HDHomerun Prime + Time Warner/Spectrum

This is just FYI to anyone considering trying the Plex DVR feature. If you have Time Warner Spectrum the HD Homehome Prime will NOT work correctly with the TV service. What I discovered is most channels have DRM on them, and the HDHomerun does not support it. Therefore you will not have many channels available to you. The product in general was also quite glitchy. So IMO probably not the best partner for Plex. Not sure if there are any alternatives.

I agree as far as using it for a DVR service. If you have it set up correctly you can still view the DRM channels on a windows 10 PC with the app. I’m still searching for work arounds for what you just mentioned.

Tivo might be the only viable solution. Paired with TivoToGo.

Hello all, and allow me to bust the cherry. Not sure if this is the appropriate place to post this… but sure seems relevant. I have spent countless hours on the phone with TWC / Spectrum trying to secure a Cable Card. For those who are unfamiliar with TWC… understand that a simple request for a cable card will set you back several hours… if not indefinitely, depending on you perseverance.

After 15 CSR’s, 6 hours, and massive stroke medications, I finally have a lead on a Cable Card that may, or may not, show up at my house. Turns out, the last person I spoke with should have been the first. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A GROUP OF STUPID PEOPLE! For those of you that have to deal with TWC / Spectrum… good luck! “Promises to make and promises to keep”… what a joke!

Anyway, I digress. The post above stating that I will find noting but problematic interface is troubling, at best. Here I am trying to take positive steps to remove these clowns only to find that they have systematically made this process impossible. I cannot attest to this entirely yet, as I have not connected my equipment, but I have some questions that may change the end product.

A little back story may be in order here. I have installed a structured media panel and wired my abode with gigabit Ethernet. I have Ethernet drops in every room and dual coax drops as recommended by the committee called “they”. I have built the most “bad ass” server for Plex that I could think of with my limited knowledge.

While I have paved the way for all the best things to happen, I still have a few “stupid” TV’s floating around. The challenge here is to make old technology work with new. I have read massive tomes trying to find the best way to move forward and never found a viable way out.

To be blunt, I have 3 TV’s that are outdated. Obviously, I have spent some good money to update my network. Is it better to purchase new TV’s vs. the cost to make them work? I have Ethernet to the back of each set in question but don’t know how to make it work. All I can find is how to generate Ethernet over coax. Just trying to bridge the gap from “dumb” to “smart”.

@lossofbreath Hey, I always appreciate someone else’s horror story regarding cable companies. This is as good a place to vent as another.

Just an fyi, I have 5 Smart TV’s and one dumb TV and have separate devices connected to each for viewing my own media.
(3) Roku’s (1) FireTV connected to my brother’s and sisters’s TV’s.
(1) Chromebox (Kodi with Plex for Kodi plugin) and an Odroid C2 (OpenPHT) connected to my TV.
(1) MiBox connected to a dumb TV in an outdoor living area.

Nice quote… 2 for flinching!

The totality of my hatred for Time Warner can never be captured properly in writing. They have asked me to return equipment and I have told them that if I bring it to them that I would just simply run it over in the parking lot as they watched! I have had some pretty epic battles with them including some snide emails to the VP. Surprisingly, he had the balls to answer, but that was about it.

I see the MiBox in your arsenal, and I have been considering the Amazon Fire TV. The benefit of my Prime account stands alone and has a big influence. I guess the best question now is WiFi vs. hardwired. The purpose of the structured media panel was an effort to eliminate my WiFi load and reliance. Trying to make everything “direct connect” and struggling to find the right answer. As a note: I really hate getting rid of something that works properly, IE my dumb TV’s. They will probably work long after the Zombie Apocalypse and then some. I would replace them, under protest, if the cost to make them work rivaled the reward… which is what I seem to see thus far.

Any ideas on adapters or Macguyver type “super double secret” work arounds to connect these dumb beasts direct? BestBuy and Amazon love me but my wife despises our relationship…

Try a Roku on your dumb TVs. (All of them would not be a bad idea)
Roku 3s and above provide Ethernet connections with HDMI output to your TVs

Was staring at them and it seemed like a great fit. Thought about the Prime bit, and my massive OCD and figured it was all or none. I have all this intelligence delivered to the device but don’t know how to put the square peg in the round hole.

Not sure what you mean??

Roku’s seem to be the best “bang for the buck” for most folks. Most of my connections are wired - I picked up the Wireless only MiBox because of the price and the place I’m using it doesn’t have a wired connection. Don’t know about the newer FIreTV. I was very disappointed in the first generation of FireTV’s.

Like the look and benefit of Amazon, like the functionality of Roku. Hands down, via my research, Roku will handle my IQ inept TV’s. While I secretly laughed to myself with the square peg (Ethernet) and the round hole (Coax) I suppose there is something left for translation. Not sure if there is any other technology to bridge the issue I feel I face. I have my intact LAN that I am trying to push to various devices that don’t currently have the ability to accept. Trying to figure the best way to make this happen.

TV is that old?? No HDMI input???
The Roku has the square peg input (Ethernet) and HDMI output.
If the TV does not have HDMI… LOL then time for a NEW TV I think!

Ha Ha… I thought you weren’t allowed to shame anyone here! It is that old, and yes… they will never die for me to properly put them out to pasture. Are you giving me a permission slip to go to BestBuy? I won’t tell the wife, your secret is safe with me!

Astrofisher - Are you steering me away from Fire TV? I have no idea… so if you have some insight that would be fantastic.

LOL
Yup make the Best Buy trip…
You won’t be disappointed with the Roku either…

The FireTV is fine - it’s Plex App’s development (or lack thereof) is the problem.

The Roku 3 is, by far, the most stable of the Roku line and it’s Plex App is far superior to any I’ve used. Active development is clearly evident.

The last time I looked for one of these it was $57. Today - $49:

I share your ‘deep love’ for cable companies.
My condolences.

With respect, could you guys open a separate thread for streaming device evaluation? This thread is for discussing solutions to Time Warner / Spectrum and Plex, and getting around their DRM issues.

I haven’t tried this combination but Ceton is another company that makes a cable card ethernet tuner. Windows Media Center or MediaPortal would be needed. Has anyone tried this?

Here is the lastest and greatest supported tuner list. They even mention “unencrypted” channels… so yeah.
https ://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/225877427?mobile_site=true

@robertcaretta said:
With respect, could you guys open a separate thread for streaming device evaluation? This thread is for discussing solutions to Time Warner / Spectrum and Plex, and getting around their DRM issues.

‘Getting Around’ DRM issues is topic verboten here on your friendly Plex Forums (that’s why were were more than happy to derail a thread destined to be locked), a topic better suited for Google and your own typing skills (unless you live in China), but there’s one sure way to legally circumvent restrictive practices by your Pay TV Provider - stop using them and install an Antenna. How will they ever learn anything if you don’t punish them for misbehaving? Broadcasters welcome any and all to their material and are thrilled for you to use it any way you feel is appropriate.

Broadcasters would LOVE it if you’d watch those advertisements they’re broadcasting, but you not watching some isn’t going to make it any cheaper for those buying time slots and filling them with advertising. Broadcasters also don’t seem to take it personally when you work-around them - like your Pay TV Provider does.

@JuiceWSA - thanks for your unsolicited opinion. IMO antenna TV sucks. I’m looking for a viable way to view DRM content from Time Warner Spectrum, which I pay for. Read the whole thread. HDHomerun doesn’t work.

I’m not surprised it doesn’t work. That’s kinda the point of DRM and why most folks would love it’s inventors to be burned at the stake. On TV. Unencrypted.

Your friendly cable company doesn’t want you fiddling around in there. You may be able to watch something you record, once, on whatever you recorded it on, unaltered, or some ****, but the minute you start wanting to fiddle with it, it’s curtains. Right?

Did you ever Google up a solution to that unspeakable problem yet? That OX has to be gored first and he’s a nasty bastid.