Would you like a Media Extender for Beyond TV

[iampedro]

Would you like a media Extednder for beyond TV like SageTV or Media Center 2005 or Vista?

[cfaslave]

Short answer is yes, I would like to have a cheap, silent, powerful hardware-based, media extender available that works with BTV.

Longer answer is, I think there are several other, more important priorities that Snapstream should have:
1. Cablecard or a better alternative than cablecard. I know this is highly unlikely, but it would keep SS in the game much longer if they had a solution to tune all digital channels including encryted ones. One can dream can't they
2. A Flexible, HTPC front-end gui that allows plugins like Beyond Media has today and integrates it into BeyondTV. This is possible, and could open up many possibilites for Snapstream.
3. Picture-in-Picture. This could be made possible if SS re-writes their gui (see #2)
4. Hardware, media extender
See this post on my blog for the full list.

And if you want an inexpensive media extender, you might consider building one yourself. That's what I'm doing. Here's a post (see post #13 in this thread) with my planned build. LINK You don't have to follow that plan by any means as you can customize it the way you want it.

[ZetaVu]

Maybe the poll should provide options, such as do you want a $100 sd quality or $200 HD quality, something like that. Does it need Livetv or not? Maybe say no, I use link, or no I don't want to extend at all.

[ZetaVu]

Ok, I may have misread. Are we talking about a physical device like mediamvp for getting btv to a tv without a computer or a streaming server that lets us send our shows over the internet (vs beyondlink which is the chosen format for in network)?

So to answer both possibilities, yes, I'd like a device that can access livetv, all my btv shows, and all picture and music media on my computer, as well as (ideall) allow me to browse the internet with a remote and tv.

And yes, I would love to have BTV stream like orb over the internet. I know this was possible with software tuners but not so with hardware, but again, if orb can do it, why can't btv?

Of course, I can do all this with orb, but the issue is conflicts between orb and BTV for my tuners. Of course I could always make a tuner Orb only, but SS should be able to sort this mess out.

[MarcP]

I voted yes, but like all other polls, it'll be ignored by SS and will die.

[jkirk]

let's hope not MarcP

[queonda]

I don't think SS could produce something that cheap. They would have to partner up with another manufacture and would be a media for all but then could be modded for SS as well.

[ZetaVu]

BTW, I recall concerns about porting BTV to linux, I assume someone has brought this up http://www.sagetv.com/linuxOEMedition.html

We need to improve our catchup game

[Mistergq]

prior to voting: how is this http://www.sagetv.com/extender.html and different from this [addon] MediaMVP w/BTV (October 06) ?

I have MVP with the BTV interface. It is okay. It is better than having another computer to run/manage - then again, there is a part of me that wishes I would have just bought a cheap computer instead of the MVP. MVP is not as responsive as I like. I also misquick skip forward and back.

[MarcP]

Originally Posted by Mistergq

how is this http://www.sagetv.com/extender.html and different from this [addon] MediaMVP w/BTV (October 06) ?

The difference is that the SageTV extender software completely replaces the MadiaMVP firmware to provide a strong extender. It's not a hack over the poor Hauppauge firmware. Don't just consider the look of the interface. The guts of it is completely different between the two. Snapstream will never catch up.

[cfaslave]

Originally Posted by MarcP

The difference is that the SageTV extender software completely replaces the MadiaMVP firmware to provide a strong extender. It's not a hack over the poor Hauppauge firmware. Don't just consider the look of the interface. The guts of it is completely different between the two. Snapstream will never catch up.

I've seen lots of complaints about the supposed "strong extender" on the sage forums though.... It is an improvement over the btv skin, but still suffers from many problems. A link PC would be better imho.

Sage is working on an HDTV version though that looks interesting.

[ZetaVu]

Now, I never figured out if the sage solution was just software ($80?!?) or software and hardware, I assume the former, if someone can clarify I just don't feel like digging through all that garbage.

Given the choice, I say picking up a mediamvp on ebay and installing the snapstream version (total cost about $60) beats the crap out of the sage deal, unless someone can show me night and day differences.

Biggest drawback with mediamvp is that it does not support HD. There are plenty of HD solutions out there, (hardware wise) and I think the two questions are, will users pay for hardware specifically to work with btv, and if yes, what does it need to do? I want to be able to play HD quality if I'm buying hardware, but wouldn't mind a cheapo ($50) sd quality. I can currently send sd quality signal through my house's existing coax using a vcr or switchbox (btv sd output, then coax to rest of house) and with a wireless remote can watch btv in any room. the MVP basicall lets me watch two shows at once.

For HD quality, I can buy a link machine for what, $200-300, that will have a dvd drive, let me browse internet, as long as the onboard graphics support HD I'm okay otherwise another $30-50 for a low end fx5200 or better. Only thing you need is wireless mouse or remote (I like ATI, $20 on ebay). That's why any networked HD player (preferably with dvd) needs to go for $200 or so. It should browse pictures, music, and ideally have a web browser you can function with a remote. I also prefer wired ethernet over wireless (except for laptops)

[queonda]

I'm supprised Hauppage hasn't come out with an HD version of MediaMP.

[merrypig]

I would love to actually design that extender. My schedule doesn't permit me to right now, but soon as I'm out of the crunch I may "DIY" one...

[Grasshopper]

I use Sage with two extenders, they are awesome. The package on Sage for $99 (or so) includes a Hauppauge MVP + an extender license. They do not do HD but the Sage server transcodes the HD (or DivX or H.256 or WMV) on the fly.

The extenders are very responsive, just like a client. I've tried the BTV add on and although Herculean efforts have been made it just does not compare to the Sage offering.

I like BTV a lot, probably more than Sage. But the lack of an extender was a show stopper for me.

As for "build a Link machine", the cost is way more expensive than the MVP not to mention the noise and size. I can't imagine building a totally silent PC that is as small as the MVP for the cost - it just can't be done.

Sage had an HD extender demo at CES, it is reported to be OEMed by Snazzio.

BTV needs an extender.