Silicon Dust HD Homerun Prime quick review

[bradly1101]

Just set it up with digital cable (card). It's a networked triple tuner. HD looks great and all the tuners function perfectly even though my HTPC is an old P4 (single core with HT). The interface I'm using (I've tried others) is Windows 7 Media Center (I like how smooth it is on this old hardware, and the menus and selection options), and the tuners are available on all PC's on the network. I haven't noticed any slowdowns on the network while recording all three streams.

They have a mobile app., but it doesn't want to run on my Lenovo Yoga 8 or my SGS3, but that's OK; I run the Remote Potato server which streams to anything, and gives full access to Media Center's guide and recording options.

I give it 5 stars for now (as long as it stays reliable).

 

[Engineer]

Yes, I'm looking at these. My cable/internet bill just went up 23.5% (yes, nearly 1/4 higher) and I'm looking at ways to cut. I would love to tell TWC to stick the $20 DVR box up their butt. Wouldn't mind telling them to stick internet up their butt too but not sure whether Windstream would be a good replacement (that's for another thread).

Thanks OP. I only wish there were more options for extenders (I don't want a PC and the Ceton Echo units are somewhat expensive - assuming that they work with this)

 

[bradly1101]

Yeah I'm turning in two boxes . They got really hot, so I'm sure there will be power savings too.

 

[sep]

I've been wondering about this product too. Glad to see you posted.

My main uses an HTPC running XBMC. Other TV's can use Xbox 360? WD LIVE? or Roxio 3? devices. Assume all of these work?

How does this work with each device. do you have to say device 1 is using tuner 1? can you watch tuner 1 on multiple devices?

Current Hardware Rental Fees:
$15...DVR Rental, $3....digital box x 4
$27 a month or $324 a year

Hardware Cost and Rental:
$120 - HD Runner
$4 - Cable card rental from Comcast

Savings:
Year 1 - $156
Next - $276

 

[bradly1101]

I've been wondering about this product too. Glad to see you posted.

My main uses an HTPC running XBMC. Other TV's can use Xbox 360? WD LIVE? or Roxio 3? devices. Assume all of these work?

How does this work with each device. do you have to say device 1 is using tuner 1? can you watch tuner 1 on multiple devices?

Current Hardware Rental Fees:
$15...DVR Rental, $3....digital box x 4
$27 a month or $324 a year

Hardware Cost and Rental:
$120 - HD Runner
$4 - Cable card rental from Comcast

Savings:
Year 1 - $156
Next - $276

When a tuner is busy recording to one PC, it can't be used by another. So as long as at least one tuner is available you can watch and record to a second PC. I'm not sure if you can setup two of these on a network to gain more channels.

As far as compatible devices, all I know is that it supports DLNA:

Stream live TV to:

• SmartTVs
• Blu-ray Players / Media Players
• Computers / All in Ones / Ultrabooks
• Android devices
• iOS devices – Coming soon
• Game Consoles

https://www.silicondust.com/dlna/

 

[bradly1101]

There's a six tuner version of this currently unavailable at Newegg that garnered good reviews, but I didn't see it at the Silicon Dust website, but it's just two of these slapped together, so at least two work, but you'll need two cable cards and wiring for both.

I dig the name, Silicon Dust.

 

[hans030390]

Dumping the cable box and moving to a WMC-based setup (HTPC with Ceton tuner card) was a great decision. The HD Homerun Prime looks awesome as well.

 

[Tegeril]

I've got one of these in operation, and it's fantastic. Way better than the crappy Ceton 4 tuner USB model I had previously that required random restarts and ultimately had bad memory and couldn't firmware upgrade anymore 2 months out of warranty.

 

[destrekor]

I've got one of these in operation, and it's fantastic. Way better than the crappy Ceton 4 tuner USB model I had previously that required random restarts and ultimately had bad memory and couldn't firmware upgrade anymore 2 months out of warranty.

I wanted the 6 tuner model from Ceton, but was greatly worried about such random issues. I'd highly prefer flawless operation so recording can happen even during extended periods away from home, over the idea of more tuners.

And you should easily be able to add a second HDHR to the network and have 6 tuners available. Granted, the difference is that requires a second CableCARD and the required fee, as opposed to getting 6 tuners out of a single card.

I've heard some stability with Ceton, but at the time their dynamic allocation for unused tuners wasn't up to the same reliability standard it seemed everyone reported with the Silicon Dust equipment, so I went that route. In time, Ceton should get things in order. Hopefully it's not long before HDHR gets a single-card device that can tune more than 3. Even if it's only four, I'd be happy.
I've never needed all three, yet... but it's nice to have the ability.

 

[destrekor]

Yes, I'm looking at these. My cable/internet bill just went up 23.5% (yes, nearly 1/4 higher) and I'm looking at ways to cut. I would love to tell TWC to stick the $20 DVR box up their butt. Wouldn't mind telling them to stick internet up their butt too but not sure whether Windstream would be a good replacement (that's for another thread).

Thanks OP. I only wish there were more options for extenders (I don't want a PC and the Ceton Echo units are somewhat expensive - assuming that they work with this)

If you go with Windows 8 (like me), the ONLY extender is the 360.

I have been looking, for a future investment, at a recent 360 4GB model. It's flash memory, and the CPU/motherboard draws the lowest amount of power than any other generation of 360 devices. I don't game on 360 so I wouldn't mind the lack of storage, as I have a PS3 and gaming PC. Power draw shouldn't be any more than a standard cable box when actively using the Extender capability.

That said, the best extender is the Echo, and is compatible with the HDHR.
Super low power use, probably better than any NUC-style PC or other solution. Sadly, it's not compatible with Windows 8 as an extender. It's ridiculous, but that's where we stand right now. Microsoft is almost on track to ditch the whole WMC concept - Xbox One isn't even capable of serving as an extender!

There were far more extenders compatible with Windows 7, but all but the Ceton Echo have been discontinued. If you can find any second-hand, there were plenty of good offerings from what I've read.

I am getting worried about where this is going in the future, because WMC is the only media program capable of accessing DRM-protected cable content. Which, if you pay for any non-basic cable channels, you are sure to see somewhere. Some cable co's are better than others with this though.
The FCC has been in agreement that Big Cable, and the CableCARD standard, desperately need attention, however... absolutely nothing has happened, even with this being discussed for 5+ years.

 

[Engineer]

If you go with Windows 8 (like me), the ONLY extender is the 360.

I have been looking, for a future investment, at a recent 360 4GB model. It's flash memory, and the CPU/motherboard draws the lowest amount of power than any other generation of 360 devices. I don't game on 360 so I wouldn't mind the lack of storage, as I have a PS3 and gaming PC. Power draw shouldn't be any more than a standard cable box when actively using the Extender capability.

That said, the best extender is the Echo, and is compatible with the HDHR.
Super low power use, probably better than any NUC-style PC or other solution. Sadly, it's not compatible with Windows 8 as an extender. It's ridiculous, but that's where we stand right now. Microsoft is almost on track to ditch the whole WMC concept - Xbox One isn't even capable of serving as an extender!

There were far more extenders compatible with Windows 7, but all but the Ceton Echo have been discontinued. If you can find any second-hand, there were plenty of good offerings from what I've read.

I am getting worried about where this is going in the future, because WMC is the only media program capable of accessing DRM-protected cable content. Which, if you pay for any non-basic cable channels, you are sure to see somewhere. Some cable co's are better than others with this though.
The FCC has been in agreement that Big Cable, and the CableCARD standard, desperately need attention, however... absolutely nothing has happened, even with this being discussed for 5+ years.

Yea, with prices of TV going the way their going, I'm not sure why this market is not booming. I wonder what entities are keeping this from happening! :sneaky:

 

[bradly1101]

The nice thing about having a networked tuner is that I no longer have to stream to mobile from the old HTPC. I record my shows on my desktop i7 PC which allows smoother control function. So I watch my shows kicking back in the same room as my news-junky partner on my tablet with headphones. You can really turn up the quality by streaming this way (over N for me).