Netflix and SageTV - My Simple Solution..

[mike1961]

Well - after researching the threads carefully it seems that there is no perfect solution for integration with Netflix directly in SageTV so I decided to go with the ideal solution. It's the same solution that everyone else would go with who does not have SageTV. Just use what you have. I have a Wi that the kids play on so I just decided to use that.

I programmed the SageTV Remote to change the input on the projector we have (140" TV Epson projector right onto the wall - looks great). They just press the Input button to switch the projector to Wi Composite from HDMI Sage and voila - Netflix on the Wi.

The only disadvantages I see to this is it's not fully integrated on all TV's in the house and second you can't record. But, everyone is happy. So it's a great solution for now and it works. I have Netflix just like everyone else but I also have Sage which I love because I love the ability to record shows anywhere and watch them anywhere else. I like a central system. For now, Netflix will be local unless I decide to rid my extenders and get workstations again for the TV's but it's not a necessity for now. At least it's a good workable solution.

Mike

[tchapin]

And you can view TV episodes from Netflix. With the Playon solution, TV episodes are no supported as far as I know.

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by tchapin

With the Playon solution, TV episodes are no supported as far as I know.

I don't know where you got this idea. I watch TV episodes from Netflix and Hulu all the time using the PlayOn plugin for SageTV V7.

In V6 it did take some finagling to get TV episodes to show up in the PlayOn list, but once you did, they played fine.

[PiX64]

Not to mention that the diamond ui very elegantly integrates the playon TV and imported TV....playon TV has hulu imports and netflix tv show imports...

[sflamm]

I havent had a chance yet to install the Diamond UI.

Can you tell me how it supports PlayOn?

If I install, is it easy to uninstall through the plug-in manager...?

[tchapin]

Originally Posted by GKusnick

I don't know where you got this idea. I watch TV episodes from Netflix and Hulu all the time using the PlayOn plugin for SageTV V7.

In V6 it did take some finagling to get TV episodes to show up in the PlayOn list, but once you did, they played fine.

Great! I'm happy to be wrong.

I still run SageTV v6.

[davephan]

Originally Posted by GKusnick

I don't know where you got this idea. I watch TV episodes from Netflix and Hulu all the time using the PlayOn plugin for SageTV V7.

In V6 it did take some finagling to get TV episodes to show up in the PlayOn list, but once you did, they played fine.

How did you get Netflix to work?

I have Playon installed on my SageTV computer. I just subscribed to Netflix. I put my e-mail username and password in Playon. The Playon 'test' worked.

There are several ways to get to Netflix using the 'On-line' menu. When I select 'Netflix', I only see the other options.

For example, I select:
Online, Netflix, Queue or
Online, Netflix, New Arrivals or
Online, Netflix, Browse Genres

Then I get:
PlayON\Hulu
PlayON\CBS
PlayON\Comedy Central
PlayON\TV.com
PlayON\ESPN.com
PlayON\ESPN3
and 16 more items ending with PlayON Info

If I drill down from Online, Netflix, Queue, PlayON\Comedy Central --- I finally get to the Daily show that does stream. However, I never see any Netflix movies when I drill down under the Netflix or any other Online menus.

Is there something that I haven't done correctly to setup Netflix streaming? When I signed up for Netflix, SageTV was not one of the options during the Netflix streaming setup. I wasn't sure which option I should have selected since I don't have any of the devices they listed. I just picked one of the devices on the Netflix setup list.

Dave

[davephan]

I found the solution.

I did not have any Netflix "Instant Queue" items setup. I logged into Netflix and setup one "Instant Queue" item, then the Netfix menu options work and I am able to drill down to Netflix movies and watch them.

Dave

[mike1961]

Okay - I got Netflix to work with Playon but I have two questions with this:

1. Is there ANY way to search? The new NetFlix UI allows for a standard search rather than just scrolling through different menus like drama, comedy or my instant queue.

2. Is there any way to Fast Forward the same way Sage allows FF with YouTube or Google videos?

Thanks,
Mike

[GKusnick]

Do your searching on the Netflix website and add movies to your instant queue. Then use Sage+PlayOn to watch them. If you have a smartphone or tablet near the TV you can do this without getting out of your chair.

Netflix movies are streamed in real time. It's like watching live TV; you can pause, rewind, and use FF to catch up again, but you can't FF past the live streaming point.

[QueOnda]

Is netflix 1080i with 5.1 w/ playon?

[mike1961]

I just recently installed playon and the plugin yesterday so I would think I have the latest version but it's not going beyond the real time. I can rewind but I can't seem to fast forward in Sage like I can with Youtube videos.

I understand about adding movies to the instant queue but the latest Netflix UIs in other addons like the Samsung DVD or Roku box or even the Wi allow to search for anything which is more convenient than having to go to a computer and add something to the queue. It would be a good improvement to the plugin if possible.

Regarding the prior post - how do I check for whether it's 1080i? Also, I'm not sure what you mean by 5.1 because Playon version is 3.0.38.1

Thanks,
Mike

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by mike1961

I understand about adding movies to the instant queue but the latest Netflix UIs in other addons like the Samsung DVD or Roku box or even the Wi allow to search for anything which is more convenient than having to go to a computer and add something to the queue. It would be a good improvement to the plugin if possible.

It's not a Netflix plugin; it's a PlayOn plugin. It just acts as a client to the PlayOn UPnP server and doesn't interface directly to Netflix at all. So you'll need to use some other Netflix UI to manage your Netflix queue because PlayOn doesn't provide that functionality.

[jmhays]

Originally Posted by mike1961

Regarding the prior post - how do I check for whether it's 1080i? Also, I'm not sure what you mean by 5.1 because Playon version is 3.0.38.1

Thanks,
Mike

Mike,
I am pretty sure that he meant 5.1 as in surround sound (4 speakers plus a center channel) plus a sub-woofer channel. Not the software version.

Joe

[QueOnda]

Originally Posted by jmhays

Mike,
I am pretty sure that he meant 5.1 as in surround sound (4 speakers plus a center channel) plus a sub-woofer channel. Not the software version.

Joe

Yes your correct, I meant 5.1 surround sound.