hdhomerun_eu2

HDHomeRun Brings DVB-T Network Tuner Loveliness to the UK

By on March 1, 2009 in Networking, TV, Video, Windows Home Server, Windows Media Center

I don’t know how many of my US friends and fellow bloggers have extolled the virtues of HDHomeRun, but it’s a lot. HDHomeRun is a Networked Digital TV Tuner which can pick up a TV feed from a standard digital antenna and then stream it across the network for playback (or recording) on any home computer…. or home server too, I guess.

The box has been available for US ATSC viewers for some time now, but the manufacturers have at last created a DVB-T (Freeview in the UK) based solution for Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

HDHomeRun has twin tuners, allowing you to watch different channels simultaneously in 1080i resolution – you can also pool multiple devices to create a tuner farm should you wish.

It’s compatible with Windows Media Center (from MCE2005 up to Win 7), MediaPortal, GB-PVR and VLC with support for EyeTV, SageTV, MythTV and TSReader on the way.

hdhomerun eu2 thumb1 HDHomeRun Brings DVB T Network Tuner Loveliness to the UK

The great thing about this device is that if you’re using a low powered or small footprint home server, you don’t have to worry about the hardware demands incurred by installing TV tuner cards – you can place one of these boxes on the network, near an antenna outlet, plug in a Powerline network adaptor and you’re good to go.

The first batch to hit the UK arrived this week, and one is on the way to WGS for review.

More Info: HDHomeRun | UK Distributor


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About Terry Walsh

Terry Walsh is the founding editor and owner of We Got Served. Since February 2007, the site has provided detailed coverage and analysis of the emerging home server category, and has subsequently grown into a trusted outlet for digital home news and reviews.
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  • CNS

    Will we get BBC HD with it?

  • Simon Smith

    At £160 delivered, I would say that looks really interesting. Will have to now wait for the WGS review.

  • MJ

    I know the GBP/USD exchange rates sucks at the moment but when the US ATSC version retails for $159 and the UK DVB-T version costs £159 I feel like I’m getting shafted :(
    Glad to see SiliconDust have finally managed to get the DVB-T version released though as I’ve been looking forward to getting one of these for quite a while now!

  • http://www.cybergamers.nl GaMeR (WGS)

    does this one support encrypted DBV-T? Here in holland we have Digitenne, and I can’t figure out if this will work with it.

  • Nick

    Looks really good, but why can’t a solution be made for something like WHS where you can install a TV card a stream over to other connected computers? Would be alot cheaper

  • http://geocline.net/ smadge1

    so you only have to pay 2 TV taxes on it?

    lolBBC

  • http://geocline.net/ smadge1

    FINALLY

    A device that’s available in Australia with a local distributor, I’m oh so very tempted to buy one.

  • http://www.nakedcleaner.com Ashleigh

    @CNS – Nope… BBC HD only on DVB-S, Sorry. In fact ATM no HD broadcasts in the UK over DVB-T.

  • http://www.nakedcleaner.com Ashleigh

    I know it’s a great idea and all, but 2 Tuners? Seen the size of it? Surely anything released now should have 4 minimum in it, I’ve had night’s where I’m recording 7 things, and watching an eighth.

    Oh well… It’s about time, but FAR too expensive IMHO.

  • http://www.nakedcleaner.com Ashleigh

    @GaMeR (WGS) – Doesn’t list a Smart Card slot on the spec anywhere, so think the encrypted stuff is out. Seems a bit of an oversight though?

    Saying that is does support DVB-C, so that would be really odd not to have a Smart Card slot.

  • ViRGE

    @Ashleigh – Its network design and encryption are mutually incompatible. They’d never be allowed to sell something that takes an encrypted signal, decrypts it, and then sends it over the network in the clear and can be easily copied.

  • http://www.nakedcleaner.com Ashleigh

    @ViRGE – True

  • Helikaon

    Originally Posted By NickLooks really good, but why can’t a solution be made for something like WHS where you can install a TV card a stream over to other connected computers? Would be alot cheaper

    I have two dual DVB tuners in my WHS and stream to HTPC and Laptops. Using MediaPortal TV Server. Did take a bit of fiddling to get it to play nice with WHS, but works fine. Recording/timeshift all done on WHS.

  • aliking

    does anyone know for certain if you need to provide a sep aerial feed to each tuner?

    can remember looking at the specs and pics a while ago – got the feeling you need to split you input signal, could see a loop through type connectors.

  • Terry Walsh

    You can use a splitter to take the feed from one aerial and feed two tuners.

    Terry

  • Nick

    Originally Posted By Helikaon

    Originally Posted By NickLooks really good, but why can’t a solution be made for something like WHS where you can install a TV card a stream over to other connected computers? Would be alot cheaper

    I have two dual DVB tuners in my WHS and stream to HTPC and Laptops. Using MediaPortal TV Server. Did take a bit of fiddling to get it to play nice with WHS, but works fine. Recording/timeshift all done on WHS.

    I have looked at this, but I use VMC on my media pc, as far as I have seen there are no solutions for streaming tv to VMC yet?

  • Lewis Stewart

    Originally Posted By CNSWill we get BBC HD with it?

    No, BBC HD won’t be available on Freeview until the Digital Switch Over is in full swing. Even then you’ll require a new DVB-T2 tuner to replace DVB-T tuners to be able to receive HD broadcasts.

  • http://pcTVok.com Ray Broadbridge

    @Terry Walsh – Just to clear up a couple of points – yes, you do need a seperate feed to each aerial input. We recommend an inexpensive aerial amplifier (‘booster’) rather than a splitter for best signal quality unless you can see the transmitter from your window! Regarding DVB-T2 (the recently-confirmed standard for Digital Terrestrial TV in the UK): none of the semiconductor manufacturers has yet produced the bits for receiving this, so HD Freeview is some way off despite plans to start transmitting it in at least the Granada TV region at the end of this year. Regarding the cost, we’re sympathetic to the comments but at the mercy of (a)import duty of 14% (b)VAT of 15% (c) an exchange rate of 1.3, which together determine the £ 159 price (which does at least include VAT and delivery).

  • Debbie

    I have one of these for sale, only £90 message me if you want it. sixdoublesix@gmail.com