Just the FAQs: how about some updates?

[Opus4]

The main Frey Technologies web site has:

• SageTV Frequently Asked Questions
• SageRecorder Frequently Asked Questions

And the forum has threads for:

• SageTV FAQ
• SageRecorder FAQ

But, as you may notice, there are many more questions that aren't covered, many of which seem to get asked weekly, if not daily. I would like to propose that we begin to add more Q&A to those threads as a resource to help new users get familiarized with certain elements of SageTV that seem to be consistent causes of questions or problems.

To go along with extending the FAQs, how about the following:

1) If you know of a question and can answer it in a short message, please post your Q & A in the appropriate FAQ thread.

2) If you know of a question, but it needs quite a long answer, perhaps create a new thread discussing the topic & its solution. Then, post a Q & short A in the FAQ, along with a link to the full description. There are some long threads that can be good resources, but if they are all made to be 'sticky' so that they stay at the top of the list, you begin to have to wade through quite a bit to see actual new topics.

3) If you know of a popular question, but are not completely sure of the answer, post a Q to the FAQ thread so that someone else can quote it & answer it. Once answered, the post containing the original question could be deleted.

4) The moderators may need to be involved if an answer isn't quite correct, or the thread drifts from its purpose -- the goal being to end up with nothing more than posts containing Q&A. No offense if a post is removed... as mentioned #3, once a question is answered, it doesn't need to stick around.

So... what do you think? Anyone interested, or is it easier/more fun to answer the same questions all the time?

- Andy

[edmc]

I'd suggest an "owner" for the FAQ Answers thread (with the moderator asked to ensure that replies are blocked) and a 2nd thread with FAQ Q&A discussions. Let's keep the actual (sticky) FAQ clean.

[Opus4]

Originally posted by edmc
I'd suggest an "owner" for the FAQ Answers thread (with the moderator asked to ensure that replies are blocked) and a 2nd thread with FAQ Q&A discussions. Let's keep the actual (sticky) FAQ clean.

OK... That was why I suggested deleting posts as needed, but your idea is even better. This thread has been started, so it can get as dirty as it needs to be...

Oh yeah: unless Frey was already planning a much-improved FAQ when V2 comes out? Though it still might be useful to have linkable answers to point people to them in the forum. If there is a non-forum FAQ, it would be useful to have the questions linked to answers so the links can be used here.

- Andy

[Opus4]

No one else is interested? Maybe just a few ideas to get started?

• How often does SageTV schedule recordings? How many days in advance? (3, but manual recordings can be set for any time the covered by the guide) Done. Other topics to cover for this one?
  
• My favorite isn't set to record... why? Conflicts are minimized & it may be scheduled to record another airing; the show was watched; etc. Done.
  
• How do I turn on the UI for the 350's svideo out?
  
• I want to put a tuner in my client machine... how do I get the client to record? Use SageRecorder & use <some instructions> to set it up.
  
• How do I save my shows to a DVD & be able to play them on my DVD player?
  
• What do the colored backgrounds mean behind the show titles in the LiveTV guide?

Others subjects?

Just kill this idea?

- Andy

[salsbst]

The idea is a good one. Writing good, general purpose answers that do more good than harm (by being completely accurate and not omitting anything) is the hard part.... at least for me. A couple more FAQs:

What options do I have for controlling SageTV using a remote control?
What options do I have for controlling a set top box from SageTV?

[Opus4]

Originally posted by salsbst
The idea is a good one. Writing good, general purpose answers that do more good than harm (by being completely accurate and not omitting anything) is the hard part....

While incorrect information would certainly be bad, perfection isn't needed -- just a basic explanantion to get people started. It could always be expanded if someone thinks an important point was skipped.

What options do I have for controlling SageTV using a remote control?

I've already started that one for the Hauppauge remote or for using a replacement that still uses the Hauppaue IR receiver. It would be great if someone could add info for getting started with another IR receiver and/or Girder. I know there is info for that on the forum, but a short FAQ description with links to those threads would be useful.

- Andy