agreed but 100BASE is still plenty sufficient. 4K UHD maxes out at ~25Mbps on iTunes and most others are broadcasting 4K at ~15Mbps. Even with 3 concurrent recordings on the Prime there should still have about 25% overhead free worst case.
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I am curious does your Prime log show the system link ...
19700101-00:00:01 CableCARD: M-CARD inserted
19700101-00:00:04 System: network link 1000f
19700101-00:00:06 CableCARD: Technicolor/Cisco card (0103:0001)
19700101-00:00:11 CableCARD: authentication status: authentication in progress
19700101-00:00:11 CableCARD: authentication status: authentication success, validation success
19700101-00:00:15 System: network link 100f
that is from my most recent log when service was restored after hurricane ian.
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Thank you all for your input. Might give the Prime a try. TVE works great for most of the channels but my local RSN are not that good.
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PRIME + FIOS is a good combination. You can buy PRIME tuners directly from SiliconDust at the bottom of this page:
https://shop.silicondust.com/shop/product-category/hardware/#main
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Thanks. I did not see that they still sold it. I thought it was old stock on Amazon. I am going to give it a try.
I'm not sure what switch (always gigabit though) I'm using ATM, but I've never had an issue with my three Primes. AFAIK Xfinity doesn't yet have any 4k channels. Nice to know the Prime can handle them. Anyone else with multiple Primes get different quantities of detected channels with the same source?
Yes. SD's background scans have short timeouts, so if a channel doesn't quickly tune, it will be removed from the lineup. This is especially true if you have SDV/tuning adapter.
Really happy with Prime and FIOS. Only a handful of DRM'd channels, all of which are available via TVE. TVE is a game changer, the DVR almost always uses it and keeps the tuner free. In particular I love the 4K tuning, extremely high quality recordings. Doesn't appear TVE sends 4K content.
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If the cable provider is DRM'ing about all channels, it's basically use their box (and pay for it every month) or don't reward that kind of lock-in by paying for their service at all. Consider all other options. Can you be happy with one of the cable alternatives that streams + maybe OTA television? Pluto TV + Stirr?
If Xfinity, they put their app on AppleTV and it plays at least one DRM channel I get in my package. So you might be able to watch DRM content with your cable providers app without renting any box from them (I have only cable card in HomeRun Prime).
TVE may get you some channels though- for me- DRM channels are usually NOT included with TVE.
Else the game with DRM is basically rent the cable company's box or else.
To the thread question, HDHomeRun Prime is great within Channels if your provider has not DRM'd everything. I very much enjoy it via Xfinity. The one channel that is DRM'd- a regional sports channel- that I want to watch at times IS available in the Xfinity app on AppleTV.
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which regional channel is that?
Bally Sun Sports, formerly Fox Sun Sports.
Ironically, I live about 90 miles from Miami (which is the focus of Sun Sports) but about 150 miles from Orlando (which is the focus of Bally Sports Florida). Bally Florida is NOT DRM'd but Sun is. Both are definitely in my package with Xfinity... both work just fine through Xfinity boxes (at neighbors homes) or their app on my TV. BS Florida (HD) works just fine through Channels but Sun will not play (SD only, illustrating I'm approved to get SUN too, but it can't play due to DRM).
Bally has their own app too. Last year- the first year Xfinity DRM'd Sun, the Bally app was the workaround for HD games. This year, that app will play less important content on Sun but then "this content is not available in your area" for actual games like Miami Heat games.
The ONLY option this year for SUN in HD without leasing an Xfinity box is the Xfinity app on AppleTV.
Incidentally, 2 years ago and backwards in time, both RSNs also worked in TVE. But DRM knocks that out too.
So, it is important to get a sense of what works with your cable provider and what is DRM'd if you want to use Prime + cablecard. If you don't get a favorite channel(s) due to DRM, there may be workaround as dedicated apps or a cable company's own app. Else, it may be "lease our cable box or bust" for select programming you desire.
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Does NESN and NBCSports have drm on FiOS?
I really want it for NESN and only Fubo and Direct tv stream have the channel. Or NESN 360 for $30 a month.
My wife really wants to keep FiOS so my options are very limited. Using a Prime I can limit the number of FiOS boxes I have to rent.
TVE does have NESN and NBCSports Boston but the streams are really bad.
You have to check with them they might have some refurb ones ... they cannot manufacture new ones because the chips used in them are no longer available.
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If you want to purchase, you have to go to their store sites
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You beat me to it chDVRuser ..
True, but a lot of companies, like Xfinity, are starting to limit the total amount of data someone can use without having to increase their internet costs. There were moratoriums on implementing this during the pandemic but those have largely ended. So if you record a lot of shows, and want the option to record more than 3 at one time, it might be beneficial to buy 2 HDHomerun primes than to pay more for internet on a monthly basis.
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