Will Plex work for me?

General Discussions
1

Hi guys,

Is there software that I can use on a desktop PC, install a TV tuner to get my OTA and also with the same software have Netflix and Sling TV to click on without changing the source on my TV? and my computer will be the DVR for the OTA channels?

Is Plex the software I need to do this job?
If not could you guys guide me in the right direction?
I want one source (HDMI 1) from my non-smart TV and one software program to select antenna, or Netfilx, Sling TV, or any other streaming apps I want to subscribe to.

Any help would be great! Thank You

2

Sounds like Plex won’t be ideal for your situation. Something to check out is the Channels DVR server and client app. A simple Google search will pop it in the results. It’s on the pricy side though but they have emphasized much of what’s lacking from the Plex universe. For instance, Channels has a TV Everywhere feature which lets you DVR content from (streaming) Cable providers like Philo and streaming services like you’re requesting. Plex doesn’t currently do any of that except OTA and cable and it’s dependent on your tuner device. Definitely READ, research, and make a spreadsheet for yourself of all the trade offs, pros and cons for your situation before dumping a huge load of cash on these apps and devices. Channels also doesn’t have a Roku app so if you’re a Roku household, then you won’t have the ability to utilize it.

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3

A better choice for you might be Emby. Emby allows most TV streaming apps and works pretty well.

Look VERY carefully at your options. A few months ago I changed from just cable internet to a full package even with cell phone and my total bill went down about $14.00/month.

In my case I needed access to certain sports feeds/channels and getting those without regular cable was more expensive than having everything through Spectrum.

I still have to have two extra charge apps to get everything I want. (Peacock and Paramount plus) but my total monthly entertainment bill is still lower than it was before the change. YMMV

I do have both Emby and Plex lifetime subs but I really now only use Plex for a very few things as it just is MUCH better for me.

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4

Just be sure if you look in to IPTV that you stay away from the services that have hundreds of channels for cheap as they are most likely pirated TV services and are not reliable and most are here today and gone tomorrow. Stick to known services like Hulu or Youtube TV.

5

Or Sling. Also some providers provide a way to get an MU3 file that will allow Emby to see and record from some feeds like Channels DVR and others provide. I do not think Plex can do that but I cold be wrong.

I also have found that the recording abilities Plex and Emby provides are harder to use than the apps for Spectrum from other sources. I use Channels or the Spectrum app to record and watch almost all live TV that I have interest in.

It is, to me, much easier to move live TV or TV functionality in general outside of my media manager. I know it is accepted that people want all functionality inside one device and one app on that device but, again for me, I think it is much easier and more intuitive to keep a fair amount of functionality separate in different apps and even in different devices.

If I were using several different remotes to control my system I “might” feel otherwise but I use a Harmony hub remote and it allows me to just press one button to switch devices. That also allows me to use Echo devices to provide voice commands for most everything I do. I have programmed macros that allow me to start and stop playback and change devices with simple voice commands. I can say “Alexa, Roku” or “Alexa Shield” or some others and my whole system switches to the device requested. I can also say things like “Alexa, play Roku” and I get the same effect as pressing “play” on the Roku.

One thing is that Alexa and my Echo devices do not seem to like my new Apple TV box that I was forced to get when I got the full Spectrum package. I have not been able to get Alexa to do more with Apple TV than just switch to it and provide basic remote functionality. But that matters very little as there is now a good Spectrum app for Roku so I use that for Spectrum.

Note Channels DVR does not have and has no plans for a Roku app. They do have an app for the Fire TV or the Shied but the Roku is by far my favorite.

To repeat what I have said I do not think that live TV functionality inside either Plex or Emby is at all good enough for regular use but the separate apps devices do work well for the most part.

I have tested Plex and Emby withe Sling, Hulu and Spectrum. The best, for me is Sling with Emby but that “best” is still well below the functionality of native apps for the service involved.

One more thing: If you are into sports you might really want to consider the native apps as there are channels that, sometimes, put something in their streams that prevent recording some shows. An example is that NBCSN broadcasts a number of Premier League matches but those feed are not even watchable or recordable. They, according to the Channels DVR forum, place something it the stream so the 3rd party tuners or streamers can neither watch or record those feeds. They are perfectly watchable and recordable in the apps on my Apple TV and my Roku TV. All other material works fine on NBCSN.
I “think” they do the same with the USA network when the league matches are broadcast on USA.

All of that is why I do not like using live TV inside of Plex or Emby while using live TV outside Plex or Emby is both easy and simple.

I know that both Plex and Emby strive to be the “Swiss army knife” of media managers but, while a knife of that sort works pretty well it is both better and more functional to use the correct tool for each situation.

For me Plex’s and Emby’s greatest use is playback and I believe the acquisition of media belongs in separate apps.

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6

What I think has been missing up to now in all the responses is a no to one question. Plex has no interactivity with any other streaming service out there (like Netflix). Plex is a streaming video app just like Netflix but of your OWN media But it does have the ability to control a DVR device of OTA programming within your house (Plex subscription or pass required) and can stream out the recordings (or you can just watch live TV from the tuner). But you still need a Netflix client to view THEIR content.

Thankfully, most players out there that have the ability to provide a Netflix app also have Plex available too, so you can easily watch both without having to “switch source” on your TV. The firetv stick that you use for Netflix does have a Plex client available.

7

A very large number of users, including myself, would recommend that you absolutely do not give money to Plex for a Live TV/DVR service that they leave broken for months at a time.

8

I have been using Live TV/DVR for a couple of years now with very little issues. Now I do not use a HD HomeRun for my tuner I use a cable card and only have basic cable as I cannot get my locals from where I live. About a year ago Xfinity update my service and now have about 40 channels and a lot of them are the ones I lost when I switched to basic and are the ones I watched. I pay about 30 bucks a month on a month to month. I use a Nvidia Shield Pro as my TV device and use Netflix and other services to watch TV/Movies as well.

10

I use Live TV/DVR. Well, mostly DVR, I rarely ever go to live TV. I use a HD HomeRun which runs flawlessly. I bought a one-time Plex Pass, and no longer have a single cent in payments to view and record Live TV.

11

Hey thanks everyone!
Here’s another quick question. What is the best way to record a streaming movie?
kind of like I used to do with a VCR. lol I’m old, I still watch a few classics on a VCR

12

You’re kinda begging to get banned by asking a question like that here. You might want to delete that post.

13

He won’t get banned for asking, but discussing actual solutions is not allowed.

14

Actually there are programs that run on a PC and captures video streams. I have tested a couple and have found them unreliable, at best.

The only reliable way I have found, but do not use, to record anything from streaming apps, except those that allow recording or delayed viewing in their apps, is to take the output from a streaming device and feed it into a recorder (VCR, DVD recorder or digital capture device) of some kind. It gets cumbersome and tedious and is very much not worth the effort.

I have Spectrum, Paramount Plus+, Peacock TV and ESPN+. I have not seen anything on any of those that I could view that I could not record in some way with the apps provided.

I suggest you use your computer’s recording ability only for OTA television. For all other delayed viewing you should use the apps provided.

15

I’m new to this so I didn’t know I couldn’t ask something like that. I guess I’m not sure what the difference would be with my Directv DVR? or a VCR or even a software program called play on?
Please explain?
I won’t ask anymore questions like that anymore. I have found a solution to my problem, and it works great.

16

It’s not quite considered the same legally to record most streaming service video. Heck, even DVR’s on cable companies have been quite a struggle to even be considered legal up to about a decade ago. But as of now, it’s pretty much a no-no to “record” streaming service videos.

I think the deal mostly has to do with everything on cable and satellite being on a schedule. Since you can’t choose what is recorded, and even the start/end time of a show/movie can vary by minutes, DVR’s are unable to be able to produce a perfect copy to that from a DVD or Blu-Ray, so they aren’t considered to be a competitor to being able to own a copy that way. But streaming Netflix and other online sources are doing their darndest to try to keep people from saving streams of their video content (which usually doesn’t have channel watermarks) in a perfect form. If you did, there’d be no reason to retain a subscription, as you could “record” everything on their service in a month and cancel.

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17

Thanks divideby0
At least you explained to me about my question, instead of just calling me a fool.
I appreciate it. I did some more exploring on these forums and come across situations like mine, but they ask the question different. I suppose wording my question better is what I should have done.
I know these forums have all kinds. A guy should expect to get others opinions, even though you didn’t ask to be lectured on a public forum. A nice Private message explaining what I did wrong, and just removing my post seems to be a nicer solution then coming out and say I’m just asking to be banned.
On a different subject, I have downloaded Plex and it works great! I am enjoying finding all I can do with this software. I think I’ll have to purchase the lifetime membership. I’ve been out of touch with the windows PC stuff since before XP became obsolete and I am discovering a lot changed. Including what a guy can ask on a public forum. I’ll have to be more careful 
Take care

18

I think they just jumped to a conclusion that you were one of them pirates asking for illegal content, rather than someone who was genuinely asking about recording. It’s all up to interpretation, and I read it differently.

I’m annoyed that we can’t do with recordings of any content we watch like in the past, but I sympathize with the streaming sites. The content is in a perfect form, and it makes sense to prevent someone from getting a perfect copy of a paid product that you can keep when you don’t have a subscription.

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