Plex on PI 3 as a car media center with dual display?

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1

Hi there,

is it possible or maybe already well described how to use a PI as media center in the car?
I basically want to mount two displays in the back for my kids and hit play in Plex to let them watch a movie on a longer driver.

Which components would you choose?
How do you “mirror” video output on a PI for a dual setup?
Which PI would I have to choose?
How would I control Plex on the PI? Touch screen?

Any ideas where to start?

2

Interesting project!

I don’t have all the answers, but do have some ideas:

  • Mirroring output on the pi: I’d go for an HDMI splitter instead.
  • Choose a Pi2, or Pi3
  • Do not choose any rotating media to store your movies on. Choose SDcard/flash/SSD, as it can stand a bump or two when the wife hits the curbs :wink:
  • Choose a casing suited for the job, and use a 12V → 5V converter that can do 2.5A sustained
  • Controlling plex would be the biggest challenge I think. Touch screen sounds like a nice solution, especially since touch screens are USB compatible these days, and essentially only mimic keyboard/mouse presses. Unfortunately, I don’t have any hardware recommendations atm. Also, I don’t think it would work if you would hook up multiple touch screens, but that’s worth a try!
3

Don’t you need two rasPis: one for the server, and one for RasPlex.

Can one install openPHT on a rasPi running PMS?

4

@eckarth said:
Don’t you need two rasPis: one for the server, and one for RasPlex.

Can one install openPHT on a rasPi running PMS?

No you can’t. The Rasplex/OpenPHT has an embedded OS that prevents installation of the PMS software.

Since it sounds like you want the same content displayed on both seats, I’d probably use Kodi on a single Pi with HDMI split to two screens. I know some people use Plex in a server-client setup, but it doesn’t really make sense, when a single device running Kodi can do all the local playing and features you want. Rasplex actually uses the Kodi version LibreElec as part of it’s base. https://libreelec.tv/

5

@benjaminwolf said:

@eckarth said:
Don’t you need two rasPis: one for the server, and one for RasPlex.

Can one install openPHT on a rasPi running PMS?

No you can’t. The Rasplex/OpenPHT has an embedded OS that prevents installation of the PMS software.

I think this is only half right, afaik. Yes, RasPlex uses OpenElec a Unix for embeded systems. But there are compiled OpenPHT versions for Linux on various platforms. I do not know (yet?) a principle reason why it should be impossible to compile the code for Raspian or a different Linux running on a rasPi.

But I am sure somebody else must have evaluated that possibility.

That would be a nice system which together with a USB drive for your media, one could take along on vacation or travel to locations with little or no internet connectivity but a TV set.

6

@eckarth said:
I think this is only half right, afaik. Yes, RasPlex uses OpenElec a Unix for embeded systems. But there are compiled OpenPHT versions for Linux on various platforms. I do not know (yet?) a principle reason why it should be impossible to compile the code for Raspian or a different Linux running on a rasPi.

But I am sure somebody else must have evaluated that possibility.

That would be a nice system which together with a USB drive for your media, one could take along on vacation or travel to locations with little or no internet connectivity but a TV set.

I look forward to reviewing your working compiled version with PMS and OpenPHT on the same Pi. :slight_smile:

7

I purchased the original 7 inch pi display and a pi 3 to fiddle around.
I plan to run two identical setups instead of splitting video so each of my kids can watch their own stuff (listening via bluetooth headphones).
I want to design a 3D printed case for the setup and power it with a power bank because I probably can’t get 2.5A from the USB port of my car. It’s a non smoker car so without the needed port.

I’ll describe everything if it works and how it works with photos :smiley:

Currently I can’t decide or jut don’t know how to have a decent media player on the pi. I’d love to have Plex server and client on it but you say that’s not possible?

8

@b0rski said:
Currently I can’t decide or jut don’t know how to have a decent media player on the pi. I’d love to have Plex server and client on it but you say that’s not possible?

Probably. There is no working fork running both, and definitely no official version. I don’t intend to attempt it, so if you have the expertise to get them to working, more power to you.

But why would you want a client-server setup if they are individualized units? You are using two programs to accomplish what Kodi (XMBC) does in a single program.

Plex is actually originally based on xmbc, but was designed as a server to remote client solution. Kodi is self contained.

You want an rPi version of Kodi (xmbc) like OpenElec (what Rasplex used to use) or LibreElec (what Rasplex/OpenPHT is currently using as a base) instead. Though, how you plan to control the units from the drivers seat might be a problem for a Kodi or Plex solution.