Want to watch live TV on your Mac? The HDHomeRun is a magic box that puts OTA TV channels onto your home network, and viewing them on your Mac is super simple. For the purposes of this guide, we're using the HDHomeRun tuner. There are alternatives, but the HDHomeRun has the best global availability so it applies to more people for what we're explaining here.

Products used in this guide

On your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac search the App Store for WWDC or Apple Developer (or click this link) Download and open the Apple Developer app, then tap Account in the bottom right corner.

• The Mac: Mac Mini (From $799)
• The magic box: HDHomeRun Connect Duo ($100)
• The antenna: ClearStream 2MAX ($60)
• The software: Kodi for Mac (Free)

How to setup HDHomeRun

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Once you've unpacked the HDHomeRun and you've gathered all the parts that came in the box, follow these steps.

1. First, connect the HDHomeRun to a wall outlet.
2. Connect your OTA TV antenna to the back of the HDHomeRun.
3. Use the included Ethernet cable to connect the HDHomeRun to your router.

How to set it all up on the Mac

Once you see a green light on the back of the HDHomeRun, head on over to your Mac.

1. Head to myhdhomerun.com in Safari.

2. The site will now detect your hardware.

3. At first setup, you'll need to click on detect channels for any HDHomeRun you installed on your network.

4. To view TV, download the HDHomeRun for Mac software.
5. A terminal window will open and check for any firmware updates.

6. Open the HDHomeRun app from your Launchpad or Applications folder.

The app is what you'll use to watch TV and interact with the HDHomeRun DVR service, if you subscribe to that. The DVR service is excellent value at $35 per year, and once set up you'll be able to watch recorded shows on your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV with the use of the third-party app, Insta TV.

The app will also automatically take care of any firmware updates for your HDHomeRun hardware. At any time you can rescan your channel lineup, check on the system status, firmware and tuner status from within the myhdhomerun.com web app. So it's a good idea to stick it on your favorites bar.

Using Kodi

If you have loftier ambitions for your Mac when it comes to TV and home media, Kodi might be of interest. The free and open source media center application is up to version 18, Leia, and has a version for the Mac.

Kodi has support built in for the HDHomeRun, all you have to do is enable the HDHomeRun PVR add-on from Kodi's TV add-on browser, and the software will pull in your TV channels and guide data into Kodi's native interface.

If you just want to watch TV, then using the HDHomeRun app will be an easier solution. But if you want to build a true media center with TV just a part of it, then perhaps explore using Kodi and see what it can do for you.

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Our top equipment picks

If you want to watch OTA TV on your Mac, the HDHomeRun is easily the best piece of kit for the job.

Magic box

HDHomeRun Connect Duo

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Watch TV in every room with ease

The HDHomeRun is a magic little box that makes it easy to watch TV in any room of your house, regardless of where your antenna is.

It supports just about every platform you can think of and is easily one of the most versatile products on the market for anyone interested in cordcutting or home media centers. Pair it with the DVR service and you get to save your favorite shows to watch back whenever you like.

Additional Equipment

If you're looking to make a home media center from your Mac, there's no better choice than the Mac Mini. And Kodi might well be the software you're looking for.

Apple Mac Mini(From $799 at Apple)

The Mac Mini makes a great home media PC for the living room thanks to its small size.

Kodi for Mac(Free at Kodi)

Kodi is an amazing piece of software to build a home media center from, and it has built-in support for HDHomeRun.

ClearStream 2MAX($60 at Amazon)

The ClearStream 2MAX can be mounted outdoors or indoors (like in an attic). It includes a 20-inch J-mount mast, and a 20dB amplifier.

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Get a mount for your Mac Mini

These Mac mini mounts protect and hide your computer at the same time. Each one is simple to use and ready to buy now. Here are some of our favorites.

Apple TV App User Guide

The TV Shows pane in the Apple TV app contains all of your favorite TV shows and Apple TV channels, including recommendations based on your taste and viewing history.

Once you find a TV show you want to watch, you can choose how to watch it if it’s available on multiple channels. If it’s available to start playing immediately, you’ll get the default channel that lets you watch it in the highest-quality version.

Browse featured and recommended TV shows

1. In the Apple TV app on your Mac, click TV Shows at the top of the window.

2. Scroll to browse featured TV shows, genres, and collections.

   Recommendations appear based on your tastes, or past viewing or purchase and rental history (If you like The Daily Show, for example).

   To see more TV shows in a category, swipe left or right on the trackpad with two fingers, or click See All.

3. Click a TV show to see previews, ratings, descriptions, and viewing information. To return to TV Shows, click the Back button .

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Pick a TV show to watch

1. In the Apple TV app on your Mac, click TV Shows at the top of the window, then click a TV show.

2. Do any of the following:

   • Play the TV show: If the TV show is already available to you as a purchase or on an indicated channel, click Play to start watching it immediately. See Control what’s playing in the Apple TV app on Mac.

   • Subscribe to Apple TV+: Select “Try Apple TV+ Free” or Subscribe, then follow the onscreen instructions to confirm your subscription.

   • Subscribe to an Apple TV channel: Click “Try [channel] Free” and follow the onscreen instructions.

   • Buy an episode or season: Click Buy then select the option you want and confirm your purchase.

   • Add an item to Up Next: If you want to watch the TV show later, click Add to Up Next to add it to the Up Next row in Watch Now.

     The Add to Up Next button changes to In Up Next, indicating the item is added.

   • Remove an item from Up Next: Click In Up Next.

3. To get more information, scroll down to highlight a row or column, then do any of the following:

   • Browse seasons and episodes: Click an episode, or move the pointer over the row and click the left arrow or right arrow to see more episodes organized by season. When you select an episode, you’ll be able to pick which channel you want to use.

   • Browse related TV shows: Click an item in the Related row, or move the pointer over the row and click the left arrow or right arrow to see more items.

   • Explore cast and crew: Click a person in the Cast & Crew row to see biographical information and associated movies and TV shows, or move the pointer over the row and click the left arrow or right arrow to see more people.

   • See viewing options: Scroll to the How to Watch row to see all of the available ways to watch the TV show in the Apple TV app, with pricing options.

     Some content and apps are available with a subscription. To sign up, select the item and follow the sign-up process using your Apple ID.

   • Get additional details: Scroll to the bottom of the screen to see ratings, descriptions, and other information.

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