Dual Tuners - Analog and Digital Sources with different channels

[zubblwump]

Please excuse me if this has already been answered, and if it has a simple pointer to the answer is all I ask.

Here's my situation: I have two tuners but only one currently installed. My intention is to have one tuner handle all recording from my digital cable box, whle the other can record from the analog source directly from the wall. This should allow me to record any "basic" cable program on either card while recording either one basic or digital program on the other.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that only one EPG can be used, so the one card should be configured for channels 1-X for analog, and the other setup for channels X-XX. My cable company send different stations to different channels for each, though. For instance, channel 5 is HBO on the analog source, but is the TV Guide Preview Channel on digital.

Is my intended setup possible with my situation? Also, can it somehow be setup so it's fairly goof-proof, i.e. it will let you record anything if there is no conflict, but when multiple recordings are scheduled for the same time, it tells you you can't do it if they are both digital channels or it will let you do it if at least one is analog?

Hopefully this is an easy answer because I've misunderstood something, but I would greatly apprecaite any guidance here.

[Opus4]

You want them to use different EPG lineups. In the Setup Wizard, check the listings of providers for your area - do you see two providers: 1 for analog, 1 for digital? In my case, it lists "Cablevision" and "Cablevision Digital". If that is what you see, you would select the appropriate one for each card so they both have separate EPG lineups & can then have separate channel settings.

- Andy

[zubblwump]

Yeah, that's exactly what I see. So it sounds possible, alright. But how do I access the different EPGs? Are they lsited seperately somewhere in sage, or is there some sort of intelligence built in that will default to one unless that card is in use? Sorry, I know this might become apparent once I install the card, but I don't think that will be happening for a while and I want to get a fee for what to expect.

[mayamaniac]

My setup is exactly what you are talking about, only I have 1 tuner for digital and 2 tuners for basic. SageTV does show EPG lineups for both basic and digital. As for the LiveTV guide, if the channel data between the basic and digital are the same, then only one channel is shown. If they are different, then the LiveTV guide will list the same channel number twice. For example, if channel 34 is ESPN on both digital and basic and the scheduled shows are the same, then it will only list once in the guide. But if channel 34 is ESPN on digital, but its FOX Sport on basic, then in the LiveTV guide, it'll display channel 34 twice, one for digital and one for basic. As for recordings, SageTV will record on whatever tuner that has the available channel.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by zubblwump

Yeah, that's exactly what I see. So it sounds possible, alright. But how do I access the different EPGs? Are they lsited seperately somewhere in sage, or is there some sort of intelligence built in that will default to one unless that card is in use? Sorry, I know this might become apparent once I install the card, but I don't think that will be happening for a while

Take a glance through the manual. Let's see...

Simply go through the Setup Wizard & configure each source separately. Paragraph 3 on page 110 of the manual mentions multiple channel lineups used during those multiple source configurations. Everything gets shown together in the LiveTV Guide.

To change the channel setup for a Source, you can see p. 118. Or, if you choose Channel Setup from the Setup Menu, it will ask which one to change -- see p. 108.

When recording & the channel is on both tuners, whichever source has priority is used. You can specify priority with the encoder merit proprty on p. 178. You may want to give priority to the analog tuner so that it gets used first for any channels on both tuners, leaving the digital source available for channels only it can receive.

Except for configuration, you shouldn't need to worry about the two differnt EPG lineups much during normal use.

and I want to get a fee for what to expect.

A fee!? How much? Isn't that a bit backwards? [yes... I know it was a tiepeau... ]

- Andy

[zubblwump]

Appreciate the help, guys. Looks like everything will work out fine. And I thought I had read the manual...

I've got a new bigger problem now, though. I'll start a new thread for that one though