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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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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
    2019-12-27T02:28:27+00:00

    Anyone know how to disable the notification everytime I press guide it warns now!  I switched guide provider after it failed to download a couple years back, but it's still warning me regardless!

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-12-27T20:17:53+00:00

    I noticed the same thing.  I was about to switch guides, but this could be a deal breaker,  particularly when using the MC Extender.  For what its worth, my Guide shows no entries past 4PM Pacific on Dec 31, 2019, so that must be the actual MS Guide cut-off.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-12-28T18:00:21+00:00

    I definitely prefer something that wakes the computer.

    Honestly, would it have killed Microsoft to keep offering the guide?

    I really just record a handful of PBS shows.  I will probably just set it up manually.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-12-30T02:50:24+00:00

    I heard of MythTV as an open-source alternative to WMC.  Anyone used this, and thoughts about it?

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