Thinking about going with DirecTV - What will I need to make it work with SageTV?

[gtd885a]

I did some searching, but only found bits and pieces of the answers, so I apologize if this has been answered. I would appreciate links if so...

Anyway, I'm thinking of signing up with DirecTV based on their current offer (which changes tomorrow, 7/14) - see http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthr...5845&t=2124950

If I get the basic package and end up with one of the H24 boxes, what else do I need to be able to record HD with SageTV, and how much work is it going to be to do? I assume I need to buy a HD-PVR, and some sort of usb/serial adapter to control it with, right?

My setup right now is, Sage server in the basement with HDHR and an HD200 upstairs in the living room with my TV. I will eventually have a home theater in the basement right next to the equipment closet (where the Sage server and HDHR are), and maybe 1 or 2 more HD200's.

Do the HD-PVR and DirecTV boxes need to be in the same location as the Sage server? If so, how would I go about controlling them from the living room upstairs (which is currently the main viewing area)?

What else am I missing? Thanks in advance.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by gtd885a

...what else do I need to be able to record HD with SageTV, and how much work is it going to be to do? I assume I need to buy a HD-PVR, and some sort of usb/serial adapter to control it with, right?

Aside from Sage, you'll need an HD PVR and something to control the STB. That something could be the IR blaster on the HD PVR, a USB-UIRT, or something like a Paterson adapter.

People seem to have varying success with the HD PVR's blaster, I personally wouldn't recommend that, but it would not be a bad starting/experimenting point.

I use a USB-UIRT with my Dish box (serial option) and it's been flawless for as long as I've had it.

My interpretation of the Paterson adapter is that if it works with the box you've got, it's a great solution, probably slightly faster than the USB-UIRT, but given my good experience with the UIRT, I can't see it being more reliable than "perfect".

Do the HD-PVR and DirecTV boxes need to be in the same location as the Sage server?

The short answer is yes. The longer answer is it depends on how much effort/complexity/cost you want to go through. The HD PVR needs to be connected to the STB, and the PC needs to be able to control the STB. Easiest way to do that is to locate them all together. You can get around that if necessary by using really long component cables and IR distribution systems, but that gets expensive and complex rather quickly.

If so, how would I go about controlling them from the living room upstairs (which is currently the main viewing area)?

What's important to understand is you don't control the STB, Sage does. To you, you can't tell there's an STB involved. Nothing changes in the way you use SageTV. What changes is behind the scenes, when you tell Sage you want to view, or it's time to record a show, it knows an STB is involved and sends the appropriate commands (ia IR or serial) to the STB and starts the recording.

The only impact to you as a user, is channel changes take longer than just a tuner, but operation is exactly the same.

[gtd885a]

Ok, thanks for the response, Stanger89. I wasn't thinking it through very well, but I understand it now I think. As you said, the HD-PVR, the Sage server, and the STB need to be together, so they would all go in my equipment closet in the basement. So there would be no "front end" changes.

Do you have any idea which (Dish or DirecTV) is easier to get working with Sage (or more reliable, etc.)? How buggy is this setup going to be? I really want something that just works.

I guess my other option would be to wait for the new HDHR with cablecard support. Stinks that both sat. providers make you sign 2 year contracts...

[stanger89]

Not sure what to tell you reliability wise. My Dish setup has been great, I'm sure a similar DTV one would be as well. Personally I'd just pick based on which service meets your need better, you can make either work.

[gtd885a]

Thanks again for the feedback. If I did order with either DirecTV or Dish, there is no reason for me to get the HD-DVRs, right? I just want their regular HD boxes (which I assume would change channels faster, etc.). I only ask because it's a lot cheaper to get them up-front than to get them later.

[stanger89]

Right, you'd only want the DVR if you're going to use it as a DVR. All you need is an HD STB if you're recording with Sage.

As far as channel changing, I don't think the non-DVRs are any faster.

[gtd885a]

Thx again. I think I'm going to pull the trigger on this DirecTV deal. I wasn't planning on buying another HDTV anytime soon, but my wife pointed out that we could use one in the bedroom or game room (when it is finished). Gotta love a woman like that!

So, I'm thinking about getting this Panasonic VIERA 42" 720p Plasma for $530 - $300 MIR = $230 (when signing up for DirecTV through BestBuy, ends today).

Then I need to find a deal on an HD-PVR, and get to reading!

[gtd885a]

So, I picked up the 42" Panasonic VIERA 720p Plasma today. Turned out to be $505 (long story - it was $498.99 in store, $1 short of meeting the rebate requirements. So they placed the order online and overrode the price to $505). I also ordered DirecTV service with a single HD24.

Anyway, If I were to pick up an HD-PVR, is there any particular revision I should look for that works best with SageTV? I see a used D1 on ebay for $150, but wasn't sure if certain versions worked better than others.

[stanger89]

I'd buy one new. THere are/were some rather flaky ones and if you get one of those Hauppauge will replace it if it's in warranty. I'd be a little concerned buying used that it's one someone couldn't get to work.

[gtd885a]

Thx. Looks like Walmart has it for $182+tax. Not sure if that's the absolute best price right now, but it's not worth risking it for ~$30 savings.

[teedublu]

if you stick/go with cable, you can get clear QAM channels -- albeit probably only the major on-air networks and PBS (Comcast has cut off the "cable channels" from clear QAM recently in our area, and most other areas).

And while you're still at the mercy of the cable provider changing those QAM frequencies, Comcast doesn't do it often, only during major transition which they send out a hedzup mailing.

The quick tuning of a QAM tuner is way better than the HD-PVR.
And in my experience, way less "touchy".
-- I'll be switching to a cablecard tuner as soon as possible.

TW

[gtd885a]

Yeah I've been doing clear QAM and OTA for quite a while (HDHR), I just need ESPN and a couple others in HD that I can't get over cable. I wish I didn't have to make such a drastic change just to get that (also wish I didn't "need" ESPN, etc.).

I wish I could wait for the HDHR with cablecard. That really does seem like the best option.

Ugh, DirecTV is being installed tomorrow... Just about to be locked in for 2 years...

[teedublu]

Another thing is, while the HD-PVR does do what is essentially an amazing job for the money (when it works) -- I have not been impressed with how it handles jiggly sports / jiggly camera work -- such as Tour de France (and a lot of stuff has that vertigo inducing camera work these days). I've upped the recording quality to "Best" (5.9GB/hr I think), which is still a CBR (constant bit rate) type. Maybe it's something else in my system, but I've got plenty of horsepower now -- and that issue hasn't improved. It's certainly usable, but just not as good as the unadulterated HD stream that you would get with a direct-access tuner (QAM/cablecard). I would think that a VBR (variable bit rate) would work better for sports, but Sage doesn't provide that option. It's probably doable via a custom bit rate setting that you can add to the system -- I asked tech support what the setting/parameters would be for custom bit rate settings for the HD-PVR, but got no answer. The one thing I did notice the last time I tried VBR (with a SD MPEG PVR-250) was that skips (FF/RW skip) are much slower, but that may not be as big a problem with more CPU power.

TW

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by teedublu

It's certainly usable, but just not as good as the unadulterated HD stream that you would get with a direct-access tuner (QAM/cablecard).

You sure it's the HD PVR? Because I can't tell the difference between my HD PVR recordings and my R5000 recordings (which is the raw stream from Dish), aside from the larger size of the HD PVR recordings.

I would think that a VBR (variable bit rate) would work better for sports, but Sage doesn't provide that option.

I'm pretty sure you can define a custom recording quality that's VBR. See this thread:
http://forums.sage.tv/forums/showthr...ght=hd-pvr+vbr

[HelenWeathers]

I get some great recordings using variable bit rate with the HD PVR. I have the following line in my sage.properties file to define a quality named MyBest which uses variable bit rate:

mmc/python2_encoding/H.264\ MyBest\ VBR=videobitrate\=13500000|vbr\=1|outputstreamtype\=1

At 1080i I can't see any difference between the HD PVR and OTA.

[gtd885a]

Thanks guys. The HD-PVR is going to arrive today and so is the DirecTV installation. So I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot more of me on these forums in the coming days, lol.

[gtd885a]

Just received the HD-PVR. About to start setting up a new server (AMD Athlon II X4 635, ASUS M4A785T-M/CSM, 6GB DDR3). I'm leaning towards Win 7 x64 (bad idea?), and I will be following sic0048's guide here:

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44511.

Any advice/opinions/warnings are appreciated.

[JetreL]

I run/ran mine on WHS, WinXP, and Linux. I didn't have a lot of luck w/ Win7 x64 but with the newest version of SageTV that may of changed. A couple gotchas I found were the IR blaster on the HD-PVR wasn't strong enough or just didn't work well enough. It missed a good deal of channel changes. I eventually went to the Patterson device and was very happy with it on all the platforms listed above, when it worked. (This was typically ~3-6 months at a time) I have a USB-UIRT unused and from what I have read that appears to work consistently. (Where's the fun in that??)


The guide is good it covers most everything you will need. If you are only going to run one HD-PVR you should be fine. If you are running multiple you may want to get a USB card for each device or at least split them across different USB buses. This will save a good deal of headaches and frustration if your running 5.1 audio.

[gtd885a]

I just got a call from the DirecTV installer and he said he only has H20's (not the H24 like I requested). Does anyone know if there is really any difference between the two as far as Sage / HD-PVR is concerned?

[gtd885a]

Hmm, well I called the installer back and he "found" an H23 receiver. So now I guess I need to decide to either cancel (to get the H24), or go with the H23 (or the H20 if someone here tells me it's better). The main difference between the H20 and H23 seems to be the 3D capability.