SageTV + HD PVR + Dish VIP722 Question

[moothekow]

Here is my situation:
I have my HTPC and a Dish VIP722 in my basement. In my bedroom I have a Sage HD200. My end goal is to be able to watch content from the VIP722 in my bedroom (largely interested in live late-night sporting events). Before dropping $200 on the HD PVR - I was wondering if this will even work for my needs. From my reading it sounds like the HD PVR has an IR blaster that it can change channels with on the VIP722. So - does that mean it can work sort of like a slingbox where I can just be viewing whatever is coming out of my VIP622 via my sageTV and have sageTV turn the channel for me if need be? While it will be nice to do - actually scheduling/recording the output and saving it on my SageTV server isn't my top priority -- I mainly just want to be able to watch a live feed coming out of my VIP722.

Is this possible? Is there a better solution? Also - I read somewhere that the component output and HDMI output from the VIP722 both work at the same time - is there anyone here who can actually confirm this? (I have to use HDMI to output to my projector in my basement.. but it looks like the HD PVR has component inputs).

Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions/help!

[Beefcake550]

well, you need a machine running SageTV to record the VIP722. Then, the HD200 could connect to that sage server. The sage server would control the VIP722.

I don't know about the component/HDMI outputing at the same time, someone else would need to comment on that. If that didn't work, you could get another HD200 for the projector in the basement.

So, you'll need the sage tv server and posibly another HD200 to get what you want.

[moothekow]

Originally Posted by Beefcake550

well, you need a machine running SageTV to record the VIP722. Then, the HD200 could connect to that sage server. The sage server would control the VIP722.

I don't know about the component/HDMI outputing at the same time, someone else would need to comment on that. If that didn't work, you could get another HD200 for the projector in the basement.

So, you'll need the sage tv server and posibly another HD200 to get what you want.

Perhaps I was unclear. Here is what I currently have:

Basement:
- HTPC currently running a SageTV Server. (with 3 OTA tuners hooked up).
- VIP722 DVR

Bedroom:
- HD200 that connects to the SageTV server downstairs (which lets me watch all the OTA stuff currently).

So - Would I get the results I want if I took the following action:

Get an HD PVR. Hook up the HD PVR to the SageTV server and my VIP722.
- At this point the SageTV could control the VIP722 using the IR Blaster that comes with the HD PVR?

[Savage1701]

Just one thing - I would suggest spending $50 on a USB-UIRT and have it do the channel changing for your HD-PVR. Hauppauge products that have IR blasters fight for control of blaster port. It's a battle you probably can't win. I tried, bought a USB-UIRT and have not had a single issue. It's probably the best piece of hardware for making problems go away with HD_PVR's and such there is. And it can handle up to 3 seperate blaster channels.

[moothekow]

Originally Posted by Savage1701

Just one thing - I would suggest spending $50 on a USB-UIRT and have it do the channel changing for your HD-PVR. Hauppauge products that have IR blasters fight for control of blaster port. It's a battle you probably can't win. I tried, bought a USB-UIRT and have not had a single issue. It's probably the best piece of hardware for making problems go away with HD_PVR's and such there is. And it can handle up to 3 seperate blaster channels.

Thanks for the advice. Does that mean you think my proposed setup will work like I'm hoping?

[stanger89]

I do it with a VIP211.

[Beefcake550]

yeah, it'll work. Worst case scenario is the VIP711 doesn't do simultaneous outputs and then you'll either need to constantly swap cables or get another HD200 for downstairs.

Good luck!

[Beefcake550]

oh, and don't bother with the IR built itno the HD-PVR.....I tried it once, failed miserably, and move onto serial->USB control (I have DirecTV).

[fidget]

Originally Posted by stanger89

I do it with a VIP211.

I second that. Here is my setup at home:

1 VIP722 connected to the main TV in the living room. This does most of my non-archival recording. We also have it set up to that we can watch that DVR from anywhere in the house.

SageTV with the following
AMD-64 3500+ with 1 Gig of RAM
2 HDHRs for recording OTA HD broadcasts
1 HD-PVR connected to a VIP-211K and controlled via a USB-UIRT (I am hoping this will become 2 at Christmas time).
3 HD extenders

I find that the HD-PVR files are a bit slower when skipping through commercials that the MPEGs are, but that is just the PC. Also, only having one tuner on the Sage box does not work for making it a full time replacement of the VIP-722, which can record two shows at a time.

If you can get two (or more) VIP-211ks then you could just go with a pure Sage system. The output of the HD-PVR looks great.

[fidget]

Originally Posted by Beefcake550

yeah, it'll work. Worst case scenario is the VIP711 doesn't do simultaneous outputs and then you'll either need to constantly swap cables or get another HD200 for downstairs.

Good luck!

It does energize both the HDMI and component outputs. Before I got the HD-PVR, we ran the component outputs to the theater room (my wife needs to watch her football on the 120" screen in there).

[moothekow]

Crap... just realized that while I can do video via HDMI to my projector and component video to HD PVR - I am not sure how I will handle audio. Does the VIP output to both optical audio out and Left/ Right RCA audio at the same time? (5.1 audio isn't a big deal going through the SageTV since my media extender in my bedroom is just hooked up to the TV which only does stereo output anyways).

[fidget]

Originally Posted by moothekow

Crap... just realized that while I can do video via HDMI to my projector and component video to HD PVR - I am not sure how I will handle audio. Does the VIP output to both optical audio out and Left/ Right RCA audio at the same time? (5.1 audio isn't a big deal going through the SageTV since my media extender in my bedroom is just hooked up to the TV which only does stereo output anyways).

I know that there is analog stereo (that is what was run to the theater room) and would assume that the optical output would be active, too.

[moothekow]

Originally Posted by fidget

I know that there is analog stereo (that is what was run to the theater room) and would assume that the optical output would be active, too.

Or - if I actually paid attention to back of the HD PVR I would see that it has optical audio pass-through... so I can use the audio to that and then loop it back to my receiver.

[msurebel]

I'm also looking at getting the 722, which has a DVR, so why are you using a HD-PVR if you have the 722 running thru your MC, and it can also record HD? Is it to allow you to record more than one show at a time or what?

[fidget]

The VIP-722 records two satellite programs at once (plus one OTA program). I prefer the HD-PVR solution because it is easier to distribute through the house.

[moothekow]

Originally Posted by fidget

The VIP-722 records two satellite programs at once (plus one OTA program). I prefer the HD-PVR solution because it is easier to distribute through the house.

Just had a thought -- is the SageTV able to send commands to the VIP722 to get it to start playing back something it has recorded on it (as opposed to just flipping a channel during live TV)

[fidget]

Originally Posted by moothekow

Just had a thought -- is the SageTV able to send commands to the VIP722 to get it to start playing back something it has recorded on it (as opposed to just flipping a channel during live TV)

That would be rather hard to do. This is what you need to do in order to play back a recorded program:
Press DVR twice
Scroll down to the desired recording (this list changes as recordings are made)
Press Select twice to continue from the previous playback point or PLAY to start from the beginning.

You would also need some way to pass the FF/RW through to the DVR

It would really be easier to just have Sage control the VIP-211k(s) directly.