Replacing my Tablo DVR with Plex Live TV

[Kaelon]

Hi Everyone,

I have a QNAP-873 running my Plex Media Server, and recently, my Tablo DVR system (which I’ve been using for many years) crapped out. I figured this was the right time to buy an integrated tuner system and start using / consolidating my Live TV and DVR functionality into Plex. (I’m also a lifetime Plex-Pass holder, so it will simplify things for me.)

I’m looking at the HDHomeRun Flex 4K, as the right tuner system to connect to my home network and run in headless-mode, and just have Plex leverage it for Live TV and DVR services.

Do you think this is the best / recommended feasible alternative here? Are there other alternatives you would recommend?

And, finally, I’m assuming that I can just use the HDHomeRun as a tuner, and forego the HDHomeRun’s subscription costs (since I won’t be using the integrated DVR / guide services, and relying instead upon Plex Live TV and the services I get through Plex Pass). Is that a fair assumption?

Thanks so much for your thoughts and help on how I replace my Tablo and integrate with Plex!

[pshanew]

@Kaelon

I’m looking at the HDHomeRun Flex 4K

@Kaelon

Do you think this is the best / recommended feasible alternative here?

Yes, it would be a reasonable choice for a Plex Live TV & DVR setup. It’s fully-supported on all of Plex’s host types (Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS, etc…). There are other supported tuners, but HDHomeRun devices are the only ones supported for NAS-based servers.

https://support.plex.tv/articles/225877427-supported-dvr-tuners-and-antennas/#toc-1

@Kaelon

And, finally, I’m assuming that I can just use the HDHomeRun as a tuner, and forego the HDHomeRun’s subscription costs

That’s correct; no SiliconDust DVR subscription is required if you use the tuner with Plex.

[pl_5309]

Just be aware that the 4K feature is in early adopter status, you can receive and record but Plex hasn’t licensed the audio codec, so no audio.

Also the way Plex does most of the DVR processing on the CPU will put a load on the CPU in the QNAP.

[Kaelon]

@pl_5309

Just be aware that the 4K feature is in early adopter status, you can receive and record but Plex hasn’t licensed the audio codec, so no audio.

Got it. I assume this only applies to the 4K ATSC 3.0 feeds, correct? So if I don’t actually receive/record those, no issues, right?

@pl_5309

Also the way Plex does most of the DVR processing on the CPU will put a load on the CPU in the QNAP.

Considering the relative power of the QNAP-873 and the fact that I only have Plex running on it and maybe 1-2 concurrent streams at peak hours, I’m assuming that this won’t be a big problem, right?

Thank you!

[Kaelon]

@pshanew

That’s correct; no SiliconDust DVR subscription is required if you use the tuner with Plex.

Awesome. Thanks so much for confirming! I wanted to make sure that I was selecting the optimal tuner for use with Plex given my current setup (namely, the QNAP-873).

[pl_5309]

Correct on both of those.

[Kaelon]

Thanks! And, final question:

I plan to connect the HDHomeRun Flex 4K upstairs in my attic near my antenna, and then connect to my home network via Cat6, like I do all of my other devices (and like I did with my legacy Tablo DVR). I assume that Plex Live TV has no issues connecting to and streaming from a network-connected tuner, correct?

[pshanew]

@Kaelon

I assume that Plex Live TV has no issues connecting to and streaming from a network-connected tuner, correct?

Correct. I’d recommend ensuring that the tuner and Plex Media Server are on the same logical network for ease of discovery and setup.

[Kaelon]

@pshanew

Correct. I’d recommend ensuring that the tuner and Plex Media Server are on the same logical network for ease of discovery and setup.

Excellent. And they will be - both nodes on the same switch, just separated by about 70 feet or so. Thanks for the reply!