The Bottom Line
Are you looking for a nice alternative to a subscription-based DVR like TiVo, or to the Windows Media Center OS? Then you might want to check out the SageTV Media Center V5. This software works with a TV Tuner Card to enable users to view and record a Cable or Satellite signal on their Windows or Linux PC. Record, Pause and Rewind Live TV, or schedule shows to record in advance with the supplied Program Guide. View photos, listen to music, or watch recorded programs, all from one application.
Pros
- Easy to install and use software application that turns your PC into a Media Center
- Pause and Rewind Live TV like a TiVo
- Includes a Program Guide to schedule recordings
- Works with many TV Tuner Cards
- Placeshifter and Wireless Media Extender accessories
Cons
- Took some time to configure channels and proper quality settings
- Takes about 1 minute for program to load
- Best if used with fast CPU
Description
- Record television in MPEG-2, MPEG-4 or DivX
- Pause, Rewind and Instant Replay Live TV
- Electronic Programming Guide provided by SageTV with up to two weeks of programming data
- Multiple Tuner Support, record two or more shows at the same time
- Works with any Antenna, Cable, or Satellite provider
- Similar to Windows Media Center, music, photos, movies and TV shows accessible from one program
- Step-by-step Setup Wizard for easy setup and configuration
- Watch TV on your PC or, with a TV-Out Video Card, watch on a regular TV
- Optional Media Extender, stream TV to any room in your house
- SageTV Placeshifter allows you to connect to your SageTV Media Center from any Internet connection
Guide Review - Review of SageTV Media Center V5 for Windows
The software lets you watch, pause, and record TV on your PC, and provides a single interface for accessing pictures, watching DVD movies, and playing music files stored on your computer. Installation and setup is easy with wizards to guide you through the process. During setup, you'll be asked to choose your cable or satellite TV service provider so SageTV can download your Programming Guide. This lets you view two weeks of TV listings and allows you to schedule recordings by clicking on a particular show. I had to play around with the channel setup and quality settings for a while, but once I got everything set, it all worked fine. The menu system is simple to use and navigate. The SageTV Recordings screen shows you a list of all TV recordings stored on your system, including information such as date, time, and channel. The Watch Live TV screen displays the TV channel you're tuned to. When you click on Watch Live TV, a description of the show pops up for a few seconds, along with player controls and a recording-time bar. The easiest way to change channels is with a remote or by using the keyboard. Recordings can be scheduled using the Program Guide. SageTV also contains a music player, a DVD player, and a photo viewer, all of which are controlled through the Media Center menu page. SageTV V5 is a good alternative to the Windows Media Center OS and works with Windows 98 SE and up, and includes optional place-shifting and a media extender.