[xberk]

Since my TS4K has been updated to firmware, Version 4896, my powered hub (which did not work before) now works. I'm using an OTG cable, the powered hub and a 2TB Toshiba Slim portable drive formatted to xFat (that's important I think). How well it works depends on file formats and the player you choose. I'm using VLC, MxPlayer and Kodi. They all pick up the external drive and work. So far, I think I like MxPlayer for how it handles controls but I think Kodi works the best with the most file formats and has a nice file structure and navigation. So Kodi wins for me once I get to use to how the video controls work. (I do a lot of fast forward, rewind, stop and start -- plus I like the ability to "resume" or "start from beginning")

So the short answer is that TS4K can be used quite successfully as a media server. I find that amazing for $50 item + hub + OTG cable. I have been looking for a solution other than setting up a NAS for a long time. Found it here, I think. I can't believe for the price how smoothly this works as a media server. ... and even better .. if you have an Ethernet connection (MOCA), you can run the TS4K on Ethernet and VLC will then pickup any shared drives on your Network PC. This gives you something akin to a NAS with very little fuss or expense.

And .. oh yes .. the TS4K also gives you an excellent streaming device (with Disney, HBO/MAX etc) akin to Roku, Apple TV etc...

I

 

[yawitz]

I'm a little confused by this, and admit I may be uninformed on this topic. Can you clarify: is the TS4K just making the files on the Toshiba drive available to play via VLC on your PC (i.e. acting as a NAS for other non-TiVo devices on the network), or can the TiVo play those files? (It's the latter functionality that I'm interested in, without investing in a TiVo-compatible NAS. And I'm on a Mac, BTW.)

 

[xberk]

The TS4K hooks up to your TV or AV/Receiver unit, but it has its own remote. It has nothing to do with TIVO DVRs. It's like Roku. It's an android device so It can run VLC for Android.. The VLC does not come pre-installed on the TS4K but it is easy to download and install. There are lots of YouTube tutorials on how to download and add applications to the TS4K.

So VLC becomes an icon on the TS4K desktop that you click on to run. From there VLC picks up the External Drive (seems to me this is automatic) and will play them using the remote that comes with TS4K for video contorls. So it's something like this: VLC is the player app .. TS4K is the host operating system. All this has nothing to do with your PC or Mac. Nor does it have anything to do with streaming from NetFlix and the like .. Where your PC or MAC may come into play is that VLC can also access shared network drives on a PC with Windows. Not sure about the MAC. I'm not a tech-head so others can maybe explain things better. So, at least, for PC's on Windows, this is where the VLC can act like a NAS when playing back video files.

BUT -- IT WORKS.