Red Wizard 🪄

Pokemon is driving me to want a Plex Server.

https://lemmygrad.ml/post/750817

Pokemon is driving me to want a Plex Server. - Lemmygrad

My 2.5 year old loves watching classic Pokemon. I’ll be honest, so do I. But have you tried doing that? It’s fucking insane. - The first half of S1 is on Netflix - The second half is on Amazon but you need an extra subscription to watch it. - The theird season (johto) is also Amazon. - The 4th is no where but Archive.org [http://Archive.org] of all places… Which is called Johto Champions, so it really feels like the end of the season but it’s another 52 episodes! You would think pokemon.com [http://pokemon.com] would have all this (they have a lot, and it’s all free) but they don’t! Seeing S4 (is that even right?) On Archive.org [http://Archive.org] is really pushing me to want to build a Plex server. Having all this content in one place would be very nice. I do IT work by day, and I have some older 2TB platter drives from a retired camera server laying around. What’s the easiest way to get my foot in the door? Do I save up some $$ for a Synology box? Love to get your input!

Jun 17, 2023 at 3:20pmWeb
Show threadShortcakeJun 17, 2023
This is where the beauty of sonarr comes in
Show threadRed Wizard 🪄Jun 17, 2023

Hot dog, I just looked it up. So you set up Sonarr and tell it I want "Pokemon" and it just pulls torrents for the show from feeds it knows?

Now the obvious question I have is, how do I avoid my ISP from freaking out? Is it just as simple as putting it behind say, NordVPN?

Show threadStrangeWorrierJun 17, 2023

I gave up on torrents a while ago and just focus on Usenet. It cost money (~$3/mo for a provider and another ~$2-3/mo for indexers) but it's encrypted and doesn't rely on P2P.

Also don't forget that DVDs exist if you want to go a more legal route.

Show threadRed Wizard 🪄Jun 17, 2023
Huh I've never looked into Usenets. Any good learning resources on that? But also, your right about DVDs. I think early seasons of Pokemon are hard to find in physical media these days.
Show threadStrangeWorrierJun 17, 2023

Honestly reddit.com/r/usenet was the best but we know how that's going. You can web search but basically you pay for a provider, sign up for indexers who are like torrent trackers and provide .nzb files. You use either SABnzbd or NZBGet to download the actual files. Sonarr and Radarr are automation tools. There's some other concepts like retention and backbones but that's not as important to get started.

https://frugalusenet.com/ is a good provider to get started. https://www.nzbgeek.info/ and https://nzbplanet.net/ are good indexers for beginners. I recommend SABnzbd over NZBGet as I don't think get is actively being developed for anymore.

https://trash-guides.info/ is very good for Sonarr/Radarr set up but it can be quite overwhelming for non-technical users or beginners.

I also just remembered cache exists so poke around https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:ZU9NxnpPelwJ:https://www.reddit.com/r/usenet/wiki/faq/&cd=10&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Show threadRed Wizard 🪄Jun 17, 2023
Thanks for the info!
Show threadShortcakeJun 17, 2023

idk how much you know about docker, but that's how i have everything set up. i use sonarr with prowlarr (indexer) and a torrent downloader. the only thing the isp will care about is downloads so put torrent-dl behind vpn like nord. i use gluetun to do that, but there are other ways too. at the end i use plex because i like the apps ecosystem with music player, but a pass costs like $100 for life. otherwise check out FOSS jellyfin, many users like that.

these apps all have git repos and websites to explain their uses, you'll be fine with your background. if you haven't used docker, i recommend it, but its not required for anything, especially on windows

Show threadKiwiJun 17, 2023
I’ve been using this docker container to manage the VPN connection and transmission and it’s been fantastic https://github.com/haugene/docker-transmission-openvpn
Show threadtecloJun 17, 2023
If you are using Docker to set it all up, then there is a Docker image for Transmission & OpenVPN called haugene/transmission-openvpn. It's what I've been using, if you're using something NordVPN then you tell it your login credentials and it works. I've been using it with PIA and had no issues.
Show threadKiwiJun 17, 2023
Same, been using it for years with no issues at all
Show threadollieJun 17, 2023

The easiest would be a Synology Nas, but make sure it has transcoding capabilities otherwise its such a headache if the device you're playing the video on doesnt support the codec.

otherwise i'd just try and see for a 2nd hand thin client which will be way more powerful than a synology and sweet sweet intel quicksync.

Also look into Jellyfin instead of Plex :)

Show threadDeadGeminiJun 17, 2023
I have a Synology DS220+, and it works great as a Plex server for my purposes!
Show threadcharlesJun 17, 2023
Can Synology nas with transcoding handle 4k content? I've been using my old desktop for ages to handle Plex, but the CPU is too old to handle live transcoding of 4k
Show threadollieJun 17, 2023
depends on which synology model. any intel cpu thats like 8000> generation has very good transcoding support.
Show threadiAmTheTotJun 17, 2023
Would have to be on the beefier end of synology boxes, in my experience my 220+ has not been great for 4k. Perfectly fine for less than that though. So maybe you wouldn't have to step up much.
Show threadConfused_EmusJun 17, 2023
My 918+ handles it fine. I think Plex requires the pass to utilize hardware transcoding, though?
Show threadpascalJun 21, 2023

Can Synology nas with transcoding handle 4k content?

Only a few models, and most of them have issues with HDR.

This is what you're looking for: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MfYoJkiwSqCXg8cm5-Ac4oOLPRtCkgUxU0jdj3tmMPc

Show threadcharlesJun 21, 2023
Thanks! Trying to grok the list. For the hardware transcoding that reports "H264 Output"... What does that mean? Like what limitations will be on the transcoding that they didn't say "yes". Does that mean it's effectively downconverted out of HDR?
Show threadboothinJun 17, 2023
I also used plex for my kids for a while and for the longest time I simply put a couple HDDs into my personal PC and ran plex off my PC. It was more than adequate for just letting them watch whatever shows they wanted, no need to go crazy if you don't have the need for more!
Show threadRed Wizard 🪄Jun 17, 2023

This is true... I have a feeling my PC is pretty power hungry. I'll see how hard it would be to get my PC to WoL. I could have it boot up on a schedule and then power off on a schedule.

I can always migrate off it later.

Show threadElGatoJun 17, 2023
Just slap the drives into an old optiplex or something similar honestly. If you're just streaming it to 1-2 people at a time you won't need anything too powerful
Show threadentropicshartJun 17, 2023
Most TVs can read from a usb drive directly; I used to load up all the the seasons of Pokémon onto a external hdd, usb plug it into the tv and just watch it directly
Show threadathos77Jun 17, 2023
We have an old desktop that's usually turned on for one reason or another. The easiest thing for us was to make the D:\ drive visible on wifi, put all the media on the D:\ drive, and stick VLC on everyone's Roku/FireTV sticks. That way we didn't have to manually add new things to specific drives or worry about which TV's could watch which shows or accidentally run out of space on a thumb drive.
Show threadadj16Jun 17, 2023
Yo, I already have Plex set up. I can add Pokémon and invite you if you want as long as you don’t need 99.9% uptime, I’m just some dude :)
Show threadSpectralSpritesJun 17, 2023
Is it that easy to add new content to plex? I’ve just started looking into hosting one myself, was wondering how easy it is to get new content.
Show threadadj16Jun 17, 2023
Once you have Sonarr/Radarr/actual downloader set up, it's basically trivial. Now I just add it to my Plex watchlist and Sonarr/Radarr automatically pick it up within a day or two
Show threadSpectralSpritesJun 18, 2023
That’s awesome. I’ll have to look into all of those
Show threadadj16Jun 18, 2023
Just to cut down on the intimidation factor of learning a bunch of new things, Sonarr and Radarr are basically the same thing. The former is for TV shows, and the latter for movies. So you really only have to figure it out once, and then copy all those same settings into the other
Show threaddeath916Jun 17, 2023
Unjust point plex to a folder and anything u download or put there is in plex
Show threadwhere_am_iJun 17, 2023
find a paid plexshare. Cheaper than Netflix, has everything, no weekends wasted on being a devops
Show threadRed Wizard 🪄Jun 17, 2023
Haha this comment is keeping it real. That's a good point. I've never looked into a plexshare before. I'll have to look it up.
Show threadKidsTryThisAtHomeJun 17, 2023
There are also free ones, BUT they're a lot harder to get into, and a lot of times don't have as much content or aren't managed as well. They do exist if you're patient though, I managed to get into a pretty good one a while back.
Show threadperoleuJun 17, 2023
I use a paid plexshare and it rules. Cost aside, it's so convenient to have everything on one place, especially for kids shows.
Show threaddollaJun 18, 2023
How would one go about finding one of these plexshares?
Show threadsokianJun 19, 2023
Which share are you using?
Show threadNormDeplumeJun 19, 2023
Where's a good place to find a good plexshare?
Show threadJustinJun 17, 2023
I’m using Jellyfin on a cheapo dell sff from shopgoodwill website. I hear you on the fragmented children’s content. The kids stuff was a big motivation to set it up.
Show threadJustinJun 17, 2023
I’m using Jellyfin on a cheapo dell sff from shopgoodwill website. I hear you on the fragmented children’s content. The kids stuff was a big motivation to set it up.
Show thread3lawsJun 17, 2023
I will not allow Pokemon slander! It's a vewwy adult anime. 😩
Show threadJustinJun 17, 2023
I’m using Jellyfin on a cheapo dell sff from shopgoodwill website. I hear you on the fragmented children’s content. The kids stuff was a big motivation to set it up.
Show threadretrolaseredJun 17, 2023

Im pretty sure you could watch it all on 9anime.to

With a plex server youre still going to have to find and download it all no? I just set up an old sff mini PC to stream fmovies and 9anime, go pretty much everything id want to watch, isnt anything ive wanted that i havent been able to find yet.

Show threadmirisbowringJun 17, 2023
Your Post is driving me to get the pokemon episodes :D
Show threaddeath916Jun 17, 2023
Lol I'm feeling the same
Show threaddavidJun 17, 2023
I pretty much followed these guides. I've completely cut the cord and streaming services. I just go to my Overseer page and click what I want and it automatically sends it to sonarr, a few minutes later shows up on my plex.
Category: Plex

Dr_Frankenstein's Tech Stuff
Show threadzekizJun 17, 2023
or these ones: https://trash-guides.info
TRaSH Guides

TRaSH-Guides is a comprehensive collection of guides for Radarr, Sonarr, and related media management tools. These guides answer common questions and provide the best settings for your entire media server setup.

Show threadGeekFTWJun 17, 2023
Dooooo ittttt!
Show threadCoderKatJun 17, 2023
Anyone know well Plex handles Chromecast? I'm interested in trying it out, but basically only watch stuff on Chromecast with an Android phone as the "remote".
Show thread3lawsJun 17, 2023
You're set. I've watched Plex on Android (including TV), Chromecast, and Linux casting to a Miracast.
Show threadMeowdyPardnerJun 17, 2023
Casting from the android app works great, the only bug I notice is that using the skip forward/back button briefly sets the playhead at 0, and if you happen to tap skip again while it's briefly at 0, it'll skip from 0 and lose where you were. But as long as you avoid that it's been smooth sailing.
Show threadhexachromeJun 17, 2023
Works well enough in my experience.
Show threadRed Wizard 🪄Jun 17, 2023
That's a very specific but relevant tip!
Show threadadj16Jun 17, 2023
Yo, I already have Plex set up. I can add Pokémon and invite you if you want as long as you don’t need 99.9% uptime, I’m just some dude :)
Show threadcapwizJun 17, 2023

"I'm just some dude"

I relate to this so hard.

Show threadnieceandtowsJun 17, 2023
For me it’s because all these companies hate Linux for some reason. I have Amazon prime, Hulu, HBO max, and Apple TV, but they would only show sd if I’m on Linux.
Show thread3lawsJun 17, 2023
That is a user agent thing.
Show threadCoderKatJun 17, 2023
AFAIK, it's an HDCP thing (DRM), not user agent.
Show thread3lawsJun 17, 2023
Really? Fuck em. It was easy to just change the user agent some while ago. So if I try it in 4k monitor, it won't work‽
Show threadzekizJun 17, 2023
yes. Fuck DRM
Show threadnieceandtowsJun 17, 2023
Nope, even if I install wine version of internet explorer, I still get this
Show thread3lawsJun 17, 2023
I'm glad don't have to deal with that. Sorry about it.