I’m looking into the best way of setting up my Plex connections. Currently I have the media player on a PC which is always on, but I want to switch to a NAS. All media is played on the TV via a Chromecast, because the TV doesn’t support the Plex app. In the near future I want to buy a TV which supports this app. I have ethernet cables trough my whole house, so everything can be connected via cable.
My questions:
Which NAS (Minimum 4TB with the possibilty to extend) is adviced? I’m not looking for 4K quality streaming and it should be able to support at least two streams.
Which TV is advised which has the possibilty to host the Plex app?
I wouldn’t recommend running PMS on any NAS especially if you don’t already have a NAS. The inability of many NAS units to transcode much if anything is very limiting. Better to spend your money on a PC of some kind.
A modest PC can outperform most any NAS when it comes to transcoding and even better is encoding your media to ensure DirectPlay as much as possible.
Smart TVs aren’t very smart. The Plex apps on these TVs are privately developed (not supported by Plex) and their usefulness, while convenient, is seriously compromised.
The BEST solution is to buy a Dumb-TV (Dumb, but Good) then buy a solid device to run the Plex app (Officially Supported and Plex Developed) saving hours of frustration, years off your life due to stress and an enhanced Plex Experience. Chromecast, while convenient, should be considered an Emergency Band Aid Approach.
Don’t need 4K or HEVC (wise)? A Roku 3 is BulletProof and:
The Roku Plex App is the furthest along in it’s development, due in no small part, to it’s lead developer being a Genius. A Hardworking Genius, no less.
Hot Tip: All New Rokus Suck. Perhaps one day they won’t suck. That day isn’t today.
Roku 3 does not suck. It’s the last of the Great Rokus.
Remember: NAS = ‘Not A Server’ (among other things, but those words are something to live your life by). If you need a NAS (Alternate Translation: Network Attached Storage) buy one later. Buy an adequate PC now to run the Server with. Don’t expect a ‘Not A Server’ to play the part of one in a TV Movie - because it’s not one.
If you insist on buying a NAS - here’s a Handbrake Guide: https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/comment/1335697/#Comment_1335697
You’re going to need it when your ‘Not A Server’ refuses to cooperate and you’re needing to create Direct Play Material. I do it all the time even though I do have a proper PC that is more than adequate. Plex’s Transcoder is basically as Dumb as the Dumbest Smart TV, so my goal is to keep my stuff out of Plex’s Transcoder at all costs.
Smart TVs aren’t very smart. The Plex apps on these TVs are privately developed (not supported by Plex) and their usefulness, while convenient, is seriously compromised.
The BEST solution is to buy a Dumb-TV (Dumb, but Good) then buy a solid device to run the Plex app (Officially Supported and Plex Developed) saving hours of frustration, years off your life due to stress and an enhanced Plex Experience. Chromecast, while convenient, should be considered an Emergency Band Aid Approach.
Don’t need 4K or HEVC (wise)? A Roku 3 is BulletProof and:
The Roku Plex App is the furthest along in it’s development, due in no small part, to it’s lead developer being a Genius. A Hardworking Genius, no less.
Hot Tip: All New Rokus Suck. Perhaps one day they won’t suck. That day isn’t today.
Roku 3 does not suck. It’s the last of the Great Rokus.
Remember: NAS = ‘Not A Server’ (among other things, but those words are something to live your life by). If you need a NAS (Alternate Translation: Network Attached Storage) buy one later. Buy an adequate PC now to run the Server with. Don’t expect a ‘Not A Server’ to play the part of one in a TV Movie - because it’s not one.
If you insist on buying a NAS - here’s a Handbrake Guide: https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/comment/1335697/#Comment_1335697
You’re going to need it when your ‘Not A Server’ refuses to cooperate and you’re needing to create Direct Play Material. I do it all the time even though I do have a proper PC that is more than adequate. Plex Transcoder is basically as Dumb as the Dumbest Smart TV, so my goal is to keep my stuff out of Plex’s Transcoder at all costs.
I tend to agree, if you wish not to spend hours setting up a TV app and bolstering your Entertainment collection. Having said that, it is possible to make your Tv app work for you. It may not be the best performing option but Can be less cluttering and fiddle some. Beware certain TV models still have issues with there so called smart apps, it seems it takes about a year to sort out after a new release.
So my case, I have 2014 LG smartie that I’m pleasantly happy using and I don’t have the many issues that plague the forums. It has been stable now for more than 2 years, yes some pull your hair out moments but in all a welcomed piece for that well earned Couchtime.
I would suggest anyone wanting better HD , to use DLNA function for that odd Big Hollywood Blockbuster movie or go with Juice’s option of a Roku 3.
Now talking about that mind field called “NAS”, if your not fully versed in using this technology, I suggest stay away. It’s expensive to get this right but very good when setup correctly. I firmly believe a collection of USB3 external drives is a better option. Have a backup system for the content you could not bare to lose, regular maintenance testing of these drives will remove possible loss.
Finally, network set up should be thought out carefully and don’t cut corners. Things to keep in mind are Security, speed, hardwired is best option. Wifi is just a bunch of hurt in big homes without using technology like “Mesh” or to lesser extent Extenders. I recommend, do it right form the start and go Gigabit switches/router and cat6 with a quality Wifi router for your mobile devices and then there will be bliss in your home network.
Once you have everything in place, it’s just great to sit down and immerse into your home collection of entertainment and you will never go back to relying on yesterday clunky options when free to air Television drove you nuts.
Well, if I read all options above I think the current setup I have is the best you can get for Plex… The Roku is not sold over here and I thought a NAS would solve the problem of having the PC on all the time. I thought it would be possible via a NAS, because the old media player I had (AC Ryan) could play everything directly from my current external harddrive.
Is there mediaplayer in Europe which has the proper Plex app embedded? Maybe it is an option to buy that.
@Groap said:
Well, if I read all options above I think the current setup I have is the best you can get for Plex… The Roku is not sold over here and I thought a NAS would solve the problem of having the PC on all the time. I thought it would be possible via a NAS, because the old media player I had (AC Ryan) could play everything directly from my current external harddrive.
Is there mediaplayer in Europe which has the proper Plex app embedded? Maybe it is an option to buy that.
Maybe a small computer with PMP or OpenPHT connected with HDMI
Where do you live that the Roku 3 isn’t available? You can likely buy one from Amazon. Alternatively the Amazon Fire TV 4K is a good device for running Plex & has lots of other nice features. I really would forget about the Plex app built into your TV as none of them even remotely approach the performance & quality of the Plex app on the Roku or Fire TV & will always give you grief.
If you have decent Internet connection nowadays you can forget about sinking a load of money into hardware & use Plex Cloud. Your only costs will be for Plex Pass & a subscription to G Suite for Business for $10/month for unlimited storage on Google Drive (the 1TB limit for single users is not enforced). https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/226825168-FAQ-Plex-Cloud
You can test this out cheaply with a one month Plex pass at $4.99 then a 14-day t rial of G Suite for Business. You will also need to register a domain name but GoDaddy have these from $1.
Plex Cloud is a game changer as you are liberated from home hardware & the performance is exceptional.
@nigelpb said:
Where do you live that the Roku 3 isn’t available? You can likely buy one from Amazon. Alternatively the Amazon Fire TV 4K is a good device for running Plex & has lots of other nice features. I really would forget about the Plex app built into your TV as none of them even remotely approach the performance & quality of the Plex app on the Roku or Fire TV & will always give you grief.
I’m sorry that the world population does not all live in the United states. I feel you to need research were it is supported. Yes you can use it in most countries for Plex but the device has many other apps that are no available. Then you have the power plug compatibility, No warranty, incorrect Turner in some cases and expensive Global Shipping.
@nigelpb said:
Where do you live that the Roku 3 isn’t available? You can likely buy one from Amazon.
As an example in Italy you can’t buy a “Roku”, because Roku had a deal with Sky TV and you could only buy the “Sky Now TV” box which was basically a Roku 3 customized for Sky Now TV streaming service. And I heard stories regarding issues with installing Plex on such devices. You can buy Rokus on Amazon.it but they are usually sold by marketplace sellers (probably imported) and when shipped by Amazon you can leverage Amazon warrant and return policies which is good, but still don’t make Rokus technically “available in Italy”.
Alternatively the Amazon Fire TV 4K is a good device for running Plex & has lots of other nice features.
Agreed, and again Fire TV is not sold in italy We are lucky, aren’t we?!?
I really would forget about the Plex app built into your TV as none of them even remotely approach the performance & quality of the Plex app on the Roku or Fire TV & will always give you grief.
I have Plex for Opera TV on a Bravia and although not lightning fast it does its job (but only support h264 video). I think if you have an Android TV the app is pretty good though.
@nigelpb said:
Where do you live that the Roku 3 isn’t available? You can likely buy one from Amazon.
As an example in Italy you can’t buy a “Roku”, because Roku had a deal with Sky TV and you could only buy the “Sky Now TV” box which was basically a Roku 3 customized for Sky Now TV streaming service. And I heard stories regarding issues with installing Plex on such devices. You can buy Rokus on Amazon.it but they are usually sold by marketplace sellers (probably imported) and when shipped by Amazon you can leverage Amazon warrant and return policies which is good, but still don’t make Rokus technically “available in Italy”.
Both the Roku 3 & the Now TV box are sold in the UK. You can no longer side load the Plex app on the Now TV box. There shouldn’t be any problems buying a UK Roku 3 from Amazon you just need a plug adaptor as the mains voltage is the same. I see on amazon.it that the Roku 3 cn be bought for €99 including Primer delivery. Roku don’t sell the 4K Roku Ultra in the UK so I bought a US import. The power supply is dual switching so supports 110/220V so again just needs a simple passive adaptor.
If you really want a device for a Plex client that is on general sale in Italy then the Apple TV is your best choice.
@zpaolo11x said:
Agreed, and again Fire TV is not sold in italy We are lucky, aren’t we?!?
You do have The Pope living right downtown.
I hear he’s open to many new things - get him involved.
Popes do have history in making changes that affect the entire world, you know… If The Pope couldn’t watch his favorite Pope Channel or Pope content on his Roku or AFTV - expect Pope induced changes in that area very quickly.
@JuiceWSA said:
You do have The Pope living right downtown.
I hear he’s open to many new things - get him involved.
Good suggestion, maybe the Pope wants to watch “The Young Pope” TV serie (incidentally with an italian director!) and he absolutely needs a Roku and Plex to see it…
@dduke2104 said:
I wouldn’t recommend running PMS on any NAS especially if you don’t already have a NAS. The inability of many NAS units to transcode much if anything is very limiting.
Well, only if you buy a low-end, off the shelf consumer NAS. If you just build a NAS like many of us do, it can have more than sufficient power for transcoding.
@JuiceWSA said:
Remember: NAS = ‘Not A Server’ (among other things, but those words are something to live your life by). If you need a NAS (Alternate Translation: Network Attached Storage) buy one later. Buy an adequate PC now to run the Server with. Don’t expect a ‘Not A Server’ to play the part of one in a TV Movie - because it’s not one.
Well, here’s where Juice and I disagree on the definition of “server”. In my realm, a NAS is very much a “server” due to the role it plays (it runs software that fits the definition of “server” and “serves” files to the network).
If one redefines/bastardizes the term “server” to imply a high amount of back-end CPU processing going on, then most low-end off the shelf NASes aren’t very good at this task… but really, that’s not what “server” means even if some not in the IT field are prone to misusing/misinterpreting the term.
“Network-attached storage (NAS) is a file-level computer data storage server connected to a computer network providing data access to a heterogeneous group of clients. NAS is specialized for serving files either by its hardware, software, or configuration.”
@dduke2104 said:
Yeah, you can build an Intel-based NAS with some transcoding capability but I don’t think that was the context that OP provided.
“build an intel-based NAS with transcoding capabilities” = build a server tailored for Plex streaming and transcoding, and install somethig like FreeNAS instead of a flully fledged Linux distro. Ok makes sense. Still when someone thinks of “buying a NAS” it means buying a NAS, that is mostly a “file server” and generally doesn’t have the grunt to be a good transcoder.
A ‘Server’ is the box serving up content. If you build a NAS capable of transcoding a few streams - there you go. You got yourself a Server.
If you have a traditional, off the shelf, junk heap NAS (a box with HDDs crammed in it) and create Direct Play material to be delivered across your devices - there you go. You got yourself a Server. Even the crappiest NAS can move files from one place to another. That’s what they do.
If you go out and buy a piece of junk NAS and tell yourself:
I won’t be transcoding anything, or have to fiddle with any content - there you go. You’re sad, 'cause you bought a ‘Not A Server’.
PS: In the event the light comes on and you start ‘creating’ Direct Play material to be Served up Via your ‘Not A Server’, you’re really sad, 'cause a Handbrake Job on your ‘Not A Server’ takes FOREVER!
We are lucky, aren’t we?!?
