I’m getting started with Plex as step 1 to get rid of my Expensive Directv account.
I have Plex running on my local laptop (quad-core i7 - workstation). Right now I’m storing files on a usb 3.0 drive.
Here’s where I’m going:
- get an outdoor antenna (1byone omni-directional 60mile)
- get a silicon dust HDHomeRun Extend (place it where my dish is and use that cable - splitting it so I keep my dish until I’m 100% cord-cutt-ed)
- Use my Roku 3 for my tv client
- Get Plex DVR w/Plex Pass so I can start recording my shows coming in on the antenna
- all works - I’m going to get a Synology 419Play for media storage - I’ll keep my laptop as my Plex server
Any holes in this?
Also - I’m somewhat confused about the HDHomeRun DVR vs Plex DVR - any thoughts? (I’m more inclined to stay 100% in Plex for the DVR - and the HDHR DVR seems buggy and I wonder if its underserved)
Does the Roku 3 make sense long term? Wonder if an android TV would be a better way to go - even a Shield?
As for two of your bullet points:
If you live in an URBAN area - no major obstructions, flat ground within 20 miles of your target towers (don’t believe everything you read) that antenna may work well. It’s ONLY redeeming feature is it’s omni-directional capabilities.
You could make one just like it with a coat hanger - 14 Cents just about anywhere. I recently bought 12 really great ones for $1.49 at WalMart when I locked the keys in my car. The metal is heavy enough that I took one of them and made a scanner antenna for VHF and UHF (our DTV band, BTW) that outperforms the last one I made 24 years ago.
You remember those ‘Rabbit Ears’ that Uncle Bob had in his closet when you were tasked with removal of said material after his passing? You know, the ones with the circular thingy in the middle? Well, that’s the UHF portion of that antenna. The frequency for DTV signals (in the US) is: 470 - 806 MHz running from channel 14-83.
So, you figure out which channels you need to get then by the proven method of ‘take a stab at it’ (or look it up on google) match a channel range with a frequency range and using the equation 468 divided by the frequency in MHz (let’s say 550) giving you 0.85 Feet. That’s how long a diapole element needs to be to resonate at 550MHz. Make two elements by bending said coat hangers in a nice circle shape, attach one to the center conductor of a piece of coax and the other to the shield, lay them down flat (to the earth) and duct tape the dueling circles to a broomstick and stick it out the window ( or not, depending on proximity to signals). Plug it into an amplified splitter (10 bucks at Home Depot) and there you go. You could even get industrious and get a 2 dollar 300 ohm/75 ohm balun when you pick up the splitter to provide a better coax to antenna impedance match. You just saved at least 45 bucks.
Amazon’s return policy is bulletproof, but if you haven’t tried to get a TV signal I’d sure build something fast and dirty to test the waters before the layout of the best part of a C-Note on an expedition of discovery. Look though that bag-o-crap that came with the TV and you may find a UHF antenna in there. It’ll be that circular thingy.
As for devices and Plex The Roku 3 is time tested and user approved. The Plex app for Roku is also far and away the best Plex app for any device as the lead developer in the Roku wing at Plex HQ stays in touch with the Roku Community and Roku INC and knows the Roku operating system like the back of his hand.
About 5 messages here on the Plex SHIELD forum should tell you that thing is NOT ready for prime time and the FireTV app also suffers - unfortunately.
Hey thanks - this is GREAT stuff! I was concerned about that antenna - I have some others I’ll check out. Much less expensive - (Woot has one)… I’ll be putting the antenna on the top of my MUD where my dish currently sits - so about 35’ above the ground - clear LOS in all directions - and in an urban area where any tower is w/in 45 miles.
Good to know about the ROKU…
