Just in case- Alternatives to SageTV

[SHS]

Originally Posted by mikejaner

Yeah, but what about guide data?

XMLTV see your option here http://www.gbpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.ph...ation.XMLTVEPG

[mikejaner]

Originally Posted by SHS

XMLTV see your option here http://www.gbpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.ph...ation.XMLTVEPG

I know those exist, but can we get something like DataDirect into SageTV?

[phunny]

I have been a sage user for a over 6 years. I got rid of my TIVO over sage etc. I feel I have a lot of money invested, license, HD200's, Coputer, SAN, I know I got my money's worth but that isnt the problem. What would I replace it with? Anything out there like it? I mean I would want a software solution so I could control space and the music features etc. I wonder if google would really develope it or shelve it? I hope develope it but it seems everything they do is free, how would one make money from it?

I know I am just rambling but wanted to vent I am disappointed but waiting paiteintly for the new solution, if there is one?

Loyal user 6+ years

Andy

* merged *

[peternm22]

Originally Posted by mikejaner

I know those exist, but can we get something like DataDirect into SageTV?

It would require a plugin, but it is definately possible. Before SageTV supported Canadian TV listings, there was a plugin that worked very well for this.

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by mikejaner

I know those exist, but can we get something like DataDirect into SageTV?

SnapStream pretty much abandoned the customer version of BeyondTV 2-3 years ago, yet the EPG and everything still work just fine. There's no need to panic just yet... People outside North America have been using XMLTV all along in sageTV, so using a different server would be easy to do, should it come to that.

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by jaminben

I'm still using version 6.6 and don't have any problems so see no reason to abandon my setup. If you have a working version then you've nothing to worry about.

What do you plan on doing if one of your extenders dies?

[jaminben]

Originally Posted by wrems

Wow, I would have never guessed that you're still rockin' 6.6!

Why haven't you upgraded? Just curious...

Because it works and I prefer SageMC to version 7's UI.

Originally Posted by mikejaner

Yeah, but what about guide data?

XMLTV like most people who live outside the US..... works fine and has done since I've used SageTV.

Originally Posted by reggie14

What do you plan on doing if one of your extenders dies?

Why would they die? I love and cherish them....

I believe HD300's are our are future
Sage programed them well and let them lead the way
Showed us all the beauty they possess inside
Gave them a sense of pride to make it easier to watch TV

Let Jeff's laughter remind us how we used to be
Everybody's searching for an extender
GoogleTV needs someone to look up to
Google never found anyone to fulfill its needs
A lonely place to be
So I learned to depend on SageTV

I decided long ago, never to walk in WMC's shadows
If SageTV fails, if GoogleTV succeeds
At least I live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take my extenders from me
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Beside my tv's
The greatest love of all
It's easy to achieve
Learning to love an extender
It is the greatest love of all

And if by chance, that special TV
That you've been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in SageTV

[stanger89]

Well first things first, I completely understand how everyone is feeling about this. I know it has greatly disturbed the sense of "stability" my current SageTV system/solution has enjoyed.

That said, I think the first thing is "don't panic". Take a step back, relax a bit, and look at the facts.

Jeff's announcement stated that they would continue to support existing users and would keep the forums open to continue the dialogs. So the forums still work, support is still available, and SageTV is still functional. So there's no reason to panic and we don't need to go running out and getting replacements in a panic.

For my part, I think I'm going to continue watching/reading/listening with great interest for more information from Jeff and Google as they feel/decide they can announce it. In the mean time, I think I'm going to widen my gaze a bit on the interwebs, to get caught up on what else is out there that I've not bothered to follow closely so that in the event that things do change (beyond being unable to buy new hardware/licenses) for the worse, I'll be well informed, ahead of the curve, and ready to make a calm transition to whatever solution I've found.

But here's to hoping this is as good for us as it is for SageTV and we can all stop by the forums here and post dancing smiley laden posts like Jeff's been able to.

[Korny]

Soo if sage is dead like the pessimist seem to think, who's going to migrate to MythTV?

* merged *

[PiX64]

Thats not going to happen so let's not talk about it :-)

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by jaminben

Why would they die? I love and cherish them....

That was a real question. While I was previously concerned about guide data, at least that's something I can work around. My only workaround for losing an extender would be creating a PC-based client using my existing client license. Not really something I would do, given the cost involved in that would be a pretty good chunk of the cost of moving to another product.

That being said, Sage presumably still has some HD300's left. Maybe they'll sell them to people on a case-by-case basis once things clear up a bit.

[jaminben]

When GoogleTV finds times of trouble
SageTV comes to me
Speaking words of extenders
Let it be, let it be

And in GoogleTV's hour of darkness
SageTV is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of extenders
Let it be, let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of extenders
Let it be

And when the brokenhearted people
Living in the world of TV agree
There will be an answer, let it be

For though we may be parted
There is still a chance that Google will see
There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Yeah, there will be an answer let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of extenders
Let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah, let it be
Whisper words of extenders
Let it be
Let it be

And when GoogleTV's night is cloudy
Its SageTV's light that shines on me
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be

I wake up to the sound of music playing on my TV
SageTV comes to me
Speaking words of extenders
Let it be, let it be

Yeah, let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah, let it be
Whisper words of extenders
Let it be
Let it be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0714IbwC3HA

[PiX64]

That's some funny stuff!

[Narflex]

This is just awesome. Thanks Ben!

Originally Posted by jaminben

I believe HD300's are our are future
Sage programed them well and let them lead the way
Showed us all the beauty they possess inside
Gave them a sense of pride to make it easier to watch TV

Let Jeff's laughter remind us how we used to be
Everybody searching for an extender
GoogleTV needs someone to look up to
Google never found anyone to fulfill its needs
A lonely place to be
So I learned to depend on SageTV

I decided long ago, never to walk in WMC's shadows
If SageTV fails, if GoogleTV succeeds
At least I live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my extenders
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside my tv cabinet
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love an extender
It is the greatest love of all

And if by chance, that special TV
That you've been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in SageTV

[peternm22]

Narflex,

I know you probably can't say anything right now. But is there any chance you could give us an estimate when we will know something?

Thanks.

[matterofrecord]

This post only applies to UK users ( apart from media portal and gbpvr )

I posted it in the uk section no trealising it would be "merged into this forum"

Now that google has taken over sagetv no one really knows what is going to happen to sagetv.

If sage support stops you may want to bookmark nebula media.
www.nebula-media.com.
also look at media portal ( not so good imo) and
gbpvr ( now called next pvr)

HDTV hardware and HDTV EPG support were not fully finnished in sage 7.1.9 . For any UK sage users that are using XMLTV for epg imports and "dvblogic" for tuner support then you are probably OK. But if you find xmltv just too much hassle it may be worth keeping your eye on nebula media.
www.nebula-media.com
They are a bit of a shakey one man band and the software isn't as good as sagetv. They produce their own hardware and software which they sell together. They are promising HD tuners soon but currently they only have a SD dvb-t tuner - I have the usb SD tuner and it is pretty good quality ( they stand up to signal interference better that the rest).

Nebula media offer two forms of driver. bda and their own customised version ( please note current usb bda driver version 0.5 is not compatible with sagetv but works with MS vista media center - can't speak for pci drivers ).

The customised drivers work with their bundled app which is really quite good. Using their customise drivers with the own brand software you can get teletext and you can record all the television channels at once with just 6 tuners.( This is because there are only 6 Carrier frequencies that carry the freeview channels in the UK currently) .

Nebula do not have any dvb-t2 tuners out yet but they do insist that they are going to release dvb-t2 tuners ( 1 dual pci and 1 dual usb) in the near future and they claim. Nebula calim the tuners will be compatible with their own software ( complete with over the air hd epg) and the tuners will also have bda drivers so they should work with MS media center.

I just though what with change of ownership people might like to know their options. There are of course media portal and gbpvr / next pvr. There is also a regitry hack for MC media center where you can extend the amount of supported tuners ( no guarantees though) .

Hope this is useful

* merged *

[thirdoff]

I am stuck more than most... (or not if the glass is half full)
I switched from Beyond TV to sage about 22 days ago because BeyondTV didn't support my Colossus. This is documented in other support requests.
Now at about 1:30 yesterday morning I connected to SageTV Client (or tried to) and was greeting with - 21 day trial up. SO Satisfied with my trial I anxiously click Buy but was greeted with "Google Ate My Store" Move forward or whatever... So on one hand I am relieved I didn't purchase the day before it was eaten, but on the other hand after trying Windows alternatives to BeyondTV and SageTV I might still want SageTV and hope for the best... HOW DO I DO THAT NOW? I was (WAS) going to buy a server - client - and place shifter license. Google, SageTV, anyone... how could I do that now?

CAUTION OPINIONS AHEAD: If Google was going to continue, they wouldn't have closed the store - Closed store usually means that the inventory was not part of the deal and Google paid MORE money to NOT sell them then they were worth because SageTV in its current form is and will be competition for their plans or product. THEY WANT YOU to stop enjoying so much fruit and start subscribing and PAYING PAYING PAYING.

So really any ideas on how to get the software now?

[mayamaniac]

Originally Posted by thirdoff

I am stuck more than most... (or not if the glass is half full)
I switched from Beyond TV to sage about 22 days ago because BeyondTV didn't support my Colossus. This is documented in other support requests.
Now at about 1:30 yesterday morning I connected to SageTV Client (or tried to) and was greeting with - 21 day trial up. SO Satisfied with my trial I anxiously click Buy but was greeted with "Google Ate My Store" Move forward or whatever...

pssssst .. look two posts above your post, see that guy with the cat avatar, send him a private message explaining your situation. He might send you a text sequence of random letters, numbers, and dashes that will solve your problems.

[rickgillyon]

Not sure why anyone would be thinking of moving away now, when the future of SageTV isn't clear at all. Best to wait and see what happens...

[brewston]

Same here. My system has been stable for 18months or so. Since we (in the UK) don't rely on Sage for EPG, nothing from the Google purchase is going to change that. I will alter my future upgrade plans but that's it...