ChannelsDVR vs. Xfinity X1

Channels DVR Server
#1

I cut the cord back in December last year and switched to an HDHR OTA tuner plus ChannelsDVR. With the introduction of TVE, and a well-priced double-play offer from Xfinity that I couldn't pass up, I went ahead and re-subscribed to CATV last month. Of course, it came with an Xfinity X1 DVR.

I thought the Channels developers might like to know that I've continued to use the ChannelsDVR as my primary viewing experience. I've only switched over to the X1 a couple of times in the last month to get at a channel or 2 that don't have TVE support. As soon as HDHR releases the new Prime I'm gonna ditch the X1 and get a cable card. The comskip feature is really the primary differentiating factor that tips things in favor of ChannelsDVR vs. X1.

3 Likes
#2

You might want to check on which channels have DRM protection. Channels does not support DRM viewing/recording, so the Prime may not provide you with the channels or experience you are looking for.

#3

I thought the new prime was being released with DRM support.

#4

You also need the DRM support in the Client (including the DVR if needed).

#5

I hear Comcast hardly uses any DRM, but I don’t know for sure as I have Spectrum where I am and only subscribe to their streaming service.

#6

Do you happen to know if the Dodgers and Lakers are available via the Spectrum streaming only product or do I need to have a full cable sub? I'm waiting on the HDHR Prime 6, but if I can get those 2 things then I can go with just the streaming service.

#7

I sincerely doubt the Prime 6 is coming out this year as promised. We're now less than 4 months away from the new year and there's been no concrete mention of it. The Scribe and Servio were announced and delivered in a much longer time frame.

SD... over promising and under delivering yet again.

#8

The streaming plans don't offer regional sports. You can do full cable packages streaming without a cable box , just need an Apple tv

#9

Streaming in the home is one thing, but since I'm mobile a lot of the time I'd like a way to get those stations to come in live when I'm not at home. I do have a slingbox setup, but I don't like the performance of it as it's always trying to tell me to use a lower quality stream. I've been very happy with the quality coming off the Channels DVR server running on the new Mac Mini. I haven't tried running the Channels DVR server off of the Nvidia Shield yet. I have a Plex Server running on both the Mac Mini and Nvidia Shield. The connection on Plex Server doesn't always seem stable as I get dropped periodically so I'm trying to figure out if its an issue with the NAS getting overloaded over the home network or if something else is the cause. I never seem to have issues with playing back any recorded content. At least I have fun tinkering with this stuff.

#10

I’ve had Comcast/Xfinity for years and have been using a cable card for about the last 10 with very few issues. I’m not sure if it’s region specific, but the only stations that get flagged are the premium (HBO, Showtime, Etc.).

I came from Windows Media Center which allowed me to record those channels, but they were flagged as “copy once” so I could only view them on that computer - or an extender that was linked to Media Center. Everything else was flagged as “copy freely” and able to be transferred to whatever device I wanted.

Now that I’m exclusively using Channels, I’ve moved the few premium channels I use to the app subscription. HBO Now works great and I can stream the live shows almost immediately as they are airing. Obviously you can’t record them, but you really don’t need to since they keep them housed for you. The exception being the movies that eventually expire and are replaced with different options.

#11

Comcast in my region (Philadelphia) definitely does not use the amount of DRM that Verizon FiOS employs, for sure. As most have said, it's mainly just the movie/subscription channels that are flagged.

I'm in a similar boat as you, I have X1 equipment in my home (namely because trying to teach the other folks how to use Channels would be a nightmare) but have been using Channels DVR as my main/only viewing option for months. I don't want to knock X1, however. As far as UI / features go, I really like it. They have added some light commercial skipping features as of late, but it's limited to (I think) main network prime-time shows. You can just hit the fast-forward button and it will resume play after the commercials end. Also I do love their Sports app if you're into that sort of thing.

If it were up to me, though, I'd definitely go 100% Channels DVR if I realistically could. Also would kind of hinge on that HDHR Prime 6 if it ever gets a release...