That sounds fairly typical. It's the kind of thing I run into all the time. 

If you do go a NAS route, then install Plex on the NAS as it will then act as a Server for local Plex apps such as those on the Mi Box (This is what I use), if you buy the lifetime licence then you'll be able to have different profiles which will provide per profile remembering of what has got to where...  a more convenient, however more expensive, version of the SQL database etc... With Plex, you then don't need Kodi which I've found the mi box struggles with and instead can just use the Plex app.

Benoire:

 

If you do go a NAS route, then install Plex on the NAS as it will then act as a Server for local Plex apps such as those on the Mi Box (This is what I use), if you buy the lifetime licence then you'll be able to have different profiles which will provide per profile remembering of what has got to where...  a more convenient, however more expensive, version of the SQL database etc... With Plex, you then don't need Kodi which I've found the mi box struggles with and instead can just use the Plex app.

 

I noticed that the Kodi UI looked a little splintery in the MiBox 4K.  I was reading today about a Kodi fork called SPMC, which supposedly behaves better on AndroidTV. 

I'm not sure I would go as far as installing Plex unless I have to.  It's another thing to buy/install/manage.

I'm quite happy for whatever drive I end up with to just it there and let Kodi/SPMC read files off it. 

I don't need/want any sophisticated functionality. 

Then again maybe once I dip a toe in the water there will be no stopping me ... and I'll end up with small server farm in the lounge.

I have been using both Kodi and SPMC. According to Playstore, the official version is 16... something but I couldn't get that to work with anything. The developer has gone on to some Alpha 17x versions, of which the latest is 17.6 Alpha 2, available here. I have not had any issues with SPMC at all. I am not a high end user but for me it has been completely stable and bug-free. Before I upgraded to the current version, I was running 17.2 Alpha 1 (if I remember correctly) and it also worked perfectly. The developer says he is only focussing on SPMC for the Shield, but I have also been using it without problem on my Chinese Android box, which uses a different chipset.

If you go the NAS route, I would pay a bit more and go with a 4-bay model. An adequate 4-bay Synology/QNAP/Asustor will run you to around $700 without disks, and will allow for much better storage and cost-efficient use of disks than a 2-bay model.

If you have the budget, I would purchase 4 disks and put it in RAID5 for fault tolerance, and it should chug away happily for many years. If you don't have the budget, start with one drive in JBOD and add more as needs and budget dictate. A 4TB NAS-rated drive costs circa $250.

And I second @Benoire's suggestion of running Plex. Honestly, for media streaming, it is superb and very user friendly. I run it on an elderly Atom-powered Asustor NAS, and it hasn't missed a beat in nearly 5 years.

MikeAqua: ... That's half the problem solved ... but I still get the AndroidTV Storage and Reset page self-opening.
Searching so far suggests that if I designate the USB stick 'internal storage', that will stop happening. But from what I've read it will no longer be compatible with a window-PC.
So every time I want to add media files, I need to swap in a second USB-stick (windows compatible format) with updated files and format it to internal storage.

Have you considered approaching the subject from the other end?

• You could always make a share on your PC and then

   

  • Have Kodi access the share directly
  • Use a File explorer on the Mibox to copy the files from the PC share to your USB device
• Previously, I loaded TeamViewer on my Android device and then used the 'transfer file' functionality. Not the fastest solution, but certainly functional if you plan ahead. Need to watch something right now? See above.

IcI:

 

MikeAqua: ... That's half the problem solved ... but I still get the AndroidTV Storage and Reset page self-opening.
Searching so far suggests that if I designate the USB stick 'internal storage', that will stop happening. But from what I've read it will no longer be compatible with a window-PC.
So every time I want to add media files, I need to swap in a second USB-stick (windows compatible format) with updated files and format it to internal storage.

 

Have you considered approaching the subject from the other end?

 

• You could always make a share on your PC and then

I live in two cities. I have no personal PC in the apartment.  My only personal PC (an early surface pro) stays in the house in a different city. Hence the need to mess about with USB sticks. 

I realise this is very counter-geek but I want the simplest solution possible, given my living arrangements

Based on what I have read, it could have been ES File Explorer causing the storage and reset page to pop up.  So I need to see if that issue stops now that ES has been removed.

JimmyH:

 

And I second @Benoire's suggestion of running Plex. Honestly, for media streaming, it is superb and very user friendly.

 

How would a NAS respond to being powered off frequently?  I live in an apartment complex, and stray remote signals from other apartments (windows all open onto a common courtyard) can cause my TV to turn on, so I turn the TV, MiBox modem and wireless router off at the wall when I am out or asleep. 

Would a NAS tolerate that or would it need to be shut down properly or best running 24/7?

MikeAqua:

JimmyH: ... running Plex. Honestly, for media streaming, ...

 

... Would a NAS tolerate that or would it need to be shut down properly or best running 24/7? 

No, yes & yes.

 

1. The NAS is running an OS of some kind. Also, you have disks potentially being written too. A sudden power loss is not ideal.
2. Because its an OS, there is a shutdown function that you can use as often as you like. In my experience, there is no significant wear & tear on the hard drive having to stop & start regularly.
3. The convenience of 'always on' is great.

With Plex, you can 'share / publish' your collection over the Internet. That means you could load the Plex app on your Mibox and access your NAS back home across the 'net.

For me, Plex is a pain because it seems to like mouse interaction. It is not friendly with arrow keys on a remote.

the Android TV app is fine via the Bluetooth remotes supplied, all buttons work as expected and its neat and easy in my opinion.

IcI:

 

For me, Plex is a pain because it seems to like mouse interaction. It is not friendly with arrow keys on a remote.

 

But not on Android TV.

Personally I find it better than Kodi (and I used XBMC when it first came out on xbox).

Regarding being powered off, a NAS is much happier if it's shut down properly. But I power mine on when I get home at night, and power it off when I leave for work in the morning. I have been doing this for nearly 5 years, and nothing has failed yet.

I'm also confused about you "stray signals". This shouldn't matter for a NAS. I shut mine down using its web client and this requires an admin password to be entered. I'm not sure how a stray remote signal from another apartment could possibly power it off unexpectedly - they would need to log into your network, enter the correct user name, and enter the correct password to effect a shutdown.

Regarding clients:

1. In the bedroom I use a Raspberry Pi with one of those little cheap palm-sized wireless keyboards. It works fine. All up cost was circa $100 ($60ish for the Pi, rest for the power supply, case and keyboard).

2. In the lounge I use the app on the smart TV and the remote. Again it works fine and doesn't seem particularly mouse-centric.

If you study this thread, especially from around the point indicated, you will find all the information you need. If you have any other questions, you can PM me.