Complete newbie here. What I mean by the question is, is there any additional functionality I get by going the PC route? Otherwise my strong preference is NAS. Thanks!
Mini PCs often much more powerful hardware.
More powerful hardware, the more it can handle.
Faster com skip processing, more remote streaming etc.
Really depends on your needs and use case.... do you need massive storage only device, or do you just want a device to run the DVR server on...
NAS appliances are locked down to what ever firmware/OS they use and are much harder/less often updated. CDVR is updated often and if you use TVE, it needs to have updated Chrome browser installed. I have read posts here of NAS users unable to update or even install Chrome on NAS, or having to wait for the devs to push new packages for that specific NAS ecosystem. Or NAS os updates and causes issues with compatibility etc.
So, a PC is more free and controllable. U can make a PC into a NAS device too, there are many NAS OS solutions out there.
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I run CDVR on a NAS. Works fine.
NAS: Ease of use. Less customizable. Will run CDVR
PC: More power. More customization.
If you want a plug and play home server that just works. NAS is great. But for the same money you could get a more powerful pc.
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If it’s windows you would put on the PC, then I couldn’t suggest a NAS more.
They’re setup specifically to always be on and do the job you need for Channels DVR Server.
Not trying to derail this thread from OP, but I am very curious about your reasoning @maddox regarding NAS over PC with Windows on it. Since I consider you very tech savvy I am interested in your viewpoint on it.
Better with a PC that has Linux over Windows?
I find managing windows as a simple always on server appliance to be hard. Between tita relentlessness for sleeping and constant update or auto updates, it’s just very hard.
A NAS is ready to do exactly what Channels DVR Server is for, and Windows wants to save power and do work related tasks.
It’s just another case of the right tool for the right job.
If you’re technically inclined, then yeah, stray outside that to do cool things.
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Thanks for the insight.
I would love to use Channels on my Terramaster NAS, but I haven't really found an easy way to set it up. I've been using my Windows computer for about a year. I think because I have it setup to sign in automatically on restart I haven't seen the issues with automatic updates. I haven't had it sleep either, since I have that turned off.
Personally I’d never run cdvr on a NAS. Look at all the people that have to run it in a docker container on the NAS to get TVE to authorize due to old chrome versions that can’t be upgraded. Slower commercial detection, less remote transcoding. I wouldn’t run it on windows either though for same reasons listed above.
I would have thought so as well, and, u can find old posts of me advocating against Windows users.
However, having moved over to a Always On Desktop (mATX) Intel 12th gen custom build system for Channels DVR server, which also runs over a dozen other software's/functions i need, including NAS (SMB) file storage of around 15TB, and a few software i need are Windows only, have not had any major issues or annoyances with it in the last several months.
Win11 Pro runs very well as a "server".
It not gonna have the extreme up-time stability as a Linux OS, nor the much better online hot patch update system that Linux uses.
But, have not had it reboot for forced updates, or go to sleep at all.
I do re-enable Win updates manually, update, and reboot, every month or two, when i remember to.
It also does its own automated system drive image backup, and backs up to Backblaze all my NAS storage.
My other server, runs on a older Intel NUC i7 7th gen. Using DietPi Linux OS.
That my mother uses and i used Linux that since she always using/recording thing's, see little down time for updates, and is all it runs is CDVR server.
Used to run CDVR on Pi4B for many years with Channels custom image. Was rock solid and most simple to manage.
I wonder how Channels would run on the new Pi5? Maybe yall could make an image for that SBC?
I operate Channels on a NAS and it is great.
The NAS does all my MAC backups and works great with channels and all the dockers used for bringing in different channels. I hate Windows and only use it where needed.
The box is nice and quiet and it just works.
Great investment.
Yea... this. Docker and the NAS OS built in plugins/apps system. Just complicates things.
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Relatively new guy here...first post. Yay me.
Anyway, I gave this very question some serious thought before I committed to a solution. I wound up going with a very powerful mini PC (13th gen i7 NUC with 64G RAM) as the base hardware, and a synology NAS for storage (with mirrored 14TB "purple pro" drives). I run channels in a LHC container to limit the number of fiery hoops needed to jump through in order to leverage the hardware GPU of the host device for transcoding. Because it is all virtualized, I was able to also spin up a vm dedicated to hosting the docker container for ADBTuner with a trivial amount of effort. I also spun up a windows VM to run PlayOn. Everything sits in a corner of my office and is virtually silent and takes about as much space as a couple of laptops stacked on top of each other.
I've got a lot of years in sysdamin and neteng experience..so what is straight-forward and easy for me might be a little intimidating for a pure newbie...but I had never used proxmox before this project (my hypervisor) nor had I ever used a LHC container before...and I was able to find all the info I needed to get everything running with a few evenings with google. This solution provides enormous flexibility and the ability to quickly restore from bad upgrades etc while retaining the full functionality of "bare metal" installations. It wasn't cheap, but as a Tivo guy I'm used to it LOL. Everything has been rock-solid from an uptime/availability perspective, and I have the ability to add a second proxmox hypervisor host to enable true high-availability down the road.
As others have alluded to....running on a NAS might work, but it's quite limiting both from the overall flexibility you will have as well as the raw horsepower available. It all depends on what you want out of the system..are you ok with a Kia or do you want a Lambo? For me, I'm replacing a relatively large Tivo installation configured as a whole-home dvr setup...and my goal is to not lose any functionality or perceived performance and make gains if possible. Your goal might be different, so that's the requirements gathering phase that needs to happen before spending any money. Anyway...best of luck 
If your plan is to only run Channels DVR a NAS is sufficient .... no real horsepower needed as all it is doing is copying the stream from the Source to the storage media... and running comskip if you want to. I run a Plex Server, EMBY Server and SageTV Server along with Channels DVR... so a Windows PC is perfect for me ... using a 5 Drive usb 3.0 Dock running Storage spaces in Parity.
Forgot HDHR DVR. Use it to Record all ATSC 3.0 OTA Sports.
Just to be clear, I'm not advocating that the use of a Windows computer is a bad idea for Channels DVR Server, if that's what you have, then it's great.
My point is, if you'r buying new hardware JUST for Channels DVR Server, then a NAS is almost certainly the best use of money.
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Those apps obviously do a lot of the same things. Do you mind a quick explanation of what you use each of them for? Thanks
Emby I find to be the best media player ... manage my movies automatically in collections. As they are recorded by Channels DVR and Others brings it all together automatically... Has Profiles for family users. MY son likes remote viewing VIA Emby.
Channels DVR does my Primetime recordings via smart Passes, so I do not have to go looking for shows to record... Great backend to Share tuners and devices.... TV to other DVRs.
SageTV is the best for Live TV Viewing ... Hit record it records from when you started watching does not lose the buffer. Also has the best Client UI to Setup all types of favorites ... Via Keyword, Actor, Genre .. Teams from any Client using the UI no need to rush to web server.
Plex I just use to test it no big deal.
HDHR ... Since I am an original backer I get their DVR.... One Feature I like is that you can install the DVR in any new system and you will see all the recordings regardless of what HDHR DVR recorded it. It is like a beehive. Mostly use it for NBA and Football. ATSC 3.0 Plays Flawlessly.
In general very little CPU and memory is needed for Channels DVR. The exception is when transcoding is needed and then a GPU can help and this is the only time where a more powerful system is needed. A NAS is designed with storage management as it's primary goal and this means that you will have protection from failed drivers and it's also very easy to add additional storage. My NAS of choice is TrueNAS Core and I run Channels as a plug-in making it super easy to setup and configure. Another advantage of using a NAS is that you can access the storage over your network and this allows using a more powerful computer as the server while using the NAS storage. In the rare event of an issue with your server, it's very easy to spin up a server on an old PC or laptop and come back up quickly using the storage on your NAS.
I initially went NAS, then went to Mini PC/Windows then decided to just get a full tower and throw UNRAID on it. I have found UNRAID to be the best/easiest of the bunch. If you have the space for a tower, then go unraid. If you need minimal, then go NAS. Windows would be my last resort.
For what is's worth, Channels runs well on the Synology NAS as a native app. But, the Docker version, as you point out, has been trouble.
For me NAS really was the best way to go (Synology) for ChannelsDVR. Using just the native app.
But I am very basic in my use case. I only use ChannelsDVR for my LiveTV, Guide, passes and DVR. I do not use remote access so none of the more intensive processes are needed. Typically I don't watch my recording till days later, so I really don't noticed how long comskip may take. Plus if I want to I can export ChannelsDVR sources to Plex via Threadfin (though I don't use it because I really like the Channels guide interface, options, and many of the other wonderful things that make it great at LiveTV and DVR). Plus the NAS easily handles some of my other server type things like Cams, Homebridge, Storage and Dockers.
My media manager and player is Plex (though I am always on the lookout for Plex alternatives) and use a dedicated always on Windows 11 mini-PC with some pretty solid specs ([Beelink SEi12 Mini PC 12th gen Intel i5-12450H 8 Core 4.4GHz 32Gb].(Amazon.com). That machine is tweaked to do auto login and also a weekly reboot/update when I am not home so there really aren't any noticeable headaches.
In the end, it is how you plan on using it that will determine what is best for you. Hopefully by seeing what I am doing (and others who have commented thus far) you can try to extrapolate a setup that is best for you.