Server Version#:
Player Version#:
Tuner Make/Model:
Guide/Lineup name:
Using XMLTV?:
Channel number/Name:
I don’t have all that info at this moment–I do run updates regularly. I have an HTPC running plex server with a 4 tuner HD homerun tuner and use Fire Stick on my TV’s.
I’m watching/recording football OTA. I prefer to allow it to run for an hour or so, then begin playback–at least that’s how I prefer to do it with a DVR that works. When I select the program in PLEX, it offers WATCH LIVE or WATCH FROM START. WATCH FROM START does NOT work. AT ALL. When I attempt to rewind, after it failed to start from the beginning of the recording, it bounces around randomly. When I’ve managed to get the recording to rewind to some extent and begin watching, the fast forward fails to function properly.
It works okay in playback of a completed recording. Any help would be appreciated.
I get it now. I did not see the previous threads going back to 2018.
I’ve used the HDHomerun software before and IIRC the DVR works okay, but $35 per year kind of frustrated me. I guess I had forgotten the DVR capability was only for the first year without subscription.
I looked in to some of the alternatives like NextPVR, but if you donate to the developer and pay the $25 per year for schedules direct, it’s a push at best. I don’t mind paying for the service–hence why I paid for the PLEX subscription. Just want it to work.
IF you want a very simple DVR, the EXUBY device works, but it’s just for one channel and no network capability and program guide is terrible and limited. You can sneaker net the harddrive/thumbdrive.
Back to HDHomerun, I’m going to buy the servio hard drive addition which when combined with the tuner, makes a standalone DVR. First year free DVR, then $35 per year I guess. Hopefully they will improve their software as I’m not a big fan of it.
For NextPVR, you can also use XMLTV for your guide (i.e. no cost). I believe there are numerous ways to get the xml. I use zap2xml and it builds a very reliable and detailed epg for me. Note that the Zap2Xml site is gone – but you can still get the downloads through the internet archive.
Would recommend you try out Emby. I have the same setup you do (front and back end) and it works flawlessly (including for your use case). The DVR isn’t free, same lifetime cost as Plex Pass, but you can try it for $5 for a month; I did and paid lifetime within two weeks happily. Check back here periodically to see if I can get new value from my Plex investment (besides Plex Amp, which I really like). But for the DVR I have had no complaints since switching (and they answer tech support questions fast, sometimes within minutes).
Channels DVR is probably the best out there, though a bit pricy at $8/month or $80/year (IIRC) and they don’t have any kind of lifetime license option. They also offer just the live TV app for $25/lifetime, which is what I use for watching live TV usually.
I also use Emby for my DVR since I could get a lifetime license for it, and it’s been rock solid for the last couple of years. The only real (minor) complaint I have is that it takes about 10 seconds to tune a channel, so that’s why I typically use Channels for browsing. From what I understand though Emby has also been working on a huge overhaul for their live TV features for a while now, so I’m looking forward to that being released.
My HTPC is pretty old–I think I built it in 2012. It works okay, but I worry about hardware failure as well as the i3 cpu being able to keep up with the load being a potential weakness. If PC parts weren’t so ridiculous right now, I would build a new one, but that’s going to have to wait a few years.
I ordered the Servio to match to my HDHomerun Quattro. I’ll have the HDHomerun software for a year. So, that all acts as a standalone DVR solution and doesn’t require the HTPC to do anything.
Regarding NextPVR, I tried to use XMLTV for EPG, but it didn’t do anything–I’m sure I need to review the wiki and figure out what steps I skipped or screwed up.
In all this cord cutting stuff, there are a few things that I don’t like–one is keeping track of numerous different subscriptions. I looked at the budget and I’m pretty sure I’m way way ahead over DirecTV satellite I used to use, but this is a lot more more effort. I just want to get to a system that works without constant tinkering/tweaking/fixing.
Watch from start is completely broken on Android clients, including Amazon Fire TV clients, at this time. It works reliably on everything else I’ve tested (Roku, iOS, tvOS, web). I sincerely hope that this is something which is being addressed. If you have a Roku device, or can stomach the $25 investment in one, I suggest using that in the interim.
Emby poses its own set of problems. Specifically, web client playback is completely broken if you attempt to seek past the currently buffered content; you have to stop the stream entirely and start it again to recover. The oft-repeated refrain that Emby solves all on these forums is far from accurate.
I think that comes back to “does it solve MY problems”. Which is what everyone is looking for.
For now, the Servio with a year of HDHomerun DVR will be here on Friday. Hopefully it will work for me.
Like most, I like the PLEX interface and the things it does well like movie server. Hopefully they will figure out the problems and get it working right.
Thought I’d do a follow up on this. I did add the HD Servio to the my quad tuner and I’m using the HDHomerun app on Firestick. I used this arrangement to watch the NFL games this past weekend. I’m not a fan of the HDHomerun grid/channel presentation, but, other than that, it worked perfectly. I was able to delay start and then watch the games without issue. HDHomerun does a 30 second skip when you press the fast forward button --this function worked flawlessly.
The aspect I didn’t test is recording multiple programs simultaneously and/or doing playback.
I do prefer the Plex interface and EPG layout as well as it’s got all my media. What I cannot figure out is how to add the Servio to the Plex library. It’s not inherently obvious how to get Plex to look at a remote hard drive, so I’m still looking for the answer to that issue.
Map the drive locally using whatever facility your server’s host OS provides. Then, point Plex to that locally-mounted drive.
What is required to mount a network share varies from system to system; however, it’s generally fairly straight-forward. If Linux is involved there could be additional concerns with permissions.
All Windows based. I had seen something about mapping the drive to the server PC, but the Servio doesn’t show up on the network page of Windows explorer and I didn’t have time to go further with it.
I think I recall someone saying I may have to map via IP address. Will check in to that when I get some time.
The Servio is only for use with the HDHomeRun software and their DVR service. It is not for third party software. It’s the reason I did not consider getting any of the HDHomeRun devices with a Hard Drive. SInce I was going to be using Plex DVR.
Not to mention it’s much, much cheaper for me to add my own storage with Plex DVR. For the price of a 2TB Servio, I could add an 8TB drive for Plex DVR to use.
