Windows Media Center Electronic Program Guide Alternatives

Anonymous

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

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Anonymous

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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Anonymous

2020-01-18T11:07:34+00:00

Tks Dale.

Just about to instal W10 so as WMC won't instal and run I'm just about to embark on a new round of issues using the AverTV ext USB tuner and it's software.

Barry
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Anonymous

2020-01-18T17:05:39+00:00

Hi. Tks for your reply.

I have stuck with W7 - up until now. But I know that WMC won't work with it (which is why I stayed with W7).

Just about to embark on installing W10. I have an ext USB tuner.

That is the main reason I have been looking at alternatives such as Channels or NextPVR, to be able to use something with official Windows 10 support.

I don't really like that idea of forcing software to work on a system, long term, when it isn't supported by the manufacturer.
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Anonymous

2020-01-19T20:35:05+00:00

Understood about wanting support from the manufacturer, thats why I played with Plex and WinTV. Looking forward to hearing about people's experiences with Channels, etc. Still want to play with Emby and HDHomerun DVR, but for now, the main living room PC setup is going well on W10 / WMC. Still can't get over how much of a difference there is between the Nvidia 1030 card vs the 730. Never could get the extender to work, but am living OK without it.
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Anonymous

2020-02-01T19:24:46+00:00

Ain't no way I'm gonna spend $25 a year for EPG123 when the fact is I watch TV less than 1 hour a day . I'll revert to looking up TV guide on the web , just as in olden days.
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