SiliconDust HDHomerun Flex 4K First Look
MostlyBuilds takes a first look at the HDHomeRun FLEX 4K network tuner.
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SiliconDust HDHomeRun FLEX 4K
A four-tuner network antenna tuner with NextGen TV on two of its tuners, for live TV and DVR on every screen in the home.
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The verdict
A strong choice for households that want antenna TV on several screens and the option to use Plex, Emby or Channels instead of the maker's app. Buy it for the four tuners and wide app support rather than for NextGen TV alone, because only two tuners receive ATSC 3.0 and encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels may not play. One Reddit owner reports about four years of dependable use.
The HDHomeRun FLEX 4K plugs into a TV antenna and your router, then streams live broadcast channels to the free HDHomeRun app on TVs, streaming players, phones and computers around the home. All four tuners receive ATSC 1.0 and unencrypted QAM cable channels, and two of them can also receive ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV). A USB hard drive turns it into a whole-home DVR. SiliconDust warns that DRM-encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels may not work, in which case the tuner switches to the station's ATSC 1.0 version where one exists.
Strengths
- Four tuners let up to four channels play or record at the same time across the home.
- Two of the tuners receive NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) broadcasts where local stations offer them.
- The free HDHomeRun app runs on Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Google TV, Xbox, phones and computers, and Plex, Emby and Channels can use the tuner too.
- With a USB drive attached, pausing live TV and one-off recordings set up to three days ahead cost nothing extra.
- Covered by a 2-year warranty.
Weak spots
- SiliconDust says DRM-encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels may not work, so some NextGen TV channels fall back to ATSC 1.0 or are unavailable.
- Only two of the four tuners can receive ATSC 3.0.
- There is no built-in storage: recording needs a USB hard drive, and series recordings need a paid guide subscription.
- Its only network connection is 100BASE-TX Ethernet, so it has to be wired to the router or a network switch.
Great for
- Watching antenna TV on several TVs, phones and tablets at once
- Plex, Emby or Channels users who want a network antenna tuner
- Homes with a wired network connection near the antenna cable
Skip if
- Viewers who mainly want encrypted NextGen TV channels
- Setups with no Ethernet connection to the router
Full specifications
From the manufacturer unless noted. Shown for this model.
Overview
- Type
- Other
- Key specification
- Network TV tuner with 4 tuners: 2 receive ATSC 3.0 and ATSC 1.0, 2 receive ATSC 1.0 only, and all 4 tune unencrypted QAM64/256 cable; 100BASE-TX Ethernet; USB port for a DVR hard drive up to 18 TBsource
- Works with
- Free HDHomeRun app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV and Android TV, Xbox, iPhone and iPad, Android phones and tablets, Windows 10/11 and Mac; also plays on DLNA devices and works with Plex, Emby and Channelssource
Warranty
- Warranty
- 2-year warranty
Primary source: shop.silicondust.com
Setup notes
- Connects to an antenna by coaxial cable and to the home router by Ethernet; the free HDHomeRun app then finds it on the network.
- All four tuners receive ATSC 1.0 and unencrypted QAM64/256 cable channels; ATSC 3.0 works on two tuners only.
- SiliconDust says some ATSC 3.0 channels are DRM encrypted and will not work at this time; the FLEX 4K then uses the ATSC 1.0 version of the channel when the station still broadcasts one.
- Per SiliconDust, broadcasters can use ATSC 3.0 DRM to block viewing outside the home, limit which players can show the channel, require the original tuner to be present for recordings, block third-party apps, and make recordings expire or forbid them.
- NextGen TV availability varies by area and by station, according to SiliconDust.
- For DVR use SiliconDust recommends a USB hard drive of 500 GB or more (about 150 hours of recording), supports drives up to 18 TB, and advises against USB thumb drives.
- Series recording and scheduling more than three days ahead require SiliconDust's Full Guide DVR subscription.
- Runs from a 12 V, 1 A power adapter; the USB port supplies up to 1.0 A at 5 V with the included adapter.
Video reviews
Each video was checked to exist and to be about the SiliconDust HDHomeRun FLEX 4K.
HDHomeRun FLEX 4K & PLEX DVR
AV NIRVANA – Home Theater and AV FORUM
Accompanies AV Nirvana's written review and walks through connecting the FLEX 4K and setting it up as the tuner for a Plex DVR.
HDHomerun 4k Flex quad OTA/CATV tuner - our thoughts
A family channel shares its impressions of the FLEX 4K as a four-tuner antenna and cable TV tuner.
What reviewers found
Summaries in our own words. Follow the link to read each review in full.
In this 2022 hands-on review the FLEX 4K was easy to install, pulled in strong signals and served as the tuner for a Plex DVR. Plex could then use its tuners only in ATSC 1.0 mode while it waited on Dolby audio licensing, although the reviewer noticed much better sound on ATSC 3.0 channels in the HDHomeRun app. A wired network link is advised.
Read the original
What owners are saying
From Reddit and forums, paraphrased with a link to the original discussion. Community reports are anecdotal.
After roughly four years with the FLEX 4K this owner is still happy with it. They find the HDHomeRun app has improved but prefer the third-party Channels app, and say it runs well on all of their Apple TVs.
Read the originalThis owner pairs the FLEX 4K with Plex to time-shift NFL games and stream them to devices around the home, and reminds newcomers that all four tuners handle ATSC 1.0 while only two take unencrypted ATSC 3.0.
Read the original
Questions
Will the HDHomeRun FLEX 4K play every NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) channel?
Not necessarily. SiliconDust says some ATSC 3.0 channels are DRM encrypted and will not work at this time. When that happens the FLEX 4K uses the channel's ATSC 1.0 version if the station still broadcasts one.
Do I need a subscription to record shows?
Not for basic recording. With a USB hard drive attached, pausing live TV and one-off recordings set up to three days ahead are free. Series recordings and scheduling further ahead need SiliconDust's paid Full Guide DVR subscription.
Does the FLEX 4K have Wi-Fi?
The tuner itself connects to the router with Ethernet. Once it is on the network, TVs, streaming players, phones and computers can watch over Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
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Last reviewed Nov 10, 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.