Just in case- Alternatives to SageTV

[PiX64]

interesting....

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/g...t-top-box-fcc/

[wayner]

If you live in one of the KCs.

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by PiX64

interesting....

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/g...t-top-box-fcc/

The model # for that is GFHD100 (look familar?)

[PiX64]

Originally Posted by stuckless

The model # for that is GFHD100 (look familar?)

exactly what i was thinking... although im not in KC so i guess i really shouldn't care

[Skybolt]

Originally Posted by Slugger

... If I had to switch, I'd rather use MythTV (and happily used it for over a year before stumbling onto Sage and never looking back in '07), but Myth (and Linux in general) does not support my Colossus cards and so that makes Myth/Linux a non-option for me. If there was support, then Myth is hands down my "alternative" choice when that option becomes a necessity otherwise, in a pinch, I'd probably be going with NextPVR at this point.

So what would you use as an extender, xbmc? and how do you plan on actually watching Tv? Use Myth at each Tv?

I looked into this awhile back and I have heard of xbmc working with the HDHR Prime for CopyFreely stuff, with Myth as the back end. But htis reminds me of the Sage 4.x days.

Hopefully the GFHD100, will provide or support the Ip Tv devices like the HDHR Prime and life would be wonderfull. Wonderfull not haveing to deal with M$. My latest experiences with 7MC have also left me - not turning the box on in a while ... Bleak - The end of days - The sky fell and we can't get up ...

[KeithAbbott]

Originally Posted by stuckless

The model # for that is GFHD100 (look familar?)

I'd be more excited about this if the model number was GFHD400.

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by KeithAbbott

I'd be more excited about this if the model number was GFHD400.

I agree... but given this is a "new" device I'd think they would start over at HD100... Who knows, maybe this what the team has been working on... a STB for the Google Fiber (GF) team.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by PiX64

exactly what i was thinking... although im not in KC so i guess i really shouldn't care

This is probably my biggest "fear" about the "future of SageTV" that it will be in the form of STBs for Google Fiber, and not a consumer product.

Tangentially related, anyone know how to "import" Sage recordings into WMC?

[Skybolt]

Originally Posted by stanger89

... Tangentially related, anyone know how to "import" Sage recordings into WMC?

I am not sure why, you of all people are asking this? All of my recordings just play from sharded folder without any importing.

So what did I miss? Are you using a HD-PVR? Because on that one you might be lost and have to convert all of the recored files. Much like extenders not supporting Ripped DVD content directly and need to be contverted ...

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Skybolt

I am not sure why, you of all people are asking this? All of my recordings just play from sharded folder without any importing.

Oh, I know they'll play, I was wondering if there's any way to get the metadata in.

Why am I asking, because I'm exploring my options, especially with the Echo/Q getting closer.

So what did I miss? Are you using a HD-PVR?

I did/was, but I'm in the process of switching to FTTH/Cable so I won't need the HD PVR anymore.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by Skybolt

So what would you use as an extender, xbmc? and how do you plan on actually watching Tv? Use Myth at each Tv?

Plex is a pretty good solution for playback although you don't always get all of the skip, ff, rew, etc working as well as you do on extenders. Plex works on Jailbroken ATV2s and on several other devices as well. And if by "actually watching Tv?" you mean live TV then this isn't really an issue for many people as they don't watch live TV. The big exception to this is sports.

But I really don't see any reason to switch away from Sage for a long time. I have several spare extenders and I am happy with how they work with my HD-PVRs and OTA tuners.

[Skybolt]

Originally Posted by stanger89

...I was wondering if there's any way to get the metadata in.

Yeah, that's a good very point. For what it's worth, renaming the files will allow the look up to occur. For TV episodes include the SxxExx style, Media Browser will handle the rest. At least in my limited testing. As for the intrinsic lookup's of 7MC, I have not had any luck with that. If I go forward with 7MC, Media Browser is a MUST, it also gives you back the folders view.

EDIT: I forgot to mention YAMMM will do the look up for what MB doesn't cover.

Originally Posted by stanger89

I did/was, but I'm in the process of switching to FTTH/Cable so I won't need the HD PVR anymore.

Cable cards are great! Except, for me I need the TA adapter which you can fry an egg on. As a result I need to shut it down, almost weekly, so it can reboot and I can use my cable card. Even the science channel get's subscription errors when the TA goes south. If I switch to 7MC I will most likely use an automated reboot once a week to help abade this issue.

[Skybolt]

Originally Posted by wayner

... And if by "actually watching Tv?" you mean live TV then this isn't really an issue for many people as they don't watch live TV. The big exception to this is sports.

Sometimes I watch HBO etc. live. I agree to standard tv shows, that's been a thing of the past for a while.

Originally Posted by wayner

... But I really don't see any reason to switch away from Sage for a long time...

For me, and I think for others as well, it's the lack of support going forward. i.e. Native Cable Card support. I am completely sick of captureing Tv without surround sound. I know the HD-PVR, that didn't go very well for me, too much down time - it always needed to be rebooted in the middle of a recorded show.

So for now it's whatever becomes of the GFHD100 or the Echo for me...
Again, very sad, bleak dark outlook... not loving the choices ... Stupid Google

[tostka]

I've been using STV since v4 around 2005.
I've also made my way through a couple of TiVo's since 2002 (a Series1 and a TiVo HD).
And my Sage6 HTPC system now looks like it needs a new mobo. :\
And SageTV is a year into mothballs and no new news from Google is forthcoming - time to make some decisions, as if I'm building/rebuilding, I'm inclined to do everything right once, rather than over and over.

Over the years my STV's went from fairly high-functioning (usbuirt & Girder, lots of addons and custom remote controls), to slowly degrading and getting less and less functional over upgrades and rebuilds as I made more marginal hardware choices and compromises out of lack of time and frustration with issues ( usb-issues caused usbuirt & girder to fall out of use, cable box issues made PVR use less dependable).

At the same time my TiVo's remained my primary viewing platform. They're convenient. They work. They even used to be pretty hackable/customizable (long gone now). Heck Tivo even does a solid job supporting NetFlix... As to TiVo on-going cost, I held out and refused to upgrade off of the Series1, until they re-offered lifetime subscriptions again. So I paid once two years ago, and haven't paid TiVo a dime since. And I paid them exactly once on the prior Series1 box as well.

I've always had a single-box solution. We watch TV in the living room (wife won't let me have a set in the br :P). So no need for extenders - I'm planning to pickup a balun/cat5 extender for the kitchen, once I replace the old SDTV in there. :P
I held-out happily on SDTV until three months ago, when the old Toshiba set finally finished going round the bend and I replaced it with a JVC JLC42BC3000 and replaced the Panasonic sa-xr55 with a new Yamaha RX-V567 receiver -- Yea, another luddite. :P

So I'm still pretty happy with smaller-footprint sdtv content, and upsampling to suit. I'd rather have a lot of content than the absolute prettiest picture.
I'm also pretty tired of wrestling my Harmony remotes as well. There's a lot to be said for stuff that 'just works'.

So I'm looking at the options, having digested 24 pages of 'Sage alternatives' discussions.
As to preferences - I wouldn't mind getting out of the Micr$oft OS's: I just spent a month or so porting my old dead Win2000 file server to Ubuntu 11.10, and running Linux for the first time in about a decade. I'm 100% tired of Microsoft forcing retirements and new OS upgrades every so many years. I just want a stable platform to host my files. So the prospect of MythTV on Linux has some solid upsides.
I also host my Logitech SqueezeBox Media Server and my mp3 collection on the down htpc box, and Linux continues to be supported. Another point in the Linux side.

Of course, as has been pointed out repeatedly: if I don't need PVR, and just want to view media, I've got a lot of options. I think I'm going to start with a run at MythBuntu, and then XBMC and MediaPortal, and maybe look into NPVR.

Anyway, not so much looking for answers as joining the chorus of Google grumblers. Clearly after 24 pages of reading, there is no solid consensus on the next destination after STV.

[panteragstk]

If you don't need pvr functionality I'd go with XBMC. There is an openelec version that has everything built in. A buddy of mine is using it and loves it.

[Sparhawk6]

Well, since my HomeRun Prime setup is no longer functioning for several important channels, and it doesn't appear that Sage is going to provide the necessary support to fix the problem, I am looking more seriously at alternatives.

Has anyone thought about *gasp* Comcast's new DVR coming soon?

http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/c...ne-app-launch/

It looks very interesting. I'd hate to lose the ability to add hard drive space, add tuners, and add custom apps and UIs, but I need a functioning DVR. Comcast is winning the battle and I may be forced to use their new box, which actually looks pretty decent.

[Skybolt]

Originally Posted by Sparhawk6

Well, since my HomeRun Prime setup is no longer functioning for several important channels, and it doesn't appear that Sage is going to provide the necessary support to fix the problem, I am looking more seriously at alternatives. ...

You should try out 7MC, the Prime works real well with that, that's what it was designed for. and with the promise of the Echo, perhaps a direct replacement for Sage...

[d2globalinc]

Originally Posted by Sparhawk6

Well, since my HomeRun Prime setup is no longer functioning for several important channels,

Which channels? Still using my 6 tuner, dual cable card edition of the HDHR Prime.. 0 Problems with non-premium channels (like hbo)..

on comcast in Mt. View, CA.

[Sparhawk6]

Originally Posted by d2globalinc

Which channels? Still using my 6 tuner, dual cable card edition of the HDHR Prime.. 0 Problems with non-premium channels (like hbo)..

on comcast in Mt. View, CA.

See the HomeRun Prime SageDCT thread. Comcast changed something in the video format that was being delivered on some of their stations in some markets. Sage cannot playback that format. Several others in the HomeRun Prime thread have the exact same problem. The file can be played back on any other program, but Sage's demuxer chokes on it.

It seems that more and more channels are having this problem, and it now happens more frequently. Food Channel used to work occasionally. Now it never does.

[d2globalinc]

Originally Posted by SundanceTV

I have this bad feeling they are buying STV to bury it. It is competition for their GoogleTV product I think.

Competition - not so much.. GoogleTV (and the industry) seem to be focusing completely on "Cloud" solutions for obtaining TV shows and Moves, and leaving the stand alone media storage / server model behind.. Cable and Sat companies only want you using their boxes and solutions.. Sage was probably purchased for their placeshifter tech, to be used in an IPTV (from the cloud) service option, not so much DVR solution

Sigh..

If we don't hear anything about SageTV tech being brought into GoogleTV at Google I/O this next week - I'm pretty much feeling like SageTV is dead..