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First of all, I want to note that the signal you are pulling in from outside your Plex media server is a ‘over the air’ signal. Plex’s system makes this a lot easier than building your own DVR box, but there are still some loops to get through before you can use your system.Īs I mentioned above, there are several pieces to this system that you have to have in place before you can start cutting the cord to your cable or satellite company. Today, charges are a bit more standardized, but it’s much nicer to have more control over your own programming. I remember several years back, some of my friends built their own DVR systems so they wouldn’t have to pay the exorbitant surcharge that cable companies were charging in the early 2000s. If you plan on using Plex frequently, I would recommend going ahead and investing in the lifetime pass.
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You will need an HD antenna, a tuning box, and a Plex server. You will also need a Plex Pass, which you can get for as little as $5 per month, $40 per year, or $120 for a lifetime pass. Plex Live TV and DVR works very similarly to the standard Plex Media Server, but some additional hardware is required for operation.
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Plex Live TV supports channels from major US and Canadian networks (80% of all major networks) with more than 100 local channels available for viewing. Plex, a company known for providing a superior interface for personal media, has branched out into providing an option for users to experience live TV the same way they would their saved videos. ‘Cutting the cord’ is a viable option for the most part except that we would lose our DVR option - unless we decided to go with the Plex Live TV and DVR option. Within the past few months we’ve discovered just how costly our satellite system is though and even though we made switch to a new provider, we are still considering alternatives to our current entertainment decision. I love having the ability to fast forward through commercials to get back to my shows. That’s why I was so happy to have a satellite system with a DVR included for many, many years. The thing about that activity that isn’t relaxing is dealing with missed episodes of programs we watch and annoying commercials in the middle of the shows.
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One of my favorite things to do it relax in the evening with my family while we watch TV. A good way to view TV programming without the hassle (or expense) of cable.
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