Trying to figure out my best option between mi box, hdhomerun, live app, and/or hdhomerun app/DVR service

by buzzer58

Hi, could someone help me understand my options here. I intend to buy a mi box and already have a hdhomerun.

  1. Using the native live app option though Android TV seems to be the cheapest option if it'll work for me. The issue I have here is, can you watch dvr recordings on sources other than that particular mi box? I'd like to buy a second mi box for another room to watch the recordings.

  2. If that's not possible I'd like to use the hdhomerun service and use my mi box as a DVR. But, I don't know if this is possible. I only see posts saying that the nvida shleid can do this. Can the mi box be used as a DVR through the hdhomeruns own service?

I basically want to use the mi box as a DVR in all possible scenarios and don't want to use my computer as one.

pawdog

The recordings made by the HDHomerun will be playable on any device except a Roku. One of the best ways to do that is to set up a Plex server on your computer. That way you can watch these recordings on any device in the house. Plex can also work as a DVR itself. The MiBox won't actually be the DVR but you can set your recordings with it. If you already have the HDHomerun. You already have what you need to get started recording shows. Just sign up for the HDHomerun DVR service.

Bboy486

Plex DVR....

splingles

I use the native HD HomeRun app on various devices (and pay the ~$30/year for listing), and while the UI itself is clunky, it’s far more reliable than any other app I’ve found that works with an HD HomeRun on the network (I’ve tried: Plex DVR, Android TV “Live Channels,” Channels on Apple TV, etc.). The native app does a few things better, most notably: consistent closed captioning / subtitle support; easy channel filtering in their web UI (so I can block all of the numerous weird channels that are selling things 24 hours a day); it doesn’t crash nearly as much as the others. (Keep in mind that my server is a Synology with an atom processor, so I require a solution that doesn’t require a beefy CPU anywhere on the backend.) Anyhow, plus one for the HD HomeRun app.

witness_this

I personally prefer Emby Live TV over Plex DVR. Both will do what you want though.

BiggussDikkuss

Just be aware of the Android TV - Live Channels - HD Homerun issues:

https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/1024855/issue-with-google-live-channels-network-tuner-beta-and-hd-homerun/

Have a look at the Channels App as well.

buzzer58

Ok, so the only situation where I can use the mi box, as a DVR, is with the Google live app application?

This is important to me as I don't want to use my primary computer as a DVR or buy any additional devices (to save recordings on) if possible. I'm trying to make my setup as small as possible.

corey389

You can setup the Hdhomerun too record to a nas device like a Wdmycloud