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
    2020-01-04T01:15:12+00:00

    I hate change, especially when that change takes away choice.  Many years ago I purchased a Hauppauge usb tv turner and was able to watch and record tv on my computer using the WinTV software.  I did this for years and was very happy.  Then, in a move to extort money from their customers, Spectrum made the asinine decision to require us to have a set-top box in order to watch tv.  Seriously?  A box?  The '80s called and they want their technology back.  So, in order to continue to watch tv on my computer, I had to get a converter box and a Hauppauge cable card reader.  I was not happy that the Hauppauge only receives local stations and in order to watch everything I had to start using WMC.  It wouldn't have been bad except for not being able to save recordings in MPEG4 instead of WTV format.  I've learned to accept it and then Microsoft up and decides to end support for WMC.  I've looked at the various options out there but it just seemed too convoluted and too much of a hassle.  Then a light bulb went off and I looked to see if there was a way to record tv manually in WMC without having to use the guide.  After all, I manually scheduled recordings in WinTV for years without the use of a guide, so I was much relieved to learn that I can do that in WMC as well.  I tested it and it worked and my angst was gone.  

    I don't know about anyone else, but I stated getting the notice that the guide data would be out of date in less than three days around December 28th.  I would hit update but would get the same notice the next time I launched the guide.  Then, on the 31st, all the data was gone.  For some reason, though, when I launched it tonight, all the data was back!  I checked and all the data is there through the 14th, when support for Windows 7 ends.  So, at least I have a couple more weeks before I have to start scheduling stuff manually.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-01-04T04:35:16+00:00

    I have the same problem and Purchased 123 program guide until July 6 but I am converting to windows 10 and will be using the new 4 channel tuner from Hauppauge and it may have its own progrm schedule. I will know more after the set up in a few days I hope.

    I even tried to download and install the modified WMC for windows 10 on another computer and it would not install.

    I can't sit and watch the programs I want since some are on at the dame time so recording and watching at my free time is the only way to go and I only know of one DVR for over the air recording but it's not promoted at all.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-01-10T01:07:45+00:00

    i have the answer and that is to purchase the Hauppauge WinTV v8 and Aiseesoft Video Converter converts to Apple TV. For when i want to watch them.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-01-12T12:44:59+00:00

    Hi Dale, I'm an ex-Microsoft employee and I've been using Windows Media Center since it was first launched, and still absolutely love it. As you say, I've been expecting this day to come. The pop-up message says that alternative guides will be available, but when you hit the "learn more" button, it gives absolutely no helpful information.

    A few months ago, I purchased a Tivo Bolt OTA (Over The Air), and like Debachu says below with his experiment with Plex, I've been running them in parallel for a few months while I switch over.

    On the plus side, Tivo has an exceptionally good tuner built in and channels come in more clearly than they do with the Hauppauge tuner that's in my PC running WMC. The overall video quality from the Tivo Bolt is exceptionally good. It also has good integration with built in apps from Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc - you can 'mix and match' programs with broadcast programs fairly easily.

    On the negative side, the overall UI just isn't as intuitive as the Windows Media Center. Just finding the shows you've recorded, or showing the "scheduled recordings" is relatively convoluted. There is a $6 a month service fee, which isn't too bad - but not totally free.

    I have not found an alternative program guide to continue using Media Center. KODI and PLEX seem to be fairly popular 'replacement programs' that run on the PC and will use the existing tuner. Tivo Bolt is ok, but the UI is disappointing.

    David

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