06 September 2025

Replacing HDHomeRun tuner

Since my HDHomeRun Connect died in a lightning storm possibly due to static build-up. I bought a replacement HDHomeRun Flex Duo as well as a lightning arrester/suppressor with a ground.

Here are the ones that I went with:

  • $109.99 HDHomeRun Flex Duo: Link
  • $17.95 Proxicast Coaxial Lightning Arrester/Suppressor: Link

I had considered the 4 tuner with ATSC 3.0 support, but with the threat of the channels becoming encrypted and the increased price made me go with the duo.


Device Setup

  • Add the lightning arrester/suppressor between the antenna and TV tuner and attach a ground wire
  • Plug in antenna, ethernet, and power into the HDHomeRun
  • Assign the HDHomeRun a static IP in your router
  • Reboot the HDHomeRun
  • Update the firmware: http://hdhomerun.local


Preparing Docker

setup.yml should be a copy of the mythtv docker-compose.yml, but update the image to dheaps/mythbackend:setup and add VNC_PASS=<super_secret_pass> to the environment section. Some key portions are:

  • network_mode: host
    • otherwise mythtv-setup will not be able to detect your HDHomeRun
  • hostname: <your_hostname>
    • otherwise mythtv-setup will use whatever generated hostname docker feeds it
  • environment variable VNC_PASS
    • the password to connect to VNC


Starting Docker

First and most importantly make sure your mythbackend is NOT running. I did this with:

  • docker compose down
  • docker ps

Next is starting the docker containers for mythtv-setup:

  • docker compose --file setup.yml up


Running Setup

Connect vnc to <ip_address>:5900. Then you will get prompted with several questions.

  • Add user to mythtv group? NO
  • Ignore the error and continue? NO
  • Would you like to start the mythtv backend? NO
  • Would you like to run mythfilldatabase? NO

After answering the questions,  I got dumped to the terninal.

On the command line run:

  • mythtv-setup.real

When done with setup exit with ESC and make sure to save changes if prompted. Then close vnc and press ctrl-C on the terninal running the docker container.


Appendix

Troubleshooting

  • mythweb: Unable to connect to 127.0.0.1:6543
    • in setup make sure that under General -> IP v4 address is set to the correct IP

Sources


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