Why deal with those hassles when simpler solutions like TiVo and Tablo exist? The main argument for Plex is the amount of power and flexibility it affords. (A third-party app called Channels is also available on Apple TV for $15.) Users of other brands of TV tuners will just have to wait. Until Plex expands live TV support, HDHomeRun users can still watch live channels using HDHomeRun’s own apps, which are available for Windows, Xbox One, Android TV, and Fire TV. Plex’s client apps, such as the Android TV version pictured here, is where you access live channels. Although live TV support is limited to iOS and Android TV for now, recordings are already available on all versions of the Plex app, including those for Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, game consoles, and smart TVs. An over-the-air antenna then hooks up to the tuner via coaxial cable to receive over-the-air channels.įinally, you need a device running Plex’s client app to stream live and recorded TV from the server. Once the Media Server software is running, you must connect a TV tuner to the device, such as an HDHomeRun Extend networked tuner, AverMedia’s AverTV Volar Hybrid Q USB tuner, or Hauppauge’s WinTV Quad PCI Express tuner. Plex’s Media Server software lets you set up a TV tuner for live channels.

This device should have plenty of onboard storage or support an external hard drive drive for recordings.

First, you need a device that can run Plex’s Media Server software around the clock, such as a desktop computer, a NAS box, or Nvidia Shield TV. Plex DVR is still a do-it-yourself solution that requires pulling together a bunch of disparate parts.

Plex tv tuner