Cable Card Capture Device Recommendations

[Tiki]

I am considering adding a cable card tuner to my Sage setup. I know there are currently 3 main options:

2-tuner usb from Hauppaugue
3-tuner ethernet from Silicon Dust
4-tuner PCIe from Ceton

I know each requires one M-stream cable card.
I know you need some additional software to make them work with Sage (SageDCT I think). And I know that you will only be able to record and play back the channels / programs marked copy freely in Sage.
I know there are a ton of very long threads on this topic, but I think a lot of information in them is old.

My questions:
1. Any recommendations as to which product is the most stable / easiest to get working with Sage?
2. Can someone point me to the latest and greatest instructions for what is needed to make them work?
3. I've used products from Hauppauge and Silicon Dust before, but not Ceton. Can anyone tell me how good Ceton's support is (are they responsive, do they put out bug fixes quickly, do they document their updates?)? I would rate Silicon Dust very good on this, Hauppauge just fair.

[mguebert]

Originally Posted by Tiki

I am considering adding a cable card tuner to my Sage setup. I know there are currently 3 main options:

2-tuner usb from Hauppaugue
3-tuner ethernet from Silicon Dust
4-tuner PCIe from Ceton

I know each requires one M-stream cable card.
I know you need some additional software to make them work with Sage (SageDCT I think). And I know that you will only be able to record and play back the channels / programs marked copy freely in Sage.
I know there are a ton of very long threads on this topic, but I think a lot of information in them is old.

My questions:
1. Any recommendations as to which product is the most stable / easiest to get working with Sage?
2. Can someone point me to the latest and greatest instructions for what is needed to make them work?
3. I've used products from Hauppauge and Silicon Dust before, but not Ceton. Can anyone tell me how good Ceton's support is (are they responsive, do they put out bug fixes quickly, do they document their updates?)? I would rate Silicon Dust very good on this, Hauppauge just fair.

I have two Silicon Dust HDHomerun tuners working with Sage, 0 problems. So I have not needed their support.

However I have been using the Ceton Infinitv4 for about 4 months now. I had a lot of initial problems with the tuners dropping offline. Ceton Tech Support was very responsive for me. It turned out all of my problems were being caused by AVG antivirus, they helped me diagnose and replace it with Microsoft Security Essentials. Since then I have only had a couple of minor Hiccups not with the tuner but with SageDCT. I would have to say I have been happy with the combo.

[gplasky]

Went with SiliconDust Prime and SageDCT on WHS 2011. I went from using the built-in Marvell NIC to an Intel NIC and have had no real issues since making that change.

Gerry

[tmiranda]

I used the HDHR Prime. Easy to setup (but I already have a HDHR and was already very familiar with the setup process) and easy to configure.

[Naylia]

Ceton Quad-Tuner PCIe here. No issues - (well it occasionally says Halt Detected in Recording, but these shows are still watchable so I have no real idea what that's about)

[Fluffdaddy]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

I used the HDHR Prime. Easy to setup (but I already have a HDHR and was already very familiar with the setup process) and easy to configure.

Ditto on all accounts

[egeller]

Originally Posted by Naylia

Ceton Quad-Tuner PCIe here. No issues - (well it occasionally says Halt Detected in Recording, but these shows are still watchable so I have no real idea what that's about)

I see that too. I think SageDCT handles any errors and restarts whatever needs restarting. From my view it's very stable and bug-free. I still have occasional issues with the HDPVRs and need to restart them, but never with the Ceton.

The only issue I had was with using file storage on a server over my network. SageDCT hates that. Storage needs to be local to Sage.

By the way, I use a 4th option you did not mention - The Ceton USB quad-tuner.

[Tiki]

So, I assume that you get the SageDCT software from Andy's blog at http://babgvant.com. Is that right?

The most recent version I see posted there is v2.2.0. Is that the latest?

The page where it is posted says it only supports Ceton, but I know people have it working with other tuners. Is there just one version that works with all the cable card tuners? Is the setup the same regardless of which one you are using?

Do you have to install the software that comes with the Ceton / Hauppauge / Silicon Dust device and get things configured there before running the DCT software? Do you need to do any configuration in Windows Media Center, or can that be skipped completely?

If there is a post or a wiki that explains all this, I'm sorry - just point me to it.