I’ve looked through the FAQ’s and one simple question that I haven’t found an answer for is this: do I have to have a DVR card in order to use the Live TV functionality?
I have all requirements listed in the FAQ (Plex Premium, correct Plex Media Server version, and most up-to-date iOS version), but do not see any changes in the interface to allow playback of live tv and as I don’t have a DVR card or anything, obviously have not activated the DVR functionality and cannot since the first step is searching for the card itself?
Seems like this question should be more obviously answered in the FAQ…
I would expect it wouldn’t show up if you don’t have the DVR feature configured. Even in the web interface the Program guide and Recording schedule sections don’t show up until the DVR is configured. If they did it would just be clutter for those that don’t use the feature.
@zer0defex So if you have no tuner device/cards setup for Plex to utilize where exactly would Plex get the signal to play TV for you? No tuner device = no TV service to play/record.
In that case, why not simply have it as another channel that can be toggled like the iTunes channel in the Server Preferences?
I think a lot of users are going to be confused by this as the FAQ’s and the announcement never make it clear that the Live TV functionality is only supported if a DVR card is present and DVR functionality has been activated.
I can’t imagine I’m the only one that was expecting from the announcement something akin to channelpear.com functionality.
If by pretty clear you mean it’s an inferred assumption by Plex enthusiasts (far beyond the standard user base), then perhaps, but even that is stretching it. I’m failing to understand why such a simple question cannot be answered in the official FAQ for this live TV service when the entire email announcing this new feature adds this requirement as a tiny font legalise “*” footnote. It’s quite annoying share 20TB+ of content and having to explain to users that no, live tv, despite the pretty email is NOT available due to understated, overlooked requirements not made abundantly evident in the Plex newsletter.
From the Plex.tv homepage I clicked on the Learn More link on the “Introducing Plex Live TV & DVR” announcement, takes you to this page: https://www.plex.tv/features/live-tv-dvr/. About 2/3 the way down the page you find this image that can’t possibly spell it out any clearer.
Yes, but you have to realize Plex has thus far been a digital only service, so expecting it to offer something akin to https://channelpear.com is only logical. If I was looking for a DVR based service, I would go for something like a TIVO which offers all of the same functionality without the hassles of having to first ensure the DVR card is compatible with Plex and secondly, having to still have a cable TV subscription which negates the entire point of cord-cutting from the major cable providers.
If I were so interested in TV DVR functionality, most modern cable TV providers provide this same functionality out of the box if not only to directly complete with those Plex/Kodi boxes now available out there.
I’m curious, why are you so dead-set on adding ONE more simple frequently asked question to the Live TV FAQ? Isn’t that the entire point of the FAQ in itself. I guarantee I’m not the only one to ask this question and believe me, I am not the only one to ask this question. So I’m VERY curious as to your pushback as to why a simple question like this shouldn’t be added to the FAQ for Live TV functionality?
Especially considering this post has gotten over 125 views already, greater than 90% of the front page posts in this forum right now. So it would seem I’m not the only one that thinks this is a point of obscurity that should be further clarified.
I don’t think they are against adding frequently asked questions to the FAQ… but you’re the only person I’ve seen ask this, not really making it a frequently asked question.
As for your statement: “Secondly, having to still have a cable TV subscription which negates the entire point of cord-cutting from the major cable providers.” you are not required to have a cable subscription of any sort, over here in the UK i am making use of all of my free to air channels, 156 in total, which adds so much more media to my fingertips.
I think you should really look into the DVR & Live TV side of things before your first 6 posts become the ones you are remembered for
“Yes, but you have to realize Plex has thus far been a digital only service, so expecting it to offer something akin to https://channelpear.com is only logical.” - the whole point of the DVR and Live TV was to bring Plex into another part of the market, not to stay in the one they are so well seated in.
I really cant see how you expected this to work, and totally ignored all of the parts stating you needed to setup a Tuner device first…
My first 6 posts the one I’m remembered for? Did you really just say that?
Seriously, did you really just say that asinine comment?
When you’ve been apart of this community since 2009, YOU can feel free to comment. Don’t talk to me about number of posts when you joined this community in 2014 you condescending filth.
Are you able to read? As I clearly stated in my original post I ran through all the available FAQ and documentation upon launch to verify my question was not answered.
As @johnm_ColaSC has stated, if you had clicked the learn more button on the email you received, that you state you had read you would have seen the image he has screenshotted and you have ignored, along with a list of compatible tuners…
That’s great, go ahead and point me to the location that states if I only want LIVE TV and NOT DVR functionality that additional hardware is required. I’ll wait since you’re new to Plex.
That’s great, they did go ahead and add that section to the page after I posted this comment.
The original page visible here did NOT have that ENTIRE section about TV tuners being required hence why I posted my comment on the day it was released, visible here:
Which now begs the question why the antagonistic response to a simple question asked here? “@teshiburu” (pronounced: waaaaaaah) trying to assert my post count as a means of asserting authority while having registered and participated in this community literally YEARS after I joined this community and @Willizxy attempting to rate my reading comprehension as “****”, also having registered YEARS after I joined this community and both, BOTH (!) failing to comprehend that the Live TV explanation pages, like all web pages, can be subsequently updated after launched. Sheer Idiocy.
Really quite a shame what the plex “community” has become since all of these newbies have joined.
My last post provided Wiki links to content that described what was needed to watch Live TV.
It would seem to me even a non-Plex enthusiast should be able to become one with those list of requirements.
Perhaps the only word phrase that might throw some off is ‘DVR Tuner’. Perhaps they should change that to Digital Tuner.
No matter how you found your answer, I’m glad you found it.
