Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apps LIVE TV Solution

Che Castro said:
i have comcast cable and in my area you can't see channels without the cable box anymore

can i use the hdhomerun connect or do i need the hdhomerun prime ?
i want to get rid of one cable box and fees
Click to expand...

Connect is only for OTA channels from an antenna. Prime uses a single cable card. Comcast offers these cards, but prices range from -2.00 /month (swap out for your included for fee box, if applicable) up to ?. In SW Fl cards run 0.00 and +1.50 for 2nd card in same device (usually used for Tivo devices). It can be a hassle to work with Comcast to activate, but it can be done.

Currently, Newegg and Amazon have the Prime @99.99, down from $129, two weeks ago. The prime is a three tuner device. I've used Silicondust products for over 5 years. Excellent hardware supplier/support. One of my primes failed 2 weeks before warranty expiry. They diagnosed the problem via email, notified me I was within warranty and sent a replacement. No hassle. My other tuner is still going strong after 5 years.

I use n-player app ($ for ios) to view channels and transcode recordings to my ipad/iphone. Currently, evaluating Channels ($ for atv4), costly but elegant and fluid live view. Local cast (free for atv4) works also for live view, but it is a bit flaky. None of these will play DRM. Silicondust has android/fire apps for $1-2 (HDHomerun View), can play DRM. Mac/PC View app (free), no DRM. You can also use Plex with HDHomerun Viewer (not Silicondust View) add-on, no DRM.

Also, you can view and record with Windows Media Center (Win 7 includes WMC, but it's a PITA to set up), however, MS is no longer supporting WMC (which is DRM compatible), except a channel guide. The WTV files created for recordings are proprietary, but most good transcoding programs will work on all but the DRM recordings (have to use original recording PC or extender, ie Xbox, or strip DRM to view those files).

As of 12/11/15, NAStify (ATV4) added support for HDHomeRun devices for live viewing (Only In Beta Testing for now). Currently a few bugs, but Sylver (Dev) is VERY responsive to requests. He has a HD device for testing and an active forum for requests. Again, non DRM channels. His app's focus is playing recorded video files from a NAS, TC, etc. without having to utilize a PC/MAC as a server. For $1.99, it is the best deal on ATV4.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: d21mike
We have two TVs in the house: bedroom and living room. Each is connected to a Leaf antenna. The antenna in the bedroom gets better reception for ABC.

Question: if I were to buy a HDHomeRun Connect and hook it up to the antenna in the bedroom, would it stream to an ATV4 in both rooms via the Channels app? Thereby eliminating the living room antenna?
 
Yes, I hooked mine up texted to the router (had an antenna connection there too) and I'm streaming to both my bedroom and great room TVs.
 
I have 6 ATV's running Channels via 1 Prime Cable Card device with three turners. As long as I do not exceed three at a time I am good. Really works great.
I actually have a Dual two tuner connected that works but not using it much. May get a second Prime once I have DVR working.
 
Does 5.1 passthrough work with HDHomeRun/Channels? I got it setup this weekend (OTA) but no surround sound. Otherwise I'm impressed. I tried Dolby Surround and Auto, neither work. Auto works fine for Plex passthrough...
 
If you use HD Homerun Prime w/ Channels does it display all channels you subscribe to? Or are there limitations depending on the type of encryption? Also, is anyone working on a dvr solution with the appletv/hd homerun prime?
 
PhyrePhox said:
Yes, working well for me too. PVR function would be nice, but I like to be able to check the local news without grabbing another remote, so this is more than satisfactory.
Click to expand...

Im watching OTA programming, with full PVR capabilities using a TV tuner box from iView, for a one time payment of $30 and no subscriptions.

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RDQGBIE

It's not for the casual couch-surfer, as the interface is fairly complicated and not very intuitive ... but it definitely gets the job done, as far as recording OTA programs, and time-shifting Live TV. The main drawback is that you have to know you want to time shift, and manually enter into it. For the time being, there's no going back to subscription based blanket services. I've got Netflix and Amazon Prime, and thinking about getting HBO now, but otherwise this setup is working well.
 
Robdmb said:
If you use HD Homerun Prime w/ Channels does it display all channels you subscribe to? Or are there limitations depending on the type of encryption? Also, is anyone working on a dvr solution with the appletv/hd homerun prime?
Click to expand...
Yes. But you can only watch channels NOT flagged as DRM. And that depends on your Cable Provider. Most will flag all Premium Channels like HBO as DRM. So for those you would either need to use HBO Go App or get HBO Now as independent Apps. Regarding Non-Premium Channels. For me on Verizon FIOS the only other ones appear to be FOX Cable (news and sports). I wish I could get Fox Business and News. For those I have to use the iPad Fox News App which I can Airplay if I want. But my understanding is on TWC most of the shows are flagged DRM. Just the local channels are clear. Not sure about Comcast and others. You would need to research that to be sure. For me I am able to drop all of my STB's and just give up Fox.

Regarding the DVR. Yes, it is in beta. I am playing with it. No where near ready for prime time. Channels says they plan to support the DVR Service ($30 per year from SiliconDust) in a future release. At that point this could be a very nice service. Of course same problem with DRM.

They say they are trying to solve the DRM issue and to some extent it is on Android Devices but not on Apple TV. Not sure when that will happen. Best to only use this if you have very little DRM Channels like me.
 
Last edited:
Robdmb said:
If you use HD Homerun Prime w/ Channels does it display all channels you subscribe to? Or are there limitations depending on the type of encryption? Also, is anyone working on a dvr solution with the appletv/hd homerun prime?
Click to expand...
All encrypted channels, except those protected with DRM.

SiliconDust (hardware supplier of Prime) is working on a DVR with DRM capability, multi platform. Currently, behind schedule (3 months), lots of dissension with Beta testers due EPG issues and lack of communication. No word on Apple TV 4 inclusion, but in the past they have not supported IOS.

Currently, you can view DRM channels live on various Android devices. DVR functionality for DRM is very limited. Windows 7 included DRM capabilty (both live and recorded) with player restrictions.

See more on my post at top of page 4 on this thread.
 
We have TVPlayer in the UK which has a bunch of free to air channels. Quality is mostly terrible though.
 
DebbieFL33 said:
No word on Apple TV 4 inclusion, but in the past they have not supported IOS.
Click to expand...
I have heard from both SiliconDust and Channels App developer that Channels is planning to add support for the DVR. No estimated time yet. But the Channels App developers seem to be putting in the same effort as the NAStify developers so I am hopeful. They also said they plan to work with SiliconDust on DRM support but said that can be a real problem so I am less hopeful. That is the other reason I am trying to understand how DRM is used by various cable providers. Most of my family and friends here are on TWC which uses DRM heavily.

In the meantime I am using NAStify, MrMC and Infuse Pro to watch my DVR recordings. NAStify is the only one to allow deletion of shows once watched. Infuse is very slow at this time. MrMC ha poor UI and really poor support for SIRI Remote.
 
Last edited:
d21mike said:
That is the other reason I am trying to understand how DRM is used by various cable providers.
Click to expand...

I've seen reports of variations even within a cable company, based on market/region?. Users need to be aware of the practices of their specific cable provider.

Agree with Mike's assessment of the 3 (network to ATV4) players.
 
Last edited:
Currently, testing Channels on the ATV4. Very easy navigation, good description of current program contents, glimpse of what is coming up next. Best HdHomeRun "channel surfing navigation" experience on ATV4 with easy to setup favorites (or surf all channels). Active developers.

For a barebones, utilitarian view of the same channels via auto discovery UPnP, one can use "NAStify" on ATV4, or "NPlayer" on IOS. No program contents list, must exit to channel list to change channel, but excellent streaming of "Live TV" channels.

None support DRM channels at this time, although Channels is investigating for future inclusion, as per d21Mike's post above.
 
For those who use Channels with airplay speakers:

Channels (Beta) has the airplay audio latency fixed perfectly now. This fix should be in the next public release.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PhyrePhox
Can't remember if I read somewhere that channels was going to introduce a recording capability? Does anyone know?
 
Does anybody use Channels with a hdhomerun connect over wifi? Just wondering how it works. I have a 802.11n AirPort Extreme router. Thanks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back