(LIVE AGAIN, NEW LINK) $64.99 - HDHomeRun DUAL - HD Digital TV Tuner HDHR3-US by SiliconDust

Quote from cuetoon : Getting two video channels to any PC on a home network (through the router) is a great thing. But that begs the obvious question, why not make it with an HDMI port (for AVR input), and maybe throw in a remote a la the WD streaming player? All it would need then is a little flash memory and, viola! It's a two-channel DVR! With no HDMI output, the HTPC would have to always remain on just to receive streams from other PCs on the home LAN and send to the AVR. So, not exactly the right gizmo for me, but getting closer to the holy grail of home A/V, a cheap, fully functional, subscription free, two-channel DVR.

I have an AppleTV I use to stream iTunes media content to my TV, which, before the HDHomeRun was basically movies saved on my computer. I had DirecTV that I wanted to get rid of because most of what we were watching was on regular OTA channels. The two hurdles were the DVR and the programs on non-OTA channels.

This device solves the first hurdle. I connected it to my antenna and my router. I installed EyeTV on my Mac and use it to record programs on the 19 OTA channels of interest to me. EyeTV handles all of the DVR-like functions and will even stream live or recorded video to an iPad (et al). I have EyeTV setup to cut out commercials (using ETVComSkip) and then export to iTunes. The result is a commercial-free recording I can watch on my TV using my AppleTV. Meanwhile, I can still watch live TV on any television using the antenna.

As for the second hurdle, I've decided to buy those few programs using whatever is the best means available (Hulu/Plus, iTunes, whatever). The end result for me is a huge savings with minimal loss of functionality. Your results may vary based on your situation.

BTW, instead of using AppleTV like I do, you could just connect the device right to your HTPC (like a Mac Mini) that's connected right to your HDTV. I like the AppleTV approach because then any TV accesses the full library of iTunes media without a dedicated HTPC at each TV.

Quote from timhood : I have an AppleTV I use to stream iTunes media content to my TV, which, before the HDHomeRun was basically movies saved on my computer. I had DirecTV that I wanted to get rid of because most of what we were watching was on regular OTA channels. The two hurdles were the DVR and the programs on non-OTA channels. This device solves the first hurdle. I connected it to my antenna and my router. I installed EyeTV on my Mac and use it to record programs on the 19 OTA channels of interest to me. EyeTV handles all of the DVR-like functions and will even stream live or recorded video to an iPad (et al). I have EyeTV setup to cut out commercials (using ETVComSkip) and then export to iTunes. The result is a commercial-free recording I can watch on my TV using my AppleTV. Meanwhile, I can still watch live TV on any television using the antenna. As for the second hurdle, I've decided to buy those few programs using whatever is the best means available (Hulu/Plus, iTunes, whatever). The end result for me is a huge savings with minimal loss of functionality. Your results may vary based on your situation. BTW, instead of using AppleTV like I do, you could just connect the device right to your HTPC (like a Mac Mini) that's connected right to your HDTV. I like the AppleTV approach because then any TV accesses the full library of iTunes media without a dedicated HTPC at each TV.

Thanks for the info!

Quote from CHeston : I wouldn't even watch the pure garbage on network TV so yeah I gotta pay for content. See I'm not a shallow, typical American who consumes garbage like American Idol and all these stupid CSI/Doctor/Lawyer shows. I watch something with a little more intellectual heft to it and those types of channels (Science, Nat Geo etc) are cable only. Like anything good in this world, you gotta pay to play.

If you are paying for entertainment that you consider intellectual heft, then I'd suggest a few shows about advertising and marketing. That's what TV is all about. Thank goodness we all have DVR's, right? At least we can skip the ads. But I'd put PBS channels in there if you want something more intellectual. Cable gave me just two PBS channels - OTA gives me nine of them. With the monthly savings, I can easily pick up the occasional History Channel boxset if I like. But I have more PBS content recorded than I can watch. I do watch some other networks as well. After I cut the cord I vowed to never again pay for 20 advertising heavy channels just so I could watch the couple of them that interest me.

Quote from rick355 : I didn't see anyone here mention that these can also be stacked, meaning each unit adds two additional tuners on your network

yeah i have 2 of the older versions. one serving 2 OTA and the other 2 QAM

Quote from timhood : I like the AppleTV approach because then any TV accesses the full library of iTunes media without a dedicated HTPC at each TV.

If you have multiple TV's don't you need a Mac Mini at each TV? How much does that cost?

With Windows approach you only need 1 HTPC and then Media Center Extenders or XBOX at each TV.

Is it feasible to get new/not used Mac Mini for under $200? Otherwise, Windows approach is more cost effective.

Quote from cuetoon : Never heard of this device -- thanks for posting, OP. Getting two video channels to any PC on a home network (through the router) is a great thing. But that begs the obvious question, why not make it with an HDMI port (for AVR input), and maybe throw in a remote a la the WD streaming player? All it would need then is a little flash memory and, viola! It's a two-channel DVR! With no HDMI output, the HTPC would have to always remain on just to receive streams from other PCs on the home LAN and send to the AVR. So, not exactly the right gizmo for me, but getting closer to the holy grail of home A/V, a cheap, fully functional, subscription free, two-channel DVR.

on point, but you have to understand that this brand also has cablecard units which are strictly controlled by POS cable companies. crossing over into their equipment territory wont end well with silicondust. funny how the only real external atsc tuners with dvi/hdmi out come from ONLY TWO little $hit brands, kworld and avermedia.

Quote from blueiedgod : If you have multiple TV's don't you need a Mac Mini at each TV? How much does that cost? With Windows approach you only need 1 HTPC and then Media Center Extenders or XBOX at each TV. Is it feasible to get new/not used Mac Mini for under $200? Otherwise, Windows approach is more cost effective.

why go through all those hoops? Not sure why you wouldnt just use your TV's ATSC tuner? its the worst broadcasting possible...public tv LoL! watch on hulu or somthing instead of wasting money on equipment.

Quote from albundyhere : why go through all those hoops? Not sure why you wouldnt just use your TV's ATSC tuner? its the worst broadcasting possible...public tv LoL! watch on hulu or somthing instead of wasting money on equipment.

ATSC tuner in the TV does not tune ClearQAM, which is what I get from Verizon FiOS.

The TV does not record it for me when I am not there, nor can I pause and tend to whatever and then return. So, I would have to have my life revolve around TV schedules, as opposed the other way around.

There is no way to skip commercials on Hulu.

I am using this in conjunction with Ceton InfiniTV4 to separate/maximise the use of CableCard for encrypted TV and non CableCard tuners for non-encrypted (ClearQAM) TV.

I can pause/stop in whatever room I am watching, and continue in another room in the house from whereever I stopped it earlier... No need to cue up, fast forward, and/or trying to remember where I left off...

Quote from sbx007 : In the past I could hook up a cable to my TV and recieve a plethora of channels broadcasting. That changed in October as cablevision wants you to have a STB for each TV in the house.

In the post that I commented on, you commented on a post about broadcast (OTA) stations. No one anywhere in this discussion has said that it is unusual for other channels to be encrypted.

Quote from sbx007 : 2. OF the 43 stations available to me OTA there are 3 news stations, "Bounce", a station that runs re-runs, and the rest are in Spanish or Japanese. Not that this is bad, but for my case OTA does nothing for me. Its simply backup for when cable goes out or FOX goes on strike and refuses to broadcast the WS. Just a heads up for those that never used OTA and think it will replace cable or premium broadcasts. It might for some but won't for many.

I think that has been made clear already that this device cannot receive cable TV other than basic service; I hope it has been.

Quote from Sam Hobbs : In the post that I commented on, you commented on a post about broadcast (OTA) stations. No one anywhere in this discussion has said that it is unusual for other channels to be encrypted. I was meaning to validate what you said about cable wanting to get paid for everything and as such As of October I now need a STb on each TV to get anything more than what I'd get with OTA. I think that has been made clear already that this device cannot receive cable TV other than basic service; I hope it has been.

It can't recieve any cable service at all, its OTA. Without a STB as of OCT I can't even recieve BASIC cable w/o a STB.

Quote from blueiedgod : Isn't the "Idol" franchise British? Blame England, not US.

Well its Americans that watch that crap keeping them in business. Don't get me wrong stupid TV isn't exclusive to Americans however. Our entire world is turning into an Idiocracy.

new link and live again!!!!

Quote from sbx007 : In the past I could hook up a cable to my TV and recieve a plethora of channels broadcasting. That changed in October as cablevision wants you to have a STB for each TV in the house.

Technically, this is cable theft. If you look through the agreements that you sign with the provider, you are paying for service to a certain number of TV's. Anything else that you connect to their cable is what Cablevision is trying to prevent.

It is akin to me walking up to your house and plugging in an extension cord into your outdoor outlet and saying, "Well, SBX007 left it energized, and therefore I can plug into it"

The only legal way to have multiple TV's without paying individual charge per TV is to have a CableCard and a device capable of taking advantage of the 6 simultaneous streams that it can decrypt, i.e. a Windows Media Center with Windows Media Center Extenders.

When you rent a CableCard the fee covers 6 streams at once.

Quote from CHeston : Well its Americans that watch that crap keeping them in business. Don't get me wrong stupid TV isn't exclusive to Americans however. Our entire world is turning into an Idiocracy.

Don't forget, Canadian Idol [youtube.com], Russian Idol [youtube.com], Kazakstan Idol [youtube.com], Ukranian Idol [youtube.com], Indian Idol [youtube.com], Bulgarian Idol [youtube.com]...

I agree, it is global Idiocracy.