Summary of BTV extender options

[tim_d_wagner]

It seems the issue of BTV extenders comes up all the time, but it is hard to find a single summary of options.

Is the following list accurate? Comments and/or corrections?

BTV Extender Options for accessing contentBTV Link – All BTV functions
BTV Server w/shared folders – Loose easy MGMT of other PC’s recordings (Can use web admin)
PC accessing network shares – Access to SD and HD content, other functions using web admin
Xbox 360 – Official SS support for SD streaming using WPM, limited HD streaming possible
PS3 & Apple TV – Unsupported but SD streaming works, limited HD streaming possible
MediaMVP SS add in – SD streaming. Project seems to be abandoned, only works with 4.7.1 and lower. Seems temperamental.
XBOX/Networked Media Tank/Popcorn Hour/MediaMVP/other devices – Unsupported but SD streaming works.

[cfaslave]

Not really. Your BTV options include computers with Microsoft operating systems on them (not including WHS) with BTV Link. None of the others you mention are options really

[tim_d_wagner]

Originally Posted by cfaslave

None of the others you mention are options really

Can you clerify please? My Xbox360 seems to work just fine for me to watch shows, my spouse watches One Tree Hill on her Mac...

[dlightle]

I think he means these aren't really extenders in the full sense, but only media players. An extender would be able to play back previous recordings, plus live tv, plus have a guide and allow scheduling and channel changing.

BTV Link is the only option available for all of this. But yes, a lot of other options exist for playback of recordings at least.

[cfaslave]

Originally Posted by tim_d_wagner

Can you clerify please? My Xbox360 seems to work just fine for me to watch shows, my spouse watches One Tree Hill on her Mac...

Well if you're truly asking about "extender's", a true extender allows one to set up recordings, watch liveTV, watch shows that are currently recording etc. Preferably all from the same interface as you see with a PC that has BeyondTV on it.

Pretty much any media player will let you watch recorded TV shows that were recorded from BeyondTV, but I wouldn't consider them extenders.

[ZetaVu]

And media players may or may not stream HD shows properly, or even play back the BTV formats properly. One issue is that btv labels hd recordings as .tp and not .ts.

Something to consider, any device with a means to access web pages can be used to view guide data and setup recordings via the webadmin, and with custom setups that could be used as a file browser and to launch playback of recordings. Properly done the webadmin could duplicate the feel and appearance of BTV link I think, but the one thing missing is still watching livetv, that requires link or a duplicate of link (has not been built yet).

I've been able to use VLC and XBMC in ubuntu to access BTV recordings, and everything but HD PVR recordings play fine, and vlc does not see audio on two OTA channels in my area. Both programs stream and manage cpu well, and offer deinterlacing options. XBMC has vdpau built in but HD PVR recordings are choppy. VLC can have VDpau added but its not default, and I haven't tested because of the channel sound issues. Mythtv will have vdpau in the 0.22 release (any day now) so I'll try that as well.

My next toy will be a nettop (atom/ion) running probably mythbuntu, which should kick the shit out of any extender out there (So far looking at $400 but I suspect in a year you'll be able to get one with H.264 playback for under $200). Of course a dedicated extender that browses the web would also be suitable.

[tim_d_wagner]

Originally Posted by cfaslave

Well if you're truly asking about "extender's", a true extender allows one to set up recordings, watch liveTV, watch shows that are currently recording etc. Preferably all from the same interface as you see with a PC that has BeyondTV on it.

So would anyone like to A) look beyond your term discussion B) sugest another term that you find aceptable?

Looking around these are common requests, taking the time to detail them in one place seems worth while, and extender seems to be the popular if not most acurate.