Boxee Box as an extender? (xbmc perhaps?)

[darcilicious]

[not trying to step on any toes by providing an update even though I'm not one of the developers, who are probably off enjoying family time on the holiday weekend ]

What's a "safety client license"?

In general the goal of the app is a lot like the web-based versions that allow you to manage your recordings (add manual recordings, delete recordings, manage favorites, plus watch recordings and live TV). It will not be (more than likely) a full-on client replacement allowing for themes, plugins, etc.

So, sort of like a light-weight extender that won't require a SageTV license since it's communicating to the SageTV server over the network (using server based plugins, I forget which ones exactly, sagex-services maybe?).

Since the native Boxee software already handles access to online content and local content, those features probably won't be implemented in the SageTV app.

There's a proof of concept version available via a Boxee repository http://sagetv-boxee.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/repo/ It basically will show all recorded items and play them.

You can also download the most recent version via SVN and run in Boxee as a "test app". This version is a lot more functional and has UI improvements. I'll post the details if you're interested and I'll post some screenshots to Flickr shortly.

It's worth noting that current version of the Boxee software (for computers) won't playback "growing/open" files so Live TV playback is not available but it works fine (for me at least) on the newer firmware available on the Boxee Box. The software/computer version of Boxee is almost a year old and it may be that the updated version (due out later this fall but I'm expecting it to be delayed) will fix this issue.

[BTW, I'm just a Boxee and SageTV user and watching this app development closely and very very thankful for all the hard work already done!]

[darcilicious]

Eight screenshots on Flickr.

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

Eight screenshots on Flickr.

Thanks for the screenshots Darci.

The project is moving along nicely. We're focusing on the TV functionality and have done dothing with music and imported videos.

Most TV things work, I'm just finishing up the "Add as Favorite" functionality. I'd like to get another build done fairly soon so people can install the app from the repository and not have to download things from google code.

[dinki]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

I'd like to get another build done fairly soon so people can install the app from the repository and not have to download things from google code.

Looking forward to this! I've been watching the progress on the Google Group discussion page and am amazed at the progress. Thanks to you all!

[lfilomeno]

Originally Posted by dinki

Looking forward to this! I've been watching the progress on the Google Group discussion page and am amazed at the progress. Thanks to you all!

Second this as well. If you can get liveTV going (which seems that you guys have!), I am willing to even contribute to your efforts! In the end, you are giving us a much needed extender!

[SafetyBob]

Ok, so here is the question of the century. Will the Boxee software interface with SageTV version 5? I think I have 5.4.

4 out of 6 old MVP's got killed by a lightening strike and I have either got to try and use the upgrade stuff I found here for version 7 if that will even work or figure out if Boxee Boxes with work with my old version.

What do you experts thing?

Bob E.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by SafetyBob

Ok, so here is the question of the century. Will the Boxee software interface with SageTV version 5? I think I have 5.4.

4 out of 6 old MVP's got killed by a lightening strike and I have either got to try and use the upgrade stuff I found here for version 7 if that will even work or figure out if Boxee Boxes with work with my old version.

What do you experts thing?

Bob E.

The key is you need an operational jetty server and Sagex api's installed as a plugin. There is one for V7 and there was one for V6. I'm not sure if they would work in v5. And I'm pretty sure no one would expend the effort to do it for v5.

Gerry

[SafetyBob]

Ok, then I need to read up on the version 5 to 6 to 7 tricks or whatever it takes to do that first then. Any hints there would be appreciated too.

Bob E.

[Mitch G]

FYI: Boxee box for $119:
http://deals.woot.com/sellout


Mitch

[willplaice]

i see from the pictures livetv is possible ?

I'm using this repo "http://sagetv-boxee.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/repo/"

and that version doesn't to tv (i'm expecting to get a tv guide)

am i getting excited too soon ?

Will

[darcilicious]

Are you running this on a PC or on the Boxee Box? If the former, you won't get live tv.

However, in either case you should be able to view the guide via TV>>Program Guide.

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by willplaice

i see from the pictures livetv is possible ?

I'm using this repo "http://sagetv-boxee.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/repo/"

and that version doesn't to tv (i'm expecting to get a tv guide)

am i getting excited too soon ?

Will

Will,

As Darci said, live TV won't work if you're using a PC client, it's a Boxee limitation. We can now play "live TV" from the programming guide, but not on that old build in the repo. I'll try to do a build this weekend that has a lot more functionality in it.

Tom

[willplaice]

great so i'm not doing anything wrong - a new build would be fantastic - yes I have a boxee - so looking forward to trying this out.

[SafetyBob]

Tom, let me ask a few very direct questions that I think will clear up many questions on the SageTV and Boxxee thing.

1. If I upgrade my SageTV server (at least that's what they called it in Version 5) to the latest version 7 using the free stuff that was given us, other than the normal freeing up the ports on the computer AND ensuring my router ports are free too, I should not need to do anything else to the SageTV server inorder to have the Boxee's work? Correct?

2. When I purchase a Boxxee Box (or two or three), what specifically will I have to do to them inorder to make them "see" my SageTV server and all the recordings on my hard drives?

Thank you so much.

Bob E.

[tmiranda]

A new build is now available in the repository. It has a lot more functionality, but it's still far from complete.

Tom

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by SafetyBob

Tom, let me ask a few very direct questions that I think will clear up many questions on the SageTV and Boxxee thing.

1. If I upgrade my SageTV server (at least that's what they called it in Version 5) to the latest version 7 using the free stuff that was given us, other than the normal freeing up the ports on the computer AND ensuring my router ports are free too, I should not need to do anything else to the SageTV server inorder to have the Boxee's work? Correct?

2. When I purchase a Boxxee Box (or two or three), what specifically will I have to do to them inorder to make them "see" my SageTV server and all the recordings on my hard drives?

Thank you so much.

Bob E.

Bob,

After upgrading to Sage7 you will need to:

1. Install the "sagex services" plugin.

2. Optionally configure your jetty userid, password and port (if you don't the defaults will be userid "sage", password "frey" - no quotes on either - and port 8080)

3. Create network shares for the directory(ies) that contain your sagetv recordings.

4. Enter the Boxee for SageTV repository into Boxee: http://sagetv-boxee.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/repo/

5. Find SageTV for Boxee in the list of apps on your Boxee Box and install it.

6. When you first run the app it will ask for the host IP and port, as well as the jetty userid and password. There is a bug somewhere (in Boxee I think) that prevents it from resolving hostnames so use hostIPort and not hostnameort.

7. Go to Settings->Boxee and enter the "mappings" so Boxee can find your sagetv recordings. Browse a few posts up in this thread and there are a lot of post describing how to setup the mappings.

Post here if you have problems.

Tom

[SafetyBob]

Thank you Tom, the above information you provided is exactly what I and every other person needs to know that is not exactly mr. techical (even though I have built lots of computers and crap), this is not my specialty.

I and others are felling very, very lost. Not any more. Thank you very, very much. Guess I need to get a Boxee and give this a whirl.

While I have you, any recommendations for building a new SageTV server that will support at least 8 Boxee's. I think I am going to use at least one if not two HDHR's (non cable card) to use my nice antenna I built and if I like then that much, I may use one or two for recording off my Cox cable for USA and Cartoon Network. With half HD TV's and upgrading others in next few years, I really like the HDTV viewing experience. Or should I get something like a three or four HVR-1850's or 2250's and forget HDHRs? Just looking for opinion and/or suggestion on clean new start that I plan to not touch like my old setup for 6 or so years.....

Again, thanks for help!!

Bob E.

[Slugger]

Originally Posted by SafetyBob

Thank you Tom, the above information you provided is exactly what I and every other person needs to know that is not exactly mr. techical (even though I have built lots of computers and crap), this is not my specialty.

I and others are felling very, very lost. Not any more. Thank you very, very much. Guess I need to get a Boxee and give this a whirl.

There's an issue open to create an install/setup wiki doc for the project. You can star that issue to get an update when it's done. Starring the issue also helps us gauge the interest of users in completing that ticket sooner rather than later.

While I have you, any recommendations for building a new SageTV server that will support at least 8 Boxee's. I think I am going to use at least one if not two HDHR's (non cable card) to use my nice antenna I built and if I like then that much, I may use one or two for recording off my Cox cable for USA and Cartoon Network. With half HD TV's and upgrading others in next few years, I really like the HDTV viewing experience. Or should I get something like a three or four HVR-1850's or 2250's and forget HDHRs? Just looking for opinion and/or suggestion on clean new start that I plan to not touch like my old setup for 6 or so years.....

Well, the good news is that boxee "mini clients" do all the heavy lifting on the devices themselves and use zero CPU/RAM on the Sage server other than what is used to communicate via the sagex-services plugin (which is low, near zero really) so there are no special specs required on the Sage server side. In theory, a very low powered Sage server could run dozens or even hundreds of boxee clients. The only limitations/bottlenecks would be:

• The network bandwidth required to stream the media from the Sage server to the boxee devices; on a gigabit LAN I don't see why a single Sage server couldn't feed upwards of 20 boxee clients comfortably**
• Hard drive performance: This is more likely to be an issue as it's very unlikely a single hard drive could feed an HD recording to 20 different boxee devices simultaneouly, though I didn't do the calculations to actually see if I'm right or wrong. If your recordings are randomly distributed over multiple hard drives then the number of simultaneous boxee clients you can support increases, assuming each device is just as likely to request a recording from a unique, random hard drive in the pool. RAID arrays may also improve/increase the ability to feed simultaneous clients

** This is a theoretical calculation and has NOT been tested nor confirmed to work. What should work in theory may not work in practice, so keep that in mind.

And I highly recommend starting with a single boxee device to make sure it does what you want it to do, then add more later on. I'd even suggest starting with the PC version of Boxee to get a feel for what this app does before investing in boxee devices. Again, I stress that this project is still in a development/alpha stage. I'm personally not recommending users go out and buy boxee hardware solely for this application. There's still a chance we might hit a show stopper issue with the boxee platform that halts our progress completely, then you're stuck with a $200 device you may not otherwise want.

[david1234]

Originally Posted by SafetyBob

really like the HDTV viewing experience. Or should I get something like a three or four HVR-1850's or 2250's and forget HDHRs?
Bob E.

I started out with an ati650, then added a couple hvr1250's and a 2250 over the course of a couple years. I bought my first hdhr a couple months ago, and there's no way I'd go back.

The hdhr just works so much better since there's no messing around with any drivers. just install the software, and tell Sage to use it.

[jdc]

This is awesome guys. Thanks for all your hard work. I just ordered a couple of refurb Boxees to try this out with.