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Streaming NAS content to TV
!!11oneone
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Hi
I need a decent streaming solution to play video files on the TV. I have a NAS box with all the video stuff on it. At the moment, we have a Fire Stick running Kodi but it just isn't up to processing high quality files and particularly mkv files. The break up and are jittery. In particular, the memory of the device fills up and then you can't do anything. As there's no multitasker on the OS you can't easily stop processes or apps.
Most solutions recommend using Plex, but since the content is coming off a NAS not a computer we can't run a Plex server.
We have a Panasonic smart TV, but again it's own media player doesn't handle more modern formats and struggles with HD and H.264.
We have Android phones which can work as controllers. I'm thinking maybe Chromecast, but I'm a bit worried that it's quite restricted to certain file formats. Ideally it'd just play anything. I also prefer something like Kodi so the kids can easily find and watch stuff, whereas Chromecast is a bit fiddlier to use your own phone.
I also have BubbleUPnP from ages ago, so that could be a decent solution for casting stuff.
I need a decent streaming solution to play video files on the TV. I have a NAS box with all the video stuff on it. At the moment, we have a Fire Stick running Kodi but it just isn't up to processing high quality files and particularly mkv files. The break up and are jittery. In particular, the memory of the device fills up and then you can't do anything. As there's no multitasker on the OS you can't easily stop processes or apps.
Most solutions recommend using Plex, but since the content is coming off a NAS not a computer we can't run a Plex server.
We have a Panasonic smart TV, but again it's own media player doesn't handle more modern formats and struggles with HD and H.264.
We have Android phones which can work as controllers. I'm thinking maybe Chromecast, but I'm a bit worried that it's quite restricted to certain file formats. Ideally it'd just play anything. I also prefer something like Kodi so the kids can easily find and watch stuff, whereas Chromecast is a bit fiddlier to use your own phone.
I also have BubbleUPnP from ages ago, so that could be a decent solution for casting stuff.
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Other than that there are lots of Android boxes, or if you used Apple devices there is the AppleTV.
I don't want to go down the Apple route. And Nvidia seems a bit overkill.
I've heard good things about the Roku 3 and that would have the advantage of letting us access the Prime catalogue through it instead of the Fire - we currently don't have enough internet to do that reliably, but that should change next year.
Anyone know if their stick or Roku 2 will do what we want? Or do we need the Roku 3?
What the NAS ?
There is aversion of Plex which can run on some NAS's
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201373793
Click on the NAS link here
https://plex.tv/downloads
I have a Raspberry Pi 2 running Kodi so its not exactly the speediest thing in the worlds but it can stream 1080P 5.1 mkv video files no problem at all from my Synology box.
I know it's not a network bottleneck as I can stream the same files to phones or laptops anywhere in the house, I just can't play them on the TV!
similar problems here https://www.reddit.com/r/kodi/comments/3mov94/1080p_content_on_fire_tv_stick/
just seems fire sticks are a bit naff streaming with Kodi, like I said a Rasberry Pi (and hard wire the network) works great with 1080P mkv's . I've never had a problem with it.
How would we control the Pi?
Shame we'd have to have two systems to use Amazon Prime as well, though.
The new Pi's have built in wireless (although 1080P isn't guaranteed on any system wirelessly)
I control my Pi with either an Apple App, although there are Android equivalents or my normal TV remote using HDMI CEC.
I know about wireless limitations, if I can I'll free up a port.
I use the Amazon Fire TV with Kodi and a WD MYCLOUD and have no problems streaming any file. I also or rather my wife uses Plex on the Amazon Fire but her server is on her laptop because she often uses that if something else is on. Of course I'm to blame because I am probably watching football.
Both Plex and Kodi work well on the AFTV as does emby. I prefer Kodi because it doesn't rely on a server but once again no problem on an AFTV, never tried the stick.
However, a raspberry pi can be had for under £40 so that's going to be my summer project.
The Infuser app plays all my files including MKV file without any problems so will be sticking with it for now.