I’m new to this stuff and having a hard time finding any information on it. I did purchase the yearly plan of Plex Pass to be able to record my local stations. However, when I download the software after it installs (I guess nothing happens after the installation). The next question is, do I need to install an HHD to act as my storage for my recordings or are the recordings handled by Plex?
Dan
The DVR feature uses storage on your Plex server device.
It also needs a tuner device in order to actually receive TV. It will not stream from your local tv stations over the internet. https://support.plex.tv/articles/categories/features/live-tv-dvr/
Bookmark this link: https://support.plex.tv/articles/
Particularly https://support.plex.tv/articles/categories/intro-to-plex/quick-start/
Okay, now that I know I can ask all those dumb questions here, but please, I thank you for getting back to me.
#1: My setup is (going to be) as follows:
a. I have HDHomerun HD which will be connected from my antenna to the Homerun. The Homerun then transmits the data or whatever you want to call it through the house using the ethernet cable. Then I have Plex on my TV in the living room. It’s on a Samsung 65" Class Q70A QLED 4K Smart TV (2021) model #:QN65Q70AAFXZA . From there, once I get help/setup with Plex, my External HHD will be in the office connected to my desktop computer (I9 Z590 CPU). Lots of power. I don’t think the homerun can transcode the TV shows and I don’t think Plex can do that either. Please correct me if I’m wrong. Is this a good/bad setup?
b. Where can I connect the HHD to do the file storage? To computer? Plex? homerun?
Simple as I can say.
#2: Why doesn’t Plex take any phone calls? Some people (like myself) have a very hard time explaining things in words and do better at the voice. Is there any chance I could get someone to call me?
Thank
Dan
That computer is certainly well equipped to run Plex Server.
However, it needs to be running whenever you either want to watch or record video.
Transcoding is a core feature of Plex Server.
To the computer which is running the Plex server software.
That’s a No, I’m afraid.
This forum is the only avenue for support.
MMMMM. see this is what I mean about how some people are at learning. Let me try it this way, but first I want to thank you for answering me.
I have a Samsung TV (model already provided in 2021). If I knew what I know now I would have stuck with android TV. But anyway, I downloaded the Plex (something) on the TV. I’m not sure if it’s just the player or the player/server. I plan on watching everything from there and not my office. I mentioned that I was going to locate the HHD in the office hookup to my computer. So is this still workable? Where can I get some clear instructions on how to set up my plex and hhd?
Thanks
You need to have a Plex server.
The Plex app on your TV is only a client. It will only be able to play media which are served to it from a Plex server.
See the schematic diagram here for a visual representation of the data flow; https://support.plex.tv/articles/200288286-what-is-plex/
So, the TV will need to have a network connection to your PC. As long as they are both connected to the same local network, this should be no issue.
Okay, I think I have it. Let me just say it back to you. Step #1: Connect HDHomeRun to my outside antenna. Step #2: Have Plex Media Server find HDHomeRun. Plex Media Server running on my computer in the office, with an external 6TB hook up to it. Set up Plex Media Server. Step #3: Go to my living room TV, and see if Plex Player can talk to Plex Media Server. If it can, all is good and I’m can sit down and watch TV. Am I correct in this?
Dan
Precisely.
Though usage of the DVR feature requires a Plex Pass.
My recommendation, set up the tuner and try if it works for watching Live TV.
I already have Plex Pass. I think I have 1 last question and yes you have been very helpful. In the player that is on my TV. Will I be able to tell the server to record, meaning will there be a record button to push if I want to record that channel?
Ding, Ding, Ding all this time and how I describe my setup, is there something you forgot to mention to me? Okay, times up I’ll let you in on the little secret. PLEX doesn’t do ATSC 3.0 audio yet according to HDHomerunner. PLEX just lets it go on by and if I’m watching a program, I will not be able to hear any sound. Is this true?
Dan
I cannot know that you are in an area which is “blessed” with ATSC 3.0. You didn’t mention it before.
It is true that Plex doesn’t yet have the necessary AC4 audio codec available.
Well, you’re off the hook, and now I can rest easy as I just got off the phone with my local TV station. According to them, in my entire area (as I live out in the county), the 5 major TV stations are still on 1.0, and 3.0 isn’t coming out until 2-3 years from now. Question: Do you think plex will have the 3.0 installed on any new updates coming out?
Thanks
Dan
I am unable to even make a guess on that.
Well until then, I can deal with plex. Besides that, I would hate to email them and ask for a refund. Too much paperwork and I know what that is like.
Again, I want to thank you for all your answers today is when my HDHomeRun arrives and I can hook it all up and get rid of Fubo.TV.
Thank You
Dan
Tonight I got the unit all hooked up and it’s playing nice with PLEX. I’ve already setup some recordings and things. My next question is how do I make it skip commercials?
I would like to know how to add sling TV to my plex server. Any clues on how to do this? Also, if anyone knows how to get FS1 for close to nothing that would be better.
Thanks
Just one last thing. Once PLEX records a show or movie where does it store it? Can I change this and if so, where would I do this?
Thanks
If you mean recording video via the Plex DVR feature:
You told Plex where to store the recording when you set up the recording.
You can find out the storage location of an item by looking at its Plex media info.
Thanks…Let’s see, So far within a week (for a newbie), I’ve installed HDHomeRun FLEX, and installed PLEX on my window computer, and on my Samsung TV. I’ve been able to record shows both from PLEX and my HDHomeRun from my Windows computer. I’ve been able to cut out all the commercials from both and run them through PLEX. I would say I’ve been a very busy person. Now for the last thing. I need to tell PLEX to run in the background I guess as a service, so that no matter what I’m doing on my computer, it’s always and I mean ALWAYS on. Any clue on that one?
Thanks
It’s possible. But doing so on Windows will deprive you of the hardware transcoding abilities.
(because Windows doesn’t allow services to use the graphics hardware)
