I have one of those and I am very happy. It is working great with Media Center (Windows 7), I can record the programs I want and it does the job quite well.

There are a few remarks (as noted by some before me):

1. It only record unencrypted channels, which depends on your cable provider. I have Comcast and in my area I can record all the free channels in HD.

2. The cable signal has to be strong, so forget about adding splitters to your main cable. I bought a PCT signal booster to fix this problem (Comcast didn't want to help me)

3. Media Center (Windows 7) would stop working with the tuner after a few days (my server runs 24/7). It is a MC problem, I worked around by having my computer auto-restart every other day.

4. Watching HD channels over my wireless 'n' network may be choppy. Maybe ok on a dual-band router (this is not really HDHR's fault, many factors affect wifi performance).


All in all it is an incredible little device, it works flawlessly, never miss a recording. It has been on for months now with zero-maintenance - awesome!

Ok I got a Winegard HDTV antenna running directly into a Samsung HDTV tuner, so obviously I am going to need a splitter, just a regular one from Radio shack, or should I juice up the signal with a preamp?

macmanchad wrote:All the folks who've been saying how great these are... what are the specs of the machines you're using to play and/or record the video? I'm wondering if I'll need to upgrade my PC in order to use this.

I have a very basic computer with Intel E5200 CPU and integrated X4500 graphics. It can record an HD channel while playing another with no issues.

HDHomeRun does not encode the stream, so it is not heavy on CPU - but you need lots of disk space!

kingofthenet wrote:Ok I got a Winegard HDTV antenna running directly into a Samsung HDTV tuner, so obviously I am going to need a splitter, just a regular one from Radio shack, or should I juice up the signal with a preamp?

Note that the HDHomeRun has two cable inputs, one for each tuner - so you will need a 1-to-3 splitter. I believe you will still be fine, but it really depends how strong the signal comes out of your antenna.

thewronggrape wrote:Now... do I need another DTV converter to connect to these or... I think I just confused myself trying to think of my question... I don't right. The DTV converter was because my ancient TV didn't have a digital tuner. But this does so I'm... good? Uh... brain asplodes

All you need is to connect it to an HD-TV ready antenna. No DTV converters or anything.

WEAK/DISTANT OTA DIGITAL CHANNEL RECEPTION: There is a wealth of quality FREE OTA programming that is underutilized. If you are wanting to get distant or weak OTA channels, you can deploy the unit in your attic or otherwise in close proximity to the receiving antennas, with each of the inputs connected to individual antennas with differing physical orientations, or on opposite sides of a home or building, or with one antenna connected through an amplifier and the other not, etc. Then select the tuner with the best reception for any given channel.

DEDICATED NETWORKS: If you are really worried about bandwidth, you might be able to install an additional ethernet card and use a crossover cable or another switch so this unit can run on its own isolated network.

CONVEYING TV SIGNALS WITHIN A HOME/BUILDING: Cat5/6 is easier to run thru walls than RG6/59 cable. And the signal doesn't degrade.

Does anyone know if I can watch this with my PSP? There's bound to be something out there to make it happen (mines hacked, so I'm open to non-Sony blessed stuff).

kingofthenet wrote:Ok I got a Winegard HDTV antenna running directly into a Samsung HDTV tuner, so obviously I am going to need a splitter, just a regular one from Radio shack, or should I juice up the signal with a preamp?

Just get another antenna. Or two. Point them in opposite directions.

Not sure if this been asked but does the have wireless connection my computer is away from my router.

thejerm wrote:Not sure if this been asked but does the have wireless connection my computer is away from my router.

It does not have wireless, but if you just want to watch on one computer it appears you can connect the tuner directly to the computer.

Regarding the "SiliconDust HDHomeRun Network-Based Dual Digital HDTV Tuner" if your cable provider has gone thru a digital conversion, encrypting standard channels, and now all TV’s require a digital box to get anything above limited, this product would not work with that cable system in the same way it won't work with satellite TV

In those cable systems that have gone thru a digital conversion, limited cable channels should work with this product for now because limited channels aren’t encrypted yet. However, I suspect there will come a time that all cable channels, including limited basic, will be converted to digital requiring a digital box. That said, I don’t think any OTA broadcast channels will be encrypted.

pz@woot wrote:You may be able to get a special "tuning adapter" box to decode some channels if they've gone to a multiplexing approach called "Switched Digital Video". this means they use one stream for multiple channels depending on what the box request. The tuning adapter might let your device send the same information. This was gleaned from asking my cable company Brighthouse how they would support a Tivo box.

Interestingly ATT U-Verse doesn't support any of that and Tivo said there are no FCC requirments to allow ustomers to use alternative boxes.

Unfortunately, the damn SDV adapters aren't HD. The only output on the things is a composite one (yellow for video,red and white for audio). And the ones Comcast is using have new, special double-top-secret IR remote coding, so you can't use an "IR Blaster" to control it for channel selection or timing.

Yes. I have one in my Tivo right now.

Re: WMC lockups, install KB981078 from Windows Update or direct from MS. There were a couple bugs in the release version of WMC7 (really? an MS product with bugs?) that got fixed with a KB in February, then this one came out in May and superseded that. Fixed the occasional lockup I had on Win 7 x64.

Re: wootme001's comments about digital conversions...utterly false. Whether or not a cable system has analog channels has no effect on a digital tuner.

csimmon1 wrote:will this work with a mac or do you have to get a jacket for it to work

HAHAHA...

bitethat wrote:Looks quite interesting. Does it allow you to see the basic cable stations as well, or are you limited to only those whom broadcast specifically for it?

On manufacturer's website you can check which channels will work by zip code: http://www.silicondust.com/support/channels/

I paid a lot more for mine about a year ago and don't regret it for a moment. It's a really nice gadget, but only receives OTA and clear cable. Still for it does, it's excellent. I might get another.

"Windows Media Center, BeyondTV, SageTV, GBRPVR, MediaPortal, and TotalMedia."

So which one of these is the best? I don't have Win7, so WMC is probably a no-go.

love these little things, i think i've bought 3 now for myself or various family members. definitely worth it at this price. between 4 laptops, one htpc and one desktop at my house they all can access the OTA HD tv channels easily. far cheaper than individual tuners for each box.

the support website is good too. if you're having problems getting these installed, the silicon dust folks actually care and can help out.

Will this work in Round Rock Texas with Time Warner Digital? I went to their website and there is not support shown...

Probably mentioned already, but this is a stellar product and at an amazing price. This is one of the best additions I made to my media center configuration. It is appliance-like in that it requires almost no maintentance past the initial configuration and works flawlessly. They have really good support as well, if you do run into trouble, though I never have in the 2+ years of using it.

If I didn't already have one, I'd get this in a minute. All my current HD recording is done through this device.

Can't recommend enough.

I have one myself with beyondtv and it works perfectly for OTA. And the best part is that if and when my main video recorder goes out, this unit will work for the next one.

http://www.snapstream.com/products/beyondtv/

HarrisNewman wrote:Will this work in Round Rock Texas with Time Warner Digital? I went to their website and there is not support shown...

This unit is best for OTA HD.

I have been using this for over a year and it is amazing. I use it for OTA TV. It has much more sensitive tuner in the box than my TV which is good. They release firmware fixes that are a breeze to install and it works excellent with Vista Media Center.

Adaeniel wrote:To get this out of the way before people start asking, this product will (generally) not work to record anything from your cable provider. Some areas in the US may still be unencrypted, but most providers have encrypted their channels. I do not know if they are required to broadcast local channels unencrypted, however.

Misleading and partially incorrect by saying "ANYTHING from your cable provider". This tuner works fine with *unencrypted* signals from your cable provider. TimeWarner, my cable provider (and probably many others) include the local/broadcast networks (PBS, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox) on my broadband connection unencrypted. With 2 HD tuners I can timeshift and record to a DVR (MythTV, SageTV) without paying the cable provider a monthly fee. Great product and great support.

tytiger58 wrote:Does it work with Directv ?

This only takes an ATSC-or-QAM-encoded -and- RF-modulated input, so no.

No, because DirecTV satellite signals are not ATSC or QAM modulated, and because DirecTV set-top-boxes do not have ATSC or QAM modulator outputs.

Similarly, this would not work for FIOS, because FIOS signals are fiber optic (and therefore not RF) -- not to mention not ATSC or QAM either, and FIOS set top boxes do not have ATSC or QAM modulator outputs.

Will this let me stream TV to my Ipad and to my Mac?

tytiger58 wrote:Does it work with Directv ?

According to the specs: Not compatible with satellite TV

Can more than one computer simultaneously receive/view/record the same TV signal over the local network from the same tuner module on this device?

LEM- wrote:Would this work with Verizon FiOS TV?

Looks like yes, but no:
http://www.amazon.com/SiliconDust-HDHomeRun-HDHR-US-Definition-Television/product-reviews/B0010Y414Q/ref=cm_cr_dp_synop?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#RLLNM1Z8RGLAK

tytiger58 wrote:Does it work with Directv ?

If you have DirecTV, you already have one of their receivers, and won't need this. But, no, it doesn't work with it.

I have one that is connected to cable (for unencrypted QAM) and OTA inputs. I use this to record with both Win7 Media Center and Myth TV with a hardwired network connection.
The support forums are excellent and they provide frequent updates.

Would it work with this type of setup:
Attach OTA antenna to one input, cable (basic lineup with only locals unencrypted/analog) to the other input, but the cable would be split so we could also plug a cable directly into the tv for encrypted/analog channels that don't show up on the SiliconDust site (like Discovery, TMC...).

If this is possible I'm sold.

mjacknis wrote:Can more than one computer simultaneously receive/view/record the same TV signal over the local network from the same tuner module on this device?

With Media Center, this is not possible as it complains that tuners are not available if the tuner is in use on another computer. Multiple HD Homerun devices will be required.
I think this can be done if the recording software just reads the network stream without trying to manipulate (send commands to) the device.

http://www.antennaweb.org This is to help to see if OTA is right for you. You put your address in and answer some specific questions which will affecting signal strength. You will get a list of stations from that location with the type of antenna it recommends, and the direction the stations come from.

I am not indicating that this product will only work with OTA.

mtoy wrote:Would it work with this type of setup:
Attach OTA antenna to one input, cable (basic lineup with only locals unencrypted/analog) to the other input, but the cable would be split so we could also plug a cable directly into the tv for encrypted/analog channels that don't show up on the SiliconDust site (like Discovery, TMC...).

If this is possible I'm sold.

Yes, this is how I have set it up. I have a splitter with line amp on the cable with one input to the HD Homerun. It will tune the digital unencrypted cable channels.
One could also split the cable input and connect it to both inputs if OTA is not required. That way two computers can tune to cable channels.

mjacknis wrote:This only takes an ATSC-or-QAM-encoded -and- RF-modulated input, so no.

No, because DirecTV satellite signals are not ATSC or QAM modulated, and because DirecTV set-top-boxes do not have ATSC or QAM modulator outputs.

Similarly, this would not work for FIOS, because FIOS signals are fiber optic (and therefore not RF) -- not to mention not ATSC or QAM either, and FIOS set top boxes do not have ATSC or QAM modulator outputs.

Actually, this should work with FIOS because the FIOS box that is put in your house (the one in the garage) converts the fiber signal to QAM over coax(although like most people have said generally only the local channels are unencrypted QAM, the rest are encrypted and won't work with this tuner)

LEM- wrote:Would this work with Verizon FiOS TV?

Note - we do need a FiOS box for each TV, there is no straight TV reception even for basic channels if connected directly to the cable...

- Yes, this works with FIOS but you only get the unencrypted channels - both SD and HD - basically 2 through 13 and public channels like PBS and other channels they choose to broadcast 'in the clear' like some of the music channels.

Works really well - use with multiple computers - easy to setup. I have used this with Vista and Windows 7 without issue.

How about this: A program is set to record at 8:00, at 8:20 you want to start watching that (currently recording) program so you can fast forward through the commercials. Is this possible?

mvsopen wrote:I know that the FCC made it legal for cable companies to sell cablecards a few years ago. Does anyone know if this box supports that?

Heck, has anyone actually *seen* a cable-card?
(A card which works like the set-top tuner, and decrypts the digital channels) I'm not sure they ever made it to market, which is why you have to rent your tuner, every month. The newer TiVo's have a slot for one.

They didn't "make it legal" they mandated that cable companies had to offer them. The big cable companies were not offering them and forcing people to rent their equipment.

There are CableCards out there for people, I have one from Comcast in my Moxi and it works rather well.