Latest upgrades to my encode chain include a laptop UHD BluRay reader in an external USB case (LG-BU50N) that is firmware modded so AnyDVD can decode UHD 4K BluRay disks and I can just rip and encode using my normal BluRay process. Had to re-encode my entire collection 3 times before I learned this lesson) I also have a Plex Server (Windows 11, Ryzen 3900X, 32G ECC RAM on Crosshair VI Hero) for remote streaming - the Plex Server connects to the mirrored backup from the R515 via iSCSI (using 10G Ethernet) and that drive is then backed up to the cloud via BackBlaze. There is an MD1200 drive box connected to that with another 8x8G of WD drives in RAID 6 for a mirrored backup. Bedroom TVs all use Plex (either built-in app, or FireTV sticks).Īll of my physical media (which I still buy things I really like) gets encoded and stored on an old Dell PowerEdge R515 (Windows Server 2019, 2x Opteron 6-cores, 32G ECC RAM) in the basement with 8x8G WD drives internally in a RAID6. Plex app is also installed, but rarely used on this TV.

I have never encountered having to pay any kind of TV license. Software is Windows 11, Kodi, Netflix app, and Microsoft Edge (YouTube, Amazon Prime, BritBox). what TV license are you talking about having to pay? I have an HTPC running a Core i5-6600K w/16G RAM, 256G SSD, Radeon RX-480 8G connected to Samsung 55' TV and an Auzentech PCIe HomeTheatre (Creative X-FI) passing DDL 5.1 via TOLSLINK to a Yamaha 5.1 NEO receiver.

Should I look at something like Fire Stick + stand alone blu-ray player? Or update my HTPC? Or something else? Is that possible on a budget with a single device? screen sharing / casting from IOS and Android 1080p PC monitor via HDMI (4k nice to have) Did I mention I have old QNAP NAS that I use as a network share, Kodi is using this as a video files source, and this is where it struggles with HEVC.

It is time to revisit the setup as it is aging and not playing HEVC properly. I did not get a TV to avoid paying TV licence. the PC is connected via HDMI to 5.1 receiver and PC screen. I have web cam connected for videocalls, not used a lot recently. I'm running Win10, Kodi, Prime & Netflix apps, Youtube in browsers. A lot of good advice available in this thread, but I'm still a bit loss.

Mpc hc chromecast