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

[tpboyce]

I tried getting the Beta firmware from Ceton and they responded back that Sage is supported in the latest production release. What issues should I watch for with the latest release?

The Ceton drivers require windows because the card is hosted on the box. With the Prime, would it be possible to run in a Linux setup?

[mikinho]

Originally Posted by tpboyce

I tried getting the Beta firmware from Ceton and they responded back that Sage is supported in the latest production release. What issues should I watch for with the latest release?

The only improvement in the beta versus the production with respect to SageDCT is if you are using Tuning Adapters (TAs).

Originally Posted by tpboyce

The Ceton drivers require windows because the card is hosted on the box.

This is actually incorrect. SageDCT does however require Windows 7 \ 2008 R2 or higher.

[Griff]

For some reason, my Ceton InfiniTV 4 cannot tune any of the Major Networks digital HD channels on Comcast. I know that the channels are available in clear QAM, because I can tune them through my HD Homerun without any problem. I am using my Ceton card in Sage with SageDCT. The other unencrypted digital and HD channels appear to tune correctly. I just have a problem getting any picture with any of the major networks. The Ceton Diagnostic Tool shows that the channels (e.g., 184, 187 an 190 on Comcast in the Lake Zurich, IL digital package) are available - I just cannot tune the channels in Sage. I am on the latest Sage beta software and the latest Ceton beta firmware (although I had the same problems before upgrading to the latest betas):
SageTV 7.1.8 Beta
SageDCT 1.0.4
Ceton 1.0.6.1

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Tom

[mikinho]

Sounds like you man have SDV and need Tuning Adapters. Do you know if you are in a SDV market?

[Griff]

I have not seen anything about rolling out SDV in our market, and we don't need tuning adapters for any of the older boxes or digital tvs. Wouldn't an adapter be necessary for the HDHR if we were in an SDV market?

[mikinho]

The ClearQAM and encrypted QAM (CableCARD) channels are on different frequencies so just because it can be tuned via ClearQAM does not mean the encrypted QAM channel is not SDV.

What market are you in? If you go to the InfiniTV Device Webpage and manually tune the channel what information does it give? (i.e. Carrier Lock, Digital Lock, Signal Level, etc)

[Griff]

This is what I get when I tune to one of those channels (190):

WMDRM Pairing: RED

Carrier Lock: 1
Digital Lock: 1
Signal Level: -5.9 dBmV

Playback: STOPPED
Program Number: 2
PIDs: 30, 31, 32, 33, 0, 800, 801, 802

CableCARD: INSTERTED
Channel: 190
Descrambling Status: UNKNOWN

Copy Protection: NONE

[mikinho]

What market are you in? And what is your CableCARD status information under the device webpage? Probably easiest thing to do is open a ticket with us though through our support pages. When you do, please include a diagnostics (Start Menu > All Programs > Ceton InfiniTV > Ceton InfiniTV Diagnostic > Diagnose tab > Collect)

[sflamm]

The only improvement in the beta versus the production with respect to SageDCT is if you are using Tuning Adapters (TAs).

My Ceton just arrived and setting up.

The latest driver on the Ceton site is: Ceton InfiniTV Installer (1.1.0.8-20110309) for Windows 7 - (Change Log)

Does this automatically upgrade the card to the latest firmware necessary?

[Griff]

We are in the Comcast market for the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

My CableCard Status on the web status page is:
CableCARD(tm) Status

Manufacturer: Motorola
FW Version: 03.31, 02.01, 03.25
HW Version: 0469927002
Unit Address: 0x0013EC91AC
000-03342-70892-137
Download Status
Left: 0 Last: 999999 Rate: 0
State: Wait To Start
News:
EMM Provider ID: 1

Out of Band Channel Mode: OOB
Last Known Carrier: 75.250

I opened a ticket with Ceton. I will report back if/when we figure out the problem.

Thanks for the help.

Tom

[sflamm]

In process of setting up Ceton.

To let everyone know there are new firmware and hardware firmware versions available: firmware 1.0.2.9 and 4888

The download was reachable from the Diagnostic tool (did not seem to be on website yet)

[sflamm]

Oddly enough it updated the firmware version to 1.0.3.4 from the diagnostic tool even though it claimed 1.0.2.9

[sflamm]

Installed successfully.

Keys to success are:

1. Make sure to use UNC paths for the SageTV recording directories
2. Make sure that the user under which the SageDCT service is running has correct permission to access the UNC path (i.e. domain user)

Observations/issues (still working through/experimenting with):

1. Ceton tuner seems to be a bit pretty sensitive to Db levels
2. Some channels for unknown reason take several seconds to tune (screen is black while waiting - no indication if it is succeeding or not - it is)
3. Small number of channels are "Copy Once" on Comcast (i.e. BiographyHD)

I did not install 7MC at all. Entire installation only required Ceton drivers and SageDCT.

Overall, able to get 4 simultaneous recordings to stream to my SageTV server from an older repurposed/dedicated Win7 Shuttle box .The majority tune very quickly - far shorter than my HDPVR/firewire combo.

Cannot completely eliminate all of my Comcast boxes (HDPVR/firewire solution):
1. There are Channels that are "Copy Once"
2. Premium content is all "Copy Once"

But at $8/mo per box it wont take long for the couple boxes I can eliminate to pay off the Ceton card.

[ThePaladinTech]

Originally Posted by tpboyce

I tried getting the Beta firmware from Ceton and they responded back that Sage is supported in the latest production release. What issues should I watch for with the latest release?

The Ceton drivers require windows because the card is hosted on the box. With the Prime, would it be possible to run in a Linux setup?

So this means I do not need to get the beta driver? and is anyone currently using the production driver? I am getting setup next week and am hoping for the best!

[sflamm]

The beta driver and the production driver are currently the same.
The only difference is the hardware firmware.

[ThePaladinTech]

Originally Posted by sflamm

The beta driver and the production driver are currently the same.
The only difference is the hardware firmware.

DOh! ok so do you know if i need beta firmware at this time or not?

[babgvant]

Originally Posted by ThePaladinTech

DOh! ok so do you know if i need beta firmware at this time or not?

You do not. Production revs all around.

[sflamm]

I submitted the following bug to Ceton:

Successfully installed Ceton as network encoder for SageTV Server.

I've noticed a couple issues:

1. Some channels for an unknown reason take around 10 seconds to tune (screen is black while waiting - no indication if it is succeeding or not - it is). The best I can determine they are channels with no copy protection.

An example is channel 713 KOFYDT. I've attached:

a. tuner status details
b. tuner details
c. system services details
d. log details
e. ceton diagnostics output

They have responded suggesting that SageDCT is the culprit:

It looks like your using SageDCT, is that correct?

There is something installed on your system that is doing a RTP setup/teardown cycle every single channel change, and that is interfering with your video.

Try uninstalling some of his third party stuff and just using it in Media Center by itself to see if his card is working OK.

Let us know if you have any questions.

This is a dedicated Win7 machine that has nothing else running on it other than Ceton and SageDCT. Is there any truth that SageDCT is the culprit? I dont seem to have any such problem switching between two channels with copy protection (very fast). How could SageDCT's behavior be channel dependent?

Is SageDCT tearing down RTP sessions each channel change?

[babgvant]

Originally Posted by sflamm

Is SageDCT tearing down RTP sessions each channel change?

Yes. SageDCT cleans up the current session before starting a new one. I'll contact them and see what the correct behavior should be.

[Deacon Crusher]

So, I thought I had a working setup, but it's not quite there.

I get one recording out of my ceton tuners and then as Sage tries to do the next recording it fails and it marks the tuner as not enabled and as soon as 1 tuner fails all the others do over the next recording attempts.

Any tips/clues on resolving that particular problem?

thanks