Gotcha. Thanks, Jay!
What you just explained with the complications and all is the perfect reason to just roll it into an update for Channels DVR. The user barely even knows that it happens, except for a checkbox somewhere in the Channels DVR server software, and it just works!
while I agree that'd be great, these are custom inputs and hdhr & tve include the captions in the stream.
this is why I haven't used it yet, i'm already stretching my n100 pretty thin
Well, let's hope there's a checkbox to disable the feature for folks who don't have the hardware to pull it off. Or not.
After a quick survey of the devices being used and talked about, I decided on the Onn 4k Pro and LinkPi ENC1-V3 combination
Why?
Mostly because there are other people using them and therefore some experience to draw from
What did you try before?
I used CC4C and PrismCast, but I couldn't get either of them to work acceptably reliably
What makes it better?
When CNN started encrypting, I essentially wanted 24x7 recording, so hardware seemed like the best solution. The thing that's better is the reliability, once the glitches were worked out
What sucks about it?
I had to deal with the CNN app crashing about every 8 hours or so. I needed to schedule a process on my media server to kill and restart CNN every 6 hours.
What middleware are you using?
I started with ADBTuner, but it turns out that I don't need it (yet) since this is only for CNN. The source definition in Channels is pointed directly at the encoder's output.
The only channels I really need the cable card for are local news and such and I can get most of them with OTA hardware. Everything else is currently available via TVE. I am recording one program on MS Now using CC4C. IT failed again last night... The 5 channel LinkPi is on the expensive side, so I'll be checking out cheaper solutions once I get completely familiar with this tech, and as more sources abandon TVE.
I actually have three of the ENC1-V3s and highly regret buying them.
I ended up getting two ENC5-V2 units. One to really use, and one to kind of play with. There are a little bit more, but to be honest, you do need more capacity sometimes, especially around that prime time hour. You can really run out of tuners. If you are okay with just two tuners, one recording and one live, then they are fine. But if you need three or four tuners potentially, then I would highly suggest getting an ENC5 unit. It is less expensive in the end.
I don't want to hijack this thread any more, so if you have anything else to say about PyCaptions, please follow up here: Synchronized Closed Captions for Channels - #3 by jay343
Incidentally, I ran into a wall with Intel GPU support. The underlying tech, Ctranslate2, doesn't support Intel at all. I may look for a workaround, but don't hold your breath. Meanwhile, check out my post about hardware and performance in the link above.
It is possible to get seamless 5.1 with both the Magewell PRO (pcie) and the magewell eco (m.2). The system hosting the card has to be linux based using this wrapper.
Cheapish Magewell Pro duals. You would probably have to 3d print a backplate though. This seller might have the stl file.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/377298512881?
You have the option of running it directly in ah4c using a command or you can set it up so that it streams the feed over the network. This way you can feed it into adbtuner. There is also the option of just using ah4c and using @bnhf 's method of sending the feed from ah4c to adbtuner.
Your video sizes would depend on the quality you set in the wrapper.
I dropped FIOS for DTV Stream a few months back. Prior to that I loved CDVR being the front end for all my TV. I only integrated my HDHR and Pluto, but I converted the house over to AppleTVs and no cable boxes.
Now... CDVR still covers Pluto and a few channels from other FAST providers via FAST Channels. It still works better for me than navigating Pluto's app. It also pulls in the few TVE stations available. When I want 'cable TV' I go the DTV app. With ATVs everywhere, it's not bad. I don't have to switch inputs on any TVS, just switch apps.
I'd love to integrate DTV back into the mix so it's one interface again. If I used an ADB based solution I'd need at least two streams if not three and it looks pretty expensive and time consuming to get setup. The geek in my thinks it might be fun, but I also don't have much time to fiddle with it as I used to.
Left cablecard for ADBTuner 3 years ago and it's been working well ever since: Highly recommend LinkPi ENC5V2 + YTTV; I'm using 3 x FireTV 4K Max sticks + ethernet OTG adapters + 2 Onn TV HD sticks (via WiFi) - FireTV can keep ADB enabled with OTG ethernet, but Onn TV cannot - just have to accept it's 2.0 audio - there's a lot of other options out there which is a bit overwhelming, but ADBTuner is relatively easy and works well - I also have Prismcast working well on my Unraid Server, but video quality is not as good as the ENC5V2, so it's just an experiment right now - as a backup, I use the YTTV app with their cloud DVR - oh BTW also have an antenna with HDHR for locals too
As promised in an earlier post, here's a less expensive (as compared to a PoE-powered rackmount), compact way to build a five tuner LinkPi-based setup.
This uses a well-built seven port USB 3.0 hub for power, some short USB A to right angle micro-B cables (to keep voltage drops low), and some right-angle HDMI adapters.
The streaming sticks are FireStick 4K Max (Gen 2) (currently 20% off with trade-in), as they support Wi-Fi 6, and have a great form factor for a compact build like this.
Due to the proximity of the FireSticks, I would highly recommend the router or AP they're connected to support both 5GHz and Wi-Fi 6 (which has been specifically designed for this kind of high density WiFi, among other things).
I don't love that this is wifi, but I can't not be impressed with what this setup can do, vs the footprint.
I feel the same. My rackmount setup will continue to be my daily driver, but this is handy for me for development. I had Multiview running on an iPad for hours-and-hours with all four connections to this little build, and it worked just fine. For those that don't have the space, infrastructure or budget for a PoE-based rackmount build -- I believe this is a workable alternative.
I've had a nearly identical setup, with just three FireStick 4K Max devices running for years in a remote location. In that case, I used a TP-Link smart power strip instead of a USB hub for power. With that power strip, everything can be power-cycled individually (remotely using a containerized HA). The sticks are installed in every other port on the LinkPi in that installation, for whatever benefit that may give the WiFi connections.
I kind of just drive my wife crazy. I should set up a little development rig. 
What streaming device are you using?
I got a old firetv 4k max and an onn puck connected to a linkpi and a usb encoder respectively. The usb encoder is connected to the linkpi so that gives me an extra tuner. Everything is piled up and connected through a wifi router and a poe.
https://community-assets.getchannels.com/optimized/3X/e/f/efe79de4134b064257fe2050e4f4a13c85708d82_2_375x500.jpeg
Why?
Price and also due to the fact that I can connect a cheap usb tuner to get an extra tuner. I don't really record much stuff and I watch a lot of sports live and I got usenet/torrents/real debrid so this is really to watch sports.
What did you try before?
I tried CC4C and underground IPTV options and I found both of them to be buggy and very uncooperative with the Channels environment especially the latter. Recordings didn't work and on top of that, the PQ wasn't worth it on top of the crazy buffering I experienced
What makes it better?
You don't to rely on your computer to run it which frees up resources and also theres a lot less buffering to deal with
What sucks about it?
Obviously, the more tuners you need, the more hardware you'll need to get but I'm content with I got even as TVE options are shrinking. Theres enough content for me on FAST, and all the bridges and HDHR as well to go by.
What middleware are you using?
ADBTuner tho I have used ah4c before regularly (and testing the CC feature now tho I don't think I really need it since I can get subs for the program I record via HDHR or FAST or even through OpenSubtitles)
), Netflix free via T-Mobile, MLB.tv via T-Mobile and I plan to get NBA LP in the fall.
Maybe 8-10 seconds? per bnhf
This is a deal killer for me, I was pursuing Bobby Vaughn's setup, but i can't put up with this.
.
BTW, for everyone, and I'm sure most know this.
The $58 Gemini DTV box from Walmart works great, its a regular Google tv box with the Google Play Store etc, AND if you install CHDVR on it all the buttons work, including FFWD, Pause, REW, Channel numbers buttons, if you have a need for that with you custom channels with Channel numbers assigned (tvg-chno="06") or as they come 6003 etc.
You can get a PoE ethernet adapter for the FireStick - kills 2 birds with one stone: Amazon.com: UCTRONICS Upgraded Ethernet and Power for Raspberry Pi Zero, Micro USB to Ethernet/PoE Adapter for Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, Google Mini and More, IEEE 802.3af Compliant : Electronics
I noticed you didn't include software solutions, like PrismCast.
When my Xfinity cablecard or HDHR Prime no longer works, that's what I plan on using (assuming the dev still supports it). No additional hardware required (other than my existing M4 Mac Mini to run it).
Because the topic was specifically about hdmi encoders.
There is actually quite an interesting development going on with ah4c currently and Fast Channels. I thought I just mention that here. I haven't personally tested it myself, but there's a bridge that gets installed on the Android box that's being used and it connects to Fast Channels. It seems that it can therefore integrate Fast Channels with HDMI encoders and also tune a few apps a little bit more reliably, such as Philo for example.
Also, just in terms of recent developments, I was able to integrate AI-generated closed captions with ah4c. If that helps anyone migrating over from CableCard, who's used to closed captioning, they're not perfect because they are generated by a Parakeet model. I actually added a few models as options in ah4c to choose from depending on your specific hardware constraints. Regardless, they're slipstreamed in as regular closed captions and appear in channels as regular closed captions, which is kind of nice.
I don't post much, so apologies for the length. It will be clear if you read this but my focus is live sports.
What streaming device are you using?
I'll be adding more tuners and another encoder soon (WayPonDEV Link Pi ENC5-V2) to build out a second, more "generic streaming" solution with and maybe more YouTube TV tuners. Ideally I can use deep links to add custom sources with updated Channels guide data for the stragglers I want in Channels (Prime, Peacock). I'd like to add the ESPN app too, since it carries some feeds that aren't in YouTube TV and I have learned that the ESPN app doesn't play political commercials like YouTube TV does (constantly) which is a win in my household. I'm playing around with FruitDeepLinks and will maybe look at PrismCast but I have no firm ideas of what phase 2 will look like.
Why?
TVE worked well for me. It was a hassle when things stopped working or needed to be re-authenticated or re-scanned, but it was nice to be able to tune any number of sources and have someone else maintain it. Its mostly-dead state pushed me to the apps for a while, and that's when the problems became obvious.
All the usual streaming-app annoyances were there, but the breaking point was hitting skip-back after missing a play in a live game and getting a "disabled" message. I've seen pause not work in regional sports network apps, no way to record anything at all, and so on. If I tried to time-shift, I would still be forced to watch the commercials with some apps. That's the kind of control I'd rather not live with, so I set out to fix it.
What did you try before?
Mostly Chrome capture work. I also spent some time with EPlusTV and never got what I wanted. The software-only solutions weren't a fit for me, mostly due to fragility or missing functionality. I bounced around never finding much that would work for me and I avoided the encoder setup just given the investment and my lack of knowledge.
What makes it better?
It's consistent and stable. I can use tooling to pull the m3u streams, and in a worst case I can pick up a Fire Stick remote, open YouTube TV manually, and send that stream down to an encoder source. That works great.
What sucks about it?
What middleware are you using?
2 instances of ADBTuner and a custom front-end to the tuners. I needed a second instance of ADBTuner to support my horrifically terrible regional sports network (RSN) provider's app which is not available in YouTube TV. I use a custom config for the RSN app and it works well actually. The custom font-end allows me to switch tuners 1-4 how I like and if I want the RSN app, I can reserve tuner 1 for it or all 4 can be used for YouTube TV on heavy football days.
The other stuff is just Channels API work - TeamID lookup, an easier college football recording interface that works great for my needs, and a basic Fire Stick remote web interface to control the Fire Sticks in case I am not home and something breaks. I can use my VPN to get in and fix things if necessary.
Maintenance is a biggie, especially since this setup scales. If a device is finicky and you have to fix logins a lot, and you have FIVE of them, that's gonna be awful.
Answer: it's not great. I'd prefer not to do any of this, and if I'm being honest, I'll probably succumb to the streaming apps eventually. The first time I have that one bad day where everything breaks and all I want is to watch the game will be the day I very likely just give in. If you guys went full ElfHosted and hosted this as a service, I'd happily pay a monthly premium to get out of the business 
