Does my upgrade plan sound right?

[budgie]

Ahhhh -- you mean that if I were to use the HD PVR blasters, they would be commanded by the PC via the USB connection? If so, suddenly things make much more sense.

[Djc208]

Yes, you would use EITHER the Hauppage IR blaster, OR the USB-UIRT to control the set-top box. Sage controls either one directly via it's connection to the computer.

The problem is that you can only have one Hauppage IR blaster per computer. The Hauppage software can't see any more. So to control more than one cable box you have to go to some other control method for the cable/sat box, like the USB-UIRT, serial, or firewire control.

So you need to connect the USB-UIRT to control both cable boxes like in the diagram (I don't use this so I can't help with setup). And then connect the HD-PVRs via their USB cables as well. You will not connect the Hauppage IR blasters or install the Hauppage IR software.

[budgie]

Awesome, thanks. Sounds like I'll be replicating the setup I have now. Unless anyone suggests otherwise, I guess I'll install the remote and remote software first, then the UIRTs, then the HD PVRs, and finally Sage.

[budgie]

Originally Posted by Clift

Vista was a bit more painful, but Windows 7 is pretty easy. Actually it's easier than XP was because it's all graphical with mouse support. As for the length, just get an RCA cable. Since the adapter is female, a male-to-male cable should work. The only thing you need to look out for is that the VGA port may not automatically be configured to output TV. You may have to connect the TV as a "second" monitor while you configure the VGA to TV-out. However, I have had it where an NVIDIA card detected it was connected to a TV. And my old All In Wonder x800 did the automatic detection too, but that card had a breakout dongle.

Ok, the VGA -> S-video on the TV didn't work by default; can you advise me on how to set up the TV as a second monitor while the regular monitor is occupying the VGA port? I'm probably missing something obvious ...

[budgie]

Just wanted to post a note of thanks to everyone who helped me out in this thread and the other one I started. I've got the system all set up, and other than the well-known HD PVR quirkiness (requiring an occasional power cycle of the units), I've gotten v7 running smoothly and am about to start researching the HDTV side of things (focusing on 1080 per the suggestion in this thread; hopefully the video card is up to it! ) You guys rock!