I ’d prefer to think I ’m onward of my metre alternatively of a contrarian . My married woman and I turn off the electric cord many years ago , and have survived ever since on discs , downloads , well out media , and over - the - air ( OTA ) programming . OTA has been a astonishingly rich informant of enjoyable show , peculiarly from our local PBS stations and alternative stock - definition channels from meshing - affiliated broadcasters .
One affair we ’ve look , however , is a shortfall of option to record programs . Because digital TV recorders ( DVRs ) shifted a few year ago to being mostly a commodity item offered by a computer programing supplier like Xfinity or Dish , the market for standalone units shrunk . There are a few : Tablo , Tivo , and a yoke of more niche brands .
However , these standalone units criminal record data to national private road , and trust on apps , streaming , and other control to give you access code . Since I have a Mac that ’s on all the sentence and has TB of available storage , I ’d prefer keeping restraint in my hands , store recordings locally on my Mac , and choose how I time and space shift . It also gives me the choice to dress out commercials before watching a movie .
During 2016 , macOS selection increased from one — eyeTV 3 , now from Geniatech — to four . Three new system are in various stages of genus Beta testing , and some should be in production release soon . DVR options are now usable in public genus Beta as part of Plex Media Server , as a server component that works the Channels set of radio set apps , and from SiliconDust , makers of the HDHomeRun networked goggle box wireless . ( The open - generator MythTV is a 5th option , but it ’s not for the faint of ticker , and after go over installation book of instructions , I opted against testing it . )
[ Further reading : How to edit out the electric cord without resorting to a costly cyclosis - TV bundle ]
The centripetal factor in all these system in the U.S. is buy a networked radio from SiliconDust , which has three current models . All the DVR package I examined supports these models ; SiliconDust ’s DVR oblation include support for a quaternary , discontinued model .
The HDHomeRun Connect ( $ 93 onAmazon ) and HDHomeRun Extend ( $ 179.99 MSRP ; available onAmazon ) versions both have two tuners , but the Connect pelt high - bandwidth uncompressed video ( ordinarily in MPEG2 format ) , which can run 20Mbps for HD content . The Extend has establish - in on - the - fly H.264 compression , which bring forth a dramatically smaller file . ( Ireviewed the Connect two years ago . It ’s essentially unaltered . )
There ’s a third model too , called HDHomeRun Prime ( $ 120 onAmazon ) , which impart an extra piano tuner connect to a one-armed bandit for a CableCard , an unpredictably supported U.S. standard that lets you use BYOB tuner / DVR with transmission line service , include encrypt signaling , but not those that also have DRM on top .
All three versions plug into a connection via 100Mbps ethernet and have a coaxial association for an home or external ATSC feeler , although each can also be used with subscription cable TV , from which it can handle Clear QAM ( unencrypted cable ) signals . When a networked app or twist connects to one of the tuners , the hardware mark it as in use . you may bond multiple HDHomeRun boxes to a internet if you need more than two simultaneous video wireless .
I extremely commend the Extend version , even though it costs about $ 80 more than Connect , because transcoding MPEG2 into any more efficient formatting taxes most Macs ’ processors . ( eyeTV is the only app that even offers transcoding via exportation ; the residual transcode on the fly sheet . ) severe - magnetic disk storage is cheap , but H.264 is light to move around a meshing or store on an iOS machine for offline observation .
My longest experience on the software side is with eyeTV . I used it first with an Elgato tuner that ’s no longer made , and then with an HDHomeRun Connect . ( In other res publica , you should have other USB or networked tuner options , and some of these software program packages will work outside the U.S. with those equipment . )
You might be surprised as to the number of channels you may foot up in your orbit and what ’s deliver . AntennaWebwill show which channels should have available signals at your address , and the expected tone of reception . My wife and I had to put an antenna on our cap because we last in a radio shadow at the bottom of a hill on which many television receiver tower seat on the top out of telephone line of sie . The roof - mount up transmitting aerial lets us pick up dozens of channels , with HD reception coming through just o.k. .
What each of the DVRs offers is a program scout ; the ability to record at will or via schedules , including repeat programs ; and approach to your register political platform from within a connection . Some offer net - based distant access , lively idiot box showing , and native apps for Io and Apple TV as well as other platforms .
eyeTV is in commercial acquittance . The other three I cover are in examination , so we are n’t quick to reexamine them until they ’re in spillage shape as a server or serving . alternatively , I ’ll provide a feature article overview .
eyeTV
The € 79.95 ( $ 85)eyeTV 3 macOS appis show its historic period . Despite coherent update and microbe fix , the fundamental computer software looks unchanged from years ago , and remain just as frustrating to utilise now as then .
eyeTV orients itself around a programming grid , which in the U.S. requires a yearly € 17.95 ( $ 19 ) subscription to TV Guide . The subscription includes role player on shows and a abbreviated verbal description , but no show art and no links from name to incur other shows they ’re in . There ’s no graphic way to range or radical by series , genre , or the corresponding .
eyeTV has n’t changed much in years , offering a spare - bones DVR coming .
The app offer a variety of ways to record via the guide . you’re able to commemorate an private TV syllabus , but if it ’s part of an ongoing show , serial publication , or the like , the app allow for a button to let you register all occurrence as a Smart Guide .
Smart Guides can have a figure of criteria , so you’re able to grabSaturday Night Live , no matter what internet on which it appear , or only when it ’s on your local NBC affiliate . you may also set up Smart Guides for doer , choose only HDTV broadcasts , or only shows with subtitles .
eyeTV is a scheduler , fipple flute , and player all in one , and you’re able to tune live boob tube through it as well . The app can be reached on a local mesh as a waiter through Safari using Bonjour to view a stripped - down playback interface .
There ’s no Apple TV app , sothe iOS app($5 ) is the best way to push programs to your Apple TV through AirPlay . The experience is inconsistent and woeful , unfortunately . The iOS app can plug in for remote access to eyeTV in macOS if you set up a free account and have the right connection conformation . ( I have a “ double NAT ” due to my ISP ’s peculiarity . While some distant - control apps can cross that , eyeTV can not . )
Unlike the other DVRs in examination , you could transcode recordings from eyeTV to iTunes , and set that up as an automatic option after the app catch a program . The alternative include presets for a variety of iOS machine , Apple television set mannikin , and HD formats , and you’re able to custom-make the configurations further . However , transcoding is extremely slow and can drag down the entire Mac as the app does n’t throttle itself when burning processor cycle .
Exporting to iTunes let you use an Apple telecasting to browse for computers and then bring up the reborn shows . However , there ’s no way to cancel the recordings from within eyeTV automatically . you could opt to prune what ’s been stored or otherwise manage storage . As a outcome , my workflow results in duplicates of everything exported , with the master chewing up hundreds of G until I now and then go through and delete them . Likewise , I have to cancel files from iTunes if I no longer want to keep the political program .
eyeTV has been a marginally acceptable way for years , and it ’s facing bad competition from up and comers , as I discuss next .
Plex Media Server with Media Pass option for DVR
Plexis a multi - platform medium - organizing and sharing service that sweeps in audio , range , and video , and makes it available to desktop , peregrine , and other devices , like Roku , Sony Playstation 4 , and Apple TV .
The free version is pretty knock-down , but the company summate a subscription - based alternative calledPlex Passthat let in a host of extra feature , including access to a server - ground DVR . The DVR is currently in beta , but it ’s list as just another current characteristic on the Plex Pass Thomas Nelson Page . Plex Pass be $ 5 a calendar month , $ 40 a year , or $ 120 for a life pass .
Plex has the ample programming item .
You view the programme guide and dress up recording via the Plex Media Server in a Web browser app . At present , those choice are n’t available through an iOS or Apple TV app . You also ca n’t watch live TV : the DVR is entirely about setting up future recordings and see what ’s scheduled . A rolling upcoming two weeks of fertile programming information comes with the subscription .
Plex earmark rich lookup across coming programing and a medium depository library .
Instead of a computer programming grid , Plex approaches available political platform as it does other media , express the kinds of thing you might want to see or else of focusing on where they ’re located . A master Discover view mixes everything together , broken up by protrude before long , On Right Now , New Episodes Tonight , My Upcoming display ( intend television series episodes ) , recommend for You , and then upcoming categories for movies , sports , and news program . Plex populates My coming show based on recordings you ’ve already made , while recommendation are drawn from the blanket Plex ecosystem of media you ’ve dilute .
The Discover computer menu also lets you pick out Movies , News , Shows ( TV series ) , and Sports , and then offers a usance approach to each issue . Under show , for case , the default option view is by serial name , notice how many upcoming episodes are in the programming listing in the next two week . Click the show and it provides episode summary and vomit up information . Click Record and Plex records all instances , with choice you may select . Or you could pick individual installment .
The hunting feature are very rewarding , as you could pull flick by title , thespian , director , words in a program verbal description , and other particular .
Once you ’ve picked anything to record , the Recording Schedule opinion shows a very very nice visualization of forthcoming programs along a calendar view , which you swap to an “ agenda ” view that number them in order . A Recording Priority sidebar let you settle conflicts between overlap with your usable tuners for simultaneous program .
Among many nice touches , you could opt while rig up or retool a recording within advanced background to Replace Lower Resolution Items . If you captured an SD version of a TV program , Plex will replace any transcription in your library with an HD version if you schedule it . This can be utile for movies , especially .
While the DVR feature is still in testing at this writing , it feels close to finished and tests out well . Plex including a DVR feature and programing guide as part of its larger package of lineament makes it a solid bargain . Plex Pass includes offline fluid access , cloud sync ( to Dropbox , Google Drive , and personal OneDrive accounts ) , and maternal controls , among other features .
Channels DVR with Channels apps
Channels began as an Apple TV app that let you associate to an HDHomeRun tuner and watch over live television . That was a prissy missing piece that allow me continue to use my Apple goggle box even when I wanted to watch a live syllabus , rather than switch to my television set ’s UPnP interface or another approach . The troupe that induce it , Fancy Bits , added an iOS version . After initial releases , these apps added short buffer , so you could pause .
Channels expect most users to take to the woods its DVR on a host and apply its Apple TV or iOS apps to schedule and see recordings .
Now they ’re in testing with Channels DVR , server computer software that can run on a Mac or a surprisingly large number of other platforms . The macOS version bring through a World Wide Web web internet browser and offers access to all the features , but that ’s just for convenience . The most innate place to use it is via the tvOS app . ( Support within the iOS app is coming . )
Using a standard programming grid , you’re able to select programme and then choose to record . For appearance , a “ base on balls ” alternative allows immortalize all episodes or new episodes , and keeping all of them or selectively pruning . While there ’s a hunting feature , at this stage of the beta , it only matches against deed . The descriptions are short compare to Plex , and only include one or two public figure in the cast of or of guests on a show .
The only problem is an $ 8 - a - calendar month subscription ( $ 96 yearly ) that may be pricing itself too steeply compared to Plex , though they have a very different approach . Channels deal for that cost is all its apps , computer programing guide entropy , and an ecosystem that give up outside access to store programs and plan recording remotely .
It ’s the best replacement for eyeTV , however , offering superior version of similar feature . If you require to intermix watching springy telly and transcription often base on scanning or search a program scout , it looks like Channels DVR and the Channels apps will serve you better than Plex . ( you’re able to also purchase the Channels apps without a subscription for just watching live TV . )
SiliconDust HDHomeRun DVR
It should n’t be surprising that the makers of the hardware are also crop on a DVR pick . The company is offer free and pay access to its genus Beta program , but the free savour only shows a few hours of listings and does n’t allow recording . The pay variation is $ 60 a year , and includes a TV Guide subscription with two weeks of program list . The TV Guide subscription countdown does n’t set off until it releases its full production version , the fellowship notes on its website , after which renewals are $ 35 a yr .
SiliconDust has its own DVR in progress , but it crunches a lot into a exclusive port and lacks iOS and Apple TV pick .
SiliconDust desire to carry everything into the same interface . Live telecasting evidence in the chief view , and clicking or pressing leak brings up controls for the current programme and a list of channels at in good order with the current program name and a barroom that shows the portion of a show presently complete . Click a menu button , and you ’re dropped into tabs for see recorded programs , view a guide , or looking at upcoming docket .
The templet is Plex - same , split up into a chronological view , TV show , movies , and sport , and using a programme or box - artwork image for each point . lookup appears to cut across all consociate program detail , which are slight like channel .
The interace is not very Mac like nor entirely intuitive , but it ’s still in development . There ’s no distant access for extend to programs via the DVR , and you ca n’t choose where to store recordings . ( They ’re oddly drop into the top level of the Users folder in an HDHomeRun pamphlet . ) There ’s also no SiliconDust iOS or Apple TV app either for live television or interact with the DVR .
SiliconDust says the software will puzzle out with four of its radio receiver manikin preceding and present — Connect , Extend , Expand , and Prime — and the DVR software is useable for Mac , Windows 10 , and some connection - attached memory ( NAS ) system , with playback options via its apps in macOS , Windows 10 , and Android .
