Options for playback?

[JDStud6]

I bought my ethernet 6 tuner years ago, but moved about a year later. I just pulled it out of the closet and plugged it back on. I see the support is pretty much dead but see lots of stuff on youtube about siliconedust.

So what are the options now for playback? I have it synced now with my Win 7 Ultimate machine using WMC. Is there a way to get channels on other devices for playback? Kodi seems to be everywhere, and I see they have a siliconedust app. I read somewhere that 'nextpvr' will work with ceton products. So I have to setup a new computer with a nextpvr back end and then I can use kodi clients???

I was hoping by now this whole thing would have gotten easier, but looks like a bust

JD

[Scallica]

Uhh, does the Ceton tuner still have a CableCard in it? If not, then procuring a CableCard is step 1. If you do have the CableCard, it may not work depending on how far you moved from your previous location. If your new residence is connected to a different head end at the cable company, the card probably wont work.

As for alternate solutions, to my knowledge the Ceton tuner only works with Windows Media Center. If you are looking for something more versatile, sell the Ceton tuner on here or ebay, then look into the Silicon Dust tuners.

[JDStud6]

I picked up a cablecard already. The old one they couldn't find in their system so I swapped it out before I posted this question. It's working on my WMC, but was hoping by now there would be other options.

Even SD tuners don't seem to have much backing. It looks like they're doing mostly OTA now. I can't believe this industry hasn't caught up with the times!

JD

[adam1991]

SD is strong in the cable market. They have units that can do ATSC/QAM, and then they have the 6 tuner cableCARD unit.

The issue with encrypted cable is, *only* WMC was enabled for that stuff. Ceton and SD made tuners that could take and work with cableCARD and encrypted channels, but they all ended up in one place to view: WMC. Only Microsoft had the resources and the will to satisfy the cable industry on security. (Notice how MS has gone away from that.)

Nowadays, people are getting options for playback of pay TV channels by going away from the traditional cableco and instead going through other, streaming, providers that come over broadband and go through Roku, Fire TV, etc.

Even Silicon Dust sells premium TV channels. Their game is, they let you use their DVR to record their premium channels as long as you have their tuners.

The traditional cableco/cable box model is still alive, for people who don't want to futz and who want "white glove" service--one number to call, one throat to choke. But as Roku et al. become more mature and prevalent, people are more and more comfortable separating out and managing independently their broadband service, their streaming ("cable") box, and their various content services.

By definition, the crowd here is comfortable managing their own elements and building their own setups. I use WMC with Silicon Dust OTA tuners, because I don't need or want the traditional pay TV product--not in any way, shape, or form. I complement the OTA TV with Netflix/Hulu/Amazon, with Netflix DVD by mail, and with the very occasional Vudu rental now and then (go ahead, try to find Zero Hour! anywhere--and if you do, get some popcorn and prepare to be thoroughly entertained as you watch the movie the Zuckers turned into Airplane!).

If you want traditional pay TV from the traditional cableco, you can do a cableCARD plus WMC or you can rent their equipment and deal with it. (This assumes your provider encrypts everything, like so many do. Others don't; it's easier with them.)