? I don't have a need to see the video on the box as it will be a server, just concerned about question #2.

I'm very interested in doing a full SageTV setup including a stand alone server and Home theater boxes at each tv. However, after having these issues I'm a little worried about what I'm about to jump into. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by cjalphonso

I Downloaded the software to check it out. Here's my setup:
Pentium 4 1.6
1gig ram
invidia 64 video
Running XP home
NO tv card yet

1. I don't get any of the programming information, should I get this even thought I don't have a TV card yet? This could be a router problem, but want to confirm I should get it before I go down that road.

2. I can't seem to play any DVD's from the local drive. It gives me an error. Could this be a codec problem? I don't want to buy a codec if this should work with something free. Windows MP doesn't play any either, but other programs do.

3. Does the SageTV home theater box need a codec to play dvd's from my XP machine? Does the video get rendered on the Home theater box or does the PC need to do the work? I don't have a need to see the video on the box as it will be a server, just concerned about question #2.

I'm very interested in doing a full SageTV setup including a stand alone server and Home theater boxes at each tv. However, after having these issues I'm a little worried about what I'm about to jump into. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

1. No guide data is because you do not have a tuner. During tuner setup, you tell Sage where you are getting your television thru. Without this step, Sage has no idea which guide lineup to download.

2. This is because the out of the box decoders can not handle the encryption of DVD's. What are you using to playback videos currently? Often times you probably have WinDVD installed which then all you need to do is select those in the Sage setup and then sage can use those decoders (that can decode the encryption).

3. In order to play dvd's on the HD200, you need to rip them to a hard drive somewhere (or run AnyDVD HD on your server). In the ripping process, many programs (I use DVDFAB HD), remove the encryption. This is necessary for the HD200 to playback as it can not use encrypted DVD's. Also, all video rendering is done on the HD200. Your server really does very little. As long as you aren't trying to use placeshifter or comskip, you should be fine (even comskip will work, it will just take its time to complete!).

[cjalphonso]

Wow, thanks for answering all of my questions. I'll try switching the decoder in the setup to what I'm currently using.

So if I run the Anydvd Hd, I should be able to run a rented DVD from my server through the HD200? This would solve my issues as I am trying to get rid of all the dvd players around the house and use this system for everything.
Thanks again

[adone36]

When you look at tuners, take a good look at the Silicon Dust HDHomerun. I tried half a dozen cards. Comcast in my area uses 2 different clear QAM setups simultaneously. The HDHR tunes EVERYTHING and has a tremendously easy set up with Sage. The others would only tune a few of my available channels.

[sainswor99]

Not trying to rain on your parade, but discussion of the removal of encryption from commercial DVD's is against the forum rules. This conversation will probably be edited by the moderators shortly, so I'd suggest you look elsewhere for those issues.

Other questions regarding SageTV are welcome, of course.

[cjalphonso]

Originally Posted by sainswor99

Not trying to rain on your parade, but discussion of the removal of encryption from commercial DVD's is against the forum rules. This conversation will probably be edited by the moderators shortly, so I'd suggest you look elsewhere for those issues.

Other questions regarding SageTV are welcome, of course.

I completely understand this statement and all its legalities. So the SageTV HD200 is incapable of playing any rented DVD legally? Legally it's pretty much for home movie DVD's only, is this correct?

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by cjalphonso

I completely understand this statement and all its legalities. So the SageTV HD200 is incapable of playing any rented DVD legally? Legally it's pretty much for home movie DVD's only, is this correct?

Without some intervention - you are correct. It isn't Sage's fault or a lack of ability in the HD200. It is completely due to the encryption built into all commercial DVDs. This prevents someone from streaming DVDs over the network which is how the HD-200 would play them.

[webwalker]

Well, that's not the WHOLE deal...

The HD200 runs Linux. There is no (legal) way to deal with CSS encryption within Linux. "too free."

So if you threw a big honkin' usb drive at the HD200 (no network, standalone mode) that had a CSS DVD file structure on it...it wouldn't be able to play it. Not because SageTV isn't capable of making it happen, but because they have enough sense not to tease the bear. Adding the library components to the HD200 that WOULD allow for CSS encrypted DVD playback would be stamping your forehead with a SUE ME sticker.

The previously mentioned method, where the encryption is dealt with at the server level, allows the HD200 to treat the structure as 'unencrypted'. And the responsibility of legality remains safely with the owner of the server, and not with SAGE, who provides not only the hardware of the HD200, but also the OS and all of the software it uses to do its job. A not unreasonable compromise considering the thoroughly lawsuit happy habits of big media since 1998 upon the signing of the DMCA.

I have thoroughly appreciated SAGE TV's design, which wisely lets you, the consumer, decide how much risk you are going to expose yourself to.

M