Just in case- Alternatives to SageTV

[sflamm]

I'm pretty sure an HDPVR (can) work with WMC.

It can - I tried it and it worked many moons ago.

I still use my HDPVR to tune channels that neither Ceton or Silicondust can get...

[Skybolt]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

Hopefully stanger will get one next month to test. I know a few other members got beta invites too.

Yes we did ... - sorry just very excited ... and can't wait.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by Skybolt

Yes we did ... - sorry just very excited ... and can't wait.

When date are they supposed to send it?

[Rob]

Originally Posted by Skybolt

Yes we did ... - sorry just very excited ... and can't wait.

And will you be able to share results with us or will there be an NDA?

[Skybolt]

The only info I know is that they will contact the beta testers when there ready to ship with an email. I suspect the NDA and purchase agreement will be in there as well. From the original email, early September as I remember.

I will post as much info as I can/allowed both here and on AVS (there main thread).

I am sure stanger will as well. I have slightly less standards then he does though

[nebulink]

I am also one of the very lucky beta testers.

I am hoping that they will allow me to test 6 Echo's. I currently have 6 HD-300's I am hoping to replace. It would be a very nice comparison.

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by Skybolt

The only info I know is that they will contact the beta testers when there ready to ship with an email. I suspect the NDA and purchase agreement will be in there as well. From the original email, early September as I remember.

There probably won't be an NDA. That rumor has been floating around for a while, but I have no idea how it started. One of the Ceton guys said a long time ago people probably won't be under NDAs, and I'm pretty sure the Ceton App beta participants aren't under NDAs.

For some reason I thought one of the Ceton guys said they were projecting mid-September for the Echo beta, but I don't remember why I'm thinking that. Maybe I was thinking early September for the email, mid-to-late September for the units to go out...

Originally Posted by nebulink

I am hoping that they will allow me to test 6 Echo's. I currently have 6 HD-300's I am hoping to replace. It would be a very nice comparison.

Whoa... 6? I'm just hoping for two, although I'd buy three if they let me.

I'm trying to decide what to do if I can only get one box. I'm moving in mid-September, and will be switching from Xfinity to FiOS. I was kind of hoping to just switch entirely to FiOS and WMC with an HDHR Prime tuner, but I'll probably have to run my Sage system too on the side, with my HD-PVRs tied to some FiOS boxes.

[Skybolt]

Originally Posted by reggie14

There probably won't be an NDA. That rumor has been floating around for a while, but I have no idea how it started. One of the Ceton guys said a long time ago people probably won't be under NDAs, and I'm pretty sure the Ceton App beta participants aren't under NDAs.

For some reason I thought one of the Ceton guys said they were projecting mid-September for the Echo beta, but I don't remember why I'm thinking that. Maybe I was thinking early September for the email, mid-to-late September for the units to go out...

Wow, no NDA. That would be great. Then we could post updates as they happen with GOOD news.

I also think you are right, my email stated beta starting mid-september as well, with an early september email. I too am hopping for more then one unit to be available.

[Chriscic]

Originally Posted by mistergq

I am open to the idea of switching. I don't want to be one of those that say I will never go. I also am very hopeful that NextPVR or another alternative can get to the level of Sage with extenders. I would be willing to switch then. But until then, or until my equipment starts failing and I can't replacements, I am sticking with sagetv.

Was reading about NextPVR, and it looks promising. Can anyone comment on stability/broad comparison with SageTV? Mistergq, I see it does support some extenders.

Certainly SageTV works so well and so reliably these days (HD-PVR lock-ups becoming a distant memory) there's not much incentive to switch, although the one important thing (to me) I can think of in Sage that's missing is PiP, and I believe NextPVR can do that.

[SHS]

NextPVR
1: Configuration setup is real pain in neck when coming to EPG/Deivce setup and no standerd IR/Blaster would pref to see one common direct standards like USB-UIRT and Schedules Direct EPG.
2: Configuration setup is done External (I would perf it see all internal done like sagetv and media center edition)
3: Configuration Client reg open access main data folder sharing which bad idea.

Even MediaPortal & XBMC drive me nut because they are so overly complex configuration for an eazy setup task which why even today the long dead SageTV out shine them all even Media Center Edition.
As for Ceton InfiniTV 4, Q which are useless they are made Cable and MCE only and Echo is nothing more then a MCE Extender.

Something tell me we never going to see anything as good SageTV which I'm pettey sure we not going see Google TV PC app after all it look it going be for Google Fiber TV Cable Hardware Device but then angine I could be wrong we see.

[ehfortin]

Hi,

Originally Posted by SHS

Even MediaPortal & XBMC drive me nut because they are so overly complex configuration for an eazy setup task which why even today the long dead SageTV out shine them all even Media Center Edition.
As for Ceton InfiniTV 4, Q which are useless they are made Cable and MCE only and Echo is nothing more then a MCE Extender.

I've tried to get Mythbuntu running and never got any of my IR to work correctly. I had this setup working about 18-24 months ago so I guess something changed in the new version and even if it recognize my various IR (UIRT, MCE and Hauppauge), I was unable to make it work with the Motorola VIP12xx STB I have.

So, I installed MediaPortal as it is one of the PVR backend supported by XBMC (installed both Openelec and XMBCbuntu with PVR option) and had issue making it to work. Then, I found "For the record" which is a very good setup that integrate well with MediaPortal as it's recording server (I have a HDPVR which is not supported directly by FTR) and also have a plugin to act as a PVR backend for XBMC.

Everything work just fine. I never use MediaPortal frontend. All my XBMC client are sharing a MySQL database and can see the schedule and the recordings of FTR. I usually use the web based interface of FTR to create my recording schedule (very powerful option BTW) and I've configured FTR to save my recordings in the same structure format as what XBMC is looking for even if I can directly access recordings from XBMC through the "Live TV" menu. I prefer to see all my series and movies under the same XBMC Movies/TV menus but still want to be able to get into the LiveTV option if I want to do so or configure a recording on the fly without powering on my laptop or tablet.

Just wanted to let people know that there is a setting that is working and that is actually very interesting if you want to extend with multiple client.

I was planning on putting together the various URL I used to figure how to put the thing together. I'll try to find some time to do it if it can be of any interest for somebody here.

Thank you. Have a very good day!

ehfortin

A few useful links:

http://www.4therecord.eu
http://www.4therecord.eu/forum/viewt...hp?f=41&t=2425
http://www.team-mediaportal.com/
http://openelec.tv/ or http://xbmc.org/
http://www.schedulesdirect.org/
http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/th...eleases.75092/

Some notes:

I've installed the full mediaportal because I needed one of the tool that is part of the client packaging to be able to import the Schedulesdirect listing but I'm only using the backend to record through FTR. MediaPortal has been configured to use the HDPVR and to link with IR Server Suite (IRSS) to manage my IR device.

On FTR, I've installed the full package + the ChannelImporter and I have configured FTR to use MediaPortal.

Finally, I've installed the FTR plugin in Openelec and got everything working.

Note that I had to import the ScheduleDirect channel in MediaPortal AND in FTR so that the "auto-mapping" start working by itself. Since then, I'm only running a task once a day to import the SD listing in FTR and never did it again in MP as it is only used as a recorder.

Hope this help a little.

[kricker]

For those interested a new XBMC add-on has been created. It allows playback of previously recorded files and a currently recording file.

[mistergq]

Originally Posted by kricker

For those interested a new XBMC add-on has been created. It allows playback of previously recorded files and a currently recording file.

Very cool. Please keep us updated.

[kricker]

There is a thread for it on these boards as well as the XBMC boards. You can follow the progress there.

[wayner]

Speaking of XBMC - has anyone tried out the Raspberry Pi yet as a media playback device? I ordered one today as I figured it was worth the risk for $35, although it may take many weeks to ship.

[jerryt]

I set up NPVR over the weekend. Getting ATSC from HDhomeRun units and Dish satellite from DVBlogic, Got the TV guide working with the MC2XML.exe and everything just works...

Closed captions on live TV works great with ATI codec, which would always crash Sage, so that was welcomed change.

NPVR has one pretty cool feature, PIP, Picture in picture. Worked with two satellite channels or any combination of satellite and ATSC.

I am impressed.

Wonder if anyone has tried NPVR's extenders?

[jerryt]

Originally Posted by wayner

Speaking of XBMC - has anyone tried out the Raspberry Pi yet as a media playback device? I ordered one today as I figured it was worth the risk for $35, although it may take many weeks to ship.

On DVBlogic forum they comment that the picture quality is great, but EPG is super slow. Like 40 seconds to open the guide.

See post 2276
http://www.dvblogic.com/phpBB3/viewt...8242&start=300

[wayner]

As a start I would be happy with just playback in XBMC on a RPi without the recording functionality os EPG wouldn't be an issue, but loading filenames in a large folder might be.

[SHS]

Originally Posted by jerryt

I set up NPVR over the weekend. Getting ATSC from HDhomeRun units and Dish satellite from DVBlogic, Got the TV guide working with the MC2XML.exe and everything just works...

Closed captions on live TV works great with ATI codec, which would always crash Sage, so that was welcomed change.

NPVR has one pretty cool feature, PIP, Picture in picture. Worked with two satellite channels or any combination of satellite and ATSC.

I am impressed.

Wonder if anyone has tried NPVR's extenders?

Just wonder why are you using DVBlogic with NextPVR?

[jerryt]

Originally Posted by SHS

Just wonder why are you using DVBlogic with NextPVR?

NPVR is on a client at the moment.

Have DVBlogic controlling the two HDPVR's feeding WMC and Sage (Now NPVR). Went to this setup when the HDPVR's were flaky in Sage and never went back.

DVBlogic (v3.2bx) makes the two HDPVR act like network tuners, works very well for me.