Rogers HD + SageTv questions

[FiDo]

Not really sure where to start with this, so I guess I'll just start with my current setup

I have a Rogers HD box connected to my TV for video and receiver for sound.
I also have my PS3 hooked up to my TV which im using to stream movies/music/pictures from my PC. Controlling the above is my Logitech Harmony remote.


I was looking into getting Roger's HDPVR, but there is no way I'm going to spend that kind of coin on a box that cannot be upgraded. This has lead my to TV tuner cards and SageTV. Since I'm relatively new to this, I have a few questions I'm hoping someone can answer. My apologies if it has been discussed in other threads, but at this point I'm not even sure what I'm searching for.

I guess my question is, what is needed for everything to be set up so everythign works together? Basically, I'm looking for a set up that works as seemlessly as the rogers HDPVR and no switching between multiple inputs...

As mentioned before, I am really just starting my research and any help would be appreciated...

[pvrpenguin]

Hi FiDo,

I am also a Rogers customer and have been using SageTV for a good 4 years now. I started with an old 1 GHz computer and a couple of analog capture cards and now have a dual core 2.5 GHz server and an HDPVR connected to my Rogers HD box along with my original two analog capture cards.

The simple answer to your question is...yes. SageTV can handle recording multiple TV shows at the same time including HD and will also allow you to stream music/movies/pictures from other sources as well. Having said that however it does also require some setup time and willingness to "tinker" every so often. The Rogers HDPVR is great since you just plug it in and it works. Going to a custom PVR solution has many benefits that I feel is worth to additional work that needs to be put into maintaining it.

One of the reasons I chose SageTV originally was for its plugin support. There is a great SageTV developer community and they have produced some awesome plugins.

As for an ideal setup I am sure everyone you ask on this forum will give you a different answer based on their personal experience. I personally think going with an HD extender is the way to go since it means you don't need to deal with video codecs, drivers etc. It also means your server can be hidden away and not in your TV room.

My basic setup is...

• AMD dual core 2.5 GHz with 2 GB RAM and 1.5 TB of storage
• Windows Home Server (have also used WinXP and Win 2003 in the past)
• Hauppauge HDPVR connected to Rogers HD box and controlled through firewire
• Hauppauge PVR250 and PVR150 analog capture cards
• SageTV HD200 extender

[DMT]

Three things you will want to look at:

1. SageTV Media Centre V6.6 - this is the essential software that runs on your PC and is the heart of the system. Free trial is available.

2. SageTV HD Theatre (HD200) - not absolutely necessary but very highly recommended. This is networked (wired or wireless) to your PC. Connects to your HDTV via HDMI. Also connects to your A/V receiver via optical. All your viewing is done on this (live TV, recorded TV, DVD, Blu-ray, music, pictures etc.).

3. Hauppauge HD-PVR - this is essential to record HDTV via component + optical from your Rogers set top box. Connects to your PC via USB. The SageTV Media Centre software running on your PC controls this.

Building a great SageTV system to run HDTV on Rogers cable will cost more (time and money) than buying Rogers HDPVR(s) but you end up with a system that is whole-house capable, not locked down (DRM), fully expandable and customizable. You can grow as your needs and budget allow.

[FiDo]

I had a feeling it would cost a little more, but like you said, you'll have more options and more for your money.

Now, the SageTv software, from what I have seen looks like a great product. My concern now is the Hauppauge HDPVR. If we are talking about the same producted (almost $300), I found it to be complete junk. This may have been due to user error, but I found it to be very laggy while changing channels and not very user friendly. Is this the product that most recommend? Or do PCI-E cards offer anything more/less?

My only other conern is havind redundent hardware. From what I can tell, the PS3 and the HD200 have similar capabilities. Does anyone know if the PS3 will allow me to watch live tv?

Lastly, I just stumbled on the Sage Theatre. Does anyone have any experience with that?

[DMT]

The HD PVR is it -- if you want to get 1080i HD content out of a Rogers STB into a PC. AverMedia is supposed to lauch a competing product but I understand it lacks 5.1 audio.

SageTV fully supports the HD PVR. I use 2 with Rogers SA 4250HD STB's. Picture quality is the same (IMO) as HDMI directly from the STB to the TV. Yes channel changes are a bit slower, mine take 5+ seconds using firewire, you can also use IR blasting. The HD PVR's are pretty stable ...if you don't mess around a lot with your system like I do!!!

The SageTV HD Theatre and SageTV HD200 are the same thing, an extender, very small, completely silent, only draws 7-10 watts. Use the PS3 for gaming and blu-ray if you want although you can play blu-ray rips on the HD200 with some minor limitations.

[FiDo]

Damn. When I had the HDPVR, I was very disappointed. The 5 second channel change was VERY annoying; to the point where the system is not worth it.

Also, again it could be user error, I was only able to record the tv show I was watching. Is that a hardware limitation, or was that due to the terrible program that was included with the HDPVR?

Im determined to find a solution.

[norburban]

Originally Posted by FiDo

Damn. When I had the HDPVR, I was very disappointed. The 5 second channel change was VERY annoying; to the point where the system is not worth it.

I'm also a SageTV + Rogers HD user since August last year. I purchased 2 Rogers HD boxes on sale last summer and have them connected to 2 HDPVRs + an analog card in the server for Basic Cable. I can record 2 full HD and 1 analog show at the same time with no issues (QuadCore Server). I record everything and don't watch any live TV, so channel changing lag time is no issue. That may be something to consider.

[wayner]

I am another Rogers HD customer using Sage. I have two HD-PVRs connected to two Rogers SA3250HD boxes. Channel change is very slow but like nourban I never watch live TV so this is not an issue for me. Why would you ever watch live TV when you can watch a little later and skip all commercials? I PVR all Leafs and Raps games and watch the games later that evening so that I can skip through all commercials, intermissions, etc. It shouldn't take you more than 60 minutes to watch a sporting event. When I pick up the remote I never go into LiveTV - I go into Sage RecordedTV and pick what I want to watch.

However the wife still likes to channel surf so I still have HD boxes at all of my HDTVs. I also have the Rogers PVR (SA8300HD) but I almost never use the PVR functionality on it since it is so crappy.

The huge advantage to the Sage system is that you can use it as a whole-house solution. I have four (soon to be five) HD-200s so that I can watch recorded TV and videos anywhere in the house. I obviously have a lot of money tied up in all of this stuff but IMHO the best solution is a Sage server with several HD-PVRs connected to HD cable boxes plus HD-200s at each TV in your house. You may still want cable boxes at your TVs if you or your wife can't break the channel surfing habit. Obviously this is not cheap as I have several thousand dollars worth or hardware between a Sage/WHS server, HD-PVRs, HD-200s, extra HD cable boxes, etc. You can save money by buying HD cable boxes on sale - Boxing Day is usually the best time as I bought three HD cable boxes for $99 each at the Futershop/Best Buy 2008 Boxing Day sales. But I still have several thousand dollars tied up in all of this.

But at least the Sage boxes have fallen abruptly in C$! I bought my first Sage HD-200s when they were first introduced in Dec 2008 for US$200 which was about C$260. They are now under C$200 thanks to the strength of the C$ and the US$20 price decrease.