It’s a shame that it won’t support DRM, as many providers are applying DRM protection to pretty much all channels.
Without support for DRM this PVR thing is pretty useless. If Plex is not going to spend the money and time to do it right then they should just drop this project. IMO.
Just purchased the HDHomerun Prime and got an M cablecard from Verizon, and I’m also bummed that I can’t watch or record any of the premium channels. More precisely, any of the channels that have DRM. Windows Media Center is done and no longer supported by Microsoft so Plex, if they wanted to put in the work and effort for licensing, etc., could become the only non-cablebox solution that works, other than TIVO.
There had been a window of opportunity when the FCC appeared to be trying to force cable companies to open up content to 3rd party manuf, so that cable subscribers aren’t forced to rent cable boxes pr cablecards, but that has also appeared to have died before even starting…
@felipebras said:
Without support for DRM this PVR thing is pretty useless. If Plex is not going to spend the money and time to do it right then they should just drop this project. IMO.
LOL, funny statement as only HBO, Showtime, Cinemax etc are DRM’d for me. So, its an awesome addition.
@lightvox said:
Just purchased the HDHomerun Prime and got an M cablecard from Verizon, and I’m also bummed that I can’t watch or record any of the premium channels. More precisely, any of the channels that have DRM. Windows Media Center is done and no longer supported by Microsoft so Plex, if they wanted to put in the work and effort for licensing, etc., could become the only non-cablebox solution that works, other than TIVO.There had been a window of opportunity when the FCC appeared to be trying to force cable companies to open up content to 3rd party manuf, so that cable subscribers aren’t forced to rent cable boxes pr cablecards, but that has also appeared to have died before even starting…
US Copyright Office sides with cable companies against FCC’s set-top rules | Ars Technica
The maker of your tuner is already writing the protected paths for DRM and have it working on Win10 and XBOX1 through their native app…
Plex would need to do the same and have them certified.
@brucethevideobug said:
Thanks all for the discussion. I have to say, plex is a not as clear as they could be that the shiny new DVR likely won’t record much or all of the programming available via cable or satellite. The only sure bet is off air material. Maybe still worth it.
This really depends on your provider. On Verizon FiOS the vast majority of channels do not have DRM with HBO and Fox owned channels being the exception. So even premium channels like Showtime work with Plex DVR.
@lightvox said:
Just purchased the HDHomerun Prime and got an M cablecard from Verizon, and I’m also bummed that I can’t watch or record any of the premium channels. More precisely, any of the channels that have DRM.
Basically only HBO/Cinemax and Fox owned channels are DRMed on FiOS. Neither Showtime nor TMC have DRM.
I have comcast in IL, only the premium channels are DRM, and I don’t have a single one of them, I am using the HDHomeRun Prime with a Cable Card, and the thing is working beautifully. So it all depends on where you are coming from, because Comcast seems to work flawlessly for me.
I have Cox in OKC. They provide a 7 year old USED cablecard for $2/mo. I had to try 3 before finding one that worked. They also throw in a Cisco STA1520 Tuning adapter as part of the deal. I purchased a HDHomeRun Prime cable tuner and got everything set up w/ 488 channels. Here is the rub. Windows Media Center can view and/or record all of them. Plex will only do 66 channels. What a Joke!! Apparently the old Windows Media Center can handle the DRM flawlessly, but the brand new Plex “beta” can’t handle it at ALL!!! Yes, WMC stores the files in a .WTV format that only WMC can process, but who cares? I’m not interested in sharing TV shows I just want to record them so I can watch them later.
I got Plex and the now irritating “Flex Pass” subscription thinking it would work like Windows Media Center except it would cut out the commercials. Boy was I wrong! Very misleading. Now, how to cancel the damned subscription?
IMHO the entire Plex DVR thing was a deceptive debacle.
Add in all the design and functional flaws, it was a non well thought out train wreck.
I find it completely useless for practical home use.
Totally disagree, in a house with a wife and 4 children, and it is 100% practical for all of us to use, it is perfect for our needs, and works very well. There are some flaws, sure, but there are flaws in DTV recievers, and Cable Recievers as well, saying any one of them is perfect is crazy. I have Comcast Cable through an HDHR Prime, watch TV daily with my wife, have multiple recordings for myself, my wife, and my children, and everyone is perfectly happy using this system, and it only cost me the price of a lifetime subscription, and 30 dollars a month for cable TV. Preactical, and totally worth it.
Any news on the drm channels for Plex, I have the hdhomerun, but the drm channels still dont open. I have gotten them to work with the HDHomerun app.
I doubt you will ever see anything like WMC as the control of the video encryption required by the DRM content pretty much eliminates anything open source.
Microsoft gave up on WMC. The software and hardware requirements were onerous. I don’t think there is any deception on the part of Plex.
Blame DRM lock downs on your cable provider who is interested in renting you equipment.
Do yourself a favor and do some research on the DRM requirements. Its not easy to develop around it as you have to keep encryption in place end to end.
I’m Lucky,Comcast on DRM’s the premium channels HBO Etc. To record that I had to do a work around, (Playon) while not ideal it fits my needs.
As single source cross platform media server PLEX Checked all the boxes I needed.
