A network media player that works?

[clockworks]

I have a media server (HP Microserver running WHS 2011) that works fine with my old Dune media player in the living room.
It used to work OK with a couple of Roku2 players in the dining room and workshop. These are no longer able to connect to my server via either Roku Media Player or Plex.

Both Rokus show up OK on my router's admin page, and are shown as active devices in the Plex server on my media server.

Roku Media Player app can't see my media server at all, but can see the empty media folders on my CCTV server.

Both Rokus show the server status as "currently unavailable". I've done a factory reset on one of them - no difference.

This seems to be a common problem, looking at the Roku/Plex forum.

I bought a Denon CEOL media player/amp. This finds my server as a Plex Server, and can play music OK. This makes me think that my server is working, and Plex Server is running OK. The Denon will be going back, as the HEOS control app won't run on either of my Android tablets, and it keeps dropping the wifi connection (currently on a temporary wired connection).


Can anybody recommend a network media player that just works? I'm fed up with faffing around with the Rokus and the Denon player.
Needs to connect to a WHS2011 server, and play back through a microsystem and TV. I'm not looking for high-end sound quality, so nothing too expensive.

[markiii]

rasplex on a pi would do

[tribalsurfer]

I've got a WD Ext2 NAS and that comes with built in Twonky dlna server. Works with everything I've got. TV just recognises it, as does, tablets, phones.

[clockworks]

I want to buy something that works, playing the stuff that's on my server through my Denon micro hifi. I don't want to build something.

I already have the server, about 6Tb of music and video. The server is running Plex, Serviio and iTunes (still there from when I had an iPad and iPod Touch.
Just looking for a straightforward device.

[alorotom]

I simply use an old Dell Latitude E7250 with a 8gb external drive running plex media server

This is paired to 3x Apple TV’s with the plex app installed (one living room wired to a Bose Soundtouch 600, one master bedroom, one child bedroom)

Works a dream and very simple to manage and maintain

[clockworks]

Yeah, my setup used to work perfectly. Looks like some automatic updates on the Roku 2s have messed it up - haven't used them for a while.

I've been playing around with the server to try and figure it out. I ended up deleting Serviio, as it wasn't showing the two Roku devices at all, and stopping Plex. I've set up Windows Media Player streaming service, adding all the music directories to its library, and the Rokus now find the server and play music.

It's a pain that software updates mess things up like that.

Edit to add:

It works using the Roku Media Player, but it's very slow to load. Fine once it's playing an album/folder, but also very slow to reload the library when it has finished playing.
I tried a USB memory stick that I use in the car, and that is very slow too. Makes it painful to use, as it would be just as quick to find the original CD in the spare room and pop that into the receiver.

Back to the search to find a decent, reasonably priced media player...

Edited by clockworks on Friday 27th September 18:42

[clockworks]

I thought I'd try one last thing before giving up on the hardware that I already have:
After deleting Serviio from the server, I downloaded the latest version. Added my music folders to the library, and it's working fine with the Roku 2's Roku Media Player app.

It still takes a few seconds to load the files and start playing, but I guess that's down to the size of the folders and lack of memory in the Roku?
I think the Dune device works a lot faster because it just maps network drives and accesses them directly - no need for any media server software running on the server. It did cost about 4 times as much as the Roku though, and the UI is rather functional - no cover art, etc as standard.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

I ditched Plex in favour of Emby, mostly because Plex kept making my devices log in again each time I used them which was just doing my nut in. Also Plex kept pushing Plex Premium so hard and I hated the adverts.

Unfortunately Emby seems to be gradually going that way too but so far is still acceptable.

Maybe install an Emby server alongside your Plex server, let it index your media, and then see if your devices connect more successfully to the Emby server than they do to the Plex server?

[matt666]

Kodi on a fire tv or raspberry pi. Point it at a NAS share and away you go

[mattley]

clockworks said:

Needs to connect to a WHS2011 server.

I think you're wedding yourself to the weakest link in the chain here.

[SBDJ]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

I ditched Plex in favour of Emby

I've done the same, although I had a Plex Pass and now have Emby Premium. The reason I changed was because the DVR functionality on Plex was awful - seems to be related to their guides. Emby on the other hand hasn't missed a single recording.

[anonymous-user]

Have a look at an nvidea shield.

I use one to stream all my films from nas shares. It supports just about everything. And yes, it just works.

On mine, I run its own built in Plex server, but you can of course point it's Plex client at another server.

The only one issue is Plex occasionally can't find the internal server and I have to reboot it. Seems to be after Plex updates.

Great bit of kit.

Previously I used a WD TV streamer but no 4k so I upgraded.

[clockworks]

mattley said:

I think you're wedding yourself to the weakest link in the chain here.

Why do you say that?

My server hasn't missed a beat since I set it up about 6 years ago. It's tucked away in the loft, running headless. I went for a server because it was cheaper than a decent NAS box, and more flexible.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

clockworks said:

Why do you say that?

My server hasn't missed a beat since I set it up about 6 years ago. It's tucked away in the loft, running headless. I went for a server because it was cheaper than a decent NAS box, and more flexible.

I think they were referring to your choice of OS rather than the hardware.

[clockworks]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

I think they were referring to your choice of OS rather than the hardware.

WHS2011 has been 100% stable for me - no crashes whatsoever.

[C0ffin D0dger]

I also run WHS 2011 on my HP Micro, pretty much faultless from day one. For films though I do prefer to point Kodi at an SMB share on the server as this just works.

[clockworks]

C0ffin D0dger said:

I also run WHS 2011 on my HP Micro, pretty much faultless from day one. For films though I do prefer to point Kodi at an SMB share on the server as this just works.

IIRC, my Dune media box just uses SMB - I don't have Plex, Servioo or WMP set up for video files, just audio.

[a7x88]

I run Plex on an old Xeon workstation I acquired. I use a headless Ubuntu distro and Nvidia Shields all connected via ethernet. Aside from a rogue shield update that caused some issues for a week or so it's been rock solid for the 4 years or so we've had it.