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
    2020-01-04T00:35:23+00:00

    I finally got it to work.  Not because of technical issues or anything, I just didn't realize that Spectrum is part of Charter Comm.  When I looked at the list of providers I didn't see Spectrum included I thought something was wrong.  Everything should have worked a few days earlier.

    Thanks everyone,

    Vic

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-01-03T04:14:08+00:00

    I spent the day of new years eve doing an overhaul of my MCE system.  I had cloned the SSD Win7 system drive and updated it to Win10 Pro a couple of years ago (when the upgrade was still available) putting it aside for this day.  Had the recordings and music on a 4TB HDD which stayed.

    A LOT of Windows Updates, two years worth (please wait...), not to mention drivers (Nvidia, Hauppauge, Intel and updates for the Silicondust HDHomeRun).   Installed Hauppauge's WinTV V10 app, which for $12.50 gives you the ability to watch TV and a very rudimentary EPG to record.  So NOT a MCE replacement, but a quick backup to record whatever programs I need recorded in the here and now.

    Found a promo code for one month of a Plex Pass, so installed that software to see what its like.  Have fumbled through setting it up.  For now, have it configured to use the Silicondust tuners, so as not to conflict with the Hauppauge app.  

    So far, the thing I notice and appreciate was how simple and bulletproof WMC was.  Plex takes a LOT of configuration and it's not as easy to use.  Extremely customizable, but kind of a pain, and am not sure everything will be recorded properly.  Still learning, very frustrating for now. 

    Also, still have my Win7 boot drive if I need to switch back to MCE using GaRyan's EPG123, should it come to that.  Or bolt WMC onto Win10 and add EPG123...  We'll see.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-01-02T19:37:22+00:00

    I found tutorial videos on YouTube that provide the steps to install an alternative guide (Part 1 is portion that provides the instructions to install the guide and Part 2 is the portion that provides the instructions for the script to make the guide update automatically).

    I haven't done it yet because I haven't had the time but thought I'd share them in case someone wants to try it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CknzzB8ViMI

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUQFznKqZgY

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-01-02T19:18:33+00:00

    I tried Plex a little with a free month.  Here's my thing:  WMC took signal directly from the tuner card and used it.  I think that Plex (if I understand) pipes the signal over wifi and back into the computer via web browser.  This makes very painful, laughable delays between switching stations, and stuttering live TV.

    I'm now trying Kodi paired with the (free) EPG and TV viewing software Next PVR.  Not going to lie that it is an adjustment, but it seems to be working at first trial yesterday.

    WMC just was so much better of a package:  relatively stable, reliable, and well put together.  It's hard to appreciate it without playing with the alternatives.  Maybe this is all just longtime user bias.  I have now discovered there are other free ways to an EPG/DVR/PVR.

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