[yzguyfl123]

Anyone try the Plex dvr? (I think it is fairly new) and looks like it would use the same sort of Home Run box to get cable channels, similar to Channels DVR.

I already like plex for watching movie files I have, I might have to try it out.
Live TV & More | Plex

Another plus for plex, is I can download files to a phone ahead of time if I am going somewhere out of service area. (not sure yet if that also applies to DVR'd shows)

Tivo app used to allow this on my phone, but now just about everything gives me crap about out of home streaming, and does not let me download or watch shows out of home network anymore. (I started trying to VPN in to a pc at home, then connect to tivo, so it thought I was home, maybe, but I never got the kinks worked out for that...)

 

[yzguyfl123]

Actually doing some more reading... and I think the channels DVR and PLEX dvr will have the same issues with not being able to record the DRM channels (and from what I am reading, most will be with Spectrum)

so from Spectrum my options are new tivo box, or their crappy dvr

or I really start looking closer at Youtube tv or Hulu or something, and get rid of spectrum all together.

 

[babsonnexus]

Anyone try the Plex dvr? (I think it is fairly new) and looks like it would use the same sort of Home Run box to get cable channels, similar to Channels DVR.

I have a lifetime Plex Pass and thus have the Plex DVR set up with my HDHomeRun. In a straight comparison to Channels, Channels is better in every way when it comes to recording content and streaming live stations (stability, quality of metadata, quality of the stream, naturally overcoming technical issues, ability to use multiple sources including TVE, etc...). The only thing Plex has going for it is mixing in with the rest of your personal content. However, as an easy workaround, you can make your Channels folders available to Plex and Plex can read them just fine and do its thing.

I'd recommend Channels + Realgood as your "currently best" combined management system. That doesn't mean its perfect or even always good or that it there are not all sorts of bugs and issues, just that these are the best options available right now. If you don't like the Channels interface or want to combine your personal content, use Plex instead of Channels to watch the recorded content (you don't even need to pay for Plex to do this). However, I would not recommend Plex for the Live Channels as its transcoding process can cause quite a few hiccups that are not worth it.

 

[slowbiscuit]

Plex is garbage

It's fine, watched shows and a movie with it last night.

 

[yzguyfl123]

I really think most of the stuff I want to watch is going to be encoded from spectrum, so Channels or Plex dvr is likely a no go (as much as I like the idea...).

I discovered that used bolt boxes are going for about $40 on ebay, so I just ordered one of those, and just going to stretch this out a bit longer (I was ok with the bolt, just did not want to pay another $300 for one again). Right now all this is lacking for me, is the ability to take shows with me, or stream them out of the house (for protected shows, which I assume will also be encrypted), but at least I can get them all, and all in one place. Maybe when this one blows up there will be a solution I like better

 

[302481]

I don't think you're hearing what we're saying about Channels and Spectrum. It records the TVE streams, not the DRM protected channels from the HDHR tuner.

The only 3rd party system aside from Tivo that can record DRM from an HDHR is Windows Media Center. This has been the case for a couple of decades now.

You do realize that your cheap Bolt box requires a monthly fee of $15, right? Need to factor that into your equation. It makes more sense to keep doing what you're doing with the TS4K android app or buy a Mini which has no subscription fee.

 

[Pokemon_Dad]

@yzguyfl123 Channels DVR offers out-of-home access. Another reason at least try TVE with a one-month Channels DVR trial. I'm not promising everything will be available via that feature, but it's worth a shot especially if the new Bolt gives you any trouble.

 

[yzguyfl123]

I don't think you're hearing what we're saying about Channels and Spectrum. It records the TVE streams, not the DRM protected channels from the HDHR tuner.

One key thing I was missing.... I was seeing that, but thought that it still had something to do with the HDHR box (that it was still required) Also I had seen that the TVE streams were limited (not all channels)

You do realize that your cheap Bolt box requires a monthly fee of $15, right? Need to factor that into your equation. It makes more sense to keep doing what you're doing with the TS4K android app or buy a Mini which has no subscription fee.

yes, but this is the same $15 I am paying for my current tivo box (I'll likely need to pay for both for a month or so, until we watch all the stuff on the old one). Even with the TS4K I still have to pay this fee for the old box.

@yzguyfl123 Channels DVR offers out-of-home access. Another reason at least try TVE with a one-month Channels DVR trial. I'm not promising everything will be available via that feature, but it's worth a shot especially if the new Bolt gives you any trouble.

It just clicked, that I did not need another box, with channels DVR and current spectrum subscription. (I thought the HDHR box was still required) I am also trying that out, we will see how that goes. So much out there is old, and it is not exactly clear that you don't need that box now (although TVE is still in beta apparently, and spectrum is not listed on the supported providers, but I was able to pick it when I signed up). Also not able to get the remote streaming from Channels working just yet.

Also this is missing some channels that I pay for and actually want to watch/record....

 

[Pokemon_Dad]

It just clicked, that I did not need another box, with channels DVR and current spectrum subscription. (I thought the HDHR box was still required) I am also trying that out, we will see how that goes. So much out there is old, and it is not exactly clear that you don't need that box now (although TVE is still in beta apparently, and spectrum is not listed on the supported providers, but I was able to pick it when I signed up). Also not able to get the remote streaming from Channels working just yet.

Also this is missing some channels that I pay for and actually want to watch/record....

Here's the Spectrum TVE thread: Provider - Spectrum | Channels Community

Remote streaming problems are often a port settings thing. Here's the support article: How-To - Stream Remotely | Channels Support And there's lots of discussion here: Search - Remote - Channels DVR | Channels Community

Once you have things set up, it generally runs without incident. Missing channels are annoying though... hang on to that WMC! You can import local content into Channels DVR by going to Settings in the web UI, and under "Local Content" pointing it to the locations (outside the Channels install directories): ALPHA: Import TV local content into DVR | Channels Community

 

[yzguyfl123]

Once you have things set up, it generally runs without incident. Missing channels are annoying though... hang on to that WMC! You can import local content into Channels DVR by going to Settings in the web UI, and under "Local Content" pointing it to the locations (outside the Channels install directories): ALPHA: Import TV local content into DVR | Channels Community

I did that, and got a few more channels, but CBS for instance does NOT come in (I get some all news CBS channels, but not the real CBS) I tried to go to the CBS site to see if I could stream it, and I get "Your TV provider is not yet supported in your location."

I did just order a home run OTA box and antenna, which should take care of this.

Still trying to put a few things together to see if I can get it all in one place easy enough for the wife, and still get all the stuff we like to watch.

 

[Pokemon_Dad]

I did that, and got a few more channels, but CBS for instance does NOT come in (I get some all news CBS channels, but not the real CBS) I tried to go to the CBS site to see if I could stream it, and I get "Your TV provider is not yet supported in your location."

I did just order a home run OTA box and antenna, which should take care of this.

Still trying to put a few things together to see if I can get it all in one place easy enough for the wife, and still get all the stuff we like to watch.

Frustrating but per the relevant Channels Community thread on locals, CBS is not supported via TVE because they're trying to get everyone to subscribe to CBS All Access. Those with no good OTA option often go with Locast instead, which Channels can also access.

 

[yzguyfl123]

I did get the HD homerun OTA box and now I am getting all the channels I care about through Channels DVR, and got my remote stuff ironed out. Now I can watch shows away from home with the channels dvr app, and plex, as well as record all my shows.

The only real gripe left is that discovery channels apparently have some lock with spectrum... I can only record 2 shows at once from any of the discovery networks (which is not a huge deal) but the larger problem is I can only view 1-2 (sometimes it is 1 sometimes 2) channels per hour. So if I watch 5 min of one show (live), then switch to another channel, it does not sign out of the first one, and won't let me watch the second, until the hour time out for the first login. Seems like some sort of bug, but not sure on which side (discovery, spectrum, channels). But I can live with that, I generally only record stuff anyway.

Still using the tivo stream to watch the channels DVR (but really I could use several things).

 

[Pokemon_Dad]

Excellent news, @yzguyfl123. About that Discovery issue, apparently it's Spectrum that's imposing the limits. No surprise there. That may be their clumsy method of complying with a legal agreement. More info, including replies from Channels dev tmm1 here: Discovery channels stream limit

 

[eohrnberger]

Actually doing some more reading... and I think the channels DVR and PLEX dvr will have the same issues with not being able to record the DRM channels (and from what I am reading, most will be with Spectrum)

so from Spectrum my options are new tivo box, or their crappy dvr

or I really start looking closer at Youtube tv or Hulu or something, and get rid of spectrum all together.

Seeking the same thing, I think.

I have TiVo DVR content that I want to stream to a TiVo 4K streamer, and would like to do this outside of home from where the TiVo DVR is located. The TiVo 4K streamer is outside the home.

I have been running Galleon on my Linux server for the longest time. Sure, the TiVo Bolt can't access Galleon using the HMO, but Galleon can download content from the Bolt, as well as the TiVo Series-4 that I have.

Once the DVR content is on the Linux machine, it's a .TiVo file, which can be decrypted using tivodecode into a .MPG file.

This .MPG file can then be indexed and presented in, as well as streamed from, Plex. Both TiVo 4K Streamer and TiVo Bolt have a Plex client app, once installed, configured and connected to the Plex account, this client can see and play all the content the Plex media server has indexed, and Plex can stream this content to outside the home across the Internet.

This is all a rather round about way to get this done, TiVo DVR content streaming to a TiVo 4K streamer. I keep wondering if there's a better / easier / more direct way to get content from TiVo DVR to TiVo 4K streamer.

Appreciate the hint about eBay and used Bolt boxes, as the Series-4 is getting rather long in the tooth, and doesn't run the Plex app all that quickly, given it's age and performance.

 

[slowbiscuit]

kmttg does the same thing, and you can use Plex as mentioned to play the downloaded shows on the Stream. It can all be automated but yeah it's not the best way to make a Tivo client. Tivo should have just ported their own app over to the Stream but probably didn't want to kill Mini sales.

I'm guessing somebody tried sideloading the Android Tivo app on the Stream and it failed?

 

[eohrnberger]

kmttg does the same thing, and you can use Plex as mentioned to play the downloaded shows on the Stream. It can all be automated but yeah it's not the best way to make a Tivo client. Tivo should have just ported their own app over to the Stream but probably didn't want to kill Mini sales.

I'm guessing somebody tried sideloading the Android Tivo app on the Stream and it failed?

I think it was earlier in this thread where someone did:
Stream from Tivo DVR to Tivo stream 4K
I was kinda figuring I'd try it on my phone first to see if I would stream to the TV next time I'm there where the streamer is. The other thing I'm not so sure about is the wireless USB mouse bit. My experience is that those always have dead batteries when you want to use it.

 

[sdlevin]

Plex is garbage, THe "TIVO STREAM" needs to be able to stream from a tivo box, if not, then dont call it a TIVO STREAM !!

Plex is awesome. Tivo is garbage. With Plex i can watch all my content on my Smart TV as it is an app. Tivo, which I have complained for 5 years cannot stream and cast to a smart TV. I have to physically connect to TV an hdmi connection. I like Tivo as DVR cable solution but really hardly any ability to work with Smart TVs which is going to kill it in the long run. I use it for my projector but I have to have my adaptor and run a hdmi cable wherever I go. I can stream my cable content direct to my smart TV from my Iphone. Not with TIVO?