Moving to DirectTV

[bigo93bronco]

Hello All,

At some point in the next year i'm planning on going from a 4 tuner analog + 2 tuner ATSC system to a 4 tuner DirectTV HD + 2 tuner ATSC configuration.

I'm planning on overhauling my server and moving the entire setup to a purpose built closet, and just tidying everything up. I know there are a million threads out there about different tuning methods, collossus vs HDPVR and so on, but I was hoping to get some of the more up to date info.

Has the collossus become any more stable since its release? I'd like to go that route to avoid 4 hdpvr+power cords

What kind of DirectTV recievers do you recommend for HD+ whatever the fastest tuning is (I assume serial). I'm hoping to buy 4X recievers off of ebay to avoid the monthly fees.

Is HD video + 5.1 sound still a problem with the hdpvr and colossus?

Will 1 WD Cavier Black hold up to 6 simultanious HD recordings?

[graywolf]

'm hoping to buy 4X recievers off of ebay to avoid the monthly fees.

They won't let you off that easy. If you check, you'll find that they'll still charge the monthly fee for anything over 1 feed/receiver.

[bigo93bronco]

Hmmmm,

Good to know. I may still have to do it though to get one of the "older" recievers that allows for serial tuning though right? I'm still digging around and getting info, but I know dish network offers a two tuner box which I could use with USB UIRT to cut the number of box fees down. Not sure about direct tv yet, or whether I would be able to use any other tuning method. I do still have a USB UIRT (or whatever its acronymn is) laying around, but I found it to be painfully slow at times

[graywolf]

You might want to research more on the 2 tuner dish receivers.

If I recall, the 2nd tuner is RF and only in SD. But think there is a kit to make it IR.

They get you coming and going

[SHS]

Dish Network Option
Two of the Duo ViP 222k
TV1- HDTV
Connect to an HDTV to view SD and HD DISH Network programs.
Supports 4 output resolutions: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i
SD content is upconverted for use with HD outputs
HD content is downconverted for use with SD outputs
TV2- SDTV
Connect to an SDTV to view SD and down-converted HD programs.
RCA-type audio/video outputs and an Agile modulated output to distribute programming to a remote TV location.
Output resolution is 480i
You also need two of the IR to UHF Upgrade Kit which converts IR to UHF for 2nd TV output and at $50 a pop you have to pay up front.

Or best way to go is
Four of the Solo ViP 211k
One USB-UIRT
Setup each Dish receiver on it own remote address
Note's some people like to stack them on top of each and point USB-UIRT at them I on other hand do not recommend this because as you well no heat goes up so the receiver on top will run hottest and may end with more problem, I recommend a rack even space them apart from each other and below parts.
One Quad IR Emitter Eyes or pair of Dual IR Emitter Eyes and you need one Radioshack 1/8" Mono Y-Adapter

Now with DirecTV
Four of the DirecTV H24 or H25
The big diff in the two is size the H25 is about half size of H24 so I recommend H25.
Note: If want to record Dolby Digital 5.1 audio you have get a Coaxial (RCA) to Optical Toslink Digital Audio Converter go to place Monoprice or check with your local RadioShack

Channel Changing can be with this tools DirecTV STB via ethernet

Now as for a Capture Device Option
1: Hauppauge Colossus it good product it just that it and SageTV don't get long so you if don't mind nightly reboot which may or maybe be force on you but a few have got lucky.
2: HD-PVR is good option.
3: HD-PVR 2 is real good option but lack 5.1 sound recording right now, I'm work on them to get this support so who how long that will take.

[bigo93bronco]

Thanks, thats exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

I would prefer the colossus, but not if its going to require nightly restarts. I need the system to be as stable as possible. I work on the road 95% of the time and no one else in the family can work through tech issues if they come up. I do have RDP access across the internet to the server though, as long as it doesn't lock up the entire machine. I wasnt aware that there was an HDPVR2. How does it compare with the HDPVR in terms of stability? I could do without 5.1 surround for awhile, that no big deal. Having a stable HD setup X4 boxes is my biggest priority. Dish netwwork is off the table for me, had them for years and wont go back. The sizes of the boxes are irrelevant to me, so i'll probably go the H24 route. My biggest fear with the HDPVR's is issues with usb cords, cards, heat, etc. If I go that route i'll probably mount them all to a backplane, add fans, and ditch the individual power supplies for a single, regulated one that powers all of them.

[gilded07]

Originally Posted by SHS

Now with DirecTV
Four of the DirecTV H24 or H25

Channel Changing can be with this tools DirecTV STB via ethernet

Do you know if this ethernet tuning works with Dish Network STBs?

And do the Directv STBs support 1080i output?

[sflamm]

I use HDPVR with optical audio and get 5.1 sound perfectly. Tuning is via multiexetuner.

HDPVR are now configured as network tuners as well so I can locate the boxes etc anywhere physically and they act as a local tuner.

[btrcp2000]

since you're looking and spending some cash anyway, you might consider dish 211's (not 211k's or anything newer)with r5000 mods. Very happy with my two, they just work, no need for hdpvr or USBUIRT to change channels, as they just connect to the server via usb. If I'm not mistaken, someone around here was selling theirs.

[Fuzzy]

legit ViP-211's are getting VERY hard to find though. That's really the only problem with the R-5000HD option at this point. I do love mine as well, but most the ViP-211's you see poping up on eBay and the sort are actually leased boxes that were never returned, and Dish network will not activate them (oddly enough, they also never offer to send a box so they can be sent back either).

Another option is I believe some here have had good results with the colossus on dish boxes via HDMI, as they don't seem to use HDCP (never tried it myself though). If you go with DirecTV, ethernet tuning will be far more useful than having to find an older box with serial ports. I have not heard of any problems with the ethernet based tuning.

And to answer your question, no, dish network boxes do NOT support HTTP tuning methods. The only way to tune them is via IR (or hardwired IR like the R-5000HD does).

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by gilded07

And do the Directv STBs support 1080i output?

Yes DTV STBs support 1080i output they can also do 1080p from the literature but I've never done the PPV it would take to get it.

[DRB]

Channel Changing can be with this tools DirecTV STB via ethernet how ever I don't know if H25 work's I do know H24

I have an H24 and a H25 and both work great with ethernet tunning.

DRB

[SHS]

Originally Posted by gilded07

Do you know if this ethernet tuning works with Dish Network STBs?

And do the Directv STBs support 1080i output?

No ethernet tuning not works with Dish Network STBs as for I know of

Yes DirecTV STBs support 1080i output in fact they even support 1080p how ever you can't view those channel because HDCP on HD-PVR or Colossus

[gilded07]

Originally Posted by SHS

Yes DirecTV STBs support 1080i output in fact they even support 1080p how ever you can't view those channel because HDCP on HD-PVR or Colossus

Thx - I should have been more specific...do any of the Directv STBs allow for 1080i via component outputs to be paired with Colossus or HDPVR? (analog hole)

I have more questions but I'll start own thread.

[SHS]

Originally Posted by bigo93bronco

Thanks, thats exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

I would prefer the colossus, but not if its going to require nightly restarts. I need the system to be as stable as possible.

My has been stable, the reason for nightly restarts has to do with the long hour of recording and colossus goof up over time with sagetv apps, how ever if your family is heavy using sagetv it my be best to look at USB2 HD-PVR model's

One two thing you have to do is enable auto login, setup a automatic task scheduler for auto reboot.

Add each one to task scheduler

Set Time 4:00AM
SageBackup.bat
--------------------------------------------------------
@echo off

echo Backup Sagetv Config ...
NET STOP SageTV
Taskkill /IM SageTV.exe /F
--------------------------------------------------------

Set Time 4:01AM
SageBackup2.bat
--------------------------------------------------------
@echo off

echo Backup Sagetv Config2 ...
C:
CD C:\Program Files (x86)\SageTV\SageTV\
copy Wiz.bin E:\Backups\Sage_Config\SageTV /Y
copy Sage.properties E:\Backups\Sage_Config\SageTV /Y

echo
shutdown /r /t 30
--------------------------------------------------------


As fuzzy said watch out for what you buy on eBay
Read this
Buying Used Dish Network Equipment or Leased Equipment

Buying Used DirecTV Equipment or Leased Equipment

[SHS]

Originally Posted by gilded07

Thx - I should have been more specific...do any of the Directv STBs allow for 1080i via component outputs to be paired with Colossus or HDPVR? (analog hole)

I have more questions but I'll start own thread.

Yes 1080i via component outputs work just fine but you may pref 1280x720p like the rest of us but that up to you.
If want Auto Resolution best look at HD-PVR 2 it only one that can handle 720x480, 1280x720 & 1920x1080 native resolution switching.

[Skirge01]

Originally Posted by SHS

Yes DirecTV STBs support 1080i output in fact they even support 1080p how ever you can't view those channel because HDCP on HD-PVR or Colossus

1080p requires an HDMI connection supporting HDCP on DirecTV, however, 1080i does not, which means you can still use the HDPVR. You could even use the Colossus if the channel is not being broadcast with HDCP restrictions (via the analog hole), which many channels still are. I've only heard reports about the premium movie channels having that restriction. I still record live events off PPV using my HDPVR.

[panteragstk]

I've been using duall colossus for a while now and they are great. I don't do nightly reboots, but weekly just to make sure nothing odd happens with any recordings. HTTP tuning works perfectly. I have native resolution and 5.1 enabled on both of my boxes (HR24 and H25) using component and optical without issues.

[SHS]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

I've been using duall colossus for a while now and they are great. I don't do nightly reboots, but weekly just to make sure nothing odd happens with any recordings. HTTP tuning works perfectly. I have native resolution and 5.1 enabled on both of my boxes (HR24 and H25) using component and optical without issues.

I should point out that he may not be using true optical he really using coaxial digital to optical converter after all the none of newer non-dvr receiver box's like H24, H25 have it, but DVR model do.

[sflamm]

coaxial digital audio and toslink (optical digital audio) carry the same identical digital information. there is no reason not to use a converter.