Some really basic questions--please be patient!

[tomcj]

First, sorry for posting something so basic--but I'm a complete imbecile when it comes to this stuff. I've been reading the forum for a couple of days, but I haven't been able to figure it out.

If this thread is in the wrong place, again sorry, and please move it to where it should be.

I'm looking to set up SageTV so I can: (a) have full PVR capabilities with my HDTV; and (b) also play movies stored on a hard drive. My TV service is via cable from Brighthouse Networks (St. Pete, FL), and I presently have a cable box (no DVR).

This is what I think I need: (a) SageTV server, located somewhere far from my TV where its HDD noise won't be annoying; (b) Hauppague HD-PVR connected to my cable box, in order to decrypt the signal from the cable company, and also connected to the server via a USB cable; (c) a STP-HD200 next to my TV, connected both to the server and the TV (via an HTMI cable).

So here are my (dumb) questions:

1. How do the PVR functions work? Are they controlled through the HD-PVR or the STP-HD200, or SageTV on the server? (totally confused here!)

2. If I want to watch TV and record on another channel, can I do this? Does the live TV signal have to go from cable box --> HD-PVR --> server --> STP-HD200 --> TV?

3. How many channels can I record simultaneously? For example, can I record two channels and watch one live (like I can now do on a DVR connected to another TV)?

4. Can I configure my system to play movies stored on the server on any of several TVs (each with their own STP-HD200)? If so, would it be possible to be watching two different movies simultaneously on two different TVs?

5. I can still implement SageTV's commercial-skipping protocols, right?

HELP!

[HelenWeathers]

Originally Posted by tomcj

1. How do the PVR functions work? Are they controlled through the HD-PVR or the STP-HD200, or SageTV on the server? (totally confused here!)

The HD200 controls the SageTV server. The SageTV server controls the HD PVR or other internal/external tuners. On the HD200 you can watch you recordings and DVDs, BDs etc and you can set up the recordings that you want to make.

2. If I want to watch TV and record on another channel, can I do this? Does the live TV signal have to go from cable box --> HD-PVR --> server --> STP-HD200 --> TV?

The Output from your STB goes into your HD PVR and into your PC's recordings directory. Recordings are fed from the server's HDD to the HD200. If you want to record/watch a second channel you'll need a second HD PVR and a second STB. Or maybe you live in an area where you can receive your network stations OTA (over the air) and could add an internal tuner (Hauppauge 2250, AverTV HD Duet) for those. If you wanted to watch/record 3 channels you'll need three tuners/sources.

3. How many channels can I record simultaneously? For example, can I record two channels and watch one live (like I can now do on a DVR connected to another TV)?

I have six tuners (4 OTA and 2 STBs) and record six programs at once, or record 4 and watch two others live, or record 5 and watch one other live etc. You can watch a recording while it's recording or watch live on another available tuner from each HD200.

4. Can I configure my system to play movies stored on the server on any of several TVs (each with their own STP-HD200)? If so, would it be possible to be watching two different movies simultaneously on two different TVs?

Yes.

5. I can still implement SageTV's commercial-skipping protocols, right?

Don't use it myself, but it is available as an add-on.

[tomcj]

Wow, thanks for the prompt reply. I really appreciate it.

Just to make sure I understand: The HD-PVR captures the signal coming out of the setbox, which is one channel. That's the only TV signal that can be either shown live or recorded, right? The cable service can provide a DVR that can read ALL the signals, at the same time, and thus it can record two and show one--the only limitation being, probably, the write speed on the hard drive. But since I don't have access to that unencrypted signal, I can only work on the captured one, which is why it's not possible to show one channel and record another.

Unless, as you say, I get another set top box and another HD-PVR.

Do I have this right?

[HelenWeathers]

Originally Posted by tomcj

The HD-PVR captures the signal coming out of the setbox, which is one channel. That's the only TV signal that can be either shown live or recorded, right? The cable service can provide a DVR that can read ALL the signals, at the same time, and thus it can record two and show one--the only limitation being, probably, the write speed on the hard drive. But since I don't have access to that unencrypted signal, I can only work on the captured one, which is why it's not possible to show one channel and record another.

Unless, as you say, I get another set top box and another HD-PVR.

Do I have this right?

Yes.

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by tomcj

Do I have this right?

Well, not quite. It's definitely true that you'll need a separate STB/HD-PVR for each simultaneous recording you want to make, and that's the important part.

However it's not true that the cable provider's DVR can decrypt all channels simultaneously. That's not how it works. There isn't one massive encrypted signal that contains all the channels. Rather, each channel is a separate bitstream that is first encrypted (or not, but that's getting rarer) and then modulated onto the cable at its own frequency. Receiving a channel requires first tuning and demodulating it, and then (if necessary) decrypting that channel's individual bitstream. So to record or display N channels at once, the cable DVR must contain N parallel tuner/demodulator/decrypter pipelines. This is what you're mimicking with your multiple STB/HD-PVR pipelines.

(Hard disk speed is not a practical limitation. Even hi-def bitrates are an order of magnitude smaller than typical hard disk transfer rates.)

[tomcj]

Again, thanks so much for the information.

So . . . if I want to record one station while I view another I need two STB/HD-PVRs. I just called my cable company and the extra STB will cost me $6/month, which I can live with. I assume both HD-PVRs will feed signal to my server.

So the question now is: Can the SageTV software deal with two signals like that? Would I still control my TV through the STP-HD200? Is there any confusion resulting from the two STBs? (In other words, are there anything tricky about this kind of setup?)

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by tomcj

Again, thanks so much for the information.

So . . . if I want to record one station while I view another I need two STB/HD-PVRs. I just called my cable company and the extra STB will cost me $6/month, which I can live with. I assume both HD-PVRs will feed signal to my server.

You need as many "sources" as you want simultaneous recordings. Now, both live TV and regular recodings count as recordings.

As far as sources there are several options:

• HD PVR + HD STB
• SD "tuner" + HD or SD STB (but only records in SD).
• Analog tuner (records analog SD channels)
• Digital cable (QAM) tuner (records clear/unencrypted HD/SD digital cable channels)
• Digital OTA (ATSC) tuner (records HD/SD OTA channels)

The best solution is usually to come up with some hybrid system using more than one of these. For example there are times where there are as many as three shows airing that I want to record. I've got Dish Network, but I've found I don't need 3 Dish STBs+3 HD-PVRs. For me I've found I can get by with one Dish STB+HD-PVR which handles the Dish-only channels and an HD Homerun (dual tuner) which records my locals.

I've found I need fewer tuners for Dish because the "cable" networks usually run their primetime lineups twice each night so even if there are two shows on at the same time on Dish, Sage can record one on the early airing and on on the late airing.

So the question now is: Can the SageTV software deal with two signals like that?

Sage can handle as many sources as you can physically fit in your system.

Would I still control my TV through the STP-HD200? Is there any confusion resulting from the two STBs? (In other words, are there anything tricky about this kind of setup?)

Sage presents all your sources in one cohesive guide, as a user you never even deal with sources directly. All you ever deal with is either recorded shows, or the program guide, Sage handles the management of sources in the background.