HTPC questions...

[pinksnowmanshandle]

So I plan on building a PC sometime this summer that will eventually be used as either an HTPC for my bedroom or a Local File Server/NAS.

 

I was wondering if Plex or another HTPC program would act like a DVR and record or display input from an antenna if I had either an PCIe or USB TV Tuner.

 

I suppose another question is, why did you build an HTPC and what kinds of things do you do with besides watching already owned movies and TV shows and maybe some games that are playable from a distance with a controller.

 

Also, what do you use for HTPC software or OS and what does that OS or Software do that another might not.

[pspfreak]

I can at least tell you this, while plex is great and i love it, it is not a DVR program. I dont even think that it has Live TV capabilities. 

[pinksnowmanshandle]

7 minutes ago, pspfreak said:

I can at least tell you this, while plex is great and i love it, it is not a DVR program. I dont even think that it has Live TV capabilities. 

That's sort of interesting that plex might not even have live tv as an option not a huge deal but I just sort of thought the HTPCs must have more than a few purposes, they're a full fledged computer.

[johnny5c]

3 hours ago, pspfreak said:

I can at least tell you this, while plex is great and i love it, it is not a DVR program. I dont even think that it has Live TV capabilities. 

I'm using a HDHomeRun Prime cablecard tuner with Plex, there's a few other plug-ins for different  tuners available too.   In order to have full DVR functions you need to use WMC on the HTPC that's running the Plex server client and then stream the recorded shows but live TV works just fine on everything else.  I went from having 7 cable boxes to 2 HTPCs and 5 Chromecasts so was able to reduce my monthly bill by over $50.

[pinksnowmanshandle]

2 hours ago, johnny5c said:

I'm using a HDHomeRun Prime cablecard tuner with Plex, there's a few other plug-ins for different  tuners available too.   In order to have full DVR functions you need to use WMC on the HTPC that's running the Plex server client and then stream the recorded shows but live TV works just fine on everything else.  I went from having 7 cable boxes to 2 HTPCs and 5 Chromecasts so was able to reduce my monthly bill by over $50.

I would be watching or recording shows with an antenna. So I'd need a different tuner I'm guessing. Though if I do re-purpose my upcoming build into an HTPC I would probably want to keep Windows 7 for the WMC stuff. 

[pinksnowmanshandle]

@johnny5c Would you know if there is any significant difference between the HDHomerun Extend or Connect?

[johnny5c]

4 hours ago, wcreek said:

I would be watching or recording shows with an antenna. So I'd need a different tuner I'm guessing. Though if I do re-purpose my upcoming build into an HTPC I would probably want to keep Windows 7 for the WMC stuff. 

WMC is the easiest to use, channel guide works well and you can always share your recorded TV folder in the Plex server app or use a media center extender.

2 hours ago, wcreek said:

@johnny5c Would you know if there is any significant difference between the HDHomerun Extend or Connect?

If I remember right, one is capable of transcoding streams from other devices.