SiliconDust HDHomeRun™ Networked Digital HDTV™/ATSC DUAL Tuner $99.99

[zorro10]

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3406665

 

[poofyhairguy]

I just bought one actually. My really old one died and I have become addicted to EyeTV + iPhone. I loved my old HDHomerun. I found a $10 off coupon that was sent to my email thanks to slickdeals:

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/27111/silicondust-hdhomerun-networked-digital-dual-hdtv-tuner-$90?&page=15

$10 off negates tax.

 

[mikeford]

Got mine for I think $84 shipped via woot a couple weeks ago. I suspect that as the cablecard tuners, which can receive all the cable channels including encrypted content (that you pay a monthly fee to get), are now finally shipping that all of the current clear channel only tuners will be dropping in price and then disappearing.

I like it, but ....

It only works with the digital QAM cable channels that are unencrypted, and cable companies seem to be encrypting more and more. It also doesn't get any of the analog channels or over the the air signals.

On the plus side there are more digital channels than I expected, with many local must carry broadcasters having three or four ala 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, but the programming is often far less than mainstream, like a local weather display "board".

Final plus, even when the cablecard tuners get cheap, most systems will be able to take advantage of two more clear channel tuners to resolve watching and recording conflicts, in the same way I still use a 5 year old analog cable tuner with my new HDhomerun.

 

[notposting]

It works with OTA ATSC just fine--which is about the only OTA left (I think all the analog signals have been finally shut down by now). Plug an antenna into it and get your HD OTA free. Or use it on a cable hookup for the locals being broadcast in the clear over it. [note: both tuners have to be on the same hookup I believe, ie both cable or both ATSC]

It's the not the cost of the cablecard tuners that will keep me away from them, it's the cost of the cable service, so the clear-QAM/ATSC tuners will live on for a long long time.

Also, we have an HDHomerun and it's fantastic. Nice price.
edit: shows as $149.99 for me now

 

[dualsmp]

Shame it doesn't pickup NTSC analog cable channels. Kind of a deal breaker for me. There are 50 + analog cable channels I wouldn't be able to see, only being able to take advantage of QAM in the clear HD which are less than 10 channels. The ATSC (OTA) in my area are pretty much the same as QAM in the clear, so wouldn't really gain any channels with OTA either except maybe local weather.

 

[mikeford]

Now, or very soon is the time to buy either of the old tech tuners, NTSC (analog) or ATSC/QAM, before long it may not be easy to find a good product.

Sorry about my confusion on the ATSC with HDhomerun, its NTSC support they lack.

HDhomerun also does not work with satellite services, which have their own something different system.

A decent, cheap, but limited solution are one of the either pure NTSC analog devices or a hybrid (switchable mode) NTSC/QAM device, such as the ATi HD600 from various sources about $25 shipped, but its old, works with Win7 but may have driver issues for some, and its a single dual mode tuner, and switches channels very slowly.

 

[Hmongkeysauce]

Anybody know how accurate the atennaweb info is? I used that website to check how many OTA channels I can receive and it's only showing 5 total channels. Would like to purchase this product(when it comes back down in price) but for 5 channels, it may not be worth it.

 

[mshan]

I think it was same price in today's Newegg newsletter.



edit: says sold out

 

[quikah]

Anybody know how accurate the atennaweb info is? I used that website to check how many OTA channels I can receive and it's only showing 5 total channels. Would like to purchase this product(when it comes back down in price) but for 5 channels, it may not be worth it.

It is pretty accurate for me, but it is very dependent on your location (what is your zip code?). If those 5 channels are all the majors, that might be enough.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I find this to be incredibly accurate:

http://www.silicondust.com/support/channels/

I bought this to get 4 channels- the local Fox, NBC, CBS, and ABC off my cable provider's cable (I don't pay for cable but those channels are still on the line in QAM). Four channels might not seem worth it, but the second I show fellow Texans the ability to watch the local football games on my iPhone (via EyeTV) they squirm with jealousy.

 

[dualsmp]

antennaweb.org is more accurate for me maybe since I'm in a mountainous location. The silicondust site I can't get half the channels they list. Maybe if I had a fairly large roof antenna I could pickup some more of the channels on the silicondust site, but with a small indoor antenna not even close.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The digital switch killed indoor antennas.

You can get good cheap outdoor ones from metal yards...