Alternative but questions..

[Ken C]

If Dish's 3-tuner Hopper has some restrictions, why not look at DTV's 5-tuner HR34 ?

I currently have cable and a working Sage system. However, I don't intend to spend any major money keeping it running. A server failure will probably prompt a move to one of the satellite systems. The question is, which one ?

Two HDTV's need to 'talk' to the DVR, either Hopper or HR34. Two crt tv's only need the least expensive STB's. So, either system should work.

Even better, at least for me, would be a competitive response from Cox Cable. Something more than a 2-tuner DVR. I'm starting to hold my breath ...

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Ken C

Even better, at least for me, would be a competitive response from Cox Cable. Something more than a 2-tuner DVR. I'm starting to hold my breath ...

Why not a Ceton Q? I'm actually considering one of those, even though I'd sworn never to switch to cable.

Though in my defense, it's because the alternative (not massively sucky) cable company has been running fiber through my back yard. Just need to decide if I'm willing to give up BBC America in HD.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Why not a Ceton Q? I'm actually considering one of those, even though I'd sworn never to switch to cable.

Though in my defense, it's because the alternative (not massively sucky) cable company has been running fiber through my back yard. Just need to decide if I'm willing to give up BBC America in HD.

I feel you on that one. That one of the only channels DirecTV doesn't have in HD. I got AMC-HD last year. I'm right there with you as far as the q and echo go. If sage just completely dies I'd consider going that route. I'd have to figure out what to do with quite a lot of hardware though...

[Ken C]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Why not a Ceton Q? I'm actually considering one of those, even though I'd sworn never to switch to cable.

The Ceton Q is a definite possibility. A 'Q' and an Echo would do all I need. Any idea on their availability ?

Thanks for pointing me in this direction !

[stanger89]

Most recent info I've seen is I think Engadget reported the Echo is supposed to go into beta maybe this week or next?

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Why not a Ceton Q? I'm actually considering one of those, even though I'd sworn never to switch to cable.

If you already have a Sage server, wouldn't the more natural migration be to a Windows Media Center box with Ceton Echo extenders? What do you like about the Q over a PC server?

[stanger89]

Well Ken C was (or sounded like) looking for an "off the shelf" solution, a WMC machine isn't that.

The other issue is it's not clear how much of the Echo's advanced functionality (beyond a current WMC extender) requires the Q, you might need the Q to get the functionality we're looking for (DVD/BD/MKV/etc).

[Ken C]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Well Ken C was (or sounded like) looking for an "off the shelf" solution, a WMC machine isn't that.

Exactly. When my current Sage server "dies", the intent is to retire Sage and go to an "off the shelf" solution. Hopefully there will still be a market for my three Sage extenders (a 100, a 200, and a 300). Any money made there will go toward something like the Ceton Q / Echo, the Hopper / Joey, or HR34.

I'm certain there will be some remorse, giving up all of Sage's functionality, in particular, commercial skip. But, unfortunately, I think Sage is currently in an "end of life" mode. Now, if something changes ...

[Skirge01]

I find it surprising that so many people are willing to go from Sage to a closed system like WMC or their cable/satellite provider's solution. I can't even consider that because of:

1. Lack of storage expandability
2. DRM
3. Lack of control over reliability (backups, RAID, hardware choices, etc.)

These were the very reasons I left Tivo and the DTV DVR in the first place and they're still issues to this day. Currently, my only options seem to be continue using Sage or switch to MediaPortal or 4TR.

[mguebert]

Originally Posted by Skirge01

I find it surprising that so many people are willing to go from Sage to a closed system like WMC or their cable/satellite provider's solution. I can't even consider that because of:

1. Lack of storage expandability
2. DRM
3. Lack of control over reliability (backups, RAID, hardware choices, etc.)

These were the very reasons I left Tivo and the DTV DVR in the first place and they're still issues to this day. Currently, my only options seem to be continue using Sage or switch to MediaPortal or 4TR.

I don't think anybody here wants to do that. I for one would love it if I could purchase more HD300 extenders. Or barring that more licenses to roll my own clients. My needs have outgrown my current system and I for one do not want to abandon my investment. However if Sage is not going to be developed any further what choice does any of us have when our needs change?

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Skirge01

I find it surprising that so many people are willing to go from Sage to a closed system like WMC or their cable/satellite provider's solution. I can't even consider that because of:

1. Lack of storage expandability
2. DRM
3. Lack of control over reliability (backups, RAID, hardware choices, etc.)

These were the very reasons I left Tivo and the DTV DVR in the first place and they're still issues to this day. Currently, my only options seem to be continue using Sage or switch to MediaPortal or 4TR.

Well here's where I'm at. I use Sage with Dish, so HD PVR and an R5000. My R5000 is flaky and just disappears and all recordings to it fail, unless I go unplug/replug the USB or something, or maybe reboot the server.

I use extenders exclusively for playback, I've not been satisfied with PC playback since I got my first HD100. My extenders were great until I got a new SSP that supports HBR audio, and now my HD300 is flaky. The newest beta firmware doesn't support HBR audio (well it doesn't work) nor does it output FLAC or Youtube audio, and it will occasionally lock up if I don't stop playback before starting something new. Older firmware that has working HBR audio, only works if I do the stop-before-play thing, and has a tendancy to sync to the wrong HDMI colorspace (resulting in basically unreadable kaleidescope color display), and tends to be even more crash happy.

Sage works well but has some rough edges that were not a problem when Sage was under "open" development and there was hope/expectation that they'd be fixed. Essentially my patience is running out, so I'm looking for something that will just work, like Sage has/did, but support HBR audio for BD rips and all my DVD/BD rips as well.

I've only got 2TB of recording space in Sage, and it's not backed up. The Q matches that. DRM sucks, but I don't archive recordings, if something is worth me keeping it's worth me getting on Blu-ray and not having bad commercial break edits or tickers, or logos in the video.

And when all you use is extenders, the hardware doesn't really matter.

So the only real downside of the Q/Echo for me is (potential to probable) loss of comskip, and loss of BBC America HD (only channel I care about that would not be in HD on the cable provider I would go with).

[cncb]

Originally Posted by stanger89

The newest beta firmware doesn't support HBR audio (well it doesn't work) nor does it output FLAC or Youtube audio, and it will occasionally lock up if I don't stop playback before starting something new. Older firmware that has working HBR audio, only works if I do the stop-before-play thing, and has a tendancy to sync to the wrong HDMI colorspace (resulting in basically unreadable kaleidescope color display), and tends to be even more crash happy.

Unless problems were introduced with recent HD300 firmware, it might be that your new SSP is a little "flaky" because I never experienced any HBR audio problems with the HD300 and my Onkyo AVR (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, and surround FLAC from DVD-Audio).

[Dargason]

Originally Posted by Skirge01

I find it surprising that so many people are willing to go from Sage to a closed system like WMC or their cable/satellite provider's solution. I can't even consider that because of:

1. Lack of storage expandability
2. DRM
3. Lack of control over reliability (backups, RAID, hardware choices, etc.)

These were the very reasons I left Tivo and the DTV DVR in the first place and they're still issues to this day. Currently, my only options seem to be continue using Sage or switch to MediaPortal or 4TR.

I'm far from an expert on WMC, but isn't it just a Windows computer with special software? How does it prevent 1 and 3?

And as for DRM, I think we need to start accepting the fact that it exists and there's no getting around it. I'll be very surprised if the component outputs don't start down-grading HDCP content in the next year or two. AFAIK, this was always the plan, and it's just been a long time coming.

Fortunately, most content (currently) is CopyFreely, and with WMC and Echo, at least I think I'll have the ability to do what I want with that stuff.

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by Dargason

I'm far from an expert on WMC, but isn't it just a Windows computer with special software? How does it prevent 1 and 3?

Because if your motherboard dies, those raid files are worthless?

[SHS]

From what I have been reading so far I think the new Dish Hopper is carp box.
They say it can record 6 show but truth is it can not it only had 3 tuners I was think 3 dual tuner what dumber so I guest the DirecTV HR34 is the real winner with it 5 tuners.

[cncb]

Originally Posted by SHS

From what I have been reading so far I think the new Dish Hopper is carp box.

There's fish in there?

[Dargason]

Originally Posted by MattHelm

Because if your motherboard dies, those raid files are worthless?

Hmm... ok, I guess I was assuming the DRM was tied to the windows license and not the hardware. Is it only the motherboard, or is it some complicated mess of MB, CPU, etc?

[panteragstk]

AFAIK the recorded TV files with DRM are related to the product ID of the pc (I may be thinking of something else) so even if the product key is the same, whenever you activate windows the product id changes.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by cncb

Unless problems were introduced with recent HD300 firmware, it might be that your new SSP is a little "flaky" because I never experienced any HBR audio problems with the HD300 and my Onkyo AVR (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, and surround FLAC from DVD-Audio).

Which exact firmware are you using? I know with the latest beta nothing bitstreams as HBR, it's all regular DD/DTS. The latest official release will bitstream audio, but likes to crash my HD300 if I don't stop the video before starting a new one.

Now I'm not saying it's not related to my SSP (though it doesn't have any issues with my Xbox or Blu-ray player via HDMI), but my SSP I suspect has undergone a lot more testing WRT HBR bitsreaming than the HD300, and well the HD300 will never be "fixed" now I'm betting.

[cncb]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Which exact firmware are you using?

I sold my HD300s right after the big announcement last year so it was whatever the latest firmware was at that time. What, you don't want to replace your new SSP to fix problems with a $150 extender ?