Life is so much better after I gave up on these atrocious media boxes and TV operating systems and just use a small computer connected to the TV.
I control the interface, I control the connection, it works perfectly. Steam Link for games, Jellyfin for media - always working, never showing ads, never bothering me with accounts or updates.
I have a NAS running my JellyFin server in a container, i’d like to have the box/pc connected to my tv running something open source with the respective clients for my streaming services.
Kodi seems like it’s a hassle to get streaming apps working seamlessly.
I didn’t follow a guide, but there are many good ones online.
For games, really just install Steam on your main computer and the TV client, make sure Remote Play is configured to use the most out of your connection and set to the desired resolution. This is about it.
For torrents, you want a downloading client (I use qBittorrent), software that will automatically download movies and TV shows based on what you want (Sonarr, Radarr, all the *Arr stuff) and some server that will store the media and organize it in a “Netflix-like” easy to use interface, for that I use Jellyfin on my main PC.
So in short, for games, I open Steam Big Picture, select the game, I’m playing. For media, my PC downloads everything I want at night and during the day it’s all there with subtitles, episodes, descriptions, etc, ready to play by opening up Jellyfin. It’s mostly hands off, but the initial setup can be a bit painful if you’ve never used these tools before, specially dealing with the *Arr setup.
I feel like Jellyfin is a better solution than something like Plex, but I still feel like there is a trade off. I’m not dealing with ads, accounts, and content appearing / disappearing. But I was the TV and media library’s sys admin in the house, and that came with a different set of inconveniences.
That’s absolutely correct, and something to keep in mind in case you’re already stressed out with work or lacking free time.
Nowadays, after the initial setup, tools like Sonarr rarely give me trouble - but once I a while I’ll have to sit down and resolve a conflict with file naming, for instance. Or when series have weird releases like animes breaking naming conventions for seasons.
That’s absolutely correct, and something to keep in mind in case you’re already stressed out with work or lacking free time
Exactly. I’m exchanging some amount of money and time in order to watch stuff on my TV and phone. These days I’m exchanging a bit more money because I have less time.
I have a little cheapo Chinese Bluetooth keyboard thingy. It’s very small, with a keyboard and trackpad. I also use my Xbox controller, which works great with Steam’s UI.
Here’s what I use but for the love of God do not pay 21 USD for this thing. Not sure why prices are bizarre in the US, but here in Brazil I paid what would convert to around 8 USD for it.
Life is so much better after I gave up on these atrocious media boxes and TV operating systems and just use a small computer connected to the TV.
I control the interface, I control the connection, it works perfectly. Steam Link for games, Jellyfin for media - always working, never showing ads, never bothering me with accounts or updates.
I’ve been looking to do something like that.
I have a NAS running my JellyFin server in a container, i’d like to have the box/pc connected to my tv running something open source with the respective clients for my streaming services.
Kodi seems like it’s a hassle to get streaming apps working seamlessly.
You people never learn, do you? If youre not pirating, you’re at risk.
I’m about to make my own android tv box with a raspberry Pi 5
Tried to use it straight with Linux as an OS but emby (paid jellyfish) didn’t quite work well enough
Is there a guide that you used for setting up?
I didn’t follow a guide, but there are many good ones online.
For games, really just install Steam on your main computer and the TV client, make sure Remote Play is configured to use the most out of your connection and set to the desired resolution. This is about it.
For torrents, you want a downloading client (I use qBittorrent), software that will automatically download movies and TV shows based on what you want (Sonarr, Radarr, all the *Arr stuff) and some server that will store the media and organize it in a “Netflix-like” easy to use interface, for that I use Jellyfin on my main PC.
So in short, for games, I open Steam Big Picture, select the game, I’m playing. For media, my PC downloads everything I want at night and during the day it’s all there with subtitles, episodes, descriptions, etc, ready to play by opening up Jellyfin. It’s mostly hands off, but the initial setup can be a bit painful if you’ve never used these tools before, specially dealing with the *Arr setup.
Thanks man
I feel like Jellyfin is a better solution than something like Plex, but I still feel like there is a trade off. I’m not dealing with ads, accounts, and content appearing / disappearing. But I was the TV and media library’s sys admin in the house, and that came with a different set of inconveniences.
Tbh Kodi is just kinda a hassle in general. I much prefer Jellyfin and will probably ditch Kodi in favor of it in the near future.
That’s absolutely correct, and something to keep in mind in case you’re already stressed out with work or lacking free time.
Nowadays, after the initial setup, tools like Sonarr rarely give me trouble - but once I a while I’ll have to sit down and resolve a conflict with file naming, for instance. Or when series have weird releases like animes breaking naming conventions for seasons.
Exactly. I’m exchanging some amount of money and time in order to watch stuff on my TV and phone. These days I’m exchanging a bit more money because I have less time.
Do you use your phone as a remote for it, or how do you navigate its interface?
I have a little cheapo Chinese Bluetooth keyboard thingy. It’s very small, with a keyboard and trackpad. I also use my Xbox controller, which works great with Steam’s UI.
Thanks! I always wonder how people handle navigation with setups like you described.
Here’s what I use but for the love of God do not pay 21 USD for this thing. Not sure why prices are bizarre in the US, but here in Brazil I paid what would convert to around 8 USD for it.