I was very excited to setup my new HDHomerun and record OTA TV via Plex running on my NAS.
First, I could not find a way to get the DVR to work on the NAS Plex server. Out of frustration I ended up configuring my desktop PC as my Plex server instead.
Sure enough, the HDHomerun was found instantly and with new Pass I was able to start recording a show. Cool! or so I thought.
I then went to see how the program looked on the Plex Roku, because silly me, I like to watch TV on well, a TV.
Sorry, you cannot watch a show while it’s being recorded. I guess 15 year old DVR technology is beyond Plex’s developers.
I then attempted to record another show. Nope. Can’t do that via the Plex Roku app either. So if I want to record another show, I have to head down to the basement to my PC and record from there.
I should have learned after falling for the Plex/Alexa fiasco. Plex really needs to be more honest AND clear about what their software can and can’t actually do.
I’m starting to feel like they must be owned by the cable companies so that they can make cutting the cord a worse experience that sticking with cable.
Thank goodness I only purchased a monthly Plex Pass.
@Daviator said:
I should have learned after falling for the Plex/Alexa fiasco. Plex really needs to be more honest AND clear about what their software can and can’t actually do.
The Roku app is not on the list to apps that can record. https://support.plex.tv/articles/226463767-frequently-asked-questions-dvr-live-tv/
That makes the Plex DVR virtually useless. What’s the point of having a DVR for your TV if you cannot control it via the TV?
Oh wait, this is the same company that claims Alexa “support” only all you really get is the ability to shout commands at a device instead of pressing a button or two.
Plex needs to be more upfront and honest about what they truly can and cannot do. Luring suckers like me with the promise of functionality that doesn’t really exists and then only revealing the missing key features in the fine print is NOT a way to keep and add customers. Fortunately I’m only out $4.99.
@Daviator said:
That makes the Plex DVR virtually useless. What’s the point of having a DVR for your TV if you cannot control it via the TV?
DVR and Live TV are two different but related things as they both require the tuner. The DVR is the server not your TV.
Oh wait, this is the same company that claims Alexa “support” only all you really get is the ability to shout commands at a device instead of pressing a button or two.
The whole point of Alexa, whether using Plex or not, is to use voice commands.
I still think that if Plex advertises that their DVR application works with Roku then it should FULLY work with Roku. The object here is to cut the cable cord and make the viewing experience as convenient as possible. Call me old school but I still watch TV on my TV.
I will admit that I did not read the fine print and so I am not balking at spending $4.99 for a trial month of Plex Pass but I am certainly relieved that I did not purchase the Lifetime subscription.
As for the Echo, I cannot say “Alexa, play the music on my Plex (local network) server”. Rather I have to open the Plex app on a supporting device and then tell Alexa to do some very limited things. If I have to manually open the app on a device then at that point I might as well just click or tap to play my music without yelling it across the room.
@BigWheel said:
@Daviator said:
That makes the Plex DVR virtually useless. What’s the point of having a DVR for your TV if you cannot control it via the TV?
DVR and Live TV are two different but related things as they both require the tuner. The DVR is the server not your TV.
Yeah, but having to schedule a program on your PC instead of being able to do it right away on your TV is not convenient.
BTW, in 2006 (!!!) I was using MythTV: I could watch while recording and I could schedule recordings on my TV. 2006. More than 10 years ago. Needless to say that it also worked flawlessly back in 2006. No bugs, no inconveniences … it just worked.
Plex really needs to make their interface more ubiquitous. I too never thought to check if something as basic as initiate a recording was on the ROKU interface after seeing it on the AppleTV). Yes, the documentation does call it out but there are some basic minimal requirements for a DVR that should be there (especially BEFORE VR, …)
- Previous channel toggle
- Control recording
- Grid Guide
- Program info screen
- Options management
Plex really needs to make their interface more ubiquitous. I too never thought to check if something as basic as initiate a recording was on the ROKU interface after seeing it on the AppleTV). Yes, the documentation does call it out but there are some basic minimal requirements for a DVR that should be there (especially BEFORE VR, …)
Agreed. To me “DVR” means certain functions should be a given. I never needed to ask a car dealer if brakes were included.
@Daviator said:
Plex really needs to make their interface more ubiquitous. I too never thought to check if something as basic as initiate a recording was on the ROKU interface after seeing it on the AppleTV). Yes, the documentation does call it out but there are some basic minimal requirements for a DVR that should be there (especially BEFORE VR, …)
Agreed. To me “DVR” means certain functions should be a given. I never needed to ask a car dealer if brakes were included.
Stop complaining. We got VR, News and a new privacy policy! Let’s celebrate and be happy about what an awsome company Plex is …
I agree with much of the sentiment expressed here, albeit not entirely.
I have an Amazon Echo and a Oculus Rift but I don’t need or care to use Alexa or VR support with Plex. I also question the logic of the availability of such features when it is so clear that much work still needs to be done on Plex Live TV / DVR (server and Client).
Having said that, I don’t see Plex as a “Cord Cutting” solution or at least not with specificity. Plex DVR has CableCard support and has had it since the earliest beta release so clearly the design objective wasn’t a simple “cord cutting” solution but rather a solution that cord cutters and cable users alike could use. This is true of many PC / software DVR solutions.
IMO, it is to the development teams credit that they aimed to support so many different client platforms. Its ambitious to say the least. Currently the disconnect between feature set with respect to the supported client hardware is concerning though.
I have AppleTV (4th gen), Amazon FireTV (4K), Apple iOS devices, PS4, Xbox One and LG 4K Smart TVs with Plex app support. I tried Roku but didn’t much care for it, although, I am interested in trying an nVidia Shield. It would be ideal to have all the features as well as the look and feel of Plex on these platforms have real continuity.
Right now, the newest version of the Plex app for LG Smart TV’s is dated some time in early 2016. While not necessarily out of sorts, I’ll add that the latest Emby app for LG Smart TV (WebOS) was released about ~30 days or so ago (IIRC).
The point is, yeah, Plex has a lot of work to do on feature set parity. It is reasonable to assume a minimum feature set for Live TV / DVR and Plex is falling short IMO. I don’t think there is fine print though. Plex is fairly upfront about supported tuners, server platforms and client platforms IMO.
