Using my Mac Pro as a DVR

[Chrisg2014]

Go with a BlackMagic Card, you can get an external or internal card. The internals plug in where the other graphic cards go and it come with it's own software to record (both internal and external). Also it has an out cable so you can plug it into your TV and you won't notice anything. you can get HDMI or Component

 

[CrAkD]

composite to hdmi? I cant imagine that will be pretty.

 

[tinycg]

The HDHomeRun Prime does not work with OS X. Currently no CableCard based tuner does.

The iPad HDHomeRun Prime client does not support any HD channels, even.

If you have HD cable there are zero good options right now for Mac. Honestly, the OP's best option would be to get a Windows Media Center box with CableCard. (I use a TiVo, which works pretty decently.)

Couple of things to know about EyeTV
1. it doesn't support multiple sources (it does support dual tuners but same source only)
2. $20 yr TV guide subscription required after the first year.

Just to correct some mis-information, the HDHomeRun Prime is not 'officially' supported by Elgato in regards to cablecard support, mostly due to CableLabs DRM certification and the lack of built-in DRM support into OSX. This does not by any means mean that the HDHomeRun Prime (or non-CableCard HDHR Dual) don't work on a Mac.

In fact for the last week I've been working through trying to figure out how to get better support unofficially working with EyeTV with a few others on the AVS Forums.

EyeTV 3.4.3 and 3.5.4 with the correct ports open will see a Prime as an HDHR (supporting 2 of its 3 tuners), however interestingly enough 3.4.3 seems to have better out of the box support. With support for auto-scan, channel tuning, and full HD for unencrypted Clear QAM channels.

EyeTV uses the libhdhomerun api as its back-end, presumably because the Prime can decrypt encrypted copy-freely programming without any real CableCard (DRM) support its possible that we could unlock more support for the Prime than the HDHR-Dual (as it can only grab unencrypted Clear-QAM).

Secondly, to the second quote, the TV Guide subscription is not required there are several tutorials around the web on how to easily setup and use free tools like mc2xml and others for fully updated EPG content.

 

[MendotaMike]

EyeTV 3.4.3 and 3.5.4 with the correct ports open will see a Prime as an HDHR (supporting 2 of its 3 tuners), however interestingly enough 3.4.3 seems to have better out of the box support. With support for auto-scan, channel tuning, and full HD for unencrypted Clear QAM channels.

Can you elaborate on this? I have a new iMac and an HDHomerun Prime, can I download the eyetv software from Elgato's website and make this work? I have not been able to find any decent guides for this (including on AVSForum, so if you have a link handy, it would be much appreciated).

 

[tinycg]

Mike to not derail this thread to much regarding specific EyeTV questions, I posted to your other thread just now.