SageTv on WHS Help with errors please

[meno]

i would really love to buy SageTv but am having a hard time getting it to work on my WHS (Windows Home Server)

I can schedule recordings which record ok but i can not seem to play anything, Live TV or Recorded Videos just throw an error

First it was "playback exception error" rendering video, i also could not play the recorded videos, i then installed a trial of PowerDVD9 and now i can play the recorded videos in Windows Media Player.

Still cannot play in SageTv thou, "playback exception error" rendering audio now.

I have tried all combinations i can think of in the settings Audio, Direct / Wave / Realtek HD etc, have tried different codec settings.

Has anyone else managed to play SageTv on a WHS?

i previously had WinTv7 installed which came with my Hauppage Nova 500 DVB PCI Twin Tuner, this worked fine but really want Sage as it appears to be an excellent program!

Please can someone help.

Thanks in advance


Intel 82945G Graphics
Realtek HD Sound
Celeron 1.8ghz
Shuttle K45

[meno]

Just to make it more confusing i have just tried playing videos from my system which have not been recorded and i get sound on .avi .mpg and .wmv but no picture or error??????

[gplasky]

WHS is not designed for the playback of video. You would need to install DirectX. WHS is designed to be used with HD Extenders or PC clients. Also make sure you installed java on the WHS.

Gerry

[meno]

Thanks, i have directx and java installed.

media player will play my video files so i cant understand why Sagetv wont??

[gplasky]

If these are the specs of your WHS machine

Intel 82945G Graphics
Realtek HD Sound
Celeron 1.8ghz
Shuttle K45

You should try the SageTV PC Client software from another PC with better specs to see if they play. Those specs aren't really going to do well trying to video. Did you reboot the machine after adding PowerDVD? And is that what you have chosen in SageTV. Try using overlay for video. And do you actually have the Intel video driver installed on your WHS or the generic VGA?

Gerry

[meno]

yes they are the specs, i built it for a low power WHS

Have tried overlay and rebooted, intel drivers not vga

trying another pc as a client now.. will report back later

thanks

[meno]

yep the client route works well.

Now what shall i do? i have a WHS pc built to be silent sitting in the lounge connected to the Tv and cant watch videos with it?

Do i need to build another pc to put next to it?? £££'s

What software would i need to buy for this setup, Sagetv on WHS and a client PC next to it?

I wish i could find the correct codecs!

Thanks

[gplasky]

Even easier is buy the SageTV HD Theater. (HD200) it's about $200, silent and you don't mess with any codecs. And it's already licensed for you. You'll need to rip DVDs to the server (doesn't have a DVD drive) but this is the route a lot of people are taking. I have one and love it. I have the WHS in the basement with the cablebox, router and switch.

You may need more than just DirectX installed to get video to play on WHS. But again WHS isn't designed to be a PC for playback.

Gerry

[meno]

where in the UK can i get a HD200? thanks

[doc]

Originally Posted by meno

where in the UK can i get a HD200? thanks

From the Sage website. Its the only place you can get them.

They'll sent it airmail but you'll probably get stung for import tax which you have to pay royal mail before/when you collect from their depot. I think that was about £35 if I remember.

[meno]

Thanks, would be cheaper to but an Atom ION with HD Audio HDMI etc, seen a friends setup with one and it does 1080p perfect.

How do i buy the SageTv software, couldnt see the WHS version in the shop?

Thanks

[doc]

On the store tab, click on software and you need the windows version.

While they produce a version for WHS, its the same license as the media centre for windows license, so you can move to an XP or vista server if you like. Thats $79.99. You'd then need to get a client license for the second - if you go the ION way. $29.99. You can get them together in a bundle for $99.95

You can get the HD200 with the SageTV media centre windows license and its currently reduced at $224.95

I have an HD200 and a client. I personally recommend the HD200 as you just plug it on and off it goes, no hassle. Its also completely silent, no fans whatsoever.

Take a look at my sig block and theres a link to a diagram of my system.

[RymCo]

I currently have a WHS with a trial of the WHS version of Sage Media Server installed. I would like to buy an HD200 but would like to bundle it with a Sage license. Are you saying the bundled license will also work with my current WHS trial install?

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by RymCo

I currently have a WHS with a trial of the WHS version of Sage Media Server installed. I would like to buy an HD200 but would like to bundle it with a Sage license. Are you saying the bundled license will also work with my current WHS trial install?

If you are asking that if you buy the HD200 bundle with the SageTV software, can you use that software key for your WHS setup? Then the answer is yes. The WHS and Windows version of SageTV use the same keys. So while buying one software SageTV version give you one license, it can be used for either regular windows (XP, Vista, 7, etc) or WHS.

I actually originally had my SageTV server running on XP Pro. I just changed it over to a WHS machine this weekend and simply had to shut down the first server and uninstall it, and then use that original key to install the new WHS version. No problems at all!

[RymCo]

Perfect!! Thank you!