OK - this one is a bit more complicated and still needs some work.
Network Based Tuners
I've got a HDHomeRun that provides two network based tuner, you just install the HDHomeRun app on each PC (adds the BDA drivers) and the HDHomeRun box acts as a bridge from the Coax Aerial to Ethernet - very neat. So all I have to do then is scan my channels etc on the main PC that is the MC Server. The library server client PC's now can see, play, record as all the devices as the same.
Local (USB/PCI) Based Tuners
I think there will still be trouble with this as each PC could have a different HW/SW combo for the TV Device so a one size fits all approach is still going to cause trouble.
Recording from Network Based Tuners
Now this one is good. If you config all your PC's to record to the one location - eg \\SERVERNAME\Media\Video\TV Recordings\ and your MediaServer PC auto imports that folder, then each PC can record their own stuff and it then be available to all the PC's with a couple of issues:
1) you have to reload the library on each client to see any changes including TV recordings (see main Library Server issues post on this)
2) there seems to be a Meta Data problem with how it is imported, see pic below....The top recording was done for the PC running Library Server, and the bottom one for a PC running the Client. Both seem to have no duration, and the bottom one a very special date (as well as a wrong time, poor title etc)!
Thanks
Nathan