Channels vs Plex

Channels Apple TV
#11

I think Plex spent a lot of time getting support for a lot of different TV tuners, and it robbed them of time to spend on creating a good user experience. Channels took the opposite approach and focused solely on the HDHR and the iOS/tvOS clients initially, and that’s why we have such a polished user experience.

Once Channels nailed the fundamentals, they started expanding to other clients (Android etc). I hope they’ll do the same with expanding support for additional tuner types. I’d love to get rid of my 3 HDHRs and replace them with a single PCIe tuner card.

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#12

Useful post, especially since I still receive marketing emails from Plex. The other thing Plex DVR has going for it is cost - Channels DVR (which I might add has worked flawlessly for me) is £6 ($8) per month, whereas Plex is only £3.99 per month, or £31.99 for the year - Plex is significantly cheaper.

I would like to see different purchase models from Channels and more competition on price, but am in no rush to switch because Channels performs so well.

#13

@gavin Just in case you missed it, we added a yearly subscription option this week - https://getchannels.com/2018/07/11/yearly-billing/

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#14

it’s very likely that plex uses the same underlying software as channels to detect commercials - comskip. they might be configured differently though. at any rate the ‘accuracy’ here is all about how well comskip’s various heuristics identify the commercials. the double-click is just the channels UI gesture for “skip to next marker” - the markers having been put into the recording metadata by comskip.

#15

That is welcomed news! Thanks @maddox!

#16

Whatever it is I’m sticking with Channel. I want things to work without any glitches and Channels provides me great deal of comport.

I watched entire England vs. France World Cup match from my car while my wife drove the car and we were traveling from Boston to Detroit via T-Mobile…

Keep up the good work Channels DVR Dev Team.

I’m throwing out my TIVO very soon…

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#17

I have used Channels DVR since they started he service and it is outstanding. I have used the one from HDHome themselves which is a close second to Channels. Channels is outstanding. I do admit I considering Plex, it is still in Beta so it does have issues they, but they just did an update this week to the Apple TV app. Plex now supports the grid view in Apple TV. One thing that is making me consider switching is that Plex offers a one time change or lifetime access, and it is $120. Which after that no more monthly fee. $80 year plan is not bad but one time fee and no more monthly is nice, they are actively developing the DVR. It would be hard to leave channels because it is excellent software. I have not switched yet but Plex is tempting

#18

I prefer Plex purely because it does the commercial skip automatically. I find it fiddly on the Apple TV remote having to hit the touch pad twice. If it wasn’t for that, I’d bite the bullet and pay the extra for Channels DVR.

#19

I have used Channels for over a year now and am also a active Plex user. For live / DVR television, nothing beats Channels. And this is coming from someone who used TiVo since 2004. Having every everything on “one” device (Apple TV or Roku) means I could do-away with the Universal Remote.

Most importantly, it passes the wife + kids test: it just works. Use Channels “app” for “TV” and Plex app for “Movies” and Bob’s your uncle. No input switching or any madness. Very grateful for @tmm1 for creating the killer TV app. Well done.

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#20

I’m with you. I would rather have commercials stripped so it’s more like a Netflix episode. If you are running your Channels DVR from a PC (or a Mac with Parallels) you can use a free program called MCEBuddy that will automatically strip out the commercials from recordings. There is a thread about it here on these forums too. Works just like the Plex DVR and uses the same tech.

#21

So when I watch recordings on my Apple TV they will be commercial free ? How wonderful. Let me find that program. Thank you.

#22

Midwaybrit:

I did Plex before Channels, a mess in many ways, and wife would not touch it. No problem with Channels on AppleTV and iPad for her.

AppleTV remote takes getting used to, but once you do, it’s way fast to skip commercials. Having said, that, we find oldie TV shows commercial detection is not so good, but you can move really fast with the AppleTV remote so not a big problem since you can skip fast. Newer TV shows have no problem.

The only thing we have issues with is that some information we are used to on our DirecTV DVR (Comcast, etc.) is missing. Some simple like the current time on all screens, the biggie for us is that Channels 3.2 removed first airing date, we need both airing and recording date like on other DVRs. I sent a ticket to ask for first airing to come back. Also… and this is major, there is no cast and crew info. There are other issues that I hope get ironed out, but the bottom line is I recommend this to all my friends and even setup a few since we got ours.

3 Likes
#23

Can you answer a question for me ? I Have installed MCE Buddy on the same computer as my Channels DVR. Is that all I have to do ? Will MCE now skip commercials on everything I record ? If not, what do I have to do ?
Thanks in advance for your help. If I can get this working, I shall keep my Channels DVR !!!

#24

Thanks for your input. I think if I had Cable or Satellite it would justify the cost of the $8 a month. It just seems a lot for OTA only. There is no doubt the interface so so much better than Plex. Even with their new Program Guide.
All the best to you and your wife.
Andy

#25

Yeah go to the settings, then under “Monitor Locations” choose “Add.” Now find the folder that is Channels DVR/TV where you installed Channels. Then press ok. Then add another one from that same folder for the Movies at Channels DVR/Movies. And for the “Expert Settings” I check “Delete Original File” and my “Minimum Age before Processing” is 2 hours.

Under the “Conversion Tasks” choose “Add” then if you have enough space on your hard drive I would just choose the Profile “HDHomerun Unprocessed” if you want the best picture quality. The file size is huge though. All it does is strip the commercials and doesn’t convert the file format so it doesn’t take any time at all. Mine can strip the commercials for an hour program in about 25 min (click Show History on the main page in top left to see how long each one is taking to convert). This might only be available on the paid version, I’m not sure.

Leave Ad remover as Comskip. Make sure to uncheck any of the renaming Advanced options or Channels won’t recognize the files. And leave the “Destination” part empty. It will warn you that “No destination directory provided, converted file will be placed in original video directory.” But just push ok, it will simply overwrite the file and Channels will still be able to play it.

And that’s it! Every so often a commercial will sneak through but it is pretty accurate! I then leave the “Enable Commmercial Detection” off for the settings in Channels DVR because I no longer need it! Now just leave MCE Buddy open and it will automatically convert anything Channels records!

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#26

You can get the paid version of MCEBuddy for $20 if you go to their Facebook page, like it and then click on the “Premium Access Coupon” on the left side of the browser. It will have a link there. The paid version is faster and has more options. And you support the developer!

#27

Phew…thank you for all that. I will give it a shot tomorrow. It’s all a bit overwhelming at first sight, but hopefully I’ll get it right. If not you may see another message from me !!
Thanks again.
Andy

#28


:drooling_face: Beautiful!

But while I love Plex for non-broadcasted shows/films, I won't be switching to it for live TV anytime soon, even though their new grid looks gorgeous. I find it slow to change channels, more picky about signal quality, no auto ad skip/display (just removal), too many actions to get to grid view etc.

Saying that Channels could certainly learn a few things from their grid, the display of start times within the grid is very handy, as is the start and end times at the top (Look at the Channels grid, can you tell what time Countdown starts, or when Neighbours finishes, or how long Red Rock is on for?).

Plus the indicator for the current time, showing how far into a current program you are is much clearer. Being able to see programs just finished is nice too.

8 Likes
#29

I like those refinement ideas.

I also like what was stated above about first airing date and recorded date. Those are crucial pieces of info in determining what is what.

#30

Channels is by far better at anything to do with watching live TV and DVR. Plex is great with movie and music. Channels offered everything that Plex does but the interface is way, way, way better, faster and simpler. It is like having a cable box but not. Some of the big differences for live TV for Channels is the rewind of live TV. Such as watching a football replay. Watching a recording while the TV show is still recording so you can skip the commercials as it still recording. Short cuts to your favorite shows. Quick switch between channels. It’s truly the best TV/DVR going. Channels for all your TV needs and Plex for your media is what I recommend.

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