Thanks for the good times, SageTV

[s. schuster]

Sadly, we are leaving SageTV for Window Media Center. Here's why: after spending many hours trying to get Comcast CableCard to work with HDHR Prime and Sage + SageDCT, just for the privilege of tuning fewer channels than I pay for, I finally figured, enough.

We've been SageTV users since 2004 and it's been a great ride. SageTV offered a solution that "almost just worked" after I had spent forever trying to get a stable mythTV box working -- and now, we leave SageTV for the same reason we joined. I just want something that works and does not require me to spend a lifetime hunting down third-party patches, programs and workarounds. Besides, with the whole google acquisition it seems the game is over.

Thanks to the very cool and patient members of the SageTV community -- arguably the best feature of SageTV!

[jptheripper]

Sorry to see you go. I am using Comcast CableCard with the Hauppauge (a rebranded usb version of the prime) and it works flawlessly. There are only 5 channels I get that I cannot tune.

Sorry to hear of your troubles.

Agreed that Sage has the best user community, and I wish you luck with WMC.

[Ericft]

I also had a hard time getting channels working with Comcast and hdprme. However, one I got the right level 2 tech to send the right signals to the system it has been working great. What issues are you running into? The keys for me were to set auto reset to on, make sure Oob lock said success, and have Comcast make sure that the billing on my account was correct for m cable card and hd subscriptions.

[s. schuster]

Yeah, it seemed like it was almost working, but then I updated my HDHR software and firmware to the 20111128 beta version, and that broke SageDCT. And guess what? There is no way to roll back the beta firmware once installed. So ... too many moving parts in the end. I gotta say, the Windows Media Center is working well, and the image quality is great.

[gplasky]

Sorry to hear that. I upgraded to the same 20111128 beta 1 with Sage DCT running on my Windows Home Server and with a Comcast cablecard. Working better than ever.

Gerry

[farscapesg1]

How's the interface and more importantly how well has the family taken to the change

My biggest issue with moving to Media Center is the initial cost. We have SageTV hooked up to 4 TVs (living room, gameroom, master bed, daughter's room). I just replaced my daughter's ancient HD100 extender with a desktop client (spare Dell 745 SFF) and added another Dell 745 to my office to watch TV on a seperate monitor while working from home. The HD100 will probably migrate into the guest room with an old 20" LCD monitor just in case extended family wants to watch TV when they are over. So, with all that I'm looking at running 6 clients in the house which would mean 6 XBOX's if I converted to Media Center

With my current SageTV setup (just got Cablecard working with Comcast but we only subscribe to the "extended basic" so I don't worry about the protected channels. For me it looks like Comcast still has all their basic channels (both digital SD and HD [except ComedyCentralHD]) copy freely. At this point I think I'm entrenched in SageTV so far I don't have much of a choice but to keep riding it out as long as possible..

[mistergq]

This is interesting, I was actually thinking with the addition of prime to Sagetv with SageDCT, I am not sure there is a reason to change to another program as long as SageDCT is support, as well as HD PVR, and HD Homerun.

[s. schuster]

The family is still adjusting to the change. What's cool about the HDHR prime is that the tuners are available to any PC on the lan. So the PCs upstairs can use it as well as the PC in the family room (the old sagetv box). Windows 7 homegroup let's any of the machines on the network share their Media Center recorded shows with each other -- so I'd don't have the multi xbox issue.

[farscapesg1]

Originally Posted by s. schuster

The family is still adjusting to the change. What's cool about the HDHR prime is that the tuners are available to any PC on the lan. So the PCs upstairs can use it as well as the PC in the family room (the old sagetv box). Windows 7 homegroup let's any of the machines on the network share their Media Center recorded shows with each other -- so I'd don't have the multi xbox issue.

As long as the content is marked copy-freely that is, right? Copy-once content is still only viewable on the HTPC that actually recorded it. Again, not really an issue since I only use extended basic.

Hmm, going that route, I'd only have to build replacement systems or buy XBOX's for my extenders then. Still, that would be 4 XBOX's or 4 additional PC's

[cncb]

Originally Posted by s. schuster

Windows 7 homegroup let's any of the machines on the network share their Media Center recorded shows with each other -- so I'd don't have the multi xbox issue.

How did you get around the "missing metadata on shared recordings" problem that is still pervasive? http://experts.windows.com/frms/wind...4/t/78724.aspx

[s. schuster]

Originally Posted by cncb

How did you get around the "missing metadata on shared recordings" problem that is still pervasive? http://experts.windows.com/frms/wind...4/t/78724.aspx

Guess I'll be leaving behind a bunch of issues -- and gaining a whole bunch of new ones as I move forward. Time to take this party to the green button forum.

[ybrew]

I guess I'm lucky in one major respect. 95% of the stuff I want to watch is on local channels, and I get those over the air in HD. the stuff that I watch that's not over the air, I have one DirecTV HD DVR. But until Walking Dead comes back in February, that DVR will be collecting dust.

[simonen]

Originally Posted by ybrew

I guess I'm lucky in one major respect. 95% of the stuff I want to watch is on local channels, and I get those over the air in HD. the stuff that I watch that's not over the air, I have one DirecTV HD DVR.

Kinda right there with you, even though I do subscribe to HD cable, 90% of what we watch is on the major networks, so the HDHR is the staple workhorse and the non-QAM content comes via the HD-PVR (love the analog loophole).

Now that we are back in the States, I find us using Sage more than ever even though 6 months ago I thought we would drop it since they got bought out. There is nothing out there still that can't compete to Sage and I don't think that will change anytime soon.

[ybrew]

Originally Posted by simonen

Kinda right there with you, even though I do subscribe to HD cable, 90% of what we watch is on the major networks, so the HDHR is the staple workhorse and the non-QAM content comes via the HD-PVR (love the analog loophole).

Now that we are back in the States, I find us using Sage more than ever even though 6 months ago I thought we would drop it since they got bought out. There is nothing out there still that can't compete to Sage and I don't think that will change anytime soon.

I've heard rumors the DTV HR34 5 or 6 tuner DVR will be released Thursday. I'm not gonna lie and say I'm not interested in that, but I'm also still happy with Sage.

[SHS]

Originally Posted by ybrew

I've heard rumors the DTV HR34 5 or 6 tuner DVR will be released Thursday. I'm not gonna lie and say I'm not interested in that, but I'm also still happy with Sage.

Yup it come out that DTV HR34 DVR (5 tuner 1TB disk) I'am not interested only becuases it most likely dosen't support other media like DVD Moive's/Video's, CD Music's, Home Recoder Video's and Picture's

[ybrew]

Originally Posted by SHS

Yup it come out that DTV HR34 DVR (5 tuner 1TB disk) I'am not interested only becuases it most likely dosen't support other media like DVD Moive's/Video's, CD Music's, Home Recoder Video's and Picture's

You're right - IT doesn't support other media.

But that's not the point.

The RVU is supposed to be an open standard. Eventually 3rd party hardware makers will be able to make RVU devices and eventually a DTV Whole House App should be available for Boxee or Roku or GoogleTV. So while the HR34 may not support other media, boxes that run a DTV Whole House App most certainly should.

(This is based on my reading of the RVU standard. How long it takes for these RVU clients to come out is anybody's guess.)

[ybrew]

I thought the HR34 was $99. It was actually listed at $199 on the website, but thought I read it was supposed to be $99.

Anyway - I added it to my card on DTV's website - for $0.

I guess I need to add whole home DVR soon. The new receiver has a $6 month lease fee. I can immediately cancel one of my DirecTV receivers tucked away in my closet and recoup that lease fee. So total out of pocket should be $3 month for the whole home DVR option.

installation is scheduled for Tuesday (assuming the receiver gets here in time).

[ybrew]

Well shoot.

I thought I ordered the HR34, but now I'm not sure. It's no longer showing as available, and my cart isn't very clear. I'm gonna call to verify. I'm worried I might have ordered just a regular HD DVR. Those are nice, but I don't need another one of them right now.

- yep, wrong one ordered. The HR34 is not available now (could've sworn it was earlier).

Oh well. I'm not in a hurry for it.

[SHS]

Only thing is I dosen't see is any clients so where the so call DirecTV C30 Home Media Clients?.
The big question is when RVU capable devices will begin showing up. While RVU looks to provide a great whole-home solution, it's going to be hard to get people to switch to DirecTV strictly for this feature without the support of the consumer electronic to go with it. Similar initiatives have been tried in the past and failed other then SageTV. It will be interesting to see if DirecTV can get their partners to push out the gear.
You be add not recoup that lease fee or it sway the same becuase you still need a DirecTV Receiver for each room becuase there are no Client out

[Ken C]

Looks like the RVU stuff won't be available for a while, probably. So, for now, will you have to use the HR34 with remote STB's ?

I have 5 TV's, 3 HDTV's and 2 crt TV's. Not interested in "Whole House" for the crt's, just the HDTV's. An HR34 on one HDTV, two "Whole House" STB's for the remaining HDTV's, and two "regular" STB' for the ctr TV's, this could get expensive ...

Also, additional cabling will probably be necessary, who pays for that ? Oh yeah, me.

I'll hang with Sage for as long as feasible. But, it is nice to know there are possible alternatives out there. Sure will miss comskip !