I’m hoping someone here might have this setup or be knowledgeable of it. I am currently using Plex for all my media on a WD MyCloud EX2 Ultra, but I use a Tivo Roamio for DVR with my OTA antenna. I’d like to buy either the Homerun Connect Quatro or Extend and use Plex Live TV and DVR, getting rid of my Tivo and its $14.99 monthly guide/service fee.
Most of my content is h264 and plays well on my Roku devices, Fire TV and PS4. I understand the MyCloud EX2 Ultra has no transcoding, which is a big reason I try to put all my content in h264. I’d really like to get the Homerun Connect Quatro because I need the 4 tuners, and it’s cheaper, but I realize the Extend has hardware transcoding to h264.
My question is – if I’m going to have my Homerun hardwired to a gigabit router, which is wired to my EX2 Ultra, is the transcoding of the Extend necessary? I know it will save space on my NAS, but couldn’t I use Handbrake to convert the mpeg2 to h264 so it will stream easily over my wireless network? Or does the transcoding also help with live TV going out over the wireless network?
I’m trying to figure out if I definitely need the Extend, or if a Connect Quatro would work okay. Most of my steaming of live tv and recordings will be over WiFi. Any help is greatly appreciated!!
It really comes down to what you’re going to use to view the files. For the most part almost all of the clients need to transcode the mpeg2 files that are broadcasted ota. The Extend transcodes that mpeg2 to h264 before getting saved on the server… It’s this that allows the clients to direct play the files. So it isn’t a matter of how fast your network speed is. Also, the HDHomeRun devices only connect at 100 and not gigabit at least the Extend and Connect I have do. You may have some luck with using an AppleTV with the Infuse app since it has the ability to direct play more files types and it can use the built-in A8/A10 chip to convert the file for playback. I think the ShieldTV can do this also but I don’t have one so I don’t know this directly.
It may cost more but your best bet would be to buy 2 Extends for 4 tuners and have them transcode the files directly. It would probably be the least amount of hassle and fit into your current environment.
I greatly appreciate the reply. I was thinking the same thing about buying two Extends for four tuners. To view files, I’m mainly using Plex on either a Roku, Fire TV or PS4. I don’t use Apple TV but I’ve been thinking about buying a Shield TV.
The only question I have remaining pertains to the actual Live TV. I’ll either use the Homerun app or Plex to view Live TV. You mentioned the Homerun products connect at 100…does the onboard transcoding of the Extend have any effect on streaming live TV wirelessly?
Yes, the Extend is supposed to be better at streaming wirelessly. Mostly for non-AC connections because the file size is smaller. It would probably be the same for you since you won’t have the PMS do the transcoding.
The prior products page for SiliconDust used to state this but maybe the newer devices are better at transmitting signals wirelessly but there is one footnote on their product page that seems to say that the Extend is better for the slower wireless connections…
‘If you are using legacy wifi, or have multiple televisions spread out over a large house, we recommend the EXTEND to reduce the bandwidth required between your media devices eg. Nvidia Shield, iOS/tvOS and your HDHomeRun.“
Good luck on your build. You seem to be in the same boat I was is a couple of years ago. My first Plex server was the EX2 and I soon came to the conclusion that the processor was a huge limiting factor. I have updated to a build with an i7 processor and I’m able to throw anything at it. I still use the Extend and I think it’s the best tuner SiliconDust makes so you won’t have any issues using it later if you decide to purchase it.
Thanks. I have an ASUS AC1900 router, and my Fire TV and PS4 have ac wireless. I’m assuming the Roku Premiere Plus has ac wireless but I’m not positive. A Homerun Connect might work, but I should probably just go with two Extend units to save space on my NAS and make things more efficient.
I have an 8TB EX2 Ultra, but I have a RAID 1 setup, so it’s just a mirrored 4TB. Right now it works for me and my family, but I’ve thought about having a dedicated media PC. I really appreciate all the feedback. Do you use only the Plex Live TV and DVR with your Extend…or have you tried the Homerun DVR service?
I only use the Plex DVR service. I was thinking about adding the HDHomeRun streaming channels to enhance the service but with the current issues I haven’t been able to put that setup together. I do use the Extend and a Connect in my setup. It works out well and I think you’ll be happy with your build.
Well, I bought the Extend and got it set up on my network. I have 21 channels and it works great on my PC and mobile devices, but I can’t use it for the main reason I bought it. PLEX is having an issue with their Guide, so it won’t load up at all…Guide is just empty. And Amazon has taken the HD Homerun app off the app store, so I can’t use it on their either.
So far, recordings have looked great off the Extend into Plex. I downgraded to 720p to save space on my hard drive. My only problem at this point is with actual Live TV. Over WiFi to a Fire TV in the living room, it’s slow to load channels, and then some channels stutter often. On a Roku Premier Plus via gigabit ethernet, Live TV won’t hold the stream for more than 3 seconds before buffering again. Is it because I’m pushing it out through a My Cloud EX2 Ultra? Should I make another plex server on my i5, 8gb pc for Live TV?
If I go to the Roku Media Player app and use DLNA for the Homerun channels, it loads quick and is crisp and clear with no issues. So it has to be an issue with my Plex server.
