SageTV HD Theater Arrives - Replacement for SageTV HD100 Extenders

Big News for this CyberMonday!  If you’re one of the many SageTV users who have been waiting for the return of the SageTV HD Extenders, your wait is over.  The SageTV store has for sale the new version of the HD100 available as of Sunday evening

                   Front of SageTV HD Theater:

                  
                     Back of SageTV HD Theater:


The new HD Extender is called the SageTV HD Theater or the more geeky name of HD200.
Here’s what I can tell you about the new HD200 (most of this is based on the information available at SageTV.com

• The SageTV HD Theater (HD200) can function just like the HD100 extenders did – it handles all of the same video & audio formats plus some, handles STVs (replacement UI’s) just like the HD100, handles STVi’s just like the HD100, Can act as Placeshifter client etc). 
• The SageTV HD Theater can also function as a standalone media player without connecting to the SageTV server  and CAN run without a PC if desired to play media it finds on your local network or on a local USB storage device connected to the HD200, without connecting to SageTV server

   Screen-shot of the Stand-alone mode menu for the new SageTV HD Theater

 

• Price is $200 – so you get the same functionality plus some new functionality all for the same price as the HD100 was selling for.  Alternatively you can buy the SageTV bundle and get the HD200 along with the SageTV software for a PC (required if you want the PC to be the HTPC server).
  
• Includes a faster processor with more memory then the HD100
• User Interface and firmware updates are much faster (probably because of the faster processor and additional memory)
  
• Just like the HD100, the unit is fanless (and therefore probably silent).
• Includes the same remote as the HD100 did
  
• Hardware - My guess is that the insides are slightly upgraded with a new Sigma Chip as well although I don't have confirmation of this yet.
  
• Form factor is different – smaller footprint then the HD100
• Control buttons are no longer on the front of the unit like they were on the HD100.
• There is a USB port on the front and back of the unit –NOW CONFIRMED TO HAVE ACTIVE USB PORTS (see notes on standalone mode)
  
• Video Ports Include: HDMI (looks like HDMI 1.2), Component, Composite or S-Video input (NTSC)
• Audio Ports Include: HDMI, Optical and Left and right audio input jacks
• Video Format supported:  MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264 up to 1080p, AVI, VOB, WMV9/VC-1 up to 1080p
• Audio formats supported: MP2, MP3, AAC, WMA, Vorbis (stereo only), AC3 (stereo down-mix/pass-through), FLAC, DTS (pass-through) 
•  

Other Details:
Maximum Number of SageTV HD Theaters: Limited only by your home network bandwidth, each HD video stream may use 20 Mbps or more of home network bandwidth.
Network Requirements:

• One 10/100 RJ-45 port on a Router, Hub or Switch network with DHCP server on network or
  
• Direct connect from SageTV HD Media Extender to PC running DHCP server via cross over LAN cable (not supplied)

Included with the SageTV HD THeater:

• SageTV HD Theater digital media receiver
• Remote control with batteries
• 1.5 meter A/V cable set
• S- video cable
• HDMI cable
• 1.5 meter Ethernet cable

To read more about the new SageTV HD Theater, check out the SageTV Store for more details
Just keep in mind.  SageTV is saying that the HD Theater device can do everything the HD100 Extender can and then some so it might be helpful to review the SageTV HD100 Extender review if you're not familiar with the device.

Stay tuned to GeekTonic for a complete review of the new SageTV HD Theater (HD200) coming soon!