Multi-Card Encoders & Sound

[PaulG]

Hello,

I am thinking of setting up a network encoder with 2 (maybe even 3) PVR 250's & I have a coupld of questions which someone can answer.

I currently have 2 x STB with Dolby Digital 5.1 optical outputs, what I want to be able to do is have the network encoder have both STB's connect to a PVR-250, how do I get the Dolby Digital into the encoder ???

Can I have 2 Sound cards ???? each one having its own optical input ???


or is this a pipe dream and just will not work ???


TIA

[Opus4]

The 250 has to encode the sound along with the video in the mpeg2 file it creates, so the audio out from the STB goes to the audio in on the 250... and the 250 has no digital input. Your sound card won't play a part of it until playback time.

- Andy

[zz5]

Why do you want to use network encoders? There's not any advantage to doing this. It's best to have just one server. I say this with the assumption that your planning a new setup, because I suppose in unusual situations due to what you have available, there could be a case made for using network encoders.

[stanger89]

Nothing can PVR DD*

*Except HD PVRs and Dish/Cable PVRs, but those cheat since they just capture the bitstream.

[PaulG]

Andy,

Thanks for the reply, not exactly what I wanted to hear but thanks none the less.


zz5,

The reason I want to use a NEtwork Encoder is that I want the 2 STB's where the cable feed comes into the buidling eg. the 'basement' & be able to watch stuff on 2-3 TV's around the house, I also have a fairly hefty server in the basement that is only 10% utilised currently.


Stanger89,

What HD cards does Sage support & when will sage support them *tongue in cheek*.


I know I know it doesn't officially but it would be nice to have a time frame for when it will


Everyone Thanks for the responses, I'll shelve this project until Sgae 'officially' supports HD cards



Thanks!

[stanger89]

Just to clarify, HD cards can only capture DD that's part of an ATSC trasport stream, they can't capture DD from a cable box. Nothing can capture DD unless it captures a data stream. Waiting won't help you capture the DD output of a cable box.

Well technically you can capture DD, but it's a multi-step process that doesn't work for PVR.

[salsbst]

The reason I want to use a NEtwork Encoder is that I want the 2 STB's where the cable feed comes into the buidling eg. the 'basement' & be able to watch stuff on 2-3 TV's around the house, I also have a fairly hefty server in the basement that is only 10% utilised currently.

What you want is SageTV running in the basement and SageClient upstairs.

[salsbst]

I thought the QAM cards could capture non-HD digital cable as well as the HD channels... no?

[stanger89]

I think theoretically they can, but I can't recal anyone successfully doing it. At the very least it's not something I would bet on working.

IIRC some people have gotten music channels to work, but my guess is that most/all other digital cable channels are encrypted (as are most HD cable channels) and as such out of reach of a QAM card.

[zz5]

Like salsbst said, you want SageTV running on your server downstairs, and SageClient installed on your various computers that you will use to watch the shows. That way, you can turn off your clients or not worry about whether they crash without effecting what's currently recording. The recording would then all be done on the server. You would use network encoders if, for example, you had a 250 in each of the several computers.

[PaulG]

zz5,

OK... thanks for the clarification, you are right... I need SageTV in teh basement

Thanks!


PS- stanger89... I have given up on the waiting now also

[stanger89]

I'm waiting for an HD hardware MPEG encoder, I imagine it will happen, hopefully sooner than later.

Either that or hopefully we'll see cheap HD component in cards (PCI-Express based?) and I'll build a dedicated render box to capture/compress it for me