Just in case- Alternatives to SageTV

[Monedeath]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

I should have said "well known" streaming services. DirecTV's offerings are decent, but you know as well as I do that netlix and hulu are the two most popular. Amazon, blockbuster, vudu, and all the other random ones I'm forgetting are not far behind. I think what directv is doing is a step in the right direction. Integration of netflix and hulu would put them over the top.

If the r34 is the same as the rest of the whole home dvr package, then you can have multiple r34's and all the rvu's will able see recordings on all of the dvr's. That makes for a pretty hefty setup.

I'm hoping you can plug an external USB drive(or E-SATA array) into the thing and still have access to that (external) Drive's contents on the "remote" receivers rather than just the main box. If they have overcome that limitation from the previous Whole-Home receivers, they really do have something on their hands. Although I would still like to be able to go back edit (out the commercials on) previous recordings, which would be a bit difficult on encrypted/protected files.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by Monedeath

I'm hoping you can plug an external USB drive(or E-SATA array) into the thing and still have access to that (external) Drive's contents on the "remote" receivers rather than just the main box. If they have overcome that limitation from the previous Whole-Home receivers, they really do have something on their hands. Although I would still like to be able to go back edit (out the commercials on) previous recordings, which would be a bit difficult on encrypted/protected files.

That would be great, but with as much as I've got just external drive support won't do. It'd need the ability to play networked files like my .m2ts blu-ray rips for it to be a real solution. I could have something like xbmc do that and use directv for everything else that'd be fine. I'd rather have the all in one solution I've got now.

[ybrew]

Originally Posted by Monedeath

Uh, Directv has a streaming service that is a direct competitor to Netflix's online offerings, and is complimentary to all Directv subscribers. So I doubt Directv would be likely to include Netflix support. They also appear to be making some attempts at Hulu-like capabilities for their receivers, so once again, not likely to see Hulu support either, but then, if Directv had its way, you wouldn't need Hulu.

http://www.directv.com/entertainment/movies

Of course, the down-side is that Directv probably wouldn't have as extensive of a library as Netflix has, at least in terms of obscure movie titles that are available to watch, but the reality is that particular feature is more of an edge case and a probably a reasonably small niche market to begin with.

Initial RVU boxes will be made by DirecTV, so you're right about everything regarding initial boxes.

Future RVU boxes could be made by anyone and would work with DirecTV and likely netflix and Hulu & everything else. DirecTV is in the RVU alliance, but they don't control it.

[Monedeath]

Originally Posted by ybrew

Initial RVU boxes will be made by DirecTV, so you're right about everything regarding initial boxes.

Future RVU boxes could be made by anyone and would work with DirecTV and likely netflix and Hulu & everything else. DirecTV is in the RVU alliance, but they don't control it.

Pretty much, with Sony and Samsung being part of that alliance, it is a safe bet an RVU device with netflix/hulu support will happen, but a Directv implementation(as the first content provider/distributor to market with RVU equipment) that does so still remains very unlikely in my view.

[wayner]

Just out of curiousity, do any STBs offered by satellite or cable companies have support for OTT services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc? The cynic in me says that they (the calbe/sat companies) want to make it as hard as possible for you to use such services as they are disruptive to the business model of cable/sat companies.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by wayner

Just out of curiousity, do any STBs offered by satellite or cable companies have support for OTT services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc? The cynic in me says that they (the calbe/sat companies) want to make it as hard as possible for you to use such services as they are disruptive to the business model of cable/sat companies.

My parents have a provider supplied tivo that has netflix built in. That's as close as it's going to get.

[Monedeath]

Originally Posted by wayner

Just out of curiousity, do any STBs offered by satellite or cable companies have support for OTT services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc? The cynic in me says that they (the calbe/sat companies) want to make it as hard as possible for you to use such services as they are disruptive to the business model of cable/sat companies.

Closest I've seen is YouTube support, which even Directv does.

[ybrew]

It's been a while so I had to go and verify.

I tested and was able to connect and watch Hulu Plus on my HR21 through Playon running on my sage server.

It's slow as molasses (hopefully because of my super slow HR21) but it works.

So sure, DTV doesn't support Hulu, but they do allow connecting to your home network for streaming video and that includes Playon Servers.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by ybrew

It's been a while so I had to go and verify.

I tested and was able to connect and watch Hulu Plus on my HR21 through Playon running on my sage server.

It's slow as molasses (hopefully because of my super slow HR21) but it works.

So sure, DTV doesn't support Hulu, but they do allow connecting to your home network for streaming video and that includes Playon Servers.

While it's cool that they can connect to playon, I don't really see that as supporting hulu or netflix. That's still a workaround. I'm willing to bet they will in the near future. You never know these days.

[guppyman]

After reading through all 27 pages of this thread and checking on the alternatives, I'm switching to WMC with Xbox 360 clients. It pains me to go back to Microsoft but I'm switching to cable because of the $40/month price difference (their pricing plans have changed) from Dish AND the need for cable card support.

I've used WMC, GBPvr, BeyondTV and Sage. Sage was hands down the superior product so it doesn't surprise me that Google bought them out. I'm glad for Jeff, sad for me. I really want the flexibility of the HD Homerun Prime and there is obviously no support in Sage for this and there won't be. I don't rip my blu-rays - just need live tv support and the ability record multiple shows at the same time. I do use VideoRedo to occasionally edit commercials out.

I'm anxious to see what GoogleTV + SageTV brings - just don't have the patience to wait for it. WMC works now and I can always switch to GoogleSage in the future if it looks worth doing.

Anyway, my HD300 just went on ebay and after I make the switch, my HD200 and one of my HD Homeruns (I have two) will be going up for auction.

[jptheripper]

Apparently you didnt read enough, cablecard works perfectly (including the Prime) on many of our systems, including the hauppauge and ceton options, using sagedct. Of course this is only copy freely channels, if you want premium channels sage would have never worked and wmc would have been your only choice anyway.

Originally Posted by guppyman

After reading through all 27 pages of this thread and checking on the alternatives, I'm switching to WMC with Xbox 360 clients. It pains me to go back to Microsoft but I'm switching to cable because of the $40/month price difference (their pricing plans have changed) from Dish AND the need for cable card support.

I've used WMC, GBPvr, BeyondTV and Sage. Sage was hands down the superior product so it doesn't surprise me that Google bought them out. I'm glad for Jeff, sad for me. I really want the flexibility of the HD Homerun Prime and there is obviously no support in Sage for this and there won't be. I don't rip my blu-rays - just need live tv support and the ability record multiple shows at the same time. I do use VideoRedo to occasionally edit commercials out.

I'm anxious to see what GoogleTV + SageTV brings - just don't have the patience to wait for it. WMC works now and I can always switch to GoogleSage in the future if it looks worth doing.

Anyway, my HD300 just went on ebay and after I make the switch, my HD200 and one of my HD Homeruns (I have two) will be going up for auction.

[guppyman]

Originally Posted by jptheripper

Apparently you didnt read enough, cablecard works perfectly (including the Prime) on many of our systems, including the hauppauge and ceton options, using sagedct. Of course this is only copy freely channels, if you want premium channels sage would have never worked and wmc would have been your only choice anyway.

Mmmmm.....I don't remember seeing that in this thread but I may have missed it. I thought I'd read posts about lack of cable card support (maybe on another thread?). I knew unencrypted QAM was not a problem. I'm not sure how my cable co (Mediacom) handles copy protection but I've read on other forums that there doesn't seem to be any consistency among cable companies on how copy protection is handled. With WMC it doesn't matter.

[guppyman]

Originally Posted by jptheripper

Of course this is only copy freely channels, if you want premium channels sage would have never worked and wmc would have been your only choice anyway.

This from the Mediacom forum:
"We checked with a tech in the Tier 2/engineering side of things and they confirmed the family cable and digital plus tierrs are copy once."

I guess that answers that.

I would have loved to stick with SageTV but even if it had stuck around they would have needed to add better cable card support. Maybe GoogleTV + SageTV will have something in the future. Anyway, the HD200 will be going up for auction this weekend.

[mitchedo]

Since SageTV is dead, I have been considering just using Windoze Media Center. I don't want to, but it looks like if I don't dawdle too much longer, I'll be able to recoup my full financial investment in SageTV on Fleabay.

However, I can't remember why I chose the additional expense and frustration of SageTV -- when MCE is free, and works so well. All I can remember is that I didn't want to mess with Xboxes as extenders. With SageTV dead and gone, absolutely no word about the future of the product, and Microsoft's new Family Plan for Xbox Live, Xboxes look pretty good now.

I use my SageTV to look at ripped blu-rays and DVD's, and to DVR off-air television from an antenna. That is all. I had planned on purchasing a Placeshifter license once I got the kinks worked out of my SageTV install, but that option is gone. The only licenses I have are the SageTV server and what comes on the two HD300's I bought.

It looks like there is a workaround for MCE to allow it to play ripped Bluray, with Total Media Theater and My Movies. Can the Xboxes make use of that in extender mode?

Aside from that, why did we choose SageTV over MCE? DRM? Since I don't keep what I record, that's not really an issue for me -- though I despise all things DRM.

Has there been ANY word at all about the future of us poor schleps who own and love SageTV? I haven't seen anything, and Google really looks like it's headed somewhere else with GoogleTV. I just want my SageTV!

* merged *

[Fuzzy]

I don't believe there is any way to play ripped dvd and blurays on the xboxes with MCE. That is, if they are kept in DVD or BluRay format. If you rip them out to a plain video file, I think they can be played.

[camTexas]

I too looked at MCE and even switched for a couple of weeks. I found myself migrating back to Sage due to dissatisfaction with the little things. I don't like the RecordedTV views in MCE and I couldn't find a way to make them more Diamond-like, which is what I use in Sage. I couldn't find a way to get the Series and Episode data included, couldn't find anything like the MyTV that the family uses to see what's coming up to be recorded... You really get spoiled by the level of customization the great developers here have provided for us. I'll still probably move to MCE longer term but I don't know if I'll be happy when I do.

I think there are ways to get my DVD/BR library migrated to work on the extenders. It's not pretty but is doable.

[gillettd]

Sage was running so nicely for almost 4 years but the old extenders just don't do much for HD content and HD extenders are now harder to find and way too expensive. Already had a Windows 7 box not getting a lot of use (thank you iPad) and 2 XBox 360's, so it was worth a deeper look. It's not Sage but still quite nice. The 360's make nice extenders, the WMC works great with HDHomerun and a good antenna, and WMC has built-in support for Netflix and multiple internet channels. Nicer than I expected. Throw in a couple Harmony remotes and I think the wife will even quit bugging me. Sage is still running though so we'll see how the transition goes. On another note a Obi100 VoIP connected to a free Google Voice account gives you free telephone. Better than Vonage which I dropped 3 months ago. Thank you Google. Here's a link if you're interested.
http://www.amazon.com/OBi100-Telepho.../dp/B004LO098O

[nyplayer]

I am also thinking of going with WMC ... keeping Sage alive for now. I had ordered 2 USB tuners and Sage does not recognize them for clear QAM. Windows 7 WMC has no problem with them.

I installed them In my Windows 7 box and I am really liking WMC. Sage has no future... so I will slowly retire it. I am back down to minimal plugins on my server.. and just using the default STV.

[mitchedo]

I'm also currently looking at WMC. It is easy to set up, works extremely well, and has a terrific UI. ...but it seems there is absolutely no way to get BD rips to play on Xbox extenders without transcoding. Total Media Theater 5 running on a Win7 box with the WMC plug-in works flawlessly with full BD menu navigation and no caption issues whatsoever.

There is a reason I went through the added expense and extreme configuration hassles of SageTV. There is nothing else. Getting HD Audio pass-through out of SageTV on the PC was an absolute nightmare -- and the captions just refuse to work! With WMC and TMT-5, just install it and run it.

As long as I need a device that will play BD on the other TV's, I want one that will play full BD menus. Does anyone know of such a beast? I've seen some small set-top devices sold in other countries that will play BD menus, but nothing yet sold in the USA. Meanwhile, I'm looking at building Win7 mini-ITX Sandy Bridge systems with small SSD's, but that's pretty spendy.

If WMC would only allow PC clients, all my problems would be solved. I'd build those little PC clients and be happy as a clam. It must be harder than it seems, though, since I never could get the SageTV client PC's to work right.

[rwc]

With the 500+ messages, and the various media center/htpc applications out there, my head keeps spinning (Ok--it doesn't take much for that to happen...)

To make it easier, I was hoping there'd be some SMALL chart we could all create that would summarize what we found. (Should we make a google doc for it?0

The closest thing I found was http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compari...tware_packages but it seemed out of date, and had many choices that didn't seem relevant to us sagetv users. (EX: Winfast PVR2 and Video Disk Recorder??)

What do you guys think?