SiliconDust HDHomeRun

Nice hardware – shame about the software

TotalMedia works well, and has some handy features such as a little preview display of the TV image included within the electronic programme guide. The only problem is that TotalMedia only runs on Windows.

VLC is suggested for Mac and Linux but lacks DVR functions

There was a passing mention of the open-source VLC media player for the Mac in the instructions. Using VLC on the MacBook did enable live TV viewing, but nothing more than these basic playback features. Another visit to the SiliconDust website revealed a mention of Elgato's EyeTV DVR software supplied with the German company's range of Mac TV tuners.

We’ve reviewed a couple of Elgato tuners recently, so we had this software to hand - it normally costs £60 - and were able to install it onto our MacBook. But while EyeTV was able to detect the presence of the HDHomeRun on our network, it immediately presented us with a message saying that: “HDHomeRun is not supported in the UK.” Lucky we didn’t fork our £60 to find that out and, presumably, nobody at Nectar has done so either.

The Help files on the SiliconDust website do mention another open-source DVR app for the Mac and Linux called MythTV, but if you’ve paid over £150 for a TV tuner, you really shouldn’t have to waste your time trying to find some open-source software that may or may not work with it.

Freesat and Virgin cable support mooted, but no date yet

Verdict

So the hardware's ugly and the software's a bit of a dog's breakfast, especially on the Mac and Linux side. But once you've got the HDHomeRun up and running, it doesn't do a bad job. It's no way as polished as the Slingbox Pro, but it scores over its better-known rival on two points: it's cheaper and has two tuners on board, to be used either to feed DVR software on your computer or to pump programmes to two computers. ®

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