SiliconDust HDHomeRun Prime 3-Line Digital CableCard HDTV Tuner w/ Gigabit Ethernet (HDHR3-CC) + Rosewill RRC-126 Infrared Remote Control with Netflix Function $165 + Free Shipping

Quote from J3ff : With remote potato - just start recording the program you want to watch, go back 30 seconds later and play it. It's pretty close to live viewing

Who watches live viewing anyways ? I hate commercials. Even if I want to see a show as soon as it's aired, I wait 30 mins into or so just so I can skip the commercials.

I have played with setting up a computer to use as DVR/cable box for a while now and each time I've researched it I've ran into roadblocks. I remember having to use an IR blaster to switch channels on the cable box so you could record something on your HTPC DVR. I also remember not being able to record certain HD channels due to the encoding ClearQAM or other encryption. Then if you were recording something in HD then you could only watch in non-HD or something.

I'll tell you my setup and I'd appreciate any tips. Is it possible to dump my cable box and DVR and use an HTPC and something like this HDHomeRun with a CableCard?

I currently have just one TV and don't plan to get any more. I have my HTPC in the basement below where the TV setup is. It's an unattractive beige box I have Win7 Home Premium on it and XBMC and a bunch of games. It is used to play tv shows, browse internet, etc. but actually is more used for games (Call of Duty). It has a Core 2 Duo and an HD 5770 video card. The CPU isn't the newest but the thing can play new FPS games with no problem so I don't see any problem with it. I will upgrade it later if needed. I have wireless mouse and keyboard with the USB receivers by my TV.

First I would love to get rid of the DVR. I have Charter and they are charging me for the DVR $15/month! Of course the DVR and cable box are a single device. If I can get rid of both that would be great. It has to work somewhat decently though since my wife is using it too, and she wouldn't be as patient as I would things that don't work as easily. Obviously we should be able to pick up a remote and record something, or play back something recorded, etc. We should also be able to watch something and record something else at the same time like with our current DVR.

I would also really like to skip commercials (not just fast forward). I know there are plugins in MythTV that can do this and commercials are completely skipped when you play it back. What do you think about MythTV vs Windows Media Center?

I believe Charter has CableCard available and I read it is $2/month.
Thanks for any input!

Quote from az_r2d1 : Who watches live viewing anyways ? I hate commercials. Even if I want to see a show as soon as it's aired, I wait 30 mins into or so just so I can skip the commercials.

I do the same thing. Maybe 1% of the time I watch tv it's live. (super bowl, world series, etc)

I've converted to a non-commercial life style (slacker radio for music, dvr for tv, adblock for web) and I can't tell you how much more crap I get done and life is also just much much nicer without people yelling at me to buy stuff.

Any reason why folks use PCs as HTPCs vs laptops? I bought a Dell I620 and use that as an HTPC and it works fine, but looking at the specs, Im wondering, why couldn't I have a laptop do the same thing? I mostly hear folks talk about their HTPC as a computer box, but never a laptop.

Now this would be for the purpose of just having WMC, streaming, recording, etc. I don't know what other folks do to where there is a need to build their own HTPC, unless its more than just that.

Quote from blackblaze : Any reason why folks use PCs as HTPCs vs laptops? I bought a Dell I620 and use that as an HTPC and it works fine, but looking at the specs, Im wondering, why couldn't I have a laptop do the same thing? I mostly hear folks talk about their HTPC as a computer box, but never a laptop. Now this would be for the purpose of just having WMC, streaming, recording, etc. I don't know what other folks do to where there is a need to build their own HTPC, unless its more than just that.

Money and flexibility I would say.
Laptops used to be quite q bit more expensive than a desktop. Also, if you record from cable, you need that physical cable, your pc stays in one place.. so why a laptop ?
Also, htpc's used to use tuners on a card a lot (and still do with the Ceton) , a laptop won't work.
And you are more limited with a laptop when you want to expand (bigger harddrive ? biggest one for laptop is 1TB I think ?), etc

Quote from az_r2d1 : Money and flexibility I would say. Laptops used to be quite q bit more expensive than a desktop. Also, if you record from cable, you need that physical cable, your pc stays in one place.. so why a laptop ? Also, htpc's used to use tuners on a card a lot (and still do with the Ceton) , a laptop won't work. And you are more limited with a laptop when you want to expand (bigger harddrive ? biggest one for laptop is 1TB I think ?), etc

If you use a NAS, then expanding the harddrive wouldn't be an issue. If you want to trouble shoot the PC, you wouldn't be confined to having to do it plugged into the TV or monitor, can just unplug it, configure it, troubleshoot it, and put it back with the rest of your AV equipment.

Either way it doesn't matter. I've had chances where I can get a 500GB i3 for the price that I can sell my I620, and looking to have a NAS to where all the HTPCs or Extenders would save their content, its just less bulk and convenient...PLUS, you have a spare laptop hanging around if you no longer use it as an HTPC

Quote from az_r2d1 : Selling like hotcakes will all depend on the price. It' has to be substantially below the XBOX360's price AND offer more functionality than what the xbox360 can do. I don't think they will and it will end up where linksys went with their extenders; discontinued

Quote from blackblaze : Agreed, they are not the only show in town like when they first came out with their tuner, and people were willing to pay $600 for it. They will have to be competively price, with great features. If they price their Echo at $400 a unit, someone could go out and get two Xbox units for that price as extenders. If they come out and say $250 with a remote, and give features even the Xbox couldn't do, then it could stand a chance of being successfully amongst a lot of folks. Then again, someone could get a cheap laptopl for $300 and use as a HTPC or extender, so we shall see.

I would guess that will end up being $500, and thus will not sell very well. It has 6 tuners and a bluray drive in it, that has to be at least $250 in hardware right there. And it is a flull fledged computer with a huge HDD, and the costs for software and R&D. It won't sell well to the average consumer, that price point has to be about $200-250 before I could even begin to influence someone like my parents to get that. At $200 I think it would sell well...so lets wait for them to get discontinued and pick a few up!

Quote from J3ff : With remote potato - just start recording the program you want to watch, go back 30 seconds later and play it. It's pretty close to live viewing

How do I get rid of the lag/slow streaming in Remote Potato? I found that only the recorded tv files (.wtv) have a horrible lag that makes watching my recorded tv impossible. I can watch all my other vids ok though. Is it just my slow internet connection? Or did I not set it up right?

Quote from munjal : I've got a silly question, but since it doesn't specify on the Newegg product page like the Ceton one does, but does this tuner also with with SD cable that's not digital and not requiring a cable card? A little overkill in my case, but it is cool/handy to have 3 tuners over the network in my home.

This does not do analog cable. I have to have another analog tuner for my Media Center to receive those channels. I really wish someone would make free software to make locally-attached analog tuners available to the network.

Quote from Ichinisan : This does not do analog cable. I have to have another analog tuner for my Media Center to receive those channels. I really wish someone would make free software to make locally-attached analog tuners available to the network.

The best way to acomplish this is use mythtv or other such software. I like mythtv because it has schedule direct for 25 a year So in order to configure hdhome runprime you have to select tunners and then create source and download your cable lineup and channel linup and connect them.

Quote from tritron4 : The best way to acomplish this is use mythtv or other such software. I like mythtv because it has schedule direct for 25 a year So in order to configure hdhome runprime you have to select tunners and then create source and download your cable lineup and channel linup and connect them.

Not sure what you're saying. Windows Media Center gets listings for free and supports cableCARD for protected channels...so that's what I use.

I don't have a problem getting digital channels or guide listings. I only wish for a way to get analog tuners pooled-together and shared over the network so they are available to other computers. A lot of channels in my package are analog-only (Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, MTV, etc...).