Windows Media Center Electronic Program Guide Alternatives

Anonymous
2019-10-02T00:29:35+00:00

I've recently received a popup on my Windows Media Center home screen stating that the Electronic Program Guide will not be available after January 2020.  I've long expected this day.  The popup gives you a click option for alternatives to the EPG, but the link it takes you to is a nothing link for generic guide troubleshooting (I got the same popup on my Windows Media Center Extender.  Clicking on it rebooted the extender).

Are any 3rd party EPG alternatives even in the works?  I am trying to figure what my next DVR setup will be and need to get on it.  Am thinking of getting an Amazon Recast box, but kind of want to see if they have a second generation (with larger HDDs) in the works.  Thinking about SiliconDust's HDHomeRun stuff, or perhaps rolling my own with Plex or something.  Again, having an EPG is paramount.  

For what it's worth - I've bought into WMC since the beginning - I was the lead factory escalation engineer for a vendor's line of Media Center products - it will be like saying goodbye to an old friend, and even though it was pretty much abandoned in place for the past ten plus years, there was someone there to make sure it still was working.  Just a thank you to the Windows Home team...

-Dale

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

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Anonymous
2019-10-28T00:53:58+00:00

Hi,

For what its worth I am also a long time WMC user and hate to see it go. However, in anticipation I've set up a Plex server and have been running it in parallel with WMC the last couple of months just to see how it would work as a DVR. You had to buy a one time DVR license from Plex which I think was around $80 (it's normally more than that but they were running a special over the summer). The one time fee was another reason that I decided to try Plex versus some of the other options that had recurring fees.  Anyway, I've been using Plex with my OTA antenna and an amazon firestick and it seems to be working fine without any EPG issues like the ones that always seemed to be popping up with WMC. As an added plus I can also stream from my server to my phone which comes in handy at the gym. 

Regards.

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-02-16T21:20:57+00:00

    Hi thanks for all the comments. I've now upgraded to W10 and use an AverTV dongle for TV. This comes with a free programme guide. All works extremely well.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-02-16T19:32:37+00:00

    I also noticed it kept updating a couple weeks ago and wondered how much longer it would last.  I have noticed, however, the guide is not always accurate.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-02-06T21:53:49+00:00

    I noticed it came back too. Let's keep our fingers crossed. I would hate to deal with a workaround program. I really like WMC. Definitely an underappreciated program. 

    2/19/20  Now the programs are listed, but the times are way off! I was hoping MS gave us a gift, but now not so sure. I guess I'll have to go back to  entering  each program to record using the date/time program method in WMC.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-02-06T20:42:29+00:00

    Yes, the guide refreshed again and I've been wondering the same thing. What happened?

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