I have recently started using Plex and like the idea of the DVR and Live TV function as I don’t have anything that will currently let me pause live tv.
Having looked at the list of tuners, there are only 2 to choose from (in the UK) - the HDHomeRun and the DVBLogic TVButler. Does anyone have any advice about which might be the best one to go for?
The TVButler is tempting as it’s quite a lot cheaper if you don’t go for the included software - am I right in thinking that I can just use this directly with Plex?
I think this comes down to how you want to use the tuner in your setup. The TVButler is a USB “stick” device that connects to your server. I believe this setup limits where you can place your antenna, as it would need to be near your PMS. I don’t have this device, so anyone feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. On the other hand, the HDHomeRun is a networked device and can be placed anywhere you run Ethernet, so if your antenna needs to be further away from your server, the tuner can be placed near the antenna resulting in a shorter coax run.
I use an iMac as my PMS at the moment and my internet is 4G and the router is a bit limited as a result. I would plan to just put the dongle/stick straight into the back of the desktop. I’m trying to work out if the ‘reduced’ price TVButler would work directly with the Plex DVR software or if it’s meant to compliment a system already running the ‘full’ DVB setup.
Based on what you’ve said, I think that the HDHomeRun might be better as it’s more flexible in terms of where it can sit in the network - that way I’m covered if my setup changes in the future.
If there’s no difference in functionality from a Plex point of view then I guess the HDHR wins - it just seems a bit of waste to be paying for their DVR software if I don’t plan to use it!
