Recommended settings for Roku and Live TV to Stop Transcoding

[nickodemis]

Server Version#: 1.19.5.3112
Player Version#:
Tuner Make/Model: HD Homerun
Guide/Lineup name:
Using XMLTV?:
Channel number/Name:

All,

I wanted to share some insight on how to prevent Transcoding for Live TV if you are using a Roku player. I’m using HD Homerun Extend.

1. If you are using the HD Homerun Extend, make sure you enable Advertise native format in the settings.
2. On each of your Roku devices, on the left side navigation menu go to the very top. Click on your server name and choose settings.
3. Go to Video options and enable MPEG 2 playback, Direct Stream and Force Direct Play back.

This should now default your live TV streams to NOT use transcoding.

My HD Home is wired into my hub as well as my Plex Media Server. All of my Rokus are on Wifi.

One final note, this will affect Live TV and local content (movies, tv shows, etc). If for some reason Roku can not direct stream it will default back to Transcoding.

Settings: Plex for Roku | Plex Support

[nickodemis]

As a follow up. I found that on some of Rokus I had to change the Format from Original quality to 4k 20 Mbs.

The point being, to prevent Plex from Transcoding the HDHomerun Extend, you may have to make changes on your Roku player side.

I was also able to finally get Plex to direct stream from HD Homerun to Roku using with encoding enable on the HD Homerun side. No Transcoding on the plex side and very little CPU usage.