Hot ! SageTV 2.0 $58.95, SageTV + PVR250MCE Bundle $139.95 at PCAlchemy.com

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dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
How does SageTV work with a cable box? I've got Comcast currently. How does it get the channel listing/programming guide? Also would I have to leave my cable box on all the time in order to let it record? I'm interested in buying the bundle (pvr 250 + sagetv).
Any help would be appreciated or perhaps a point in the right direction
 

nitsuj3580

Platinum Member
Jun 13, 2001
2,667
13
81
is it worth getting the PVR 350 over the PVR 250 model? The price isn't the issue. I just want to know other than TV out on the 350 model, is there any other differences?
 

pcalchemy

Junior Member
Apr 29, 2004
13
0
0
Originally posted by: nitsuj3580
is it worth getting the PVR 350 over the PVR 250 model? The price isn't the issue. I just want to know other than TV out on the 350 model, is there any other differences?
The PVR-350 also includes an FM tuner and does MPEG decoding, the PVR-250 only does MPEG encoding.
 

psxjunky

Senior member
May 30, 2000
921
0
0
Originally posted by: stingygrrl
I was thinking about getting this to play shows from my PC to my TV. My TV plays in mono, so... it's prob ok.. I'm not a TV enthusiast, I guess

Any thoughts on other solutions/brands/vendors/lower prices??

my video card has S-Video out only
onboard audio on a epox 8RDA+
That's a nice single cable solution ... though a bit pricey. If you want a multi part solution that will save you a few bucks, you can use a S-Video to RCA adapter, a 3.5 to two RCA audio adapter and then use any standard RCA Audio/Video cable.

S-Video to RCA adapter $4.80 --> cheaper S-Video to RCA adapter found here $1.48
3.5 to two RCA audio splitter $0.99
RCA Audio/Video Cable $2.00

does anyone use sagewake? I can't really get it setup.
I don't use it, but would be interested in hearing the experience of anyone that uses it. I just keep my machine running 24x7 at the moment.
 

psxjunky

Senior member
May 30, 2000
921
0
0
Originally posted by: dabuddha
How does SageTV work with a cable box?
Quite well

I've got Comcast currently. How does it get the channel listing/programming guide?
After you install Sage, it will guide you thru the setup process, where you'd enter you zip code and it shows all the cable/satellite providers available in your area. You pick the correct one and then optionally add remove any channels that you do or don't want. Once you setup all the channels, Sage then goes ahead and downloads the guide data for those channels. This is similar to how TiVo/ReplayTV etc does it.

The Sage guide data is then automatically updated once every 24 hours, and at any time you have the guide data available for the next 14 days.

The guide data is supplied by Zap2it.com ... which is also the source vitually everyone uses (including TiVo, ReplayTV, DirecTV, Windows MCE etc) ... so you get the same guide information that you'd get using any of these other devices.

You can go to Zap2it.com and plug in your zip code to see if it picks up the right provider and channel info for you.


Also would I have to leave my cable box on all the time in order to let it record?
Yes. You'd also have to get an IR Blaster box (USB-UIRT recommended) which will hook up to your Sage machine and will sit right in front of the cable box IR sensor. When Sage needs to change the channel, it will use the IR Blaster to send the signal to your cable box. This is as if you were sitting in front of the cable box with your remote to change the channel ... only Sage is doing it for you ... using the IR Blaster instead of the remote.

[/quote] I'm interested in buying the bundle (pvr 250 + sagetv).
Any help would be appreciated or perhaps a point in the right direction [/quote]
Hope that answers your questions. Any other questions, blast away

Hey, Frey Technologies should pay me something for providing un-official tech support like this ... nah, j/k
 

psxjunky

Senior member
May 30, 2000
921
0
0
Originally posted by: nitsuj3580
is it worth getting the PVR 350 over the PVR 250 model? The price isn't the issue. I just want to know other than TV out on the 350 model, is there any other differences?

IMHO, the only time it is worth getting the 350 over the 250 is if you have a big screen SDTV that takes S-Video input but does not take component in. The S-Video out from the 350 is much better than the S-Video out from your video card in that case.

However, if you have a HDTV, or if your TV has component (or even better, VGA or DVI) input, then using that will give you better picture quality and you don't need 350 for that.

Using the 350 has other limitations, for example you will not be able to use a second tuner (newer 250 or another 350) in the same machine due to driver issues. The only thing that will work well alongside a 350 is another older 250 which uses a CX23415 chip (and has a heatsink). These cards are discontinued and are getting harder to find ... but you may still find some on eBay.

So in most cases, my recommendation is NOT getting a 350. Like someone above said, if you do want the FM radio, just get a 250MCE or Roslyn.
 

nitsuj3580

Platinum Member
Jun 13, 2001
2,667
13
81
Originally posted by: psxjunky
Originally posted by: nitsuj3580
is it worth getting the PVR 350 over the PVR 250 model? The price isn't the issue. I just want to know other than TV out on the 350 model, is there any other differences?

IMHO, the only time it is worth getting the 350 over the 250 is if you have a big screen SDTV that takes S-Video input but does not take component in. The S-Video out from the 350 is much better than the S-Video out from your video card in that case.

However, if you have a HDTV, or if your TV has component (or even better, VGA or DVI) input, then using that will give you better picture quality and you don't need 350 for that.

Using the 350 has other limitations, for example you will not be able to use a second tuner (newer 250 or another 350) in the same machine due to driver issues. The only thing that will work well alongside a 350 is another older 250 which uses a CX23415 chip (and has a heatsink). These cards are discontinued and are getting harder to find ... but you may still find some on eBay.

So in most cases, my recommendation is NOT getting a 350. Like someone above said, if you do want the FM radio, just get a 250MCE or Roslyn.

Hmm..thanks for that bit of info. I have a 36" Toshiba non-HDTV that I am pretty sure has component in. If not, I'll get the 350 for the better S-Video out performance.
 

psxjunky

Senior member
May 30, 2000
921
0
0
Originally posted by: nitsuj3580
Originally posted by: psxjunky
Originally posted by: nitsuj3580
is it worth getting the PVR 350 over the PVR 250 model? The price isn't the issue. I just want to know other than TV out on the 350 model, is there any other differences?

IMHO, the only time it is worth getting the 350 over the 250 is if you have a big screen SDTV that takes S-Video input but does not take component in. The S-Video out from the 350 is much better than the S-Video out from your video card in that case.

However, if you have a HDTV, or if your TV has component (or even better, VGA or DVI) input, then using that will give you better picture quality and you don't need 350 for that.

Using the 350 has other limitations, for example you will not be able to use a second tuner (newer 250 or another 350) in the same machine due to driver issues. The only thing that will work well alongside a 350 is another older 250 which uses a CX23415 chip (and has a heatsink). These cards are discontinued and are getting harder to find ... but you may still find some on eBay.

So in most cases, my recommendation is NOT getting a 350. Like someone above said, if you do want the FM radio, just get a 250MCE or Roslyn.

Hmm..thanks for that bit of info. I have a 36" Toshiba non-HDTV that I am pretty sure has component in. If not, I'll get the 350 for the better S-Video out performance.
Hmm ... that bit of information changed things a bit.

You are, what I would consider, right in the middle range, where using a good s-video output vs. component will not make THAT much difference.

In order to get component out from your PC, you need to use a ATI 9600/9800 card with the HD adapter -or- a generic VGA to Component transcoder --- either solution will cost a bit and even then you may have to deal with a bit or overscanning (or a LOT of fiddling around with PowerStrip to get the timings right).

So in your particular situation, the S-Video out from 350 will actually make a lot of sense and may end up giving the best picture quality. If you are absolutely sure that you will NOT want to use a second tuner in the same machine, then I would actually recommend the 350 for you, since it will make things a lot simpler.

Sorry for the confusing opinion ... but hope I am making some sense. Let me know if you have any questions. If the questions are too specific that others may not benefit from it, PM me or e-mail me
 

stingygrrl

Golden Member
Jul 30, 2000
1,829
0
0
Originally posted by: psxjunky
Originally posted by: stingygrrl
I was thinking about getting this to play shows from my PC to my TV. My TV plays in mono, so... it's prob ok.. I'm not a TV enthusiast, I guess

Any thoughts on other solutions/brands/vendors/lower prices??

my video card has S-Video out only
onboard audio on a epox 8RDA+
That's a nice single cable solution ... though a bit pricey. If you want a multi part solution that will save you a few bucks, you can use a S-Video to RCA adapter, a 3.5 to two RCA audio adapter and then use any standard RCA Audio/Video cable.

S-Video to RCA adapter $4.80 --> cheaper S-Video to RCA adapter found here $1.48
3.5 to two RCA audio splitter $0.99
RCA Audio/Video Cable $2.00

does anyone use sagewake? I can't really get it setup.
I don't use it, but would be interested in hearing the experience of anyone that uses it. I just keep my machine running 24x7 at the moment.


yikes! the shipping brings the $1.48 adaptor to $9.77!

the 2d place you linked sounds good. I called them and they have free shipping on a $10 order, so I will probably get these 3 items and 1 more to go over $10

item 555-206 $2
200-504, $4.8
200-501, $1
 

cpars

Golden Member
Feb 4, 2000
1,709
0
71
"This product will be in stock on Tuesday 01 June, 2004"

Had finally made up my mind to order this bundle, guess demand is high.
 
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