The Official "Working SageTV + Ceton Firmware + SageDCT Version Combinations" thread

[King of Bayonne]

It would appear that more and more of us are having success using SageTV, a Ceton tuner, and SageDCT together. However, this combination is somewhat brittle, and in my experience not every combination of versions of these components produces a stable, useable, high-SAF* solution.

I am starting this thread to track specific combinations of SageTV release + Ceton firmware release + SageDCT release which are known to work (or not work) properly. If we all post our results here, we can all benefit from the efforts of the pioneers who are will to try new combinations at the risk of lowering their SAF ratings.


KoB


*SAF = Spouse Approval Factor

[King of Bayonne]

The released version of 1.0.3.2 caused cancelled recording problems and other anomalies. Do not use 1.0.3.2.

[King of Bayonne]

This is apparently a pretty stable configuration. I have been using it with nearly 100% success for weeks.

[King of Bayonne]

Recently updated to 1.0.6.1 beta firmware. Seems to work fine so far after 10 or so recordings. No indication yet if there are any improvements when used with Sage versus 1.0.3.4 beta.

[GbrNole]

how accessible is the ceton beta firmware? if i understand correctly it has to be digitally signed to the card and not just randomly installed / upgraded?

[King of Bayonne]

Originally Posted by GbrNole

how accessible is the ceton beta firmware? if i understand correctly it has to be digitally signed to the card and not just randomly installed / upgraded?

While the beta firmware builds are available for download on the Ceton web site "in plain sight", they will not actually install on the card unless your card has been accepted into the beta program.

Drop a line to Ceton and ask that you be added to the beta program. While there is no guarantee that you will be added, I (and others) have had success by explicitly stating that we wanted to use the beta firmware to address a known issue when using the InfiniTV with SageTV and SageDCT.


KoB

[aepitaz]

Originally Posted by King of Bayonne

Recently updated to 1.0.6.1 beta firmware. Seems to work fine so far after 10 or so recordings. No indication yet if there are any improvements when used with Sage versus 1.0.3.4 beta.

I have this installed and it works. I am seeing system messages about interuptions but only on live TV. It hasn't had much affect on recordings (yet).

[The Truth]

I actually didnt install the beta. I will today when i get a chance. The messages didnt seem to effect recordings much, i only saw it effect the fist 30 seconds of one recording. but with the older beta, the error messages were eliminated almost completly. Hopefully when i update to the new beta, all will be fine again.

[King of Bayonne]

Originally Posted by aepitaz

I have this installed and it works. I am seeing system messages about interuptions but only on live TV. It hasn't had much affect on recordings (yet).

I suggest that you now update SageTV to 7.1.8 beta and see if all of your interrupted recording problems go away.


KoB

[The Truth]

ALRIGHT I OFICIALLY HAVE THE BEST SERVER EVER!!!! until i update my processor... 3 colossus cards + a centon card which = 4 tuners, + hvr1600

[mikinho]

Originally Posted by King of Bayonne

Recently updated to 1.0.6.1 beta firmware. Seems to work fine so far after 10 or so recordings. No indication yet if there are any improvements when used with Sage versus 1.0.3.4 beta.

Only if you are a SDV user with Tuner Adapters and have your InfiniTV bridged with your network card. If you are not, I recommend staying with 1.0.3.4. And if you are...you shouldn't be.

One thing to note, when doing the 1.0.3.4 update it also updates your hardware firmware version to 4884. When doing so you need to shut your system down (and wait 1 minute), not just reboot. I've helped several SageDCT users who missed those instructions.

[thomaszoo]

I just got my Ceton card this week and got the cable card this afternoon. It is working just great so far. I had some problems figuring out how to use SageDCT (the instructions are missing or hard to find). Once I figured that out the biggest issue was the channel setup. I tuned in the lowest channel in the lineup and just started going up until I had hit them all. I didn't even try putting HBO and Starz in the Ceton lineup; they are still on the HD PVR. All of the configured channels are viewable via extenders ! I was a little worried not knowing what I would be able to watch.

Kudos to the Comcast tech that came out. The cable card was a little slow activating and it took a couple of reboots (at least one cold shutdown) to get everything working. He hung in there with me until I got video to play in WMC. He would be really impressed with how it is working now.

I am on beta firmware version 1.0.6.1 and on SageTV version 7.1.7.

Wayne

[tpboyce]

Where is everyone getting SageDCT? It appears the site is down.

[thomaszoo]

Originally Posted by tpboyce

Where is everyone getting SageDCT? It appears the site is down.

I got mine from here:

http://babgvant.com/files/folders/sa...ntry19846.aspx

Wayne

[The Truth]

Originally Posted by mikinho

Only if you are a SDV user with Tuner Adapters and have your InfiniTV bridged with your network card. If you are not, I recommend staying with 1.0.3.4. And if you are...you shouldn't be.

One thing to note, when doing the 1.0.3.4 update it also updates your hardware firmware version to 4884. When doing so you need to shut your system down (and wait 1 minute), not just reboot. I've helped several SageDCT users who missed those instructions.

I have mine bridged thats why I'm using 1.0.6.1beta. and its working pretty good, it just take a little while to get used to.

[thomaszoo]

What is the purpose / advantage of bridging? I understand the concept of bridging two network adapters together. I assume you are bridging it with your network adapter?

I do not have mine bridged and it is working fine.

Wayne

[The Truth]

Originally Posted by thomaszoo

What is the purpose / advantage of bridging? I understand the concept of bridging two network adapters together. I assume you are bridging it with your network adapter?

I do not have mine bridged and it is working fine.

Wayne

I have mine bridged, because its installed on a different server than my sage server. its using the network adapter on the sage server as if the centon card is installed on the same computer as the sage server when it is bridged.

it works greats. but i want my server to be able to switch to a different tuner if the other computer is powered down.

BASICALLY WHEN YOU BRIDGE THE CARD, IT BECOMES A NETWORK CABLE CARD TUNER....

[thomaszoo]

Thanks. That makes perfect sense. Just like the Prime (when if finally makes it to the shelves).

So in my case, where the card is in the same box as SageTV, there isn't any advantage (for me) to bridge cards.

Wayne

[The Truth]

Originally Posted by thomaszoo

Thanks. That makes perfect sense. Just like the Prime (when if finally makes it to the shelves).

So in my case, where the card is in the same box as SageTV, there isn't any advantage (for me) to bridge cards.

Wayne

If you arent going to use it over the network it would be a disadvantage. It could potentionally clogg up your network. If you have a gigabit network and priorities on a decent router set up correctly you wont notice the max transfer of 60-70Mbps data. I guess its cool if you have more than 1 servers, or no more space in a server. I Can Read at speed of 1Gbps from my raid on my server and write at speeds of 800Mbps, so i dont mind.

I have amazing performance it doesnt even resemble a network tuner at all, it works just like a local one, im sure there are a few milliseconds of lag. There is now the addition of different conponents it is now dependent on, like if the other computer (centon comp) powers off or restarts while recordings are happening, or the router goes down... of course i have battery backups on everything...

The restarts are the only thing that annoys me. or if i power off the 2nd computer. I wish Sage would look for a working tuner if multiple arent available. I want these 4 as my 1st Priority, but i would love for the server to go right to the Colossus cards is the centon pc is off. maybe some1 could make a plugin to send a ping 1st before using the centon card?

[The Truth]

Originally Posted by The Truth

The restarts are the only thing that annoys me. or if i power off the 2nd computer. I wish Sage would look for a working tuner if multiple arent available. I want these 4 as my 1st Priority, but i would love for the server to go right to the Colossus cards is the centon pc is off. maybe some1 could make a plugin to send a ping 1st before using the centon card?

This wouldnt solve the issue if the Centon Computer powered down, while in the middle of a recording. When this happens, the recording just keeps recording, and if i watch it and get to that part it will freeze my SageTV service. I can just restart the service, but it would be coool if some1 could come up with some kind of solution, or give me some ideas and pointers for one.

I wouldnt mind if some1 could help me with the ping solution, because the centon computer will either be off or on, and you could make the ping continuous, it this is even possible.