Just in case- Alternatives to SageTV

[pieroxy]

For me it's going to be MediaPortal, for a variety of reasons.

First of all, it is open source. That way, nobody will decide do "close it down" and screw me like SageTV did. How can you guys even remotely consider WMC is beyond me. If the next firmware update on your XBox breaks one of your functionality, what will you do? Hop to Apple TV? Look at Sony and their "Boot to other OS" feature of the PS3. They will invariably screw you, because they don't care about you. They care about their revenue. OSS software is usually set up the other way around.

Second, it really looks like SageTV. True, extenders will have to be PCs. Small factor Mini ITX systems should fit the bill, even if more expensice, bigger and not fanless. Plus, they can be refactored to other usages.

Last, it is the most feature-complete OSS Media Center solution out there.

The only thing is that I have very little experience with it.

[cobrew]

Originally Posted by SJL

Perhaps we can come up with a matrix of alternatives specifically tailored for Sage users looking to migrate - there is no direct replacement, but we need to find alternatives. Luckily it appears we have 12 months to do so, unless your only extender dies - or even if you have more than one, what will be the family reaction if TV is not accessable in an existing room?

I'm on board with a comparison matrix. A year ago I had a hard time finding something like this when I was trying to decide which HTPC system to build. I kept telling myself that I would make a matrix to help out other newbies, but I never got around to it. I think it would be nice to have a collection of features by other the other options that you listed.

At first I went with Win7MC, b/c the Sage store was 'out of stock'. I really liked WMC. The biggest reason I made the switch to Sage was the extenders soon as the HD3000's came out. I think if we can find a way around "no extenders", then I can live with the other options out there. I currently have 3 extenders, but need 2 more. So any setup with an expensive extender will be out of my reach if I have to buy 5 of them.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by pieroxy

For me it's going to be MediaPortal, for a variety of reasons.

How good is the PVR functionality of MediaPortal? Isn't it more of a front-end for content rathe than a PVR?

The reason that most of us use Sage is for the PVR functionality. Anything that can use an HD-PVR is useless for me.

[cobrew]

Originally Posted by wayner

How good is the PVR functionality of MediaPortal? Isn't it more of a front-end for content rathe than a PVR?

The reason that most of us use Sage is for the PVR functionality. Anything that can use an HD-PVR is useless for me.

When I looked into this a year ago (mostly on avsforum) I remember mediaportal & XBMC were my favorite setups except the extenders and I was told by many that the PVR function was not very good on mediaportal and almost non-existent on XMBC. I choose WMC and later Sage b/c of the PVR functionality. GB-PVR (nPVR) was very similar to mediaportal iirc, except it had a better PVR function. Of course a lot can/has changed in a year.

[pieroxy]

MediaPortal have had PVR functionality for at least 5 years, although I don't know the state of it today. I tested it in 2006 and it was quite good. My test was superficial though.

XBMC doesn't have PVR functionality AFAIK.

[cobrew]

Originally Posted by pieroxy

XBMC doesn't have PVR functionality AFAIK.

There is a plugin for PVR now. XBMC-PVR is still "under heavy development". I am sure it will be nice by the time Sage dies for us. However, I'd rather stick to something that is a little older and bug free when i make the switch.

[svemuri]

Originally Posted by SJL

Perhaps we can come up with a matrix of alternatives specifically tailored for Sage users looking to migrate

The following is probably a good start:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compari...tware_packages

Sarat

[wayner]

Originally Posted by cobrew

There is a plugin for PVR now. XBMC-PVR is still "under heavy development". I am sure it will be nice by the time Sage dies for us. However, I'd rather stick to something that is a little older and bug free when i make the switch.

IF you used XBMC as a front-end for Sage and kept using a Sage server what would you miss? I am guessing LiveTV and the ability to watch shows while they are still being recorded. That is a big issue for me as, although I never watch anything live, I often watch sports while the program is still being recorded.

I am guessing that in XBMC you would have to wait until Sage was finished the recording, correct?

[valnar]

My list of choices is limited to what the HDHomeRun supports.

[calypsocowboy]

HDHomerun support should be easy, I want HD PVR and Colossus support, not sure which packages support those.

I'd have to think XBMC for front end, not sure on the back, but definately thinking more open source this time.

[SHS]

Originally Posted by calypsocowboy

HDHomerun support should be easy, I want HD PVR and Colossus support, not sure which packages support those.

I'd have to think XBMC for front end, not sure on the back, but definately thinking more open source this time.

Read the frist page my post

[bastafidli]

I like the wikipedia matrix as a start. We can add some items such as
- HDHR support
- HDPVR/Colossus support
- Extender support

[ThePaladinTech]

Originally Posted by bastafidli

I like the wikipedia matrix as a start. We can add some items such as
- HDHR support
- HDPVR/Colossus support
- Extender support

Also include:
-Ceton Support
-Prime Support
-USB Uirt Support
-Extender support would be nice if it were more then yes/no I'd like to know what hardware is supported and how complete the extender experience is (Can I watch live TV, or recordings as they are recorded?), What file formats are supported (can I view my HD-PVR recordings from it?)
-EPG Guide - again more then yes no, what sources are supported?

[jaminben]

Originally Posted by pieroxy

MediaPortal have had PVR functionality for at least 5 years, although I don't know the state of it today.

MediaPortals PVR is actually very good.... channel setup is alot better / easier than SageTV's and it works well in the euro zone, not sure about the US though. Only downside to MediaPortal is the fact they don't have extenders.... if they'd had extenders I'd probably never have come to Sage.

[jsonnabend]

According to this page, MediaCenter supports both HDPVR and Colossus devices.

- Jeff

[AzTech]

Correct me if I'm wrong...I know that XBMC doesn't _currently_ have a DVR component to it but isn't that coming with the Eden release sometime this year?

Assuming the DVR features implemented are even remotely comparable to what Sage has to offer, I don't see why it isn't almost the ideal solution...particularly if you are dependent on extenders. Among other XBMC extender options, you can get an Apple TV and jailbreak it for less than $100. We get all the geeky customization and flexibility with XBMC that we've grown to love with Sage...with the added bonus that it is a fairly inexpensive solution.

[sandor]

Originally Posted by AzTech

Correct me if I'm wrong...I know that XBMC doesn't _currently_ have a DVR component to it but isn't that coming with the Eden release sometime this year?

Assuming the DVR features implemented are even remotely comparable to what Sage has to offer, I don't see why it isn't almost the ideal solution...particularly if you are dependent on extenders. Among other XBMC extender options, you can get an Apple TV and jailbreak it for less than $100. We get all the geeky customization and flexibility with XBMC that we've grown to love with Sage...with the added bonus that it is a fairly inexpensive solution.

*IF* a proper DVR setup comes to XBMC, that'll probably be the way i go. AppleTV's are cheap and small, and the jailbreaks for the iOS stuff work well.

[jsonnabend]

Sorry, that should have been "MediaPortal", not MediaCenter in my post above

- Jeff

[svemuri]

Originally Posted by ThePaladinTech

Also include:
-Ceton Support
-Prime Support
-USB Uirt Support
-Extender support would be nice if it were more then yes/no I'd like to know what hardware is supported and how complete the extender experience is (Can I watch live TV, or recordings as they are recorded?), What file formats are supported (can I view my HD-PVR recordings from it?)
-EPG Guide - again more then yes no, what sources are supported?

I could find only ONE alternative that can satisfy above requirements - Windows 7 Media Center. See my other thread I started to get some migration discussion going.

The only Extender for WMC7 is Xbox360 ($150-$199) and is supposed to provide full functionality minus DVD/BR folder playback and limited codec support.

I played around with MythTV previously and its a nice system. But setup is going to be complicated. No "extenders" available, but the architecture is frontend/backend. Frontend can be installed on a SFF computers (Ion/i3 etc).

All in all, it is difficult to replace Sage.

Sarat.

[david1234]

Originally Posted by svemuri

The only Extender for WMC7 is Xbox360 ($150-$199) and is supposed to provide full functionality minus DVD/BR folder playback and limited codec support.

Can another PC client connect to the server? if I have WMC7 on my laptop, can it view content on the main system?