HDHomeRun Connect vs Extend

[RedBaron164 18]

I'm looking at picking up an HDHomeRun to complete my migration away from a dedicated media center box. Right now I'm looking at using Emby with an HDHomeRun network DVR. I wanted to check in and see if anyone else is using them and how they work. I was looking at the Connect since it's only $100 on Amazon but I'm not sure if I should get the Connect or the Extend model which appears to have hardware H.264 encoding.

 

My plan is to have 1 or 2 of these HDHomeRun units on the network being fed by an antenna. Then I'll have my main media server which is running Emby connect to the tuners and stream channels and record shows as well.

[Luke 36997]

Hi, both are good options. Whether you get extend or not depends on whether offloading transcoding is something that has value to you.

[RedBaron164 18]

Will the offloaded transcoding help Emby with recording/streaming duties? If I can offload the CPU cycles to the tuner box itself instead of sucking up CPU cycles on the server I'll go with the Extend.

[mellomade 140]

It really depends on the playback device you are using - and you don't mention that.

 

Recording MPEG-2 vs h.264 does nothing to impact server resources as the stream is just written directly to disk (other than smaller file size).  h.264 is much more widely supported for direct playback on the hardware side than MPEG-2 is.  So if you want direct playback (no transcoding = lower CPU usage) on devices like Android TV, Apple TV and lower power HTPCs then h.264 is preferable.  But if you use a decent HTPC with Emby for Kodi for example - this can handle MPEG-2 no problem.

 

If you don't mind the extra $$ - I would tend to go with the Extend.

Edited April 21, 2016 by mellomade

[RedBaron164 18]

My plan is to have my dedicated Emby server use the HDHomeRun as a Live TV tuner, record shows locally, and then I would watch those recorded shows and stream live TV via the Emby app on my Roku's and phones.

[kmarq13 5]

My plan is to have my dedicated Emby server use the HDHomeRun as a Live TV tuner, record shows locally, and then I would watch those recorded shows and stream live TV via the Emby app on my Roku's and phones.

For Roku you will have to transcode for sure. So then like said above depends on if you want to have the HDHomeRun doing it or have your Emby server doing it

[RedBaron164 18]

Yeah, I was just trying to confirm whether or not Emby would be able to take advantage of the hardware transcoding. My understanding of how the Extend works was the transcoding is only used when using the HDHomeRun App and streaming from the box directly. Since I'd be streaming from my Emby server and not directly from the HDHomeRun box I didn't know if the Extend was going to benefit me in my situation.

Edited April 21, 2016 by RedBaron164

[razzfazz 11]

I have an HDHR Extend, and at least for me Emby still transcodes the (already hardware-transcoded) stream for most clients (definitely for iOS, and it pretty much seems like for anything other than Emby Theater or the web client in MS Edge); see http://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/24300-livetv-transcode-at-the-tuner/. So in this case, the hardware transcoding is actually doubly counterproductive, as the server burns more CPU cycles decoding h264 (vs. mpeg2), and transcoding twice degrades the quality.

 

Part of the problem is that the HDHR H/W-transcodes the video but not the audio, and very few clients can actually play back ac3.

 

Another thing to note is that the Extend, unlike the Connect, has a fan, and a pretty low quality (noisy) one at that.

 

As it stands today, I really wish I'd saved the money and gotten a connect instead.

[RedBaron164 18]

razzfazz, on 23 Apr 2016 - 02:46 AM, said:razzfazz, on 23 Apr 2016 - 02:46 AM, said:

I have an HDHR Extend, and at least for me Emby still transcodes the (already hardware-transcoded) stream for most clients (definitely for iOS, and it pretty much seems like for anything other than Emby Theater or the web client in MS Edge); see http://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/24300-livetv-transcode-at-the-tuner/. So in this case, the hardware transcoding is actually doubly counterproductive, as the server burns more CPU cycles decoding h264 (vs. mpeg2), and transcoding twice degrades the quality.

 

Part of the problem is that the HDHR H/W-transcodes the video but not the audio, and very few clients can actually play back ac3.

 

Another thing to note is that the Extend, unlike the Connect, has a fan, and a pretty low quality (noisy) one at that.

 

As it stands today, I really wish I'd saved the money and gotten a connect instead.

 

Thanks, that helps a lot. I was surprised that the more expensive Extend has 802.11n where as the cheaper Connect is listed as having 802.11ac. Noise doesn't bother me much since this would be going into a closet, but if I can save myself some money and get the cheaper of the two options then I'm good. With the money I save from buying the Connect I finally get my lifetime Emby Premium subscription :-)

Edited April 25, 2016 by RedBaron164

[mellomade 140]

I was surprised that the more expensive Extend has 802.11n where as the cheaper Connect is listed as having 802.11ac.

 

huh?

[epayson85 72]

I noticed that on Amazon too the other day lol sorry to break it to you but they aren't wireless. Wired only.

[kmarq13 5]

I noticed that on Amazon too the other day lol sorry to break it to you but they aren't wireless. Wired only.

 

Correct. The wireless speed listed is just what it advises you have if you want to stream this to a wireless device. The HDHomeRun would need to be wired into the router however.

[RedBaron164 18]

epayson85, on 25 Apr 2016 - 9:39 PM, said:

I noticed that on Amazon too the other day lol sorry to break it to you but they aren't wireless. Wired only.

 

lol, figures, I thought something didn't add up. The flyer has AC listed too so I was really confused. http://www.silicondust.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/CONNECT.pdf

 

Doesn't matter though, I was planning on wiring it in anyway, it's going to be a foot from my switch, no point in using wireless.

[Vidman 589]

I only see 100base TX listed in the specs

[RedBaron164 18]

On the comparison chart it lists 802.11 AC and also mentions having an 802.11ac router in the description. Neither the Connect or Extend list wireless in the specs, they both only list 100base tx.

 

This is the Extend's flyer which says "Will stream HD via WiFi on an 802.11n router."

http://www.silicondust.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/EXTEND.pdf

 

This is the Connects flyer which says  "Will stream HD via WiFi on an 802.11ac router or SD on an 802.11n compatible router."

http://www.silicondust.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/CONNECT.pdf

 

At the end of the day it doesn't matter, I'd rather have a wired connection anyway, wish it was 1gb but it is what it is. I just feel that between the Amazon description and the information listed on silicon dust's website I think they could do a better job of clarifying the wireless capabilities.

 

 

 

 

[ebr 14902]

I think they are talking about the connection to the mobile device as the tuner itself must be wired in.

[RedBaron164 18]

ebr, on 27 Apr 2016 - 10:01 AM, said:

I think they are talking about the connection to the mobile device as the tuner itself must be wired in.

 

I understand that now, but when I was originally looking at them, the documentation and the listing on Amazon's page made me think that the units had wireless capabilities.

[razzfazz 11]

Not sure what gigabit would buy you for these -- there are only two tuners, and the worst-case (no transcoding) data rate is ~15Mbps per tuner, so you're not even anywhere near maxing out 100Mbps.