I have plexserver running on windows server 2012 R2 and I have 5 chromecasts in the home. I love that apple and android phones in the house are the remote controls running the plex client
The only glitch with my system is mkv files greater than 7 gig stutter during playback.
Having never used or touched a raspberry pi or Linux or Unix, I can’t help but wonder if replacing the chromecast with a pi running rasplex would give me better performance with these large files as I have a live cat5e connection.
Is the raspberry pi running rasplex a better client than chromecast? And how would I control it.
The rasplex will direct play more formats that the chromecast and wired connection is generally more reliable than a wireless connection.
You can control rasplex the same as chromecas via browser or apple/android phone, you can also control it via HCMI CEC using the TV's remote or via a universal remote if you add a IR receiver.
I was using Plex with a Roku 1 and a Samsung TV. The TV worked with everything as it direct played, whereas the Roku would direct stream most things and playback was very hit and miss.
Last week I went for a Raspberry Pi 2 running Rasplex and it direct plays everything just like the TV and is so much better. It handled a 16GB file fine and that was running across a powerline network.
Also, I was pleasantly surprised to find it also handled DTS sound.
I've only had one file that stuttered, but this was in a different format (MPEG4) to others that are generally h264.
I bought just the Pi, SD card and connected it to a spare phone charger. I didn't even need a keyboard as you install the software from your PC onto the SD card and then after that, you can control it using the Remote from an Android Plex app.
Really neat and very impressed.
Thany you so much for the replies. I may buy one of these just to play with it and see how it works
Thanks so much
Max
