SageTV Version 5.0 Brings Placeshifting & Wireless Media Extender to Linux

By | July 18th, 2006 comments icon (2) Comments


sagetv wireless media extenderSageTV, LLC, today released Version 5.0 of its SageTV Media Center for Linux OEM Edition, becoming the first Linux-based personal video recorder (PVR) and music/photo/video media center to offer placeshifting and wireless media extender capabilities The new release is also designed to work with most Linux distributions and Linux-compatible hardware.

These features extend the functionality of the SageTV application, a full- featured PVR that eliminates the monthly subscription fees required by digital video recording services while also adding the ability to manage and access music, photo and video files from a single interface. Files can be played on a connected TV, over the home network on other TVs, or away from home on a Windows or Linux desktop or laptop.

The new SageTV Placeshifter option enables users to access their entire PC-based media library away from home from any PC with a high-speed Internet connection. The integration of PVR and placeshifting provides a faster, higher-quality and less expensive solution than separate placeshifting and PVR boxes.

In addition, unlike standalone placeshifting products, SageTV Placeshifter allows different family members to watch the programs of their choice without being affected by each other’s viewing habits. With one tuner in the SageTV- equipped PC, one user at home or away can watch any live or recorded TV while another watches any recorded TV. With two tuners, both parties can watch either live or recorded TV at the same time.

The new SageTV Wireless Media Extender allows any TV in the home to access all live or recorded TV, music, and photos from the SageTV Media Center interface without installing a digital video recorder box on every TV and then searching to find out which show was recorded on which box. Users in different rooms can record and/or access different programs or media at the same time, bringing all TV and media together with the same interface on every TV in the home as well as every PC at home and away.

This same capability has been available through a wired SageTV Media Extender that has been on the market since 2005. The wireless version eliminates the need to run wired networking to each TV.

Both the placeshifting and wireless media extender features were released on the Windows edition of the SageTV software earlier this year.

The PVR function of SageTV Media Center allows users to record a single show or whole season of their favorite television programs on their PCs; pause, rewind and fast-forward live or recorded cable, satellite or antenna TV shows; and record multiple shows on multiple tuners simultaneously. Integrated 14-day U.S., Canadian and European program guides are available directly from the SageTV interface, eliminating the need to switch to a separate online application to plan one’s TV viewing and recording.

Pricing and Availability
SageTV Media Center for Linux OEM Edition with a SageTV Placeshifter license sells for $99.95, a $10 savings over purchasing the $79.95 PVR/media center software and $29.95 placeshifting option separately. The SageTV Media Extenders cost $109.95 (wired) and $159.95 (wireless). All products are available at www.sagetv.com.

Minimum system requirements include an Intel Pentium 3 or AMD Athlon or faster processor with 256 MB of RAM, an Internet connection, and supported network and TV tuner cards. See www.sagetv.com/linuxOEMedition.html for a complete list.

About SageTV
SageTV, LLC, is a pioneer in personal video recording and home media center technologies that combine television, music, a wide variety of media and networking into a complete, easy-to-use home media experience. SageTV Media Center, the company’s flagship product, is the first PVR/media center solution designed for both PCs and TVs that runs on either Windows or Linux, supports multiple tuners, networking and intelligent recording. SageTV was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. For more information, visit www.sagetv.com





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  • flamaest

    What version of Linux are we talking about here? Is this any Java capable Linux?

    The list of compatible tuners seems kind of weak.

    I have the Plextor ConvertX PVR running on Debian Linux.. I wondor if this tuner would work with SageTV?

  • http://www.alexandergrundner.com Alexander Grundner

    I was wondering the same thing. I looked over the install instructions and it’s a liveCD based on Gentoo. Too bad it’s not something that can work with any distro :(

    You can always use Knoppmyth for a Debian/MythTV setup (checkout the EFF’s Knoppmyth cookbook for instructions).

    SageTV 5 for Linux OEM Edition Installation Information

    Information below is for installing a complete new Linux system with SageTV from scratch. Click here if you would like Information for installing SageTV on existing Linux systems.

    The default installation is divided into 4 steps:

    - Download and burn the Gentoo Installer CD.
    - Install the Gentoo base system
    - Install the SageTV packages
    - Configuring SageTV