SageTV User from the USA

[rickw]

I'm also a SageTV user who's looking into NextPVR. I'm a .Net developer so NextPVR appeals to me from that aspect. My setup is a headless server with extenders on the TV's. (2 MVP's and 1 Sage HD200). 3 analog tuners + 1 digital (QAM)

I've been reading through the Forum and Wiki and testing in the off hours (i.e. when the family isn't watching or recording something on Sage). I've been able to get the MVP to work. Still working on getting the screen to display best. Finally figured out the settings to ensure the screen was entirely visible. I've read where the mvpmc dongle apears to let you change the aspect ratio to 16:9, but so far that's not working. Where in the config does the <MvpmcStartupConfig> setting go? I've tried it in just about every element in the config file, but the logs never show my modified startup.

But...even if I can't figure that out I'm ok because it doesn't work that way with SageTV.

My real question is: Is there a suitable replacement extender for HD content? I've read about the NMT's, but I'm leary of buying them since they're not in production still. I see a bunch of streamers out there, ROKU, Boxee, Sony, RCA, and Hauppauge can any of them work? Or is something like the AOpen DE2700 running Windows and the NextPVR client the only option? (Money is tight...so I'd rather not spend $500)

Thanks,
Rick...

[sub]

My real question is: Is there a suitable replacement extender for HD content? I've read about the NMT's, but I'm leary of buying them since they're not in production still. I see a bunch of streamers out there, ROKU, Boxee, Sony, RCA, and Hauppauge can any of them work? Or is something like the AOpen DE2700 running Windows and the NextPVR client the only option? (Money is tight...so I'd rather not spend $500)

Unfortunately the only HD extender options at this stage are the older NMT ones you've already heard about. Hopefully we'll have some other options in the future.

[Jaggy]

(Money is tight...so I'd rather not spend $500)

If it was me I would just go for a secondhand NMT (they do work damn well with NextPVR, aren't all that old really & should be pretty cheap secondhand) even if it was just for "the mean time" until another extender is supported, which could possibly be a while as Martin doesn't know how well one is going to work until he is well into development.

[martint123]

I guess one current problem is that HD extenders are coming out too fast and furious that developers are wary of committing a lot of time and energy to something that may be outdated too soon. At least the older NMT's were around for a while. Looking back, it was around the back end of 2007 the PopcornHour and some software was available.
I can't see current devices lasting that long

[rickw]

Thanks for the feedback. I don't have a lot of HD content anyway, only a handful of QAM channels, so it's not a total loss. I'll keep my eye's open for an NMT device.

In the meantime my next tests will be verifying that I've got everything setup for recording and playback. Already paid for the SchedulesDirect feed, since that was pretty reasonable for easy integration with NextPVR.

Thanks again.

[rickw]

Another question... I use SageTV's Placeshifter product frequently while travelling for work. It's essentially an extender for windows and works over the internet. I haven't yet tested NextPVR in client mode, but am I correct in that it will only work on local network?

As a followup, would it be possible to write a similar type of client using the new feature I saw added in 2.3.6 for accessing the NextPVR UI via html?

[steeb]

NEWA: http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Manual.NEWA

is part of the integral NextPVR download and very well supported. Though does not give the NextPVR UI.

bgowland has also made some very interesting inroads into support for other devices:

http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...WebService

though I believe nothing up to LiveTV streaming etc yet.

NextPVR UI over internet anyone?

cheers

steeb

[mvallevand]

I am poking away at making a client for the MVP-HD, although because it won't play DVD .ISO's I'm not sure I consider it an upgrade. The A110 is about the same generation and has the same capabilities as the HD200 so for $85 on ebay it is still pretty competent for PVR client use.

Video formats change too often especially on the anime scene. You can get Hi10 h264 mkv files now that no extender can play and neither can most HTPC's.

Extenders have also become a bit like smartphones where you can read about the new model-de-jour every week but the reality for the PVR user whose primary need is their captured recordings, you will get many year out of your HD200 (or an A110) just like you did with your MVP.

The config block in <MVP> for mvpmc might be

<MVPMCConfig /> now

Martin

[rickw]

I am poking away at making a client for the MVP-HD, although because it won't play DVD .ISO's I'm not sure I consider it an upgrade. The A110 is about the same generation and has the same capabilities as the HD200 so for $85 on ebay it is still pretty competent for PVR client use.

I didn't do DVD .ISO's since the MVP's couldn't do it. So for me it's no loss.

Extenders have also become a bit like smartphones where you can read about the new model-de-jour every week but the reality for the PVR user whose primary need is their captured recordings, you will get many year out of your HD200 (or an A110) just like you did with your MVP.

That's a good description of my usage. We used only the MVPs, even after we got an HDTV. At that time I didn't have any digital tuners so didnt' really matter. Got the HD200 after the buying a tuner to get the QAM channels.

The config block in <MVP> for mvpmc might be

<MVPMCConfig /> now

Martin

I'll give that a try. Can't test yet family watching a show, but here's what I would have:
[HTML]<MVP>
<Dongle>dongle.bin</Dongle>
<AutostartServers>1</AutostartServers>
<ShowServerUI>false</ShowServerUI>
<TranscodeTsForMVP>false</TranscodeTsForMVP>
<EnableOSDGraphics>true</EnableOSDGraphics>
<ExtendedLogging>false</ExtendedLogging>
<StartPortControl>5916</StartPortControl>
<StartPortMedia>8337</StartPortMedia>
<AllowedMediaExtensions>^.+\.(mpeg|mpg|m2v|avi|mp4|mov|m2ts|wmv|iso|rm|dvr-ms|ts|mkv|vob|divx|flv|m4v|wtv|mp3|ogg|m3u|wma|aac|wav|m4a|fla|flac)$</AllowedMediaExtensions>
<MVPMCConfig>mvpmc --startup emulate --emulate ? -a 16:9auto &amp;</MVPMCConfig>
<MVPSpecificSettings>
<MAC-000DFE0C5392>
<MVPClientType>MVP</MVPClientType>
<MVPWidth>640</MVPWidth>
<MVPHeight>460</MVPHeight>
<MVPOffsetX>0</MVPOffsetX>
<MVPOffsetY>10</MVPOffsetY>
<MVPSendIncrementalUpdates>true</MVPSendIncrementalUpdates>
</MAC-000DFE0C5392>
</MVPSpecificSettings>
</MVP>[/HTML]

My understanding from reading is that adding the -a 16:9auto will change the aspect ratio to fill the screen, then switch back as needed. What about the width & height settings, are there recommended settings for the resolution when going to a wide screen?

Thanks for your help. I know from reading past posts that you've stopped supporting the MVP. So after this I'll drop it. :-)
Rick...

[mvallevand]

My understanding from reading is that adding the -a 16:9auto will change the aspect ratio to fill the screen, then switch back as needed. What about the width & height settings, are there recommended settings for the resolution when going to a wide screen?

Thanks for your help. I know from reading past posts that you've stopped supporting the MVP. So after this I'll drop it. :-)
Rick...

I don't think you need the auto anymore. mvpmc will use the mpeg header info. to set widescreen or not. It's really not relevant for North American analog captures since we don't have 16x9

As for the screen dimension, you still go with the 640x480 it just gets stretched. I don't think there has ever been a skin with WS ratio fonts.

Martin