Currently running a Plex server. PC Specs
i7 7700k 4.2GHz
16GB 3200 DDR4
4TB Mech Storage (Will upgrade)
Client devices currently
-2 iPads
-1 Tivo Roamio OTA (Primary)
-1 PC
Don’t really care about external network access, but would like to provision for it.
Looking at replacing the Roamio with a live TV server.
Plex server currently has a ton of media, but now that their OTA software is maturing I’m looking at adding a tuner to my network, and replacing the TiVo with a Gaming console (Want Blu Ray, Access to Sling for primary TV, and more configurability would be good)
Question then is what is the best way to go as far as the actual tuner? PCIe Card or HDHomerun Connect quatro.?
I’m planning to keep my PC up to date, but it’s also a primary workhorse for the family. Games, Work and general purpose activities are all expected to run simultaneously to dual simultaneous streams. I’m not opposed to upgrading the processor for this.
ETA, for my home media server, I’m looking at an XBOX one X. My goal is to have a universal media hub. Is that going to do the job well?
Thoughts?
I would and did go for the Quatro. I’ve used many a tuners over the years from several different companies and I’m now partial to the HDHomeRuns.
It’s hard to not like this device. You can use it with apps on the computer, tablet, phone, Live Channels as well as DVRs like Plex, Emby, NextPVR, etc at the same time. Compared to a PCI card this can be a major advantage.
You never know if your next server might be a NUC size platform or even a small box like an Nvidia Shield (or whatever replaces it next). Having the tuner on the network gives you a lot of freedom an internal does does have.
The Quatro is a nice device. IT has 4 tuners built in and it supports Multi-Rec (if the software does) which means it allows you to record/watch more than 4 stations at the same time if the channels share a mux. For example 29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 29.4 in my area all use the same mux. With the right software all 4 stations can be recorded using only 1 tuner.
The Quatro also supports Silicon Dust’s new Premium TV Service which gives you 45 network channels for $35 a month and allows you to record from them using any software that supports the HDHomeRun which is a nice bonus to keep in mind.
Pony up the few bucks more this costs over a competing PCI card and you’ll never look back!
Yes. The thing that i’ve noticed lately is that these latest standalone tuners are much more handy in physical placement for best reception. Jez my 2c.
regarding the hdhomerun premium service, be advised that plex currently does not support the multiple channel guides required to make it work correctly.
whether they ever will, is unknown.
Other solutions for plex do exist, however that will require extra work and maintenance on your part.
While I understand this is a new service/feature from hdhomerun, I am supremely disappointed that for whatever reason HDHR and PLEX did not work together BEFORE the release of the product, to ensure it works correctly on the platforms that HDHR supports.
Whether this is HDHR fault or PLEX’s, is unknown, but either way it looks bad for both companies and products.
That said, I tried the premium service and it works great outside of plex. I would continue using and probably cancel most every other streaming I have and use it exclusively, once it works properly with plex dvr without any outside effort on my part.
also, one other thing, I thought I read somewhere there is a 6 tuner device in the works. you would need to confirm that yourself, if that was something you were interested in.
the quatro is sufficient for my needs, and if necessary in the future its easy to add another.
@WillieBuckMerle, most excellent point I didn’t mention. Yes for some people being able to have the tuner in a different location then your server is a big deal. You could have a HDHomeRun in an attic or basement (shortest antenna cable) and run Ethernet from there. This cuts way down on cable loss for a stronger signal!
@TeknoJunky, once you get to more advanced setups it’s best to just source your own guide data and feed Plex an XMLTV.XML file anyway. So this isn’t a deal breaker but Plex itself doesn’t help in anyway regarding this.
Heck just for one OTA device I can’t get a proper lineup from Plex/Gracenote as it wants to give me only one market and I need 2 broadcast markets just for one antenna.
