I have a Netgear router that has the ability to act as a media server. You can plug in a flash drive or external HD and access it remotely. Could this theoretically work for Plex? I’d have to have my computer on and that drive on my comp, but it should work, right?
It will work.
Turn off the DLNA service of your router.
The USB connected devices will appear as network drives to the PC your PMS is running on.
Just point the PMS Library to those devices.
However I do not recommend that as your only storage for media since as your library grows you will run out of space.
The USB ports on router usually do not allow USB Hubs for much expansion.
Better to use a NAS or USB connected devices to your PMS PC.
Also, as I remember, (Unless you have the new Nitehawk with Plex Media Server built in) Netgear uses Twonky which will do NO transcoding for you. In any event Routers, even ones with Plex built in, do not have enough horsepower to transcode anyway. You will experience buffering if any serious transcoding or multiple users occur.
Thats interesting. Thanks for answering my question so thoroughly!
It seems as though my remote access always has trouble buffering. i get about 3mbps up right now. could that be the reason?
What is your Plex Media Server running on?
What bitrate are the files encoded in?
Is your server transcoding??
What bitrate is set in your Plex Client Apps??
Heck I limit my remote streams to 3mbps each. (I figure my friends only get 720p or that is all I need remotely on my phone, tablet or laptop. LOL)
