Sep 8 2007
HDHomeRun Network PVR
The iPod with video and Apple TV have shown us that television at last has a home on your Mac. Although Apple wold be fine with you buying that programming from them, there is another way.
Mac PVRs are nothing new. Elgato’s EyeTV has made a name for itself as the most powerful and easiest software solution. The hardware side is a little more open.
The Hardware
The key to picking our the right EyeTV compatible PVR is understanding your television setup. Users with an coaxial interface to digital programming (digital cable, broadcast digital) will find a home for the HDHomeRun. If you have satellite, you’ll want to check out Elgato’s Hybrid.
The ability to tune digital programming is just the start of this PVR. The HomeRun is unique in that it has two tuners that can be accessed by two computers at the same time, via a wired network connection. This means that rather than moving your computer to your cable or antenna, you can place the HDHomeRun there and wire it back to your network with cheaper CAT5.
Wireless? Sadly no. While its possible it is not recommended due to the bandwidth needed to stream raw HDTV. Also, your network must be controlled by a router with a DHCP server for the HomeRun to work. With all that, though, I found the setup a breeze.
User Experience
The HDHomeRun works with other capture applications on Linux and Windows, so you can share the device across platforms. On the Mac, you’ll enjoy a bundled copy of EyeTV 2 (available together only from Elgato’s website). EyeTV provides a brilliant interface for accessing the HomeRun. Version 2 includes an integrated program guide and one-button export to iPod and Apple TV.
By far the biggest reason to pick one of these up is the experience of digital TV on your Mac. HD and SD programming comes in crisp and clean and looks great. And even if you don’t have digital cable, there’s plenty to watch. Most analog/basic cable contains basic programming in digital (usually network TV) and a $9 antenna can provide you with a dozen or more over-the-air digital channels. Among these will be HD channels too.
A completely unscientific comparison of video recorded from an analog channel versus a digital one:
Performance
I tested the HDHomeRun on a G4 1GHz+ Mac running Tiger (required for EyeTV 2). The performance watching and recording SD programming was perfect. HD programming stuttered, though both viewing and recording. In previous experience with analog EyeTV tuners (connected via USB) live TV would stutter a bit, but recordings wouldn’t. I don’t know if the processor (well above the system requirements) or the network interface were to blame, but if I were making recordings to be archived or burned, the quality would be sub par. That said, given the amount of data required to stream HD, I’m not shocked. Not even the Apple TV tries that.
With the exception of the choppy HD, the unit performed very well. Its small (about the size of a VHS tape) although not particularly stylish. Export to iPod wasn’t quick, but that’s to be expected. There are faster ways of getting this done. Because the video is coming in MPEG-2 in the digital signal, it requires a minimal amount of processing. You won’t see your Mac strain until you open more than one live TV window.
Conclusion
The HDHomeRun is a solid performer. Its unique network interface makes is a great network-based media solution. HD on your Mac will be a truly memorable experience, and digital quality will make your recordings look good even on an Apple TV.
If you have a slower Mac, expect choppy HD. If you have satellite TV, then you won’t be able to do much with this. If you have a 1 GHz or better Mac, you’ll have plenty of fun with the excellent EyeTV 2 and the HomeRun’s digital quality.
