If I had a nickel for everytime I had a Sage Problem...

[Abev107]

...how much money would I have? (I am fully aware of the flamability of this post) Crashes, freezes, no audio when it gets tired, periodically forgetting favorites, et al.

If it works one day, why can't it work the next day? Is that too much to ask?

[korben_dallas]

I had a mysterious internet issue that took me down for 2 days cause I couldn't get passed the EPG channel setup, so I am full aware of how frustrating problems can be.

If you are more specific about your problems, perhaps we the SageTV community can help you.

[Abev107]

Thanks for your thoughts...currently wasting time trying to get Sage up and running: problem du jour - cannot find a video decoder.

[jptaz]

Yes,

Specifics would be a real help since I have been using SageTV since 1.2.8 and I am currently at 2.2.4 Beta on a server 24/7 for months on end without restarting SageTV or the problems you are suggesting without the cause being something related to the PC like poor cooling, or flaky memory.

Not trying to start a flame, just pointing out that there are users who have been able to setup a very stable system.

John

[Abev107]

I dont feel flamed at all. I am sure that there are people that have great success with Sage. But if you look at the forums, there are many, many who dont. And dont chalk it up to "they dont know what they are doing."

I hear that there are actually some people running Win ME and love its stability.

BTW I fixed my problem with Sage - I installed the BeyondTV trial and Sage decided to start working again.

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by Abev107

I dont feel flamed at all. I am sure that there are people that have great success with Sage. But if you look at the forums, there are many, many who dont. And dont chalk it up to "they dont know what they are doing."

I hear that there are actually some people running Win ME and love its stability.

BTW I fixed my problem with Sage - I installed the BeyondTV trial and Sage decided to start working again.

I think this is just because those that don't have problems either don't frequent the forumn or don't post. After all why make a post that just says "My system works well" every week or so. You will always get more negitives on a forumn like this than positives.

So to answer your question: I would have almost a dollar. Since I have been relatively free from problems but have had some. But thanks to solutions offered by the moderators and others in this helpful group I've been able to fix all of them one way or the other.

BobP.

[dvd_maniac]

Problems with computer programs? oh no. I don't believe it!
You mean to tell me that every other program you ever installed on your PC has always worked correctly? Of course not, Sage can not test every single configuration of every OS, service pack, codecs, hardware, etc...
Have you ever had Windows crash? Did you ask Microsoft "Why did it crash? It worked fine yesterday."
I have noticed that the people who take the time to setup their system correctly usually only have problems when upgrading or trying to do new things.
I usually reboot my 24/7 Sage machine every month or so.
Maybe you should start a Poll as to how the forum users rate SageTV's Stability.

[bhageman]

If you factor the time spent on repair/maintenance/customisation against the time saved by skipping commercials, you still come out WAY ahead...

Personally, I could have double the problems and still consider Sage to be absolutely indispensable.

Originally Posted by Abev107

...how much money would I have? (I am fully aware of the flamability of this post) Crashes, freezes, no audio when it gets tired, periodically forgetting favorites, et al.

If it works one day, why can't it work the next day? Is that too much to ask?

[Abev107]

Wow way ahead...? Hmm Tivo cost 100(refurb) + 12/mo.. 1 Year - 244. You put together a pc for 244? + sage software...point me in the direction. In the long run, probably a better value with Sage (Not if I charge $30/hour to fix and research problems) Way ahead I think not.

As for DVD maniac kind comments, I cant remember the last piece of software that caused me this much trouble. Problem with Sage is that once something goes wrong it's not a simple restart, chances are something (settings) gets deleted or changed.

[Wheemer]

Considering this is cutting edge sodtware with very few competior that can offer the same functions I don't think you have much room to complain. Especially when a high percentage of the problem reported on this and other HTPC forums would be easily overcome by someone who was proficient with troubleshooting and figuring out problems. There's no doubt Sage requires more user configuration than a simple off the shelf application. But the people who are into Sage are not the people who are easily daunted by computer errors.

Perhaps you should hold off using it until they have their stand alone linux solution ready for the public.

If you've read any of the competitions forums you'll notice much of the same sort of problems you read here. Beyond TVs forums are usually flooded with the same exact problem over and over again. They rarely even offer any insight as to weather they are even working on fixes. They even have outstanding issues that were reported on while 3.5 was in the beta cycle that they chose to ignore.

If you are trying to compare Tivo to Sage then your talking apples and oranges. Tivo isn't even in the same league as Sage. Adding new feature with Sage takes a little time as the developers or STV makers put in some programming effort. Adding new features to a Tivo takes alot more than time, usually a purchase of the latest available unit.

If you want the most stable Sage system, you should probably figure out what hardware those of us that are having great success with and go with that from the start. Such as the PVR 250 tuner card, I think it's the best, least hassle way to go.

As for the decoder issue, If you have a proper Mpeg2 decoder installed and you are able to view Mpeg2 videos fine in WMP than Sage should be fine to use it too. They've also realized that it's sort of a hassle for new users to deal with the decoders, that's why the beta comes with one already.

Beyond TV also comes with a decoder, which is why I suspect Sage worked for you after installing the trial.

This type of post is really a waste of people time though. Since I would imagine you'd be asking for help to fix your problems before knock Sage if you weren't somehow prejudging Freys efforts.

[RedR]

Howdy,

Sorry but I am a bit lost in this thread. You claim you have constant problems, but I seemed to have missed what problems they are as well as what hardware and OS and other software you have running.
As to the forums being full of folks with problems, sure, but isn’t that what they are for in the most part? I mean how many post you see folks saying, 'Hey it works great, first try, after a 5min install! WOOT'? Even though that there are tons of people that this very case applies to (I for one). More often than not, folks do not post, or come looking for help if they do not need it. Granted, I too have felt the same way as you about Sage and the amount of post here from ppl asking for help. I often cower away from a build, or update due to the post sometimes. But I must say again, after all the tweaking, installing, and updating of Sage and the STV's I use, I must be one of the lucky ones and have had little to no problems compared to the many other folks who post here. Now there is another consideration as well I think that needs to be mentioned. The countless variables of hardware/software tossed in the mix of the different Windows/patch levels you can use with Sage, all assuming that they are all working perfectly is a pretty silly assumption. With that said, I think it is silly to assume Sage is the source of all the problems posted here when most often its related to failing hardware, or wrong drivers used to set things up, or countless other scenarios that are causing the problem.
Aside from all that, if you are having problems, please be productive in your post by providing information about your setup, and issues you are having. Again, I think you will find there are tons of folks willing to dive in and help out.

Enjoy,
RedR

[Abev107]

Was there an extra charge somehwere I missed?

Sound works when it wants to, doesnt want to work today.

[korben_dallas]

You could be an early Linux SageTV set top box adopter for $1,000.

[Abev107]

Okie doke,

First things first, to address some people's concerns. Some of my background: I write custom programs in Visual Basic, I install and maintain networks for small businesses, I have built everyone of my computers since 1995. No I am not the best IT guy out there, but I can take it a little further than turning it on ->nope it doesnt work-> it's broke.

The latest problem is no sound at all. Previous problems where as described originally: random crashes and freezes, freezing on my main Sage comp when I open Sage client, do my stuff, then close it, periodically losing favorites settings (which has led me to abandoning the favorites altogether).

I don't want to sit here and take an hour a day to research problems that someone overlooked but didnt hesitate to charge me to beta test their software. Searching in the forums is mostly hopeless, enter a search criteria and get back 30 pages of messages.

I have a very basic rig and its only used for Sage - so take your virus, adware, napster running in the background theories elsewhere. Win xp Sp1, epox 8k7a mb with a athlon tbird 1.4, 512 mb ram, hauppauge pvr250, soundblaster audigy, geforce 5200.

As for "not having much room to complain" I think I have quite a bit. I paid $100+ for Sage and client. I built a custom pc around it. I have money invested. I want it to work, but it works when it wants to.

It's not my problem if there are countless variations of hardware combinations out there, I am not the developer.

Tivo isnt in the same league as Sage, I agree. Tivo works.

[sixdoubleo]

Hate to say it....but you are doing something wrong. Many, many, many of us have setups which work VERY well on multiple platforms and configurations.

Sage works quite well. In fact I have a hard time getting Sage to NOT work. Therefore I must question what you're doing wrong. Sorry, just giving it to you straight.

[Wheemer]

Abev107... It is quite apparent that you do not wish to solve your problems, perhaps you perfer haveing something to be upset about?

Why don't you stop spending so much time complaining about your situation and making excuses for your non oprative system, and start being productive and provide us with usful information so that we may assist you in fixing your rig.

The fact is, Sage has been the most stable, easily fixable PVR software I've tried. And this community rock with responding in ways to help fix problems.

If you have overall system stability issues, I would suggest fixing that before attempting to use it as a PVR.

Respected complaints come from people that appear to have at least ried to fix their issues. It's apparent that you haven't come her asking for much help at all.

[mdmint]

Originally Posted by Abev107

Okie doke,

First things first, to address some people's concerns. Some of my background: I write custom programs in Visual Basic, I install and maintain networks for small businesses, I have built everyone of my computers since 1995. No I am not the best IT guy out there, but I can take it a little further than turning it on ->nope it doesnt work-> it's broke.

The latest problem is no sound at all. Previous problems where as described originally: random crashes and freezes, freezing on my main Sage comp when I open Sage client, do my stuff, then close it, periodically losing favorites settings (which has led me to abandoning the favorites altogether).

I don't want to sit here and take an hour a day to research problems that someone overlooked but didnt hesitate to charge me to beta test their software. Searching in the forums is mostly hopeless, enter a search criteria and get back 30 pages of messages.

I have a very basic rig and its only used for Sage - so take your virus, adware, napster running in the background theories elsewhere. Win xp Sp1, epox 8k7a mb with a athlon tbird 1.4, 512 mb ram, hauppauge pvr250, soundblaster audigy, geforce 5200.

As for "not having much room to complain" I think I have quite a bit. I paid $100+ for Sage and client. I built a custom pc around it. I have money invested. I want it to work, but it works when it wants to.

It's not my problem if there are countless variations of hardware combinations out there, I am not the developer.

Tivo isnt in the same league as Sage, I agree. Tivo works.

Great snivel. But I will agree with you about one thing. Or atleast from what you say. You built a single PC to run all Sage, correct? Why did you then buy SageTV AND SageClient AND then complain about the money spent? You only need SageClient if running from a 2nd PC access the 1st PC running SageTV. That's right, you did say you might not be the sharpest IT tack in the box.

For the record my SageServer has been running 24x7 since May04 with exactly ONE Sage hiccup. One. 50 some odd Favorites setup doesn't miss a thing, recording 3 or 4 or 5 simultaneously. No, TIVO CANNOT do that. TIVO CANNOT store terrabytes of shows and movies. TIVO CANNOT stream to 4 or more Clients at once IRRC. You can't even do a simple thing like backup TIVO shows. You can't run TIVO storage with fault tolerance. etc. etc. etc.

Enjoy TIVO.

[Opus4]

OK, let's leave out the asides regarding who does or doesn't know how to set up a system and summarize the problem with the flow of this thread...

Abev107: If you really want help tracking down the problems you are running into, you are going to have to provide more info than something along the lines of "It doesn't work." We figured that out, or else you wouldn't be bringing it up... there aren't too many people asking questions here along the lines of "I haven't had a crash yet in several months of usage. Could someone help me figure out why? This is getting boring."

So... you've listed some of the hardware... are your drivers up to date for everything? That includes: if using a VIA-based motherbaord, do you have those drivers updated too? Video card? Hauppauge card? Sound card? and on and on.

Is your java runtime up to date?

What version of SageTV are you using? Have you tried a completely fresh install of SageTV, including deleting the entire Frey Technologies dir before reinstalling? How are you using SageTV? Service mode, or is the service off? How are your video dirs set up? direct paths, UNC paths, mapped drives? Do you leave the PC on, or do you shut if off/hibernate it/suspend it/etc? Does SageTV auto-start at boot time?

How is SageTV set up for playback? What audio/video decoders are you using? What renderer? What are you using for video output?

Pick a problem and start from the beginning. Further posts consisting solely of "It still doesn't work" won't help the discussion move forward at all. After a while, people will just ignore such comments and move on to trying to help someone who gives specifics.

Come to think of it... so that you can have a clean slate to try to resolve your issues, this thread is closed. If you are using a beta version, post a question in the SageTV Beta Test Software forum. For a release version, go to the SageTV Software forum. For an issue regarding using any sort of hardware with SageTV, go to the Hardware Support forum. And so on.

- Andy