The Plex DVR and Silicon Dust HD Homerun Extend: A Review
As we take a look at the latest update to the Silicon Dust HD Homerun Extend, it's clear that this device has undergone a significant redesign. The new model features a mostly metal chassis, which acts like a large heatsink to dissipate heat, eliminating the need for a fan inside the device. This change in design not only improves build quality but also reduces noise levels, making it an ideal choice for those who want to watch TV without distractions.
The Plex DVR functionality has also received a significant upgrade, with this feature still in beta and proving to be very impressive. Users can record single episodes or schedule shows to be recorded, all while using the device's interface that mimics a traditional set-top box DVR. Additionally, apps like Channels allow users to watch live TV either from their cable television subscription or from local over-the-air channels via an antenna.
The HD Homerun Extend is now essentially synonymous with cord cutting, as it provides a reliable solution for streaming free over-the-air television via an antenna. The device requires the new model, the HD Homerun x10, which boasts improved design and build quality compared to its predecessor. While the old model served well, especially at a lower price point, the new version's metal chassis is significantly more substantial and aesthetically pleasing.
One may wonder why build quality is such an issue, but it's particularly noticeable when comparing the old HD Homerun Extend to the new one. The new device's increased weight, primarily due to its metal construction, makes it a more substantial piece of hardware that can hold up in various environments. However, there is another significant difference between the two models – sound quality and noise levels.
The HD Homerun Extend has traditionally been plagued by loud fans that kick in when needed, which were necessary to dissipate heat due to its plastic construction. In contrast, the new model's metal chassis acts as a natural heatsink, eliminating the need for fans altogether. This results in significantly reduced noise levels, making it an ideal device for those who want to watch TV without distractions.
Beyond its improved build quality and fanless design, the HD Homerun Extend continues to offer two tuners, allowing users to watch two channels simultaneously or record one while watching another. The Channels app is also integrated seamlessly with both the new HD Homerun Extend and the HD Homerun Prime, providing an excellent user experience that includes features such as pause, rewind, and fast-forward capabilities.
In addition to its improved functionality and design, the HD Homerun Extend also works well with iOS devices, thanks to an updated Apple TV version featuring a handy guide interface. This interface is not only visually appealing but also provides users with easy access to their recordings and live television options. Furthermore, both the new HD Homerun Extend and the HD Homerun Prime are compatible with cable cards, making them ideal solutions for those who require a reliable streaming service.
Overall, the Silicon Dust HD Homerun Extend represents an excellent upgrade in terms of design, functionality, and overall user experience. Its improved build quality, fanless design, and seamless integration with various apps make it an ideal choice for those looking to stream free over-the-air television or watch live TV without distractions.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enlook at silicon dust redesign HD homerun extend over the summer Plex denounced its new DVR functionality now this feature while still in beta is very impressive you can record single episodes you can schedule shows to be recorded it works very much like a set-top box DVR now of course there's also apps like channels which allows you to watch live TV either from your cable television subscription or from your local over-the-air via and antenna and this little box right here is basically synonymous with cord cutting if you want to do the Plex DVR if you want to watch TV via channels you're going to need one of these silicon dust boxes this one right here is the HD homerun extend this is the model that you're going to need if you want to watch free over-the-air television via an antenna and the HD homerun x10 has received a significant redesign here it is now a mostly metal chassés as you can see right here in this chassés acts like a large heatsink basically whereas previous versions of the HD homerun extend were comprised primarily of plastic so the difference in build quality is readily apparent as soon as you take this thing out of the box now as far as functionality it's all the same you still get your LAN port you get your antenna input so the real difference is build quality and you can hear that metal chasis as I knock against it right there now inside the box here you're going to find a little QuickStart guide you get an Ethernet cable and you also get of course a power adapter and it uses the same power adapter as the previous HD homerun extend now I don't want to go and disparage the old model because it served me well and if you can find it for a reasonable price or the use market it's absolutely worth it but as you can hear and as you can see it is all plastic and it just doesn't have the same build quality as the new HD homerun extend now you guys are probably wondering Jeff why are you so concerned about the build quality isn't this device just going to be behind your couch or in your entertainment center or somewhere like that true but there is one big caveat with the o2 HD homerun next in compared to the new one obviously the new one is much more weighty because it's mostly metal but the big difference here is sound and I'm not talking about sound quality that comes from the channels app or the plex DVR I'm talking about literal audible sound from the fans as you can hear they're very loud fans that kick off sometimes with the old model HD homerun extend because it was all plastic so we needed to dissipate that heat but with the new model it's dead silent because the chasis itself acts as a heat sink to get rid of the heat no need for a fan inside the new HD homerun extend but everything else is pretty much the same outside the design outside the fanless architecture for the new HD homerun extend it works exactly the same like the old one it has two tuners so you can watch two channels at the same time or record the channel and watch a channel it works with the channels app of course which allows you to pause rewind and fast-forward live TV there's the iOS version which we recently reviewed there's also an updated Apple TV version that features a handy guide interface love the look of the new channels Apple an Apple TV and again these apps work with both the HD homerun extend and the HD homerun Prime if you're a cable TV subscriber you want to check out the prime because it works with cable card folks let me know what you guys think down below in the comment section this is Jeff nine-to-five Mackelook at silicon dust redesign HD homerun extend over the summer Plex denounced its new DVR functionality now this feature while still in beta is very impressive you can record single episodes you can schedule shows to be recorded it works very much like a set-top box DVR now of course there's also apps like channels which allows you to watch live TV either from your cable television subscription or from your local over-the-air via and antenna and this little box right here is basically synonymous with cord cutting if you want to do the Plex DVR if you want to watch TV via channels you're going to need one of these silicon dust boxes this one right here is the HD homerun extend this is the model that you're going to need if you want to watch free over-the-air television via an antenna and the HD homerun x10 has received a significant redesign here it is now a mostly metal chassés as you can see right here in this chassés acts like a large heatsink basically whereas previous versions of the HD homerun extend were comprised primarily of plastic so the difference in build quality is readily apparent as soon as you take this thing out of the box now as far as functionality it's all the same you still get your LAN port you get your antenna input so the real difference is build quality and you can hear that metal chasis as I knock against it right there now inside the box here you're going to find a little QuickStart guide you get an Ethernet cable and you also get of course a power adapter and it uses the same power adapter as the previous HD homerun extend now I don't want to go and disparage the old model because it served me well and if you can find it for a reasonable price or the use market it's absolutely worth it but as you can hear and as you can see it is all plastic and it just doesn't have the same build quality as the new HD homerun extend now you guys are probably wondering Jeff why are you so concerned about the build quality isn't this device just going to be behind your couch or in your entertainment center or somewhere like that true but there is one big caveat with the o2 HD homerun next in compared to the new one obviously the new one is much more weighty because it's mostly metal but the big difference here is sound and I'm not talking about sound quality that comes from the channels app or the plex DVR I'm talking about literal audible sound from the fans as you can hear they're very loud fans that kick off sometimes with the old model HD homerun extend because it was all plastic so we needed to dissipate that heat but with the new model it's dead silent because the chasis itself acts as a heat sink to get rid of the heat no need for a fan inside the new HD homerun extend but everything else is pretty much the same outside the design outside the fanless architecture for the new HD homerun extend it works exactly the same like the old one it has two tuners so you can watch two channels at the same time or record the channel and watch a channel it works with the channels app of course which allows you to pause rewind and fast-forward live TV there's the iOS version which we recently reviewed there's also an updated Apple TV version that features a handy guide interface love the look of the new channels Apple an Apple TV and again these apps work with both the HD homerun extend and the HD homerun Prime if you're a cable TV subscriber you want to check out the prime because it works with cable card folks let me know what you guys think down below in the comment section this is Jeff nine-to-five Macke\n"
