[flvinny521]

I'm preparing to build a FreeNAS server and use an HTPC with XBMC or MeediOS as my main client for streaming content to my "primary" home theater area. However, I want to ensure that my additional TVs also have access to all this content, as I plan on cutting the cord completely once the system is up and running.


What's the cheapest method of streaming to additional televisions, like the one in my bedrooms? WDTV/Roku/Boxee? I only need to be able to stream to these locations, and it doesn't need to be anything fancy. I'd just like to be able to navigate through my media from that television, or using Android/iPad apps as a remote.

 

[halfelite]

your best options are the roku if you plan on using plex on your nas. Just remember the roku does not support every format so you might need the NAS to do some transcoding for it. The WDTV is an option or something like the popbox v8

 

[flvinny521]



Quote:
Originally Posted by halfelite  /t/1517120/cheap-clients-to-stream-freenas-content-to-secondary-tvs/0_100#post_24339501


your best options are the roku if you plan on using plex on your nas. Just remember the roku does not support every format so you might need the NAS to do some transcoding for it. The WDTV is an option or something like the popbox v8

I was planning on sticking with FreeNAS as opposed to Plex. I didn't think any of the benefits of Plex were important to me, and FreeNAS seemed to work much better in terms of coping with drive failure, etc. That being said, if it'll cost me only $100 per TV to stream from a Plex server and $350 from FreeNAS, that may swing my choice in the other direction.



Edit: What about chromecast?

 

[halfelite]

You are confusing the two things. Freenas will handle your storage needs plex can handle your media needs. There are not changeable pieces

 

[flvinny521]

I thought that use of Plex also necessitated the use of Plex's server software/OS to work correctly. When looking at the downloads for the Plex server software, there doesn't seem to be one that would be compatible with the setup I am envisioning. Am I mistaken?


Edit: I see now that it looks like Plex can run as a plugin in the FreeNAS environment, so I stand corrected. I'm still not sure if I want to use Plex, but if that's the cheapest and most efficient way to get the result I'm looking for, I will go for it.


However, if I have multiple TVs streaming from this server simultaneously, I probably wouldn't want to rely on transcoding so Roku has the correct format. I don't know yet what formats I am going to use to store my media (my research hasn't led me down that road yet), so I don't know if that would pose an issue. I certainly don't want to use any lossy transcoding, as some of my "secondary" viewing areas have large 1080P displays.

 

[halfelite]

So then your best bet is go with a wdtv it would be the cheapest solution then. and should play almost anything you can throw at it over samba/nfs with no transcoding.

 

[replayrob]

I use Raspberry Pi ($65 including case & power supply) with XBMC in the bedroom to stream from my FreeNAS... it works great! And as a bonus- my wife can watch her Greek online programs with the XBMC Hellenic Player add on.

FWIW- the old open source FreeNAS project in now NAS4Free...


Are you streaming mostly MKV's? If so- no transcoding required with Raspberry Pi running XBMC...

Best $65 I've spent in a long while!

 

[flvinny521]

Very interesting... I've heard a ton about Raspberry Pi and its many uses, but I never had a reason to look into it, until now. As I mentioned in an above edit, I hadn't really looked into what file type I'm going to be using on my server, but it seems mkv is the standard. Looks like I have a new avenue to pursue. Are there any limitations or downsides to this method, considering I may have 3 or 4 of them installed and maybe 2-3 streaming simultaneously?

 

[replayrob]



Quote:
Originally Posted by flvinny521  /t/1517120/cheap-clients-to-stream-freenas-content-to-secondary-tvs#post_24343226


Very interesting... I've heard a ton about Raspberry Pi and its many uses, but I never had a reason to look into it, until now. As I mentioned in an above edit, I hadn't really looked into what file type I'm going to be using on my server, but it seems mkv is the standard. Looks like I have a new avenue to pursue. Are there any limitations or downsides to this method, considering I may have 3 or 4 of them installed and maybe 2-3 streaming simultaneously?

As long as you have gigabit nic on your server you should have no problem wit 3+ concurrent streams.

FWIW- I went with OpenELEC XBMC on my Rasp Pi.


Here's some info to get you started with XBMC on the Rasp Pi:
http://lifehacker.com/raspberry-pi-xbmc-solutions-compared-raspbmc-vs-openel-1394239600


and...

http://wiki.openelec.tv/index.php?title=Installing_OpenELEC_on_Raspberry_Pi

 

[hemmiandra]


If you want the hazzle-free, working out-of-the-box, stable solutions, I'd setup the Plex Server on the NAS and get either a Roku, GTV or a Chromecast for clients.

 

[flvinny521]



Quote:
Originally Posted by replayrob  /t/1517120/cheap-clients-to-stream-freenas-content-to-secondary-tvs/0_100#post_24343159


FWIW- the old open source FreeNAS project in now NAS4Free...

Does this mean that FreeNAS is no longer as desirable as the new NAS4Free project? I seem to still find a lot of people using new releases of FreeNAS.

Quote:
Originally Posted by replayrob  /t/1517120/cheap-clients-to-stream-freenas-content-to-secondary-tvs/0_100#post_24343942


FWIW- I went with OpenELEC XBMC on my Rasp Pi.

I was looking into that vs. Xbian. Right now, I think I am leaning towards that one, but I'm unsure at this time. Thanks a lot for your suggestion, I would have completely overlooked this as an option.

Quote:
Originally Posted by hemmiandra  /t/1517120/cheap-clients-to-stream-freenas-content-to-secondary-tvs/0_100#post_24344007


If you want the hazzle-free, working out-of-the-box, stable solutions, I'd setup the Plex Server on the NAS and get either a Roku, GTV or a Chromecast for clients.

Plex is looking more attractive as I continue my research. I need this to be functional and simple for my wife to even let me continue this project in the first place! She's unsure about cutting the cord and it's taken a bit of convincing even to get this far in the planning stages.

 

[replayrob]



Quote:
Originally Posted by flvinny521  /t/1517120/cheap-clients-to-stream-freenas-content-to-secondary-tvs#post_24344405


Does this mean that FreeNAS is no longer as desirable as the new NAS4Free project? I seem to still find a lot of people using new releases of FreeNAS.

Nope, the two are just different- NAS4Free is a continuation of the original FreeNAS project after the original creator left. FreeNAS is run by a different goup now now substantially different from the last true legacy version (7.xx) of FreeNAS.

I stayed with NAS4Free because the new GUI was identical to the legacy FreeNAS Ver 6.xx that I was used to and the transition to my new server with four 4TB drives was simple since I was very used to working with FreeNAS.

They're both excellent so take a look and compare features then choose the one you feel most comfortable with...

 

[hemmiandra]



Quote:
Originally Posted by flvinny521  /t/1517120/cheap-clients-to-stream-freenas-content-to-secondary-tvs#post_24344405


Plex is looking more attractive as I continue my research. I need this to be functional and simple for my wife to even let me continue this project in the first place! She's unsure about cutting the cord and it's taken a bit of convincing even to get this far in the planning stages.

 

Ubersimple, but limited = Chromecast. If your SO has an Android/iOS/WP8 device or a tablet, flinging media from your palm and controlling it from there is as simple as it gets.

Supersimple1, but a bit fugly = Roku. I've setup a couple of Roku's for family members that dont even use computers on a daily basis and they got familiar with it in 15-30 minutes.

 

Supersimple2, but a bit fugly and not out-of-the-box solution = ATV. You have to mix it quite a bit to make it work, but there's not much that beats the simplicity of that remote.


Kinda simple, but not that stable, more pretty, way more options = GoogleTV device. The remote can be a bit much for the average user I guess, but you'd have to be pretty non-techie to feel overwhelmed. 

 

Most of those devices also offer the Netflix/Hulu/Amazon prime experience, which is a huge selling point. Sure, those are available as plugins in the PlexHomeTheater but they're not offical, not stable, and very often out of date and simply dont work. However a small HTPC or an Mac Mini that's basicly always on with a well configured universal remote (ie. Harmony) is the best of all worlds, but it's still a PC with all problems/configuring that comes with it. 


My GF really knows her tech but she likes things to "just work" and she says the Roku's her favorite, then the GTV and then the HTPC. She rarely uses the remote as she just flings media to one of those with her phone or tablet.

 

[nirvana_av]



Quote:
Originally Posted by replayrob  /t/1517120/cheap-clients-to-stream-freenas-content-to-secondary-tvs#post_24345728


Nope, the two are just different- NAS4Free is a continuation of the original FreeNAS project after the original creator left. FreeNAS is run by a different goup now now substantially different from the last true legacy version (7.xx) of FreeNAS.

I stayed with NAS4Free because the new GUI was identical to the legacy FreeNAS Ver 6.xx that I was used to and the transition to my new server with four 4TB drives was simple since I was very used to working with FreeNAS.

They're both excellent so take a look and compare features then choose the one you feel most comfortable with...

I have tested and really like the NEW FreeNAS with the Plex plugin. However, I've gone back to NAS4Free because it can run on lighter-weight hardware. The new FreeNAS requires a minimum of 8GB ECC memory. This requires a server class machine.

 

[replayrob]



Quote:
Originally Posted by nirvana_av  /t/1517120/cheap-clients-to-stream-freenas-content-to-secondary-tvs#post_24350779


I have tested and really like the NEW FreeNAS with the Plex plugin. However, I've gone back to NAS4Free because it can run on lighter-weight hardware. The new FreeNAS requires a minimum of 8GB ECC memory. This requires a server class machine.

+ 1

I'm running NAS4Free on an old AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4400+ with 2Gb ram... absolutely no problems with that low end hardware.

 

[flvinny521]



Quote:
Originally Posted by nirvana_av  /t/1517120/cheap-clients-to-stream-freenas-content-to-secondary-tvs/0_100#post_24350779


I have tested and really like the NEW FreeNAS with the Plex plugin. However, I've gone back to NAS4Free because it can run on lighter-weight hardware. The new FreeNAS requires a minimum of 8GB ECC memory. This requires a server class machine.

I have heard that NAS4Free doesn't have quite the plugin support that FreeNAS does. Do you find that this greatly impacts your use of the server? From the way you worded you reply, am I correct to assume that there is no Plex plugin for NAS4Free?


I'm testing out Plex right now just using my always-on desktop as the server. So far, I like it, but the only client I have is a Dish Hopper, and the experience is underwhelming, to put it mildly.

 

[nirvana_av]



Quote:
Originally Posted by flvinny521  /t/1517120/cheap-clients-to-stream-freenas-content-to-secondary-tvs#post_24353225


I have heard that NAS4Free doesn't have quite the plugin support that FreeNAS does. Do you find that this greatly impacts your use of the server? From the way you worded you reply, am I correct to assume that there is no Plex plugin for NAS4Free?


I'm testing out Plex right now just using my always-on desktop as the server. So far, I like it, but the only client I have is a Dish Hopper, and the experience is underwhelming, to put it mildly.

I'm not aware of a Plex Server plugin for NAS4Free. It worked like a champ when I had the Plex Server plugin and FreeNAS installed on an old desktop with a 2.13GHz Core 2 duo and 2GB memory. FreeNAS claims there is risk of ZFS corruption with anything except ECC memory and that any usable amount of storage requires multiples of 8GB memory. I wasn't doing any Plex transcoding, so I'm not sure how that would have performed. Currently I use a really old Mac-Mini as both a Plex Server and Plex Client. It seems to work fine.


My NAS4Free hardly uses any of the 2GB memory and the processor is just loafing. I highly recommend it. It is after all, the original FreeNAS.