Review on 📺 SiliconDust HDHomeRun Flex 4K ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV Tuner: 2/4 Tuners HDFX-4K by Efraine Cruise

Update: crashed after 2 months. I get an Ethernet cable connection message even though it's already connected. I also swapped out the router to see if that would help, but that didn't help. It's getting a lot hotter now than before, and a lot hotter. ------------ I don't want this to sound like it's not good. because it's not, it's just a very unusual piece of AV electronics with little information floating around, with some strengths and just as many weaknesses. First, the tuner isn't everything. sensitive; my jet jane visio 436-g1 in my office has the best tuner. The side scrolling channel guide has both good and bad aspects. Some like it, some may hate it; It's definitely a different approach than channel guides. You can swipe left to view upcoming shows, then scroll down and the expanded section remains for a comprehensive view of programs that are currently airing or will be airing soon. The Discover option is another way to view upcoming programs, but for some reason it doesn't list the channel the programs are airing on (probably to avoid duplication, but this is another oddity that both good and bad sides). The app's design seems designed to keep idiots out, so it doesn't offer a lot of options or flexibility. "Surfing" is not possible, the system needs 2 to 4 seconds to change channels. AV enthusiasts might be a little disappointed with how little control you have. things like channel scanning; There is only one option - to conduct a full channel scan. No adding channels or searching for a single channel or anything like that. Some signal information is available online at my.hdhomerun.com, which has a signal strength meter and channel signal format information display. Such information is not available in the application itself. The web signal strength meter is instant, not real-time. When you open a webpage you can't even see the device information, you have to scroll up to see it. There is an .exe file that you can download (Support/Download option at the top of the webpage) that has a real-time signal meter that you can view on your computer called hdhomerun_config_gui.exe and hdhomerun_setup.exe has more information about the tuner you can access. . To get the most detailed signal reception information, you really need both web and .exe files. The app for my Android TV sometimes crashes badly, the remote control doesn't respond at all. Logging out and restarting doesn't help, even turning off the TV and turning off the HDHomerun device itself doesn't defrost it. It turns out that the easiest way to fix this is to go to Settings (for the TV), go to Apps and "force stop" in the HDHomerun app and then reboot. Channel number, only one can be included in the channel list. I assume that the second (more common) overrides the first in the search. I really need both, but if I can only have one it will overwrite the one I want. It can also display the channel ID for the channel it is receiving, but it will display guide data for the one it doesn't have. This is a definite bug in the system software that needs fixing, and you can spot it if there are repeaters in your area. Note that ATSC 3.0 stations do not have this problem as these stations are given a prefix number to distinguish them from their ATSC 1.0 counterparts. Scanning from an Android app (probably others too) for some reason a channel that doesn't show up while searching in the channel list, but is then replaced with a channel that shows up after the scan is complete. If you start a scan and then cancel it, a channel that wasn't showing before sometimes stays on the list and you can see it now, but that doesn't usually stay for more than a week or so, sometimes just a few days. Of course, what was shown is gone now, but you have a backdoor to get the channel you want to use on the list.) No DVR option without buying the $35 annual Silicon Dust channel guide . Although the recording function appears to be there, it's lame and doesn't do anything. The pause feature is active without a subscription, but I find the fast-forward and rewind buttons pretty clunky. You press a button and wait 3 to 5 seconds for the action to complete (probably a 30 second hop). The progress bar doesn't always fast forward and rewind, and it takes practice to use it effectively. Note that the fast forward and rewind feature on recorded shows is pretty smooth and fast enough (meaning you bought an annual subscription). The recording menus are as unique as the channel guide; sometimes interesting, sometimes disappointing. You have the option to record from a specific channel, but not from a specific time interval. In addition, there are two options for recording seasons: current or all. Unfortunately, current has to mean the current season, not the season currently running on the show you want to record. For Windows (and possibly Apple and Linux users as well), the sound cannot be controlled with the Windows Sound slider, and the Sound slider in the HDHomerun Windows app does not change the volume (other than 0 volume toggles the sound mute). You must use the physical volume controls on any device playing audio. Also, to view ATSC 3.0 content on Windows, you need to download the HEVC extension for 99 cents. The device is said to draw 1 amp at 12 volts (12 watts), doesn't get very hot, the router is much hotter. flimsy and may not have the options and flexibility that AV enthusiasts want or expect, but it's a unique and interesting (and sometimes frustrating) design. I absolutely need an HDMI output. The interface is clunky in some aspects, but useful and efficient in others. Not a bad device, it might just be a little different than what you're used to.