Media Center Extenders, Where Have They All Gone?

[gomerpylevw]

Am I the only one on the planet that is looking for a media center extender so I can use a new Ceton or Silicon Dust tuner solution throughout my home? I have searched the internet for a good 2 hours this morning looking for a media center extender since these new tuners that are being released in a couple of weeks tout 4-6 tuners you are able to use these throughout multiple end-points. I didn't know how these work.

So, I look up the documentation on the main two (Ceton InfiniTV 4 and Silicon Dust HDHomeRunPrime) and they both say that you can access the tuners via Media Center and on the PC but then go on to say that you can view them on your TV. So, I was curious how this works and continued reading. They then state that you need to obtain a media center extender to access the tuners on a TV. So, I start googling for media center extenders and run into a few of them......ALL OF WHICH WERE PRODUCED FROM 2005-2007!!!! What the heck??? Now it seems, the only extender available is the XBOX360? Am I wrong? If so, someone please point me in the right direction as to where I can obtain an extender. I also read on the Microsoft Windows 7 Media Center page that DVD players can be used as an extender. How? Are there certain models? Do I have to develop the extender for the player? I have a Samsung wireless Blu Ray player and it has things like netflix on it but I'm not aware of anything close to media center extensions.

Please help someone

 

[Desslok]

I haven't looked for a while, but ebay usually has a decent supply of the Linksys DMA2100. Occasionally you will find one of the discounters like tiger Direct have a sale of old-new stock, but most likely your best bet is getting a used one. The good news is that some of the new Tuners coming out are network accessible so you can just use one of the inexpensive mini PCs.

 

[gomerpylevw]

Is The Extender Program Dead?

Thanks for the info on looking around for old equipment but my question was why are there no new ones? If I buy an old refurb from Newegg or Tigerdirect or eBay for that matter, will it work with Windows 7?

As for the mini PC solution, I'm not crazy about the idea of spending $200-300 on a small PC that has to sit behind or beside a tv in a bedroom that is not solid-state-based and has high possibility of failing. I have at least a little faith in the extenders. Are there no manufacturers currently producing extenders?

 

[Desslok]

Thanks for the info on looking around for old equipment but my question was why are there no new ones? If I buy an old refurb from Newegg or Tigerdirect or eBay for that matter, will it work with Windows 7?

As for the mini PC solution, I'm not crazy about the idea of spending $200-300 on a small PC that has to sit behind or beside a tv in a bedroom that is not solid-state-based and has high possibility of failing. I have at least a little faith in the extenders. Are there no manufacturers currently producing extenders?

The only extender currently made that I am aware of is the xbox. Well I suppose you could get a small SSD foir teh mini PC if you are worried. But most cable/SAT company DVRs use regular HDs.