What Is Plex Live TV? What Cord-Cutters Need to Know

What Is Plex Live Tv set? What Cord-Cutters Need to Know

Plex Live Television is not your typical cablevision Television receiver alternative, and that's a practiced thing. That'southward considering it's considerably cheaper than the competition.

Later yous have two key ingredients in place, you'll be able to cut the cord while spending a lot less than you would on something similar Sling Goggle box or YouTube Tv. And Plex Alive TV even includes pause, play, rewind and fast-forward functionality, so yous've got all the control you need.

For just $five per calendar month, Plex Live TV will let you to stream and tape alive television programming in your area. To get gear up upwards, Plex Live Television requires a digital tuner (about $100) and HDTV antenna ($10 and up) to capture over-the-air broadcasts. You tin then spotter that programming from within the Plex Live TV interface, and if yous apply the company's DVR, tape shows and movies for watching later.

Plex Live Television presents a possible boon for string-cutters, but it's yet new and you might accept some questions. Here's what you need to know.

What Is Plex, Anyway?

Plex is one of the more than prominent and popular platforms for organizing and playing media both inside and outside the home. At its foundation, Plex is a media server that works beyond platforms, like Windows, macOS and others, and allows you to store and organize all of your media content, including music, photos and videos in the service.

On the other side of the equation are Plex apps that work across smartphones, set-summit boxes, and other devices, to let you watch and access all the content stored on your server.

MORE: How to Use Plex Media Server

Think of Plex as a digital repository for all your favorite content, equally well as a platform for accessing that content on the devices of your choosing. Information technology'due south similar your own on-demand amusement service.

How Much Does Plex Live TV Price?

If you're truly looking to cut the cord and save some cash, opting for Plex Live Television receiver might be a smart move.

In order to access Plex Live Television set, you need to be a Plex Pass subscriber. The subscription costs $5 per month, or $40 per year. Just if you actually want to relieve some greenbacks and programme on using the service over fourth dimension, spend $120 and get a lifetime subscription to Plex Pass.

In addition to live Telly and DVR back up, Plex Pass lets you sync your content for offline access, turn on parental controls, and more.

What Do I Need to Go Plex Live TV to Work?

While Plex in and of itself is a programme you tin download and apply wherever you want, if it's alive television you're later, yous'll need a few more than components.

Commencement , you're going to need the Plex media server downloaded to the devices of your choosing. Plex has built the live-TV functionality straight into the server, then you don't need to fuss. There, y'all can too admission your DVR features.

MORE: Why I Dumped Sling TV for PlayStation Vue

Next, you lot'll need to purchase a HDTV digital antenna that you prepare up either inside or outside your home. That digital antenna will connect to a Plex-compatible tuner that will likewise collaborate with your Plex media server.

In one case the hardware is ready, y'all can open Plex, which volition automatically notice the tuner and find all the channels that your digital antenna is capturing over the air. The Plex software takes care of the goggle box programming guide, DVR functionality and more.

Which Digital Antennas and Tuners Work with Plex Live TV?

According to Plex, its service will piece of work with any digital antenna you choose. And so you tin opt for an indoor or outdoor model of your pick and information technology will work with Plex without worry. (Here'due south a look at how to get better reception with your Television antenna.)

Tuners, all the same, are a unlike story. Previously, Plex only worked with HDHomerun tuners. Now, though, the company has expanded its list of tuners to include a scattering from other companies, including Hauppauge and DVBLogic.

Here's a full listing of compatible Plex tuners:

Hauppauge WinTV-dualHD
Hauppauge HVR-955Q
Hauppauge soloHD, Digital Goggle box
Hauppauge quadHD
Hauppauge Freeview HD TV for Xbox 1
AVerMedia AVerTV Volar Hybrid
DVBLogic TVButler 100TC
HDHomeRun Connect
HDHomeRun Extend
HDHomeRun Prime
HDHomeRun Aggrandize

On Which Devices Tin I Lookout Programming?

Originally limited to Android Tv and iOS devices, such equally the iPhone, iPad and iPod, every bit well a a host of Android TV devices, like the Nvidia Shield, Plex Live TV is at present also bachelor on the Apple TV.

What Kinds of Features Does Plex Live TV offer?

Once you take Plex Live Boob tube upward and running, you'll discover a list of programs you tin watch through the service. Information technology too comes with a handy guide, then you tin can see what'southward upcoming, then you lot don't miss a moment. The guide too lists bear witness and series descriptions, so you can apace determine whether you desire to watch certain content.

Where Plex Live TV shines, notwithstanding, is with its integration with Plex DVR. The DVR lets you record either a single airing of a idiot box show or an entire series. And information technology saves it in your Plex account, and so you lot can lookout man it whenever you wish. The DVR volition also let you record multiple shows at once.

And since Plex is designed to piece of work across devices over the internet, you can watch programming anywhere you are. You simply need to have your digital antenna and tuner ready and streaming over the net, and y'all can lookout your shows from distant.

Plex Alive Television receiver's Time Shifting feature adds pause, play, rewind and fast-forward controls to its alive-streamed programming, giving viewers the choice to replay amazing moments or take a second for a bathroom break.

Tin can I Record Alive TV Programming?

Yeah. But it won't happen out of the box. Instead, you'll demand to have both Plex Live Boob tube and Plex DVR running on your business relationship to make it happen.

Which Channels Can I Watch and Record?

Well, that all depends. Since Plex Live TV is relying upon your digital antenna to capture programming, you'll be limited to the networks that are beaming content over the air in your location.

Mostly speaking, most major networks accept over-the-air broadcasts, and many sports channels, like ESPN, broadcast content, also. So, you should be able to get a nice selection of content for your Plex buildout.

If you desire to see a full list of over-the-air channels in your expanse, click here for a handy guide from AntennaWeb.

MORE: All-time Streaming Devices: Chromecast, Roku, Apple tree TV & More than

How Does Plex Live Boob tube Compare to the Contest?

Plex Live TV has several competitors, all trying to get yous to use their service to watch live Tv set. The biggest difference between Plex Live Tv and these alternatives is that Plex has a much lower monthly cost of just $five per calendar month, even though you lot demand other gear similar an Hard disk drive antenna and tuner. Which Sling TV, Playstation Vue and other options, everything is streamed directly over the spider web.

Sling Telly : Sling TV won't require you to get your own digital antenna and tuner. Instead, you lot can simply kick up the app and start watching programming on your favorite channels. All the same, Sling Television comes in several packet options, like your cable or satellite provider, with prices that commencement at $20 a month. It's available in the browser and other devices, like your smartphone.

PlayStation Vue : It'due south a similar story with PlayStation Vue. The Sony service doesn't require that you lot have a digital tuner and instead lets you choose from several plans, based on the number of channels you adopt. The basic Access plan costs $30 per month. The Ultra option volition set up y'all back $65 a month.

YouTube Television : YouTube Tv is 1 of the simpler services in the live-TV market place, since it simply requires y'all to pay $35 a month without worrying about bundles. For that price, you'll find several channels, including major networks, that support live Idiot box streaming. You tin also subscribe to premium channels like Showtime for an additional monthly fee. And no, you don't need an antenna or tuner with this service, either.

Hulu : Hulu merely recently joined the alive-Telly market with a new service called Hulu With Alive TV. The offering, which is nonetheless in beta and streams over the Spider web, includes access to all of Hulu's on-demand content, but includes live streaming for a range of sports, news, and entertainment programming. Yous'll pay $40 a month for all that.

DirecTV Now : AT&T'southward DirecTV Now offers more than 120 channels and more than than 10,000 on-demand titles that are all bachelor when you access the service. Like the others, you won't demand whatsoever hardware to go information technology up and running and y'all tin access it for every bit little every bit $10 a calendar month if you have an unlimited wireless program from AT&T. DirecTV Now pricing is regularly available for $35 for those who don't take advantage of the AT&T offer.

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Don Reisinger is a communications strategist, consultant, and copywriter who has also written for many leading applied science and business publications including CNET, Fortune Mag and The New York Times, as well equally Tom's Guide.