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PlexConnect is worth the effort with Apple TV

dgalvan123 said:
Odd. I scanned through "all available channels" and couldn't find it. Is there a way to search all available channels?

The only reason I'd set this up is for daily show. If that is not available at the moment I won't bother.
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It may not be available in your region, I think it's US only. I'm in the UK and the only way I can find "The Daily Show" channel is to go to the more->Foreign (region-restricted) section, but of course being in the UK even if I installed it I wouldn't be able to view the videos.
 
roidy said:
It may not be available in your region, I think it's US only. I'm in the UK and the only way I can find "The Daily Show" channel is to go to the more->Foreign (region-restricted) section, but of course being in the UK even if I installed it I wouldn't be able to view the videos.
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Thanks, I'll look again tonight.

I am in the U.S., so I was expecting to see it listed in "all available channels". It wasn't there, though.
 
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GGJstudios said:
I hope this isn't too off-topic, but I'd like some help that involves Apple TV and PlexConnect. I’m looking for an alternative to my current home theater setup. Here’s how it looks now:

  • Mac mini connected to HDTV via HDMI, and via audio cable to stereo receiver.
  • Video goes to the TV and audio goes to my stereo system, which has better speakers than the TV’s built-in speakers.
  • I run Plex Home Theater and Plex Server on the Mac mini, with my video library on an external drive connected to the Mac mini via Firewire 800.
  • I control Plex using the Plex iOS app, from iPhones and iPad.
The setup works well, since the Mac is in the same room as the TV, but I need a computer in another room. My initial thought was to buy another MBP for use in the other room, and just use the mini as just a media server. Then I started exploring the use of PlexConnect and an Apple TV. So here’s a possible alternative scenario:
  • Move Mac mini to another room.
  • Buy AirPort Extreme and connect external drive with library via USB 2.0
  • Buy Apple TV and set up PlexConnect
  • Run Plex Server on the Mac mini, with the library accessed via Wi-Fi from the drive attached to AirPort Extreme
  • Use a digital to analog audio converter to connect Apple TV to stereo, so audio goes to stereo speakers instead of TV.
Here are my questions:
  • Have I missed anything? Will this setup work?
  • How much will Wi-Fi bandwidth be affected by having the media library on drive attached to AirPort Extreme? Will it cause lag in video/audio? Will it significantly affect simultaneous web access or large file transfers?
  • Will I be able to seamlessly switch from using Plex to show movies on the Apple TV to accessing it from iPhones/iPads to display other audio/video from those devices?
  • Will I still be able to use iPhones/iPads to control Plex playback?
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Maybe a bit late.. but i can confirm you this setup works (a part from the apple tv which i plan on buying myself)

I actually have a time-capsule and my current library on the time capsule. Works extremely smoothly apart from the fact i need to 'click' on the timecapsule when waking the computer so it connects to the time capsule to make the library readable by plex (but you can make the mac run a command on startup to prevent yourself from having to manually do that i believe)

In any case, it's all over wifi, no cables required apart from HDMI connexion from the mac (or apple tv in your case).

So definetely go for it; i recommend this setup fully as it really takes the manual labor off, i just download mvoies straight to my time capsule, put my plex on auto scan and voila, everything appears without having to move my butt from the couch which is essentially what i and i think many other users are looking for, with an amazing interface :)
 
coco0612 said:
Maybe a bit late.. but i can confirm you this setup works
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Thanks for your response. Yes, I moved forward with the setup. The only thing I haven't yet done is to move the drive with my media from the Mac mini to the AirPort Extreme. The PlexConnect works well, but the response time isn't quite as fast as the Plex Home Theater, and not all of the functionality is there, but it's usable. Thanks again for responding!
 
Are you sure you want your library on a Time Capsule or especially an Airport Extreme? They are both very slow, even over gigabit ethernet. I did some tests here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1747622/

I'm using iTunes, not Plex, but I had my library on the Time Capsule for awhile before moving it to a fast USB3 drive on a Mini. Using gigabit ethernet, the performance improvement on the Apple TV is significant. Movies open and load much more quickly now.
 
Okay, I can't find it reference anywhere, so I'm assuming the answer is 'no', but does Plex support live TV though a TV tuner? (Like an Elgato HD HomeRun or EyeTV Hybrid.)

Because if it did, I could finally replace my HTPC with my AppleTV for everything.
 
Boyd01 said:
Are you sure you want your library on a Time Capsule or especially an Airport Extreme? They are both very slow, even over gigabit ethernet. I did some tests here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1747622/

I'm using iTunes, not Plex, but I had my library on the Time Capsule for awhile before moving it to a fast USB3 drive on a Mini. Using gigabit ethernet, the performance improvement on the Apple TV is significant. Movies open and load much more quickly now.
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I already play Plex movies over my Wi-Fi network with no performance issues. I can't see any difference in having the library connect to the network via a computer or the AirPort Extreme.
 
PLEX Tagging

Hey guys, really Really would love the ease of use and amazing layout that Plex offers media files via Apple TV. That being said I have 6TB of media and growing - tagged to the iTunes format. How well does Plex migrate iTunes tagged files into its system? From what i understand, media files must be tagged a certain way understandably to be recognized in the Plex scan. I would hate to think i would have to Retag every file in order to enjoy Plex and wondered if anyone had any issue with iTunes tagged files during migration? FYI, my iTunes media tag structure is identical to that of "purchased' iTunes movie files so if those pass the Plex scan, can I assume my files are compatible off-the-hop?

Thx for any feedback you may have, JIM
 
JMEANS said:
From what i understand, media files must be tagged a certain way understandably to be recognized in the Plex scan.
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Plex looks at the file name to determine what the movie or show is. From there, Plex downloads its own tags, so even if there are no tags or incorrect tags, Plex will correct that. Occasionally Plex will mis-identify a movie, but that is easily corrected through the Plex Server interface.

This may help: Media Preparation
 
thx for reply and link, one instance i noticed is that the movie title must be followed by the year of release - for example 'Godzilla (2014)' if that is the case every movie i have in iTunes does not have the year present after the title. so doesn't look good for recognition, PLUS i actually like the poster art and tag info of my files already so i'm not sure i want Plex to override some of the custom poster art etc. i've created. If there is a way to override that tag aspect of Plex, i would be sold on it.
 
Thanks for the writ up. I have Linux NAS run sbs and Twonky. I'll set this up this weekend and post my experience.
The DLNA interface on my Panasonic TV is only ok, so it would be nice to have something better. I like xbmc, haven't needed PLEX, but I have wanted to try it. I already have a plex package on my NAS, just need to update it.
 
PlexConnect is worth the effort with Apple TV

JMEANS said:
thx for reply and link, one instance i noticed is that the movie title must be followed by the year of release - for example 'Godzilla (2014)' if that is the case every movie i have in iTunes does not have the year present after the title. so doesn't look good for recognition, PLUS i actually like the poster art and tag info of my files already so i'm not sure i want Plex to override some of the custom poster art etc. i've created. If there is a way to override that tag aspect of Plex, i would be sold on it.
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You don't have to have the year in the file name, but it helps plex to import the metadata, especially for a movie like Godzilla which has been remade a few times. If it mismatches, though, it's very easy to change inside Plex.

Not sure why you don't want Plex to import artwork, its main purpose is to sort through your files and arrange them in UI, along with transcoding to stream... I use it this way and it's great. If you really don't want this to happen you can just use your existing iTunes library in Plex through the iTunes channel. Seems to go against the purpose of using Plex though.

EDIT if anything I suggest you install pled media server and let it scan your library. You'll see how well it recognizes your files. If you don like it or there are too many mismatches you can just uninstall it and keep things like they are now.
 
Thanks for pointing me this direction. Plex up and running. Plexconnect up and running. Should have done this ages ago

Thanks
 
Any Canadian PlexConnect users also using Blockless for US Netflix? I changed my router DNS settings as per Blockless and am getting US Netflix. Will changing my ATV to manual DNS impact Netflix?
 
melbri said:
Any Canadian PlexConnect users also using Blockless for US Netflix? I changed my router DNS settings as per Blockless and am getting US Netflix. Will changing my ATV to manual DNS impact Netflix?
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Depends on how your network works. If your PMS is set to take its own DNS from the router I think you'll be fine.
 
KarlDag said:
Depends on how your network works. If your PMS is set to take its own DNS from the router I think you'll be fine.
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Thanks KarlDog

Kind of a noob. I set mt ATV to the same IP as my mac and plex came right up, but no Netflix.

Not sure about your comment "take its own DNS from the router" and how to determine this or do it it comes to the setting of my router, I am very inexperienced and under knowledged.
 
melbri said:
Thanks KarlDog



Kind of a noob. I set mt ATV to the same IP as my mac and plex came right up, but no Netflix.



Not sure about your comment "take its own DNS from the router" and how to determine this or do it it comes to the setting of my router, I am very inexperienced and under knowledged.
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You said you configured the DNS in the router and got netflix to work. Good.

Then, when using plexconnect, you sent the appletv's DNS address to your server. That is normal, and wanted for plex connect to work.

Normally, that server should intercept and modify everything that has to do with the trailers channel, but nothing else. That means when the appletv asks for netflix, the server should send the info straight to the router as if you hadn't changed anything to the appletv's connection settings, so it should act as if you were on the new DNS address from your service.

Hard to explain, I'm not THAT knowledgeable either, but from my understanding, netflix should work if everything is set up well.

Go check on your server's network connection settings if it is configured to use a specific DNS or get it from the router automatically. It should use the router's.


PS I recommend you google/Wikipedia what DNS servers do, might help you understand.
 
Just an update. I have been trying to get PlexConnect to run on my Qnap 419II+, but it has been a bi+ch. Not sure why. I am going to try again tonight to sort it out. ( never had to actually install SUDO :rolleyes: nice install Qnap :rolleyes::rolleyes: update, sure, but install; good grief )
 
For those of you that use this, does it support native streaming of MKV files (x264 and AC3 or AAC audio)?

I would rather not transcode in case my Plex server isn't that current of a machine, and cause lags or quality/speed problems.

I would assume it doesn't since the Apple TV3 itself doesn't support MKV format, but wanted to ask.
 
WSFrazier said:
For those of you that use this, does it support native streaming of MKV files (x264 and AC3 or AAC audio)?



I would rather not transcode in case my Plex server isn't that current of a machine, and cause lags or quality/speed problems.



I would assume it doesn't since the Apple TV3 itself doesn't support MKV format, but wanted to ask.
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Not sure what your question is. You said yourself the AppleTV doesn't support it, so no. The whole point of plex connect is to connect plex to the ATV and use it's transcoding abilities.

What you could so is pretranscode your movies with handbrake to the appletv's supported format, and then stream using either iTunes or plex. Defeats the purpose of plex though.
 
I am just curious about the quality loss when transcoding for files I already have that are MKV.

If the MKV files contain a H264 video, is the Plex server just re-muxing on the fly to the MP4 container, or actually doing a full transcode anyway?

Also, how is it at handling HD audio formats or DTS, does the transcoding keep the 5.1?

Thanks for the help
 
PlexConnect is worth the effort with Apple TV

WSFrazier said:
I am just curious about the quality loss when transcoding for files I already have that are MKV.



If the MKV files contain a H264 video, is the Plex server just re-muxing on the fly to the MP4 container, or actually doing a full transcode anyway?



Also, how is it at handling HD audio formats or DTS, does the transcoding keep the 5.1?



Thanks for the help
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Plex will always (should) take the least CPU expensive road in terms of transcoding, so it will remix anything that can be remuxed. It will transcode HD audio to something compatible in 5.1 - I am not sure if the appletv uses DTS (don't think so) or Dolby digital, you should look up the codecs it supports.

Image will probably lose a certain % of its quality, but not enough that you should care IMO. If the loss created by the transcode annoys anyone, I believe those people should stick to Blu-rays :)

I guess the only way you'll know is by trying it... Personally I love the functionality and am still impressed by the image quality of certain files being transcoded on the fly and streamed. Very happy with plex connect, except when I had to install it or whenever I try to update as I always have issues, but as long as I leave the functioning system alone it's great.
 
Yeah, going to try this. I've been wanting to switch to Plex for a while now, but been thinking I would need a Roku 3, FireTV or something else.

Thanks
 
WSFrazier said:
Yeah, going to try this. I've been wanting to switch to Plex for a while now, but been thinking I would need a Roku 3, FireTV or something else.



Thanks
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Just so you know, if you have an iPad or iPhone you can use the plex app and use airplay. Much easier, works great.
 
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