Silicondust USA
Silicondust USA designs and sells the HDHomeRun line of network-attached TV tuners, serving consumer cord-cutters with ATSC 1.0/3.0 hardware and subscription DVR software, plus commercial clients via TECH-series enterprise tuners and the HDGrandSlam MDU system.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersPleasanton, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Silicondust USA does
Silicondust USA, Inc. is a privately held California corporation founded in 2007 that designs, manufactures, and sells the HDHomeRun line of network-attached TV tuners. The company's core technology captures over-the-air (ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0), QAM, and international DVB-T/T2/C broadcast signals at the antenna and streams them over Ethernet or Wi-Fi to viewing devices throughout a home network, with whole-home DVR functionality enabled through attached USB storage or third-party NAS devices. Product breadth spans consumer FLEX tuners (priced $109.99–$199.99, with a $299.99 developer variant), commercial TECH-series rackmount tuners ($499.99–$3,000) for enterprise multicast IPTV, the HDGrandSlam MDU TV system ($18,000 with recurring $1,000/year service) for hotels and apartment buildings, and an antenna line acquired through the 2021 HD Frequency acquisition.
The company's revenue model combines one-time hardware sales (consumer, commercial, MDU, accessories), an annual HDHomeRun DVR software subscription for recording functionality, and recurring service fees on MDU deployments. Go-to-market is plural: a product-led growth consumer motion through direct e-commerce and marketplace listings (Amazon, eBay, Newegg, Walmart); an enterprise field-sales motion targeting hospitality, MDUs, educational institutions, and broadcast outlets; and adjacent infrastructure offerings (ATSC3 Certificates, BEST CDN) for broadcasters. International DVB variants extend the addressable market to the EU, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. The HDHomeRun platform integrates with major third-party media applications — Plex, Emby, Channels, Windows Media Center — and supports DVR storage on NAS devices from Western Digital, QNAP, Synology, Asustor, and FreeNAS. The company lists Theodore Head as CEO and President and Nick Kelsey, an experienced software and embedded systems engineer, as Founder and CTO; it is privately held with no disclosed venture capital or institutional funding.
Silicondust USA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Silicondust USA
- Legal name
- SiliconDust USA Inc.
- Website
- https://silicondust.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Silicondust USA designs and sells the HDHomeRun line of network-attached TV tuners, serving consumer cord-cutters with ATSC 1.0/3.0 hardware and subscription DVR software, plus commercial clients via TECH-series enterprise tuners and the HDGrandSlam MDU system.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Silicondust USA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Network-Connected TV Tuners / Consumer Electronics
- NAICS
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (334310), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (3343)
- SIC
- Household Audio & Video Equipment (3651), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Set‑Top Box & IPTV/OTT Access Devices (Operator CPE) (HDAFAIAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Set-Top Box, CPE & Home Video Distribution Hardware (STB/Gateways/Remotes) (MPABAGAI), Video Streaming & OTT Delivery (Live/VOD, Low-Latency) (HDABAGAC)
Keywords
Where Silicondust USA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pleasanton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Silicondust USA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: One-time sales of HDHomeRun tuner devices, antennas, accessories, and commercial products. Revenue from FLEX DUO ($109.99), FLEX QUATRO ($149.99), FLEX 4K ($199.99), TECH tuners ($499-$3,000), and MDU systems ($18,000).
- HDHomeRun DVR Service Subscription: Annual subscription for DVR recording, pausing, and rewinding live TV. Free for live TV viewing; small annual subscription for recording features. Paid TV guide available for advanced auto-record.
- Commercial Products and Services: High-margin commercial products including TECH tuners for enterprise streaming, HDGrandSlam MDU TV systems with $1,000/year service fee after first year.
- Accessory Sales: Power adapters, LTE filters, coaxial cables, cooling fans, and replacement parts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | HDHomeRun FLEX DUO - 2-tuner ATSC 1.0 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | HDHomeRun FLEX QUATRO - 4-tuner ATSC 1.0 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | HDHomeRun FLEX 4K - 4-tuner ATSC 3.0/1.0 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | HDHomeRun FLEX 4K Development Edition |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | HDGrandSlam MDU TV (MDVR-16T250) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | TECH5-16US 16-Tuner Commercial |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | TECH5-4K8 8-Tuner ATSC 3.0 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | TECH5-4K 2/4-Tuner ATSC 3.0 |
| Subscription | Annual | HDHomeRun DVR Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cable Cutter Aerowave Antenna |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cable Cutter Mini Antenna |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | LPF-608M LTE Filter |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | RG59 Coaxial Cable 10ft |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels6 records
Silicondust USA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Silicondust USA designs, manufactures, and sells the HDHomeRun line of network-connected TV tuners that capture over-the-air (ATSC 1.0/3.0) and digital cable/QAM broadcasts and stream live and recorded TV over home or commercial IP networks to multiple devices. The portfolio spans consumer FLEX-family tuners (FLEX DUO, QUATRO, and 4K), accessories and antennas, a subscription HDHomeRun DVR service, and a commercial line (TECH-series rackmount tuners, HDGrandSlam MDU TV) for enterprise multicast IPTV and multi-dwelling deployments, supported by free cross-platform HDHomeRun apps.
Product overview
Silicondust USA is a network TV tuner company offering the HDHomeRun line of products — a modular ecosystem centered on hardware network tuners and companion software. The core consumer product line consists of HDHomeRun FLEX tuners (FLEX DUO, FLEX QUATRO, and FLEX 4K) supporting ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 over-the-air broadcasts plus unencrypted cable QAM, with varying tuner counts (2–4). The HDHomeRun FLEX 4K Development Edition adds specialized firmware for ATSC 3.0 protocol analysis and development. Complementary antenna products acquired through HD Frequency include the Cable Cutter Mini and Cable Cutter Aerowave. The HDHomeRun DVR Service (free for live TV, paid annual subscription for recording) combined with the free HDHomeRun App enables multi-device whole-home DVR functionality. The commercial portfolio includes TECH-series rackmount tuners (TECH5-16US-4X4, TECH5-4K8-2X4, TECH5-4K) for enterprise multicast IPTV streaming and head-end monitoring, plus the HDGrandSlam MDU TV system for multi-dwelling deployments. International DVB-T/T2/C variants serve EU/UK/AU markets. Accessories include LTE filters, coaxial cables, and replacement power adapters. Refurbished units are offered with 90-day warranties. Storage integration extends to NAS devices from Western Digital, QNAP, Synology, Asustor, and FreeNAS. Third-party media center applications Plex, Emby, and Channels are supported alongside Windows Media Center.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HDHomeRun: The HDHomeRun line of network connected TV tuners for watching live and recorded TV around the home, supporting ATSC, DVB, and QAM signals.
- Forgelink
Products and services
- HDHomeRun FLEX DUO (HDFX-2US) Network TV tuner receiving ATSC 1.0 over-the-air broadcast signals with 2 tuners, supporting live HDTV on up to 2 devices simultaneously over Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet, with USB hard drive DVR capability. Targeted at consumer cord-cutter households.
- HDHomeRun FLEX QUATRO (HDFX-4US) Network TV tuner receiving ATSC 1.0 over-the-air broadcast signals with 4 tuners, supporting live HDTV on up to 4 devices simultaneously with whole-home DVR via USB hard drive or NAS storage. Targeted at consumer cord-cutter households wanting more simultaneous recordings.
- HDHomeRun FLEX 4K (HDFX-4K) Network TV tuner supporting both ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV and ATSC 1.0 with 4 tuners (2 ATSC 3.0, all 4 ATSC 1.0), enabling 4K HDR viewing and recording on up to 4 devices, with QAM64/256 support for unencrypted digital cable. Targeted at future-proofed cord-cutter households.
- HDHomeRun FLEX 4K Development Edition (HDFX-4K-DEV) Developer variant of the FLEX 4K tuner with specialized developer firmware enabling ATSC 3.0 protocol capture (ALP PCAP, IPv4 PCAP), DASH/ROUTE/MMTP content extraction, and replay capabilities for developers building ATSC 3.0 overlay apps or analyzing broadcasts. Targeted at ATSC 3.0 developers and broadcasters.
- TECH5-16US-4X4 Enterprise-grade 1RU rackmount ATSC 1.0 tuner with 16 tuners drawing from 4 antennas; site-wide multicast UDP/RTP streaming for commercial IPTV deployments; includes signal diagnostics (dBmV, SNR, constellation plots), head-end monitoring, and static channel mapping. Targeted at hotels, MDUs, enterprises, and broadcasters.
- TECH5-4K8-2X4 Enterprise-grade 1RU rackmount ATSC 3.0 tuner with 8 tuners (4 antenna inputs, 2 tuners per input); ATSC 3.0 to MPEG-TS output conversion; multicast streaming capability for commercial deployments. Targeted at hospitality, education, healthcare, and government installations needing ATSC 3.0.
- TECH5-4K Compact commercial ATSC 3.0 tuner (3.8 x 3.8 inch form factor) with 2 ATSC 3.0/1.0 tuners and 2 additional ATSC 1.0/QAM-B tuners; suited for demanding commercial applications with multicast streaming and signal monitoring. Targeted at smaller commercial sites and ATSC 3.0 early adopters.
- HDGrandSlam MDU TV (MDVR-16T250) Multi-dwelling unit (MDU) TV system with 16 tuners and built-in 250GB storage (upgradable to 2TB); 24/7 local TV channel recording with 2-week on-demand availability; one-time hardware purchase with annual $1,000 service fee after first year. Designed for hotels, apartments, and MDU distribution.
- HDHomeRun CONNECT QUATRO DVB (HDHR5-4DT) International DVB-T/T2/C tuner for EU/UK/AU markets; receives DVB-T and DVB-T2 Freeview HD signals plus unencrypted DVB-C cable; 4 tuners with 110-240V universal power adapter. Targeted at European, UK, and Australian cord-cutters.
- HDHomeRun FLEX QUATRO DVB (HDFX-4DT) International DVB-T/T2/C tuner for EU/UK/AU markets with DVR capability; supports Freeview HD and unencrypted digital cable. Targeted at European, UK, and Australian cord-cutters wanting whole-home DVR.
- DVB-T/T2/C 16-Tuner (TECH5-16DT-4X4) Enterprise-grade 1RU rackmount DVB tuner with 16 tuners (4 antenna inputs, 4 tuners per input); multicast streaming for commercial IPTV; compatible with TSReader for stream analysis; dBm/dBmV signal level and MER display. Targeted at international commercial deployments.
- Cable Cutter Aerowave Antenna Premium mid-size indoor/outdoor HDTV antenna designed for suburban households within 35 miles of broadcast towers; tested 30% better than mid-size competitors; manufactured in the USA. Pairs with HDHomeRun tuners to receive free OTA TV.
- Cable Cutter Mini Antenna Compact indoor/outdoor HDTV antenna engineered for urban settings within 25 miles of broadcast towers; VHF and UHF signal reception in a slim 7.9 x 5.4 x 0.1 inch form factor weighing 3 ounces. Pairs with HDHomeRun tuners to receive free OTA TV.
- HDHomeRun DVR Service Subscription DVR service for the HDHomeRun platform enabling recording, pausing, and rewinding live TV; free for live TV viewing with optional annual subscription for recording functionality; works with any HDHomeRun tuner and USB/NAS storage. Targeted at consumer households wanting DVR without renting a cable box DVR.
Quantifiable outcome
- Save hundreds per year on cable rental fees by using free OTA broadcast TV
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Silicondust USA
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Silicondust USA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration16 records
Feature5 records
Silicondust USA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AmazoncoreAmazon serves as a major marketplace reseller for Silicondust products. The HDHomeRun FLEX 4K recently became available on Amazon. Silicondust has Amazon Stores for US, Canada, and UK markets, with Silicondust receiving commission on sales through Amazon affiliate links.
- eBayminoreBay serves as a marketplace reseller for Silicondust products. Silicondust operates an eBay store.
- NeweggminorNewegg is a technology products retailer that carries Silicondust HDHomeRun products.
- WalmartminorWalmart is a mass-market retailer that carries HDHomeRun products via its online marketplace.
- PlexcorePlex is a third-party media center application that integrates with HDHomeRun products for live TV streaming. Plex plugins can be used to access HDHomeRun content on various platforms.
- EMBYcoreEMBY is a third-party media server application that supports live TV from HDHomeRun hardware. Integration allows users to watch and record TV through the EMBY ecosystem.
- ChannelscoreChannels is a third-party application that supports HDHomeRun tuners for live TV streaming on various platforms.
- GracenoteminorGracenote provides video information, imagery, and EPG (Electronic Program Guide) data for Silicondust products. Content is copyright of Gracenote or its providers.
- FYI Television, Inc.minorFYI Television provides EPG (Electronic Program Guide) data for HDHomeRun products. Content is copyright of FYI Television or its providers.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Silicondust USA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tablo (Nuvyyo): Tablo is the most direct competitor to HDHomeRun — a network-attached OTA DVR with whole-home streaming and subscription DVR service, built specifically for US/Canadian cord-cutters. Same core product category, same customer pain points, same Amazon/Newegg retail presence.
- AirTV (EchoStar/Dish): AirTV is a network OTA tuner launched by EchoStar/Dish Network, bundling Sling TV streaming with free local broadcast TV. Direct overlap with HDHomeRun's network-tuner-for-cord-cutters proposition, with the strategic twist of cross-selling into Dish's satellite TV subscriber base.
- Channel Master: Channel Master manufactures OTA DVR devices (Channel Master DVR+) and a broad antenna lineup, competing head-to-head with HDHomeRun hardware. Same retail channels (Amazon, Newegg) and same cord-cutter value proposition; HD Frequency's antenna line is a direct vertical overlap.
- Hauppauge Digital: Hauppauge is a long-standing TV tuner hardware maker (PC tuner cards, USB tuners, WinTV product line). Overlaps with HDHomeRun's TECH/legacy consumer tuner category, including ATSC 3.0 tuners and commercial/headend applications.
Broad incumbents
- TiVo (Xperi): TiVo (now an Xperi business) is the legacy DVR brand spanning consumer set-tops, IPTV guides, and connected-TV platforms serving operators and broadcasters. A broader incumbent that overlaps with HDHomeRun's DVR subscription service in the cord-cutter/OTA DVR mental model but operates across a much wider DVR/services portfolio.
- Roku: Roku dominates the streaming-device category and increasingly absorbs live/linear TV functionality (The Roku Channel, Live TV guides). Competes for the same household TV-viewing time and retail shelf space as HDHomeRun, and represents the primary alternative device category cord-cutters compare against.
Emerging players
- Slingbox / EchoStar: Slingbox was EchoStar's network-attached place-shifting device for live TV — same conceptual category as HDHomeRun (networked TV tuner/streaming hardware) before its discontinuation. EchoStar also owns AirTV; comparable technology roots and operator-backed go-to-market.
Others
- Plex: Plex is a core technology integration partner of HDHomeRun for live TV viewing and DVR management, but Plex is also a competitive adjacent media-center platform with its own streaming/DVR ecosystem. Dual relationship: partnership + adjacent platform competition for end-customer wallet share.
- Emby: Emby is a third-party media server platform that natively supports HDHomeRun live TV integration. It is both a published integration partner and an adjacent ecosystem serving the same cord-cutter/whole-home DVR use case.
- Winegard: Winegard is a leading US OTA antenna and signal-accessory manufacturer. Adjacent via Silicondust's HD Frequency-branded Cable Cutter antennas and LTE filters, and the same fundamental OTA equipment customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Silicondust USA social profiles
Digital presenceSilicondust USA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Silicondust USA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Silicondust USA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Silicondust USA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Silicondust USA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Silicondust USA
What does Silicondust USA do?
Silicondust USA designs, manufactures, and sells the HDHomeRun line of network-connected TV tuners that capture over-the-air (ATSC 1.0/3.0) and digital cable/QAM broadcasts and stream live and recorded TV over home or commercial IP networks to multiple devices. The portfolio spans consumer FLEX-family tuners (FLEX DUO, QUATRO, and 4K), accessories and antennas, a subscription HDHomeRun DVR service, and a commercial line (TECH-series rackmount tuners, HDGrandSlam MDU TV) for enterprise multicast IPTV and multi-dwelling deployments, supported by free cross-platform HDHomeRun apps.
Is Silicondust USA a public or private company?
Silicondust USA is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Silicondust USA founded?
Silicondust USA was founded in 2007. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Silicondust USA based?
Silicondust USA is headquartered in Pleasanton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Silicondust USA make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hardware Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are HDHomeRun DVR Service Subscription, commercial Products and Services and accessory Sales.
Who are Silicondust USA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tablo (Nuvyyo), AirTV (EchoStar/Dish), Channel Master and Hauppauge Digital. Broad incumbents are TiVo (Xperi) and Roku. Slingbox / EchoStar is listed as an emerging player. Others are Plex, Emby and Winegard.
Does Silicondust USA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Silicondust USA.
What industry is Silicondust USA in?
Silicondust USA's product category is Network-Connected TV Tuners / Consumer Electronics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAFAIAK, Set‑Top Box & IPTV/OTT Access Devices (Operator CPE), with a secondary code of MPABAGAI, Set-Top Box, CPE & Home Video Distribution Hardware (STB/Gateways/Remotes). Its NAICS code is 334310 and its SIC code is 3651.