Roku+Plex = Leaving SageTV? Anyone regret it?

[darcilicious]

Originally Posted by PiX64

If you are running the roku test channel, then you will see the updates.

How can I get the Plex test channel on Roku? I'm a PlexPass member and have a Roku 2 XS...

Edit: never mind, I found it

[I don't have any issues with 720p ripped mkv files on the Roku via Plex but I don't have a lot of bluray rips either (and I'm always running the latest server, etc).]

[darcilicious]

And perhaps I should have left well enough alone -- the latest Plex server release + Plex text channel has resulted in no playback for me using settings that have always worked without a hitch for me (transcoded / 720p / 4 Mb/s)

Le Sigh.

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

And perhaps I should have left well enough alone -- the latest Plex server release + Plex text channel has resulted in no playback for me using settings that have always worked without a hitch for me (transcoded / 720p / 4 Mb/s)

Le Sigh.

If you are having problems with the Plex test channel you can always go to the settings and use the old transcoder and post a problem in the plex beta forum.

[darcilicious]

Originally Posted by nyplayer

If you are having problems with the Plex test channel you can always go to the settings and use the old transcoder and post a problem in the plex beta forum.

Yup they're on it And as I posted there, the old transcoder in this new set up isn't as fast as the previous one -- I don't know why that is but even set to using the old one, the initial buffer time is noticeably longer today than it was last night -- for the exact same files.

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

Yup they're on it And as I posted there, the old transcoder in this new set up isn't as fast as the previous one -- I don't know why that is but even set to using the old one, the initial buffer time is noticeably longer today than it was last night -- for the exact same files.

Thanks I read your post... over at the plex forum. Mine buffers stops starts buffering again did this approx. 3 times before its started playing.

[darcilicious]

Originally Posted by nyplayer

Thanks I read your post... over at the plex forum. Mine buffers stops starts buffering again did this approx. 3 times before its started playing.

What transcode settings are you using and what kind of files are you playing? (unless you posted that info over there?)

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

What transcode settings are you using and what kind of files are you playing? (unless you posted that info over there?)

I was playing 720P and 1080I mpg files recorded from HD Homerun. I will do more testing later on and will post logs etc... over at the plex beta forum.

[IVB]

Originally Posted by PiX64

I have heard rumors that the new rokus coming out soon should full MKV playback over the network at MUCH high bitrates than currently supported for other file types.

Just ordered the Roku3, so lets see how this is then

[darcilicious]

Originally Posted by IVB

Just ordered the Roku3, so lets see how this is then

Reading about the Plex+Roku combo over at the Plex forums seems to disagree with full playback of MKV files -- but I'd love that to be wrong

[IVB]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

Reading about the Plex+Roku combo over at the Plex forums seems to disagree with full playback of MKV files -- but I'd love that to be wrong

Meaning they think it *will* work or *won't* work?

Edit: NEver mind, found the link. Bummer. I just recoded the IFO/VOB to MKV, I wonder if I need to re-recode it to something else to make go better.

[PLUCKYHD]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

Reading about the Plex+Roku combo over at the Plex forums seems to disagree with full playback of MKV files -- but I'd love that to be wrong

I have a huge collection of MKV's of all varieties of blurry/dvd/ota. I have no issues at all playing via transcoding to plex and quality is a+. I use the highest settings and have xs hardwired not wireless. I have two units and very rarely have any issues. Seems to handle everything great in my household. And my Smart TV (Samsung) with plex client handles the files via directly play as well and play everything great.

[darcilicious]

Agreed with the transcoding option -- I have no issue. I think the hope was that it would be possible to play h.264/mkv files without transcoding -- e.g. "full playplack".

[PLUCKYHD]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

Agreed with the transcoding option -- I have no issue. I think the hope was that it would be possible to play h.264/mkv files without transcoding -- e.g. "full playplack".

Ya I don't have an issue transcoding they are just bedroom tv's as long as they play i am happy. The living room still runs of htpc or samsung plex direct play and those both work great.

[drewg]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

Agreed with the transcoding option -- I have no issue. I think the hope was that it would be possible to play h.264/mkv files without transcoding -- e.g. "full playplack".

Have you tried various samples to see what the problem is? Eg, is it the video bitrate, the audio format, etc?

I imagine there are various licences required for various audio formats you'd find in BD rips that Roku does not have the margin to pay for.

Drew

[darcilicious]

Personally I haven't but I'm sure it's been covered in the Roku section of the Plex forums IIRC, it has something do with streaming it over http because it's not an issue for the same files played from a USB stick on the Roku and the issue is at the firmware level

(I don't have any BD rips so clearly that's not the extent of the issue)

[drewg]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

Personally I haven't but I'm sure it's been covered in the Roku section of the Plex forums IIRC, it has something do with streaming it over http because it's not an issue for the same files played from a USB stick on the Roku and the issue is at the firmware level

(I don't have any BD rips so clearly that's not the extent of the issue)

Somebody needs to hack the Roku to use SMB or NFS or something...

Drew

[IVB]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

Reading about the Plex+Roku combo over at the Plex forums seems to disagree with full playback of MKV files -- but I'd love that to be wrong

Just got my Roku3. Testing MKV BluRay rip now. Posted a pic here on G+. Will keep that thread updated with info as there's now people on 4 different forums asking.

[darcilicious]

What settings are you using for Plex playback on the Plex channel for the Roku?

The issue isn't if it can play mkv files over a network, it's how they're played: transcoded, direct play, etc.

[IVB]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

What settings are you using for Plex playback on the Plex channel for the Roku?

The issue isn't if it can play mkv files over a network, it's how they're played: transcoded, direct play, etc.

eh, how do I tell? I don't see any real options anywhere, I just pointed Plex's media mgr at the directory and let it scan.

[IVB]

oh found one screen:

local quality 3Mbps
Direct play checked
Always use highest resolution is unchecked
Prefer AAC is unchecked

is that what you meant?