Streaming NAS content to TV

!!11oneone · 14-03-2016, 10:08

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.

Stig · 14-03-2016, 12:17

Do you have a budget? One of the best Android streaming boxes is the Nvidia Shield, and it will be more than up to processing your MKV files, as well as do some gaming. https://shield.nvidia.co.uk/android-...roku-vs-firetv

Other than that there are lots of Android boxes, or if you used Apple devices there is the AppleTV.

!!11oneone · 14-03-2016, 12:39

We have a particularly small budget, which is why the Chromecast is appealing. However, if nothing in that ballpark is going to be up to it we can keep plugging the laptop in for stuff the Fire won't play for now, and save up a bit.

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?

chrisbartley · 14-03-2016, 14:04

Quote:

but since the content is coming off a NAS not a computer we can't run a Plex server.

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

paulj48 · 14-03-2016, 15:23

You sure the bottle neck is the Firestick and not your internal network bandwidth, Nas to FIrestick?

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.

!!11oneone · 14-03-2016, 15:58

The NAS is a ReadyNAS, not the speediest thing in the world but generally adequate. But there isn't a Plex server for it.

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!

paulj48 · 14-03-2016, 16:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by !!11oneone

The NAS is a ReadyNAS, not the speediest thing in the world but generally adequate. But there isn't a Plex server for it.

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/commen...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.

alcockell · 14-03-2016, 16:37

Slingbox?

!!11oneone · 14-03-2016, 16:39

I've looked at Raspberry Pi in the past, fantastic bits of kit. Don't think I can hard wire it, though. Not without a switch on the router as we're out of ports.

How would we control the Pi?

Shame we'd have to have two systems to use Amazon Prime as well, though.

paulj48 · 14-03-2016, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by !!11oneone

I've looked at Raspberry Pi in the past, fantastic bits of kit. Don't think I can hard wire it, though. Not without a switch on the router as we're out of ports.

How would we control the Pi?
.

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.

!!11oneone · 14-03-2016, 17:36

I think the Pi is the way to go, I'd forgotten about them. It was my first choice years ago but I never got around to setting one up. I've basically always wanted one to play with!

I know about wireless limitations, if I can I'll free up a port.

David_Flett1 · 16-03-2016, 17:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by !!11oneone

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 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.

!!11oneone · 17-03-2016, 15:52

The stick is way underpowered compared to the Fire TV. But of course the Fire TV costs three times as much!

However, a raspberry pi can be had for under £40 so that's going to be my summer project.

marlman · 17-03-2016, 21:10

I have lots of different ways including Plex, Kodi WD live etc but I am now using the new Apple TV and its perfect for my needs.

The Infuser app plays all my files including MKV file without any problems so will be sticking with it for now.

14-03-2016, 10:08	#1
!!11oneone Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,807	Streaming NAS content to TV 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.

14-03-2016, 12:17	#2
Stig Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sandy Heath, Beds. UK Posts: 10,383	Do you have a budget? One of the best Android streaming boxes is the Nvidia Shield, and it will be more than up to processing your MKV files, as well as do some gaming. https://shield.nvidia.co.uk/android-...roku-vs-firetv Other than that there are lots of Android boxes, or if you used Apple devices there is the AppleTV.

14-03-2016, 12:39	#3
!!11oneone Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,807	We have a particularly small budget, which is why the Chromecast is appealing. However, if nothing in that ballpark is going to be up to it we can keep plugging the laptop in for stuff the Fire won't play for now, and save up a bit. 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?

14-03-2016, 14:04	#4
chrisbartley Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: berks Posts: 1,643	Quote: but since the content is coming off a NAS not a computer we can't run a Plex server. 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

14-03-2016, 15:23	#5
paulj48 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,096	You sure the bottle neck is the Firestick and not your internal network bandwidth, Nas to FIrestick? 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.

14-03-2016, 15:58	#6
!!11oneone Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,807	The NAS is a ReadyNAS, not the speediest thing in the world but generally adequate. But there isn't a Plex server for it. 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!

14-03-2016, 16:35	#7
paulj48 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,096	Quote: Originally Posted by !!11oneone The NAS is a ReadyNAS, not the speediest thing in the world but generally adequate. But there isn't a Plex server for it. 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/commen...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.

14-03-2016, 16:37	#8
alcockell Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Reading, UK Posts: 23,357	Slingbox?

14-03-2016, 16:39	#9
!!11oneone Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,807	I've looked at Raspberry Pi in the past, fantastic bits of kit. Don't think I can hard wire it, though. Not without a switch on the router as we're out of ports. How would we control the Pi? Shame we'd have to have two systems to use Amazon Prime as well, though.

14-03-2016, 16:45	#10
paulj48 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,096	Quote: Originally Posted by !!11oneone I've looked at Raspberry Pi in the past, fantastic bits of kit. Don't think I can hard wire it, though. Not without a switch on the router as we're out of ports. How would we control the Pi? . 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.

14-03-2016, 17:36	#11
!!11oneone Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,807	I think the Pi is the way to go, I'd forgotten about them. It was my first choice years ago but I never got around to setting one up. I've basically always wanted one to play with! I know about wireless limitations, if I can I'll free up a port.

16-03-2016, 17:57	#12
David_Flett1 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 1,463	Quote: Originally Posted by !!11oneone 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 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.

17-03-2016, 15:52	#13
!!11oneone Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,807	The stick is way underpowered compared to the Fire TV. But of course the Fire TV costs three times as much! However, a raspberry pi can be had for under £40 so that's going to be my summer project.

17-03-2016, 21:10	#14
marlman Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Newport S Wales Posts: 598	I have lots of different ways including Plex, Kodi WD live etc but I am now using the new Apple TV and its perfect for my needs. The Infuser app plays all my files including MKV file without any problems so will be sticking with it for now.

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Streaming NAS content to TV