Building a new Sage server, what tuner (software) should I use?

[MickBurke]

I'm currently using a Ceton InfiniTV 6 ETH on my existing sagetv server. I'm moving that to new hardware, and since I have to reconfigure I figured I'd check to see if there's any considerations for changes i need to look at.

The first one I came to was should I continue using SageDCT or switch to something like openDCT or some other alternative? This one has worked fine (not even sure what version I'm on since it's just worked for so long), but if there's any value in performance, reliability or even ease of install, I want to consider it.

Any thoughts are much appreciated.

As I said I'm using a Ceton InfiniTV 6 ETH ethernet tuner, and am on Verizon FIOS service if it matters.

Thanks!

Mick

[KryptoNyte]

Switch to OpenDCT. It works great and the author of that software is very active here in the forum, and constantly working on Sage related software. He is also very responsive if issues do arise, and he has experience with your tuner. I seem to recall there being a firmware update for the 6 tuner model.

[MickBurke]

Thanks! For a 64bit windows install do I use the 64bit version, or do I use the x86 (like with Java)?

[EnterNoEscape]

It doesn't really matter, but to keep it simple, I would just use x86 so that you only need to update one Java architecture.

[KryptoNyte]

EDIT: so that ^^^^^^ is what I mean about the author being ... around.

... I used the x86 version as suggested by the author in his first post in the OpenDCT thread, to match the Java install.

[MickBurke]

Great, thanks again!

[KarylFStein]

Originally Posted by MickBurke

Thanks! For a 64bit windows install do I use the 64bit version, or do I use the x86 (like with Java)?

32 bit is easiest on Windows. If you use the 64 bit you also need a 64 bit JRE installed.

[Fuzzy]

Keep in mind, that many are discovering that for a dedicated server machine, unRAID is becoming a much easier to maintain system. There's a docker image for SageTV that runs 64-bit, and runs very well, I've also rolled up a docker image for OpenDCT that I've been using for a while that seems to work great. the only reason I have a windows server (which is actually in a VM on the same unRAID box now), is to run PlayOn to get netflix and some other shows recorded into sage.

[MickBurke]

Yea, I remember that from a previous post, but I don't have the confidence... Is there a good doc that would walk me through it? I'm open, but hesitant!

[Fuzzy]

unRAID has it's own guides, but I honestly didn't need much, so I didn't go through it. Essentially, the main steps, on a new system, is to download their tool to create a bootable thumbdrive with the unRAID OS on it, and then boot the new system off of that. Setting up from there is pretty straight forward. That's enough to get a basic file server up and running on a new system with some new drives, pooling the drives together and setting up network shares and such. Pretty much everything in unRAID is configured and managed in a web ui that is pretty clear for simple tasks, even the installing of the sagetv docker is pretty straight forward (guide in the docker thread here in the forums).

I suppose it might be nice to make a focused unRAID+sagetv installing guide here on the forums. Not sure the best way to do so, without having a bare system to screencap the steps through on through (though, I may have enough junk around to do so shortly). In any case, if you are patient between steps, I'm sure enough people here on the forums have done so recently to hold your hand through the process. unRAID is not free, but I feel it is well worth the price - it has a huge community of smart folks, not unlike you'll find here.

[reggie14]

Has anyone successfully gotten the USB-UIRT working reliably, or the HD-PVR IR blaster? The OP didn't say anything about using an HD-PVR, but I know FiOS is DRMing the Fox-owned channels now, so you'll lose a handful of channels if you don't use an STB+video capture device.

[Tomahawk51]

UPDATE: Was catching up on posts, and looks like some progress might be marching forward to enable other tunding beyond what I indicate below, so just wanted to credit that. Stuckless, Fuzzy, Mibsy, et al - really appreciate all the interest you've shown in this topic.

I came to a better understanding that the Unraid Docker SageTV approach currently works well for network tuning (OpenDCT) - but seemingly not other tuning approaches (HD PVR). The deprecated CommandIR product is an exception to this it seems (not being sold any longer).

I had thought I'd be able to get HDPVR IR Blasting, or even FireWire Tuning working with an HDPVR. That wasn't the case (perhaps yet, and I'll see if I can do anything to assist along those lines as a otherwise the Unraid Docker approach was really great).

If the USB UIRT is a solid tuner with Docker - that would be great to indicate in a guide. I know I'd buy one if I had some confidence that would offer a set top box tuning approach.

I've been collecting my thoughts around a guide, as it was all new to me - if I ever get it working I'll plan to draft something.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by Tomahawk51

UPDATE: Was catching up on posts, and looks like some progress might be marching forward to enable other tunding beyond what I indicate below, so just wanted to credit that. Stuckless, Fuzzy, Mibsy, et al - really appreciate all the interest you've shown in this topic.

I came to a better understanding that the Unraid Docker SageTV approach currently works well for network tuning (OpenDCT) - but seemingly not other tuning approaches (HD PVR). The deprecated CommandIR product is an exception to this it seems (not being sold any longer).

I had thought I'd be able to get HDPVR IR Blasting, or even FireWire Tuning working with an HDPVR. That wasn't the case (perhaps yet, and I'll see if I can do anything to assist along those lines as a otherwise the Unraid Docker approach was really great).

If the USB UIRT is a solid tuner with Docker - that would be great to indicate in a guide. I know I'd buy one if I had some confidence that would offer a set top box tuning approach.

I've been collecting my thoughts around a guide, as it was all new to me - if I ever get it working I'll plan to draft something.

Stuckless has just added the needed lirc pieces to the docker image, so give us a few days to play with it, and I'm hoping we'll have some answers on the blasting (both HD-PVR and USB-UIRT).

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

Stuckless has just added the needed lirc pieces to the docker image, so give us a few days to play with it, and I'm hoping we'll have some answers on the blasting (both HD-PVR and USB-UIRT).

Lack of USB-UIRT support is the only thing keeping me on Windows.

[BobbyDing]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

I've also rolled up a docker image for OpenDCT that I've been using for a while that seems to work great.

The lack of this on my unraid sever is what's been keeping me from using it as my main sage server. So I'm thinking I need to build one myself. Any hints, tips or tricks you can share on how you built it would be appreciated (I'm fairly linux ignorant, but I'm up for giving it a go).

Thanks,

Bobby

[Fuzzy]

I posted a link to mine in the opendct thread. let me find it. I never got anyone really confirming they had tested it, so I didn't add it to the public repository, but it should be easy enough to install.

here: https://forums.sagetv.com/forums/sho...845#post591845

[BobbyDing]

Thanks Fuzzy. I'll try it this weekend. I have a question, but I'll drop it into the openDCT thread.

Thanks again

Bobby

[korben_dallas]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

Lack of USB-UIRT support is the only thing keeping me on Windows.

Ditto. Multi-zone USB-UIRT support is the only way I can tune my boxes (TWC aka Spectrum).

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

Ditto. Multi-zone USB-UIRT support is the only way I can tune my boxes (TWC aka Spectrum).

What driver are you using in W10 for the USB-UIRT???

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by MattHelm

What driver are you using in W10 for the USB-UIRT???

The win7 driver should work just done in Windows10.