Elgato HDHomeRun dual-tuner device lets you watch HDTV on computers across your home network
Summary: TV tuner cards have always been a niche offering for people who want to watch shows on their computers, but Elgato is looking to take things up a notch with its new HDHomeRun device. The box connects to a cable source or digital antenna via a coax connection and to your router via Ethernet.
TV tuner cards have always been a niche offering for people who want to watch shows on their computers, but Elgato is looking to take things up a notch with its new HDHomeRun device. The box connects to a cable source or digital antenna via a coax connection and to your router via Ethernet. The result? HDTV streaming to any computer on your home network, including iPhones and iPads via Elgato's $4.99 EyeTV app.
The HDHomeRun is a dual-tuner device, which means you view one show on one computer, and a second show on a different computer. You can also record shows in 1080i HD resolution and even schedule programs to be recorded over a full season. If you need more tuners, additional HDHomeRun boxes can be added to your network.
Elgato ships the device with its EyeTV 3 software for the Mac to allow for those recordings, along with being able to pause and rewind live shows and export recordings to your iPhone or iPad. The HDHomeRun also works with Windows Media Center and alternatives like MythTV and SageTV. Unfortunately, the EyeTV app only works if you're running EyeTV on a Mac, so no live TV streaming to your iPad or iPhone if you only have PCs on your network.
The HDHomeRun with EyeTV 3 software is available now for $179.95 through Amazon, the Apple Store, B&H Photo, and Elgato's own online store. You can also find a version without the Mac software online for $129.99. A CableCard version offering three digital tuners, dubbed HDHomeRun Prime, is available for pre-order at NewEgg.com for $249.99.
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Talkback
RE: Elgato HDHomeRun dual-tuner device lets you watch HDTV on computers across your home network
It's Cable Labs
Cablecard licensing from Cable Labs is extremely hard to get. They want to be sure the stream you get is sufficiently locked up that it can't easily be pirated or sent to another user not in your cable paying household.
I have a HDHR regular and I love it with MythTV. I imagine though that they'll have to lock down HDHR Prime to where it won't be an attractive product.
RE: Elgato HDHomeRun dual-tuner device lets you watch HDTV on computers across your home network
It's MUCH smaller than the original, and has the same performance. Amazing what they have been able to do.
The setup and configuration for SageTV is a bit cumbersome but simple if you follow the steps.
This seems to be a great company... I've been using their products for several years and they have been very good to respond to inquiries.