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Silicon Dust HDHomeRunPrime $130 shipped

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Got this last week. Nice device, but I had to try three different Comcast cable cards before one of them worked. An install tech told me it almost always takes one out of three to work. After this, it took three separate phone calls over a couple of days to get my premium channels like HBO working. In my opinion, Comcast is maybe purposely sabotaging the install process, in the hopes that people give up and stick with their $17 per month DVR. When you go pick up a cable card, get two in hopes one will work. If neither of these work, go back and swap two more.

What I really like is how all my Windows computers on my network have access to these three tuners. I also like that because I have some large hard drives, I can record over 100 hours of HD, and potentially way more, while my DVR was limited to maybe 20 hours of HD. The picture quality is good. The tuner changes channels very fast. I like how if one tuner is recording, it automatically gives you access to one of the other three tuners. My Comcast DVR only had two tuners.

$130 cost of Prime HD divided by $17 DVR monthly rental cost means it would take eight months for this to pay for itself.
 
I got one of these a few weeks ago for the same price during a Newegg weekend sale. Got it all set-up about a week ago and its been working great since, fantastic device.

As mentioned above however, the set-up process is anything but simple and there can be a LOT of hurdles to jump along the way. My problems weren't at all with my ISP actually, Verizon was great on their end with getting the CableCARD and then activating it took about 5 minutes on an automated line, no hassle or pushback at all. The problems were more on the network/router and DRM hoops within WMC. Just be ready to google for any error messages or look over the SiliconDust forums for tips. There's also a few very helpful/knowledgeable individuals that help out there along with the SD tech support.

As mentioned, if you have 3 TVs attached to PCs where you can replace the STB, you'll make your money back within a few months. You do lose On Demand programming for better or worst, but channel switching and the guide are much faster than Verizon's STB. As long as you have all the DRM checks in-place, you can also get premium subscription programming like HBO, MAX, Starz etc.

Well worth the price of admission and a few hours of troubleshooting imo!
 
On one of my PCs, I had to reinstall the DRM stuff. I tried all three of the methods of fixing DRM, with the final one directly from MS working. I think the reason I had the problem was my copy of Windows 7 was imaged when I switched SSD drives.

Here is the link if you have trouble installing or updating play ready.
http://www.silicondust.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10360
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976590


At first it is kind of tough switching to Media Center after using Comcast all these years. But I am now learning how it works and like it more and more. I will still wait a few weeks to return my DVR, but I am thinking that this device will be my primary device.
 
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Been using it since last November or December. It is my main way of watching TV.

Remote potato is something to check out too.
I also use MyMovies to mount my DVD ISOs on my server, Did that when my daughter was young and would destroy any disc she could get her hands on.
 
I've got a problem I've been wrestling with for awhile now. My house has five TVs--three standard def, two HDTVs. Is there any relatively affordable way to get all five set up with these, or should I just concentrate on the HDTVs?
 
Eyeless Blond said:
I've got a problem I've been wrestling with for awhile now. My house has five TVs--three standard def, two HDTVs. Is there any relatively affordable way to get all five set up with these, or should I just concentrate on the HDTVs?
Click to expand...
It depends by what you mean by relatively affordable, but you could set up an HTPC with 2 HD HR Primes and 4 LinkSys DMA-2100 extenders for @ $1000 - $1200. That also assumes that you have hard-wired ethernet available for connection to each TV. If not, that changes the cost equation considerably.
 
Eyeless Blond said:
I've got a problem I've been wrestling with for awhile now. My house has five TVs--three standard def, two HDTVs. Is there any relatively affordable way to get all five set up with these, or should I just concentrate on the HDTVs?
Click to expand...


There's not really a cheap way to do it. I'd suggest the ceton internal card (as it's 4 tuners), but only if you have a PC to do it with. Then you can use extenders for the other 5 TVs. Realize though, it's only 4 channels at once. The one linked here is 3 at once.

There is also one of the same type linked here with 6 tuners (should still require only 1 mcard). That may fit your needs better. The only reason I've suggested the Ceton is that it's rock solid.
 
Eyeless Blond said:
I've got a problem I've been wrestling with for awhile now. My house has five TVs--three standard def, two HDTVs. Is there any relatively affordable way to get all five set up with these, or should I just concentrate on the HDTVs?
Click to expand...

For an in depth answer http://www.avsforum.com/f/26/home-theater-computers is a good place to ask that sort of question. What provider you use, and what your expectations are, will shape the answer too.
 
Anyone get this thing working with Time Warner Cable in New York? I've heard that they make it difficult if not impossible to use one of these things on their network?
 
cytoSiN said:
Anyone get this thing working with Time Warner Cable in New York? I've heard that they make it difficult if not impossible to use one of these things on their network?
Click to expand...

I absolutely love my HD Homerun Prime, but I had a heck of a time getting it working with Insight Communications. In some cases (like mine) the provider is just ignorant of what to do to make things works. In other cases, they just don't want to cooperate because they want you to rent their crappy boxes with the 1992 interface.

If you encounter static, I would file a complaint with the FCC as well as with the local AG and BBB. The ISP's don't like getting FCC complaints and usually make sure they get resolved, they don't want to incur the wrath of the FCC since it's a pain in the ass for them to deal with.

In the end, everything is set up and works properly, I love the prime.
 
Eyeless Blond said:
I've got a problem I've been wrestling with for awhile now. My house has five TVs--three standard def, two HDTVs. Is there any relatively affordable way to get all five set up with these, or should I just concentrate on the HDTVs?
Click to expand...
Hook all five to your router and all five should be able to work. This device only has three tuners, so you can't have five computers trying to tune a channel, just three. And if anything is being recorded, that is one less tuner. Another scenario is using your main HDTV computers to record lots of stuff, and using Windows 7 on all computers, sharing this video over your network is a piece of cake. Even with all tuners occupied, you can share already recorded stuff. However most of the premium channels like HBO will only let you play back video that was recorded on the same computer.
 
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