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
    2020-01-12T13:53:17+00:00

    Thought that i would post an update to my previous post.  As I mentioned before I’ve been running Plex and windows media center in parallel for the last couple of months. I also purchased the EPG 123 programming guide for use with windows media center as an alternative to the microsoft guide. In short, both are working well. The Plex works fine and the guide that comes along with the flex pass is fine. The only thing about the Plex is that the response time is not always the best when you want to fast forward or rewind while watching a show. The nice thing about Plex is that you can watch it outside the house, on your phone, or laptop, at gym or in hotel while traveling. The best part of windows media center, is it works fine with the alternative epg123 guide and you get the very nice windows media center interface. Quick response times easy to set up recordings, stuff like that. so bottom line, is that for I’m still going to run the windows media center install using epg123 as the guide as my normal day-to-day TV watching set up, I still have Plex running on the same computer, that I use to store audio books and shows that I know that I’m gonna watch while I’m out of the house.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-01-12T12:48:36+00:00

    YES … I have the Microsoft Lumia 950XL and it is a fantastic phone. Best phone and best camera ever made, but unfortunately apps are not getting updated and some have dropped support entirely (the latest two have been Bank of America and United Airlines, both of which I really depend on). Uber still works, thankfully.

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  3. 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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  4. 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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