When I go to the plex website and look for available channels in my area, I can see the channels from my cable provider listed in there as available. Since I have that provider, I tried connecting the cable to my tv tuner card but it’s not finding the channels. Can you hookup a cable box to Plex? If not, why are the channels listed there? If i connect the cable directly without the cable box I don’t get any channels either, probably encrypted.
1 Like
You would need to use a tuner device (not your TV) such as the HD Homerun Prime for Cable TV service. Plex will only work with non DRM channels available from your cable provider.
Is there a difference between HD Homerun and HD Homerun Prime. Or are those the same boxes?
SiliconDust makes different HDHomerun tuner devices. They make several for Over The Air (OTA) reception. They only make one for Cable TV which is the Prime. I will also add that if you look online there is talk of a new version of the Prime to be released soon which will have 6 tuners in it, the current model only has 3 tuners. A tuner is needed for each show you would want to be recorded or when watching Live. You may also need to rent a Cable Card from your Cable Provider. Depending on your Cable Provider you may find channels that are protected by DRM protection which Plex will not work with. In my area with Spectrum, I discovered that all channels except for one CSPAN and one other channel were all DRM Protected. So my Cable Card went back to Spectrum and my Cable TV was cancelled. I use only OTA tuners now in my Plex setup. You might also want to review the Support Article and the Frequently Asked Questions for DVR & Live TV.
3 Likes
Are there any plans for Plex to display the protected channels? I’m currently using the prime but just annoyed how a few stations a protected. I realize the HD app and WMC still allow you to watch the channels.
There are currently no plans to display encrypted channels.
After looking at some information on the SiliconDust website, it looks like this item will only work in the US. I am currently in Canada so I guess this option won’t work for me. 
For the Prime yes it only lists as for US. The other devices in image below show as available in Canada. Sorry not familiar with Canada cable service to say whether any of them would work.
Thanks for the quick reply. Another question. I’m in the LA area with Spectrum so other than contacting them ( which generally is like pulling teeth!) Is there a section in the forums that advises what service plan’s work best with prime. Since they have like Basic , Choice …etc Where ie The Discovery Channel works fine through plex or The History Channel is protected so plex won’t be able to access?
Or is it more trial an error. I contact Spectrum have them change my tv package and see what works?
There really aren’t any guides to which services work well with different providers. Primarily because the channels that are not DRM Protected can vary in different areas with the same providers. I have Spectrum in my area as well. When I dropped DirecTV about 6 months ago I tried to setup a HDHR Prime I had for a few years back when I had cable previously with Time Warner, now Spectrum. Got a CableCard from Spectrum, got it activated with their 800 line Tech Support, and discovered every single channel except one CSPAN and one other Channel were DRM Protected so will not work with Plex. I immediately took the CableCard back to Spectrum and dropped their cable service. Now just use my OTA service with the antenna mounted in my attic.
2 Likes
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.
