Review of the SiliconDust HDHomeRun Dual Digital Tuner

Reviewed Winter, 2007
Updated December, 2009

• Runs with included software (VLC), Micrsoft Media Center(XP 2005, Vista and Windows 7), and many other 3rd party applications
• Tunes HDTV/Digital Over the Air and clearQAM (digital cable)
• Excellent vendor support
• Works with clearQAM and Microsoft Media Center (XP 2005, Vista & Windows 7)
• Very active forum discussion groups
• Supported under Linux and MAC as well as Microsoft OS
• Can be shared by two or more network connected PC's

• Requires DHCP (network address) from local network
• No analog tuner (an analog tuner is required to configure the HDHomeRun in Media Center 2005)
• MPEG2 Decoders not included w/software (issue with XP MCE 2005 only)

Get the Dual Tuner HDHomeRun

for

$127.43 with free shipping!

Get the NEW HDHomeRun Single HD Tuner

for

$79.99 with free shipping!

and you'll also help support this site.

THANK YOU!!

SiliconDust has set a new standard for HDTV Tuners with the release of the HDHomeRun (HDHR). All tuners until now were attached to only one PC either through a PCI, PCI-E or USB connection. By making the HDHR network connected, any PC on your LAN can potentially use the tuners.

As an (extreme) example, I have watched an HD over the air program on my laptop using the included VLC viewer program (connect to one of the HDHR tuners via wireless "G" thru a router) while using the other tuner to record a different HD program on cable (QAM) on my Ethernet connected Desktop PC (running MCE 2005). This flexibility combined with the fact that the HDHR is currently the only dual QAM/OTA tuner on the U.S. market makes this my favorite tuner for the home.

NOTE: This is not your Granddaddy's tuner. Setup, especially for clearQAM (digital cable), may require moderate software and networking skills. However if you have a location where the HDHomeRun and your PC can connect via Ethernet to your router, you should be fine.

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For additional tips and info on the HDHR
check out page 2.

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• MediaPortal - DVR for Windows (currently in beta)
• SageTV - DVR software for Windows, Linux and Mac
• MythTV - DVR for Linux and Mac.
• Pluto - Home automation and media system
• Windows Media Center 2005, Vista and Windows 7

• 8-VSB (ATSC over-the-air digital HDTV)
• QAM64/256 (unencrypted digital cable TV)
• Dual HDTV Tuners
• IR Receiver (38kHz)
• 100baseTX high speed network

Package Includes:

• Networked Digital HDTV Tuner
• Power supply
• 7' RJ45 Patch Cable

Software & Firmware Downloads: http://www.silicondust.com/wiki/downloads