SageTV: The Other High Definition PVR

With great care we lifted the SageTV extender from its wrapping. Its plain black exterior belied its capabilities. With this device, the world of high definition television was now ours to command.

While there are several options for personal video recorders (PVRs), SageTV has several unique characteristics. SageTV began as a customizable program in 2002, enabling customers, for a nominal fee, to turn their PCs into PVRs. Such abilities appeal to those tired of the PVR receivers, and the associated fees, available from Dish Network and DirecTV. For those with some basic programming skills, SageTV offers a low-cost alternative which can be loads of fun. SageTV's program is run from a PC which receives signals from z cable or satellite provider. It then routes this signal to your television, or to other PCs in remote locations which act as clients or "extenders."

However, PCs have drawbacks as extenders. Even after considerable upgrading, we found they often lack the resources needed to keep up with the demands of being a PVR, and shows would lock up without warning at their most exciting points. Of course, DirecTV's, and especially Dish Network's, were prone to these problems as well. If you want to dissuade your children from watching television, perhaps such an arrangement is perfect for you. They will quickly tire of their heroes freezing in mid action. It was clear to us that our disgruntled children were ready to revolt, however. Rather than risk an uprising we invested in Hauppauge MVPs, which are compatible with SageTV's programs. These handy black boxes take the place of the client PCs. The server PC then stores data, enabling playback and storage of shows. Our halting, apoplectic television watching was at an end.