VOD and FIOS revelation

[macsupergeek]

My issue with video on demand and using STBs has always been how to drive the menu commands of the STB, and its even more difficult if you have more than one and if you use extenders and USB-UIRT. If I was using PC clients then I probably would have done something with the LM Gestion remote app and that way I could have an on screen way of moving about the on screen menus of the STB, but I chose extenders, mostly for high WAF they given over the years. But then last night I was playing around with my iphone and I saw the FIOS remote STB app and I had an idea. I setup my 2 STB's with my iphone and then I setup channel 900 which is the VOD channel -- so now on an extender I tune to channel 900 and it puts me in the video on demand menu and then using my iphone I can then navigate the menus for the given STB and then play a movie or even an on demand show from HBO and since its playing through the STB and pumped through my HD-PVR -- I can record whatever is being played there. Of course I have to use BMT or edit option in the Recordings menu to change the info to what was actually recorded as the title is Video on Demand, but once you set the title right then a quick IMDB lookup pulls the rest of the metadata. So I know its pretty hack, but heh -- it gives VOD access and at least a little more bang for my already paid for services -- who says SageTV is dead.

[mistergq]

You sir are a genius! I will have to play with this new discovery this weekend!!!

If this works, I will never leave STV!!!

[scoful]

It would be pretty cool to be able to define a VOD channel that when selected would go to livetv mode and pass through the up/down/left/right/select commands to the STB (I use firewire). Come to think of it - I don't think I get any menu overlays through Firewire. Oh well - it would work with HDPVR/Colossus maybe...

[mistergq]

Mac:

Thanks for posting this. I installed the app and now have this set up and watched a couple shows. At least we now have the VOD option in our house.

[wbarber69]

pffft. Ive been doing this for years. its way easy. first just buy the most expensive harmony remote you can (I got the 890 pro 400 bucks) that has a wireless extender with zones and stuff. Then just make a device profile for your stb. turn to VOD service channel. start recording. using the harmony switch to STB profile and choose your movie, making note of the run time. swich back to SageTV profile and adjust your shows start and end times in Advanced Recording details....Oh wait I should mention you need to be running SageMC as your STV of choice. But once you train yourself to do this everytime its incredibly easy, as long as you dont have to teach the method to someone else.

[wayner]

What is the range of the RF on the Harmony Remote? I have a big house and my bedroom is a long way and two floors from my Sage server in my basement.

But I also do this by using the remote control in my server room to select the show and record. I have the composite output of my STBs connected into a 3 way video switch that is attached to an old portable DVD player with a video in. This allows me to see what each of my 3 boxes is outputting without having to use a tuner. It also makes it easier to change settings on my STBs which is occasionally required.

[macsupergeek]

doing it through the i-app is way easier

[wayner]

It's also way cooler but it only works for providers that support the iPad app whereas other methodologies will work for pretty much any type of STB.