Reddit reviews SiliconDust HDHomeRun HDHR-US Dual Networked High Definition Digital Tuner Device (White)

i'd shoot some pics if you really want. but, nothing to see. it's just a computer with a buncha stuff plugged in to it. i'll assume you have a home theater setup already with the screen, tuner and speakers. you just need to build an HTPC. here's a list of the critical components:

PC: nothing fancy. i repurposed a retired dell optiplex 360 workstation i got from work for $20. P4 3ghz i got 2gb ram for it as it only had 500mb.

from amazon i ordered the cheapest video card with HDMI out i could find.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006IWK4LY/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1


i also grabbed a sound card with toslink for 5.1 that would plug in to my receiver (past experience has shown sound sync issues using 5.1 over HDMI...at least through the two yamaha tuners i've tried with)


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0045JHJSS/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


i then ordered 4 2TB external USB2 drives. 2 of the drives are for content, the other two have a nightly mirror routine that runs on them. cheap insurance for a harddrive crash.

i also watch TV through this setup. for that i needed a tuner. i got this a few years back:


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010Y414Q/ref=oh_details_o07_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1


cable is digital and scrambled now. so, if you want to use cable you'd have to get the cablecard version. myself, i just go OTA now. my attic antenna plugs right in to the tuners and i use windows media player as the DVR for them.

as far as controlling the setup, i ordered an IR blaster that plugs in to the PC so that it can receive remote control commands:


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00224ZDFY/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


i used that for a few months. but, it was kinda hokey and my wife and young kids got tired of shuffling remotes around to configure everything. so, eventually i got a harmony one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RL875A/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

took about 45 minutes to configure. but, now everything from the PS3, Xbox, media center pc, and listening to music are controlled with a single remote even my 5 year old has mastered.

intially i used windows media player for everything. it did a good job of unifying the whole process--a single app for TV or watching local content. but, two things happened:

1. either the computer or the video card is not up to the task of decoding the DRM windows puts in their AVI files. I can watch the stream directly through the tuner fine. but, recorded content--especially 1080i broadcasts are choppy and practically unwatchable.
   
   
2. for local media management, WMP requires constant hand holding to organize content.
   
   my solution(s)
   
   
3. we pretty much quit watching tv except for sports which we just watch live through the tuner
   
   
4. i found XBMC. when content is put in to a folder that XBMC watches it automatically goes to the web and finds cover art and descriptions and keeps everything organized.
   
   might seem like a lot of money...but, i recovered the cost in about 3 months after i called comcast and told them to come pick up their shit.
   

My Model: HDHR4-2US is supported and working.
My old HDHR-US does not work with live channels.

Works - https://www.amazon.com/SiliconDust-HDHomeRun-CONNECT-broadcast-2-Tuner/dp/B00GY0UB54/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=hdhr4-2us&qid=1572549566&s=electronics&sr=1-2

Doesn't work - https://www.amazon.com/SiliconDust-HDHomeRun-HDHR-US-Networked-Definition/dp/B0010Y414Q

You can get one of the super old original HDhomeruns, single or dual tuner from 2006ish. That's what I'm using and it works perfectly, you can find them new and used on ebay or amazon real cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/SiliconDust-HDHomeRun-HDHR-US-Networked-Definition/dp/B0010Y414Q

However, the newer boxes have better tuners and pick up weaker signals, so if you are concerned about that, get the extend or connect.

Also, look into Windows Media Center. It's pretty much 0 setup, and available via extenders such as Xbox 360. Using an extender prevents access to most flash video/hulu without additional software. Hulu can be viewed easily if directly connected to the HTPC instead of an extender.

The interface is also fairly good, and well supported by various Tuner cards, if you want to setup an 'over-the-air' antenna as well.

I use HDHomerun getting an OTA signal from a $50 antenna on my roof connected to my HTPC using WMC as a DVR and viewer. Check AntennaWeb for OTA signals near your house.

Can you confirm that this model works? https://www.amazon.com/SiliconDust-HDHomeRun-HDHR-US-Networked-Definition/dp/B0010Y414Q

The HDHomeRun has come up a few times here this week. I've been looking into it but I can't find a definitive answer on whether the first generation HDHomeRun models will work well with ATV4 and Channels app/the like.

I don't really have a need for internal dual tuners as I only have one antenna and one TV, and I probably won't be using any computer software as a DVR. All I'm really interested in is not having to switch my inputs when I want to watch OTA and having some basic channel guide functionality. I suppose my biggest concern is whether there are limitations on HD streaming over my network with the old version and therefore whether the picture quality will be any good. Anyone knowledgeable about it?

Can anyone confirm if the older HDHR-Dual works with plex? I have one of these laying around and would like to know before purchasing plex pro.

https://www.amazon.com/SiliconDust-HDHomeRun-HDHR-US-Networked-Definition/dp/B0010Y414Q

Is this the model you're talking about? https://www.amazon.com/SiliconDust-HDHomeRun-HDHR-US-Networked-Definition/dp/B0010Y414Q/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1469288857&sr=8-9&keywords=hd+homerun

I don't see that model listed on the app's page but maybe I'm just being stupid. How much bandwidth would you need for this anyway?