HDHomeRun

HDHomeRun is a networked dual HDTV digital TV Tuner box, produced by SiliconDust.

General Details

The HDHomeRun has two inputs, which can both be used for either an OTA (over-the-air) ATSC antenna connection, or for QAM un-encrypted digital cable. It also has an ethernet connection, a power connector, and an IR receiver, but no TV output. It is then completely controlled over your ethernet network (gets address via DHCP). This is used to tune to channels, and the (pre-encoded) MPEG2 [cite news |title=HDHomeRun Overview |url=http://www.mythpvr.com/mythtv/hdtv/hdhomerun/review.html] video stream is broadcast to the receiving computer over ethernet. This allows you to watch un-encrypted QAM or ATSC over your local network.

The HDHomeRun currently only works with free-to-air (ATSC) over-the-air, or un-encrypted QAM cable television.

It lacks any particular markings and branding of any kind.

Technical Specifications

* 8VSB (ATSC over-the-air digital TV)
* QAM 64/256 (unencrypted digital cable TV)
* IR receiver (change channels, etc. with a standard remote control)
* 100Mbit ethernet RJ45 connection

Compatibility

The HDHomeRun can be controlled and viewed from a wide variety of DVR/PVR software. Official software exists for Linux and Microsoft Windows, and SiliconDust provides guidance on making it work with many other systems.
* Microsoft Windows Media Center:
** Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (beta)
** Windows Vista Media Center 32-bit (beta)
** Windows Vista Media Center 64-bit (beta)
*SnapStream Beyond TV (beta) (Microsoft Windows)
*SageTV (Microsoft Windows)
* MediaPortal (beta) (Microsoft Windows)
* GB-PVR (beta) (Microsoft Windows)
* EyeTV (Mac)
* MythTV (Linux)
* Pluto (multi-platform)
* VLC (VideoLAN Client media player) (multi-platform)
* XBMC Media Center (formerly "XBox Media Center") (as of 2007-05-08) [cite news |title=XBMC Native support for HDHomeRun (see post #119) |url=http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=25099]

Future products

There is a new model version in development that will work with standard-definition DVB-T (such as the OTA digital signals in Europe). SiliconDust originally stated that a such model is not due until late 2007 / early 2008, and [http://www.silicondust.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3556 confirmed this] in September 2007.

ee also

* Dreambox
* DBox2

External links

Official sites

* [http://www.silicondust.com Official website (silicondust.com)]
* [http://www.silicondust.com/wiki/products/hdhomerun Official wiki manual (at silicondust.com)]
* [http://www.silicondust.com/forum/ Official community forum (at silicondust.com)]

Reviews

* [http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/10/30/engadget-hd-review-hdhomerun/ Engadget]
* [http://www.pvrwire.com/2006/12/11/hdhomerun-gets-some-review-love/ PVRWire]
* [http://www.linux.com/articles/61518 Linux.com]
* [http://www.mrobsession.com/hdhomerun-mac-eyetv-500/ mr. Obsession]

Resellers

* http://www.9thtee.com/hdhomerun.htm
* http://www.pcalchemy.com/hdhomerun.htm
* http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvr/stores/1/hdhomerun.cfm
* http://www.cyberestore.com/hdhomerun-networked-hdtv-digital-dual-tv-tuner-p-508.html
* http://www.digitalconnection.com/products/video/hdhomerun.asp

References