External TV tuner for NUC and Kodi (XBMC)?

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ping182nz

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Topic # 161655 14-Jan-2015 22:12

Looking for an external TV tuner for Freeview HD to use with XBMC (Kodi) and an intel NUC...

Will this work? -- http://www.amazon.com/SiliconDust-HDHomeRun-Compatible-Streaming-HDHR4-2US/dp/B00GY0UB54/ref=dp_ob_title_ce or does anyone have a better suggestion?

turb

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Reply # 1215142 14-Jan-2015 22:26

I'm pretty sure the us version won't work here.

You need this: http://nicegear.co.nz/htpc/silicondust-hdhomerun/

I have one - it just works. I was getting a little bit of pixellation now and again until I went to a gigabit network - even though that shouldn't make any difference.

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freitasm

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Reply # 1215144 14-Jan-2015 22:43

Get the NZ version. I have been using one for the last few years, currently with a Gigabyte BRIX running Windows Media Center.

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ping182nz

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Reply # 1215852 16-Jan-2015 09:26

Is there anything out there that has three tuners?

ping182nz

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Reply # 1215854 16-Jan-2015 09:27

Are the Gigabyte BRIX any good? I see the comments on Newegg about them being very unreliable and dying.... i was looking at getting one of them instead of the NUC as there is a core i7 model...

freitasm: Get the NZ version. I have been using one for the last few years, currently with a Gigabyte BRIX running Windows Media Center.

geekiegeek

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Reply # 1215855 16-Jan-2015 09:30

ping182nz: Are the Gigabyte BRIX any good? I see the comments on Newegg about them being very unreliable and dying.... i was looking at getting one of them instead of the NUC as there is a core i7 model...

freitasm: Get the NZ version. I have been using one for the last few years, currently with a Gigabyte BRIX running Windows Media Center.

You wont need an i7 for a HTPC. i3 is plenty.

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ping182nz

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Reply # 1215865 16-Jan-2015 09:53

Not just an HTPC, but I know it would be well over powered. Anyone know if XBMC will handle recording from the http://nicegear.co.nz/htpc/silicondust-hdhomerun/ ?

freitasm

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Reply # 1215870 16-Jan-2015 10:07

ping182nz: Are the Gigabyte BRIX any good? I see the comments on Newegg about them being very unreliable and dying.... i was looking at getting one of them instead of the NUC as there is a core i7 model...

freitasm: Get the NZ version. I have been using one for the last few years, currently with a Gigabyte BRIX running Windows Media Center.

Have been using mine for about six months or so now, no problem there.

The i3 model, 4GB RAM and 128 GB mSATA is more than enough to handle HD content from Freeview or online providers.

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browned

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Reply # 1217329 19-Jan-2015 09:36

Been using a Gen1 i3 Brix since 09/2013 with no issues. Also use 2 x HD Homerun with no issues with multiple devices with no issues. All devices hard wired. No Wifi used.

Home Server: AMD Threadripper 1950X, 64GB, 56TB HDD, HP Smart Array P420, Define R6 Case, 10GbE, ESXi 6.7, NextPVR, Emby Server, Plex Server, 2 x HDHomerun.
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JimmyH

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Reply # 1218503 20-Jan-2015 19:03

geekiegeek:
ping182nz: Are the Gigabyte BRIX any good? I see the comments on Newegg about them being very unreliable and dying.... i was looking at getting one of them instead of the NUC as there is a core i7 model...

freitasm: Get the NZ version. I have been using one for the last few years, currently with a Gigabyte BRIX running Windows Media Center.

You wont need an i7 for a HTPC. i3 is plenty.

Is that still the case for recording multiple channels simultaneously and/or running Comskip to preemptively remove commercials from recorded content?

I ask this as I am planning an HTPC at some point which I want to fit out with at least four tuners (dual terrestrial, single satellite, and a Hauppauge HD PVR which media software sees as a tuner and which allows for HD captures).

I want a machine where 2-3 streams can be recorded at once, potentially while playback is also being used. Additionally, while I haven't done the research yet, it would be ideal to have Comskip automatically queue up jobs and run whenever a recording is made, so that I don't have to endure commercials.

I was thinking an i5 might be the minimum, and an i7 might be required?

freitasm

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Reply # 1218512 20-Jan-2015 19:15

You probably want to worry more about having fast storage than CPU. I have a 128GB mSATA SSD and saw another thread with a "Windows TV Box" that comes with only 32GB storage.

People think "TV" now is streaming only and completely ignore live broadcast. We don't watch much live TV here but now and then we record a TV program for our daughter. It works well for us. You might want an i5 to worry less but I think the I/O and GPU are more important these days.

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browned

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Reply # 1218803 21-Jan-2015 08:44

My main MCE is a AMD A6 3 core and built-in GPU, 8GB, 120GB SSD for system, and 750GB 7200rpm HDD for recording only. With a built in DVB-T AVerTV TwinStar HD with 2 tuners and 2 x 2 tuner HD Homerun on the network I can make do recording 3 channels. If a watch another channel any interruption on the disk will result in pixels on the screen and in the recordings.

I would recommend an SSD if you want to record 3 or more channels at once and watch another show.

You would also want to do all you network connections with a cable I doubt wifi would cut it unless there are no walls interfering.

geekiegeek

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Reply # 1218808 21-Jan-2015 08:52

One person supports this post

JimmyH:
geekiegeek:
ping182nz: Are the Gigabyte BRIX any good? I see the comments on Newegg about them being very unreliable and dying.... i was looking at getting one of them instead of the NUC as there is a core i7 model...

freitasm: Get the NZ version. I have been using one for the last few years, currently with a Gigabyte BRIX running Windows Media Center.

You wont need an i7 for a HTPC. i3 is plenty.

Is that still the case for recording multiple channels simultaneously and/or running Comskip to preemptively remove commercials from recorded content?

I ask this as I am planning an HTPC at some point which I want to fit out with at least four tuners (dual terrestrial, single satellite, and a Hauppauge HD PVR which media software sees as a tuner and which allows for HD captures).

I want a machine where 2-3 streams can be recorded at once, potentially while playback is also being used. Additionally, while I haven't done the research yet, it would be ideal to have Comskip automatically queue up jobs and run whenever a recording is made, so that I don't have to endure commercials.

I was thinking an i5 might be the minimum, and an i7 might be required?

Are you saying there are 2-3 streams of TV in New Zealand at one time that are worth recording? :-)

My thoughts are my own and are in no way representative of my employer.

JimmyH

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Reply # 1219377 21-Jan-2015 18:33

Good point!

No, probably not. But potentially 2-3 (say one HD capture off a Sky box, and the one or two shows on FV that are potentially worth watching if the commercials are removed), plus Comskip processing recordings, plus playback. I would rather spend $100-250 or so erring on the side of somewhat over-speccing a box than wind up with one that is underpowered and irritating.