Pre-Sales Question - 2 STBs & Recording

[bserebin]

Hello All,

I reached out to SS pre-sales, and I think their response was wrong. Can someone confirm this and the equipment I should purchase.

I plan to have 2 set-top cable boxes (aka STB) using digital cable (e.g. HBO, etc) and want to be able to watch one channel and record another. So, I was planning on buying the following:

1 Beyond TV Satellite Digital Cable PCI Bundle
1 Hauppauge PVR-150
1 IR Blaster (USB-UIRT) Cable Pack

- can someone confirm watch 1 HBO and watch another channel (e.g. Showtime)
- can someone confirm that the USB-UIRT cable pack as provided by SS will control 2 STB?
- if I buy the Bundle, can I use the cheaper Hauppauge PVR-150 MCE Kit instead of getting a 2nd standard Haupppauge PVR-150? I don't need the FM port.

By the way, the SS folks said I should get a PVR-500 even though I clearly stated I wanted to record 2 premium channels, which I'm pretty sure (99%) that you can't do this via 2 STB & the PVR-500. Hence, I don't trust their other responses.

Thanks,
-Ben

[myktek]

Originally Posted by bserebin

Hello All,

I reached out to SS pre-sales, and I think their response was wrong. Can someone confirm this and the equipment I should purchase.

I plan to have 2 set-top cable boxes (aka STB) using digital cable (e.g. HBO, etc) and want to be able to watch one channel and record another. So, I was planning on buying the following:

1 Beyond TV Satellite Digital Cable PCI Bundle
1 Hauppauge PVR-150
1 IR Blaster (USB-UIRT) Cable Pack

- can someone confirm watch 1 HBO and watch another channel (e.g. Showtime)
- can someone confirm that the USB-UIRT cable pack as provided by SS will control 2 STB?
- if I buy the Bundle, can I use the cheaper Hauppauge PVR-150 MCE Kit instead of getting a 2nd standard Haupppauge PVR-150? I don't need the FM port.

By the way, the SS folks said I should get a PVR-500 even though I clearly stated I wanted to record 2 premium channels, which I'm pretty sure (99%) that you can't do this via 2 STB & the PVR-500. Hence, I don't trust their other responses.

Thanks,
-Ben

the PVR500 will allow you to record two with the Hauppauge A/V Cable Set
http://store.snapstream.com/avcables.html

The USB-Uirt can be setup into 3 zones and control up to 3 set top boxes

I hope that answers your question

[bserebin]

Hello Michael,

OK, that explains it. The SS folks failed to mention the Hauppauge A/V Cable Set.

1 more clarifying question. Will the basic USB-UIRT support 2 STBs out of the box? Or do I need to add something (e.g. emitter) to control both via infrared?

Thanks,
-Ben

[bserebin]

Hello All,

Never heard back from SS Support, but it turns out 1 USB-UIRT will work if the USB-UIRT ends in "Z" since this means it supports Zones. But then you need to use a stereo headphone adapter to allow 2 IR emitters. And then you need to make some manual config file changes for the channel line-up to work. A fairly complicated process and requires manual config changes when channel changes occur. That's too much work. So, thankfully, BeyondTV 4.7.1 supports multiple USB-UIRT devices. So, I'll simply buy a 2nd USB-UIRT to control the 2nd STB and then I can use a remote and have BTV record from the 2nd STB.

Good luck all,
-Ben

[Joey Z]

Yes , the USBUIRT will control 2 boxes.

[sswingle]

FWIW, my 500 came with that cable set, no need to pay $15 extra.

[Kilrsat]

If you purchase a PVR-500 from the SnapStream store, it will come with the extra cable set. That's probably why pre-sales failed to mention it.

[bserebin]

Hello All,

Well it's nice to hear I "donated" an extra $15 to SnapStream. I even bought my USB-UIRT via SS even though I could have bought it direct from the manufacturer to avoid issues. I had tried to get some response via phone (called 3 times, 2 messages no call back), email (incoherent response), and forums (someone responded, but not fully) and heard nothing for over 5 weeks and then I decided to post to help others learn my experience. It's amazing, since I've been researching BTV for over 6 months (before I bought a single device or even the HTPC) and the lack of information is mind boggling. As much as I'm impressed with the setup, I would not recommend a BTV setup in the current state (you build yourself) due to the complexity and all the things you need to know. FYI: I'm in IT as well and run a Ghost server to maintain my HTPC and other PCs on my home LAN. I'm not the normal home user. If SS sold a pre-built 2 tuner appliance, this might be another story and I would consider recommending it. Until then, this will stay a niche product.

Best of luck to all reading this....

-Ben

[HomeyFour]

With all due respect, I don't think it is SS's intention to sell a turn-key, 2 tuner device. There is already a solution out there for people who are looking for that. The target is specifically for those who can/will do it themselves. Folks who have a PC but want to add (good) TV functionality at minimal expense/effort, as well as those who want a full HTPC experience without having to be bound to a STB-type appliance.

[bserebin]

Hello HomeyFour,

I agree with you, hence why BTV will stay a niche product and not go mainstream. I simply was providing my recommendation and feedback. The "other" solution is actually a combo of Tivo and Slingbox. I figured, SS could go up against Tivo (which is targetting a significantly larger base). SS's functionality in most ways is way ahead of Tivo.

-Ben

[merrypig]

i wonder if we'll ever see a BTV product in the same vein as the windows 2003 WHS boxes now shipping.

Ie, preconfigured, ready to roll but able to do more than what an STB can