More and more DIRECTV users are reporting that their AM21 antenna modules have stopped working. For what it’s worth, we told you this was going to happen. Unfortunately, DIRECTV stopped selling the unit about 18 months ago and from the point of view of their engineering division, they’re not doing anything to make sure it works with new hardware or new software. As long as it works for you, that’s great, but if it stops, well you’ve been warned.
So what can you do if you still want to distribute antenna TV to all your TVs but you don’t want to run more cables? There is an option, at least if you have an AppleTV already at several locations.
It’s called HDHomeRun, and it’s been around a long time. It was originally designed for the old Windows Media Center as a way to capture over-the-air TV into your PC. It’s evolved into a way to get that same content on all your mobile and streaming devices.
Combined with an app called “Channels” it lets you view live TV over any mobile or AppleTV device. It’s as easy as it ever was, except the channels no longer appear in your DIRECTV guide. There’s even limited DVR functionality rolling out in beta form.
Yes, I have to say that if you already had an AM21, it’s an expensive way to keep getting over-the-air TV, but most likely that AM21 has served its time and I think that you’ll agree, streaming to devices like AppleTV is really the future of all video, not just over-the-air video. This is your opportunity to be an early adopter, just like you were back in the 2000s when you first jumped on the AM21 in the first place.
Here’s a video produced by ModernDad showing how it works.
Of course, the HDHomeRun is available at SolidSignal.com!
