Plex DVR Report

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gbwelly

1243 posts

Uber Geek

#208056 25-Jan-2017 10:17

I thought I would do a quick write up of my observations so far using Plex DVR.

I purchased a HDHR4-2DT 'Connect' tuner from Amazon UK. It came in at $180.

I also purchased a Plex Pass (pre-req for access to Plex DVR).

1. If you are thinking of replacing your OpenPHT client with another device, you may encounter 2 issues

a) Your client device is highly likely to require the server to transcode. I hope you have the CPU power for this, I didn't.

b) If your client device does not skip or fast forward in a responsive and accurate manner, watching content with adverts in it will be a nightmare

2. If you are familiar with a traditional guide interface you are in for a surprise with Plex DVR. Instead of the usual table of channels and times, you will be presented with shows that will be on that week. So if you want to find out what is on at 10am on Saturday you are out of luck. But after the initial confusion of this it actually makes good sense for finding shows you didn't know were even showing. Helpful for a household which never see adverts.

3. The guide data is rudimentary, so helpful Plex DVR options are less useful. For example Newshub does not appear in the News category, it is lumped in with Shows. You can only schedule shows using the Plex web interface.

4. Plex will attempt to gather metadata for shows it finds in the guide data. There is still about 50% of the shows missing cover art. Once a show has been recorded you can then use the usual interface in Plex to apply your own cover art.

5. It's been reliable so far.

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3344 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Vocus

#1709229 25-Jan-2017 10:26

Thanks for the write up.

Out of interest, what is the Plex server (OS / hardware) you are using?

Can you provide a link to the tuner you used? How many simultaneous channels can it record/play?

trig42

5809 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1709230 25-Jan-2017 10:27

Thanks,

What are you running your Plex Server on?

gbwelly

1243 posts

Uber Geek

#1709248 25-Jan-2017 10:58

I am running my Plex server on a home built Micro ATX system. It has a Celeron J1900 CPU. It is a quad core 2GHz, running Windows 7. It does perform a number of other duties in addition to Plex.

This is the tuner I purchased, it does require a mains plug adapter from UK to NZ, though this sort of adapter has a firm and robust connection so from an electrical safety standpoint I am comfortable:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SiliconDust-HDHomeRun-Compatible-HDHR4-2DT-UK/dp/B00Y2JYZOC

Other things to mention are that you need to uninstall Plex before installing the Plex DVR beta. This did not require any reconfiguration, my libraries and indexing was retained.

gbwelly

1243 posts

Uber Geek

#1709318 25-Jan-2017 12:40

ubergeeknz:

Thanks for the write up.

Out of interest, what is the Plex server (OS / hardware) you are using?

Can you provide a link to the tuner you used? How many simultaneous channels can it record/play?

Ah great question I forgot to answer. I believe it will only allow two channels to be recorded simultaneously. That said I haven't tried more (which should be technically possible as other DVRs can record all channels as there are two tuners/two muxes).

One thing which I didn't appreciate until I did a bit of reading is that there is no live TV support, and you can't play a show until it completes recording.

rb99

3422 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1709349 25-Jan-2017 13:10

gbwelly:

ubergeeknz:

Thanks for the write up.

Out of interest, what is the Plex server (OS / hardware) you are using?

Can you provide a link to the tuner you used? How many simultaneous channels can it record/play?

One thing which I didn't appreciate until I did a bit of reading is that there is no live TV support, and you can't play a show until it completes recording.

Sorry, can't resist.....and the answer to that would be...Ta Dah...Emby. Well for the live TV support, not sure about the playing until its finished recording bit. Probably also not the answer if you've already payed for Plex pass but thats life.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

gbwelly

1243 posts

Uber Geek

#1709360 25-Jan-2017 13:28

rb99:

Sorry, can't resist.....and the answer to that would be...Ta Dah...Emby. Well for the live TV support, not sure about the playing until its finished recording bit. Probably also not the answer if you've already payed for Plex pass but thats life.

The dream which didn't eventuate was to free myself from the HTPC. I did know prior to embarking on the project that live tv would not be available, it was a caveat I was willing to live with.

The plan was to replace it with an Apple TV 4 as a one stop shop for netflix, plex and FTA television all with a consistent interface and app behavior. That's when I found out about difficulties skipping adverts, and the further cost of upgrading the server if I wanted to push on with ATV4.

rb99

3422 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1709384 25-Jan-2017 13:46

I hope your HomeRun works out really well for you. Am quite jealous as (far as I can tell) SiliconDust just will not do any DVB-S stuff, which is what we're stuck with here.

As a bit of a fan, am just pointing out Emby will do LiveTV, though personally I haven't got further that testing it out occasionally on the Main PC/server, which has a PCI-E DVB-S card in it. Also can't really say how good (or bad) it is at pausing Live TV. It will also send Live TV to my Laptop from Main PC. May well work sending live TV to a TV 4 as there is a TV 4 app, though again, haven't got one, so how it is in practice....

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

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allio

885 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1714373 2-Feb-2017 11:14

rb99:

Sorry, can't resist.....and the answer to that would be...Ta Dah...Emby. Well for the live TV support, not sure about the playing until its finished recording bit. Probably also not the answer if you've already payed for Plex pass but thats life.

And the answer to THAT is... ta da... tvheadend + kodi! Free, and does everything described in this thread :) perhaps not such a pretty interface when you're doing the initial set up but works very well. Also I realise this is going even further in the opposite direction from "freeing yourself from the HTPC".

My setup uses Kodi as the frontend, with tvheadend and emby as the backends. Kodi uses the pvr-hts plugin for live TV and emby addon for other media. Emby also has a tvheadend plugin but I can't see any benefit to my recorded TV going through emby rather than directly to Kodi.

I actually quite like the sound of the Plex guide, i.e. presenting the content only and completely hiding the airing time and "what's on now" aspects. However I do quite like channel surfing too so this could never be a one-stop shop for me.

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1714382 2-Feb-2017 11:29

theres a bunch of hdhomerun apps you can use for live tv. i have one on my xbox one, android tv, theres a kodi addon etc.

so i would schedule via plex (or any dvr you like) but use the hdhomerun app for live tv.

gbwelly

1243 posts

Uber Geek

#1714392 2-Feb-2017 11:41

allio:

rb99:

Sorry, can't resist.....and the answer to that would be...Ta Dah...Emby. Well for the live TV support, not sure about the playing until its finished recording bit. Probably also not the answer if you've already payed for Plex pass but thats life.

And the answer to THAT is... ta da... tvheadend + kodi! Free, and does everything described in this thread :) perhaps not such a pretty interface when you're doing the initial set up but works very well. Also I realise this is going even further in the opposite direction from "freeing yourself from the HTPC".

My setup uses Kodi as the frontend, with tvheadend and emby as the backends. Kodi uses the pvr-hts plugin for live TV and emby addon for other media. Emby also has a tvheadend plugin but I can't see any benefit to my recorded TV going through emby rather than directly to Kodi.

I actually quite like the sound of the Plex guide, i.e. presenting the content only and completely hiding the airing time and "what's on now" aspects. However I do quite like channel surfing too so this could never be a one-stop shop for me.

What is the state of Netflix support under this setup?

Netflix' refusal to offer a remote friendly 10' app for windows is a strong driver for me.

dan

1134 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1714431 2-Feb-2017 12:36

gbwelly:

1. If you are thinking of replacing your OpenPHT client with another device, you may encounter 2 issues

whats the connection here between OpenPHT and the DVR ?

gbwelly

1243 posts

Uber Geek

#1714439 2-Feb-2017 12:54

gbwelly:

1. If you are thinking of replacing your OpenPHT client with another device, you may encounter 2 issues

a) Your client device is highly likely to require the server to transcode. I hope you have the CPU power for this, I didn't.

b) If your client device does not skip or fast forward in a responsive and accurate manner, watching content with adverts in it will be a nightmare

dan:

whats the connection here between OpenPHT and the DVR ?

The connection here is that you will probably want to use a Plex client to connect to your Plex Server to watch your shows recorded by Plex DVR. By my observations OpenPHT can do two things which positively impact the Plex DVR experience:

a) can direct play your Freeview New Zealand DVR recordings

b) can skip forwards and backwards.

dan

1134 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1714441 2-Feb-2017 12:58

gbwelly:

gbwelly:

1. If you are thinking of replacing your OpenPHT client with another device, you may encounter 2 issues

a) Your client device is highly likely to require the server to transcode. I hope you have the CPU power for this, I didn't.

b) If your client device does not skip or fast forward in a responsive and accurate manner, watching content with adverts in it will be a nightmare

dan:

whats the connection here between OpenPHT and the DVR ?

The connection here is that you will probably want to use a Plex client to connect to your Plex Server to watch your shows recorded by Plex DVR. By my observations OpenPHT can do two things which positively impact the Plex DVR experience:

a) can direct play your Freeview New Zealand DVR recordings

b) can skip forwards and backwards.

i get ya, yes openPHT is a kickass client for plex. hope your using the Aeon Nox skin with it :) (im on the Aeon Nox skin team)

allio

885 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1714979 3-Feb-2017 14:52

gbwelly:

What is the state of Netflix support under this setup?

Netflix' refusal to offer a remote friendly 10' app for windows is a strong driver for me.

Non-existent, as far as I know. There are unofficial addons which constantly break.

I use either the app built into my TV or Chromecast.

jat80

240 posts

Master Geek

#1717845 9-Feb-2017 19:08

I have an HDHomerun connect as well but currently don't use plex yet for DVR functionality as it is subpar at the moment even through I do have a dedicated Plex media server.

I use an ATV4 and the channels app to view live tv (via the HDHomerun) and it is amazing. Hands down the best freeview interface IMO but obviously only can be used on the ATV4 and IOS devices. The app is expensive ($34 or there bouts) but worth every penny.

Channels do have a DVR beta program but it's for the USA and Canada at present but iy also costs ($8 USD). So even if they do release it for NZ I don't really want to pay another fee on top of my plex pass sub for DVR functionality unless it's absolutely amazing.

Until Plex sorts out it's DVR problems (well for kiwis anyway's) I'll live with out a DVR service for now. Hopefully the issues they have with Gracenote and the EPG data gets sorted soon.

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