Hello!

I recently cut cable and got better internet so I can stream....

Atm I have a PC connected to my non-smart plasma TV in the basement

I have a laptop upstairs connected to my non-smart TV, using a wireless keyboard and mouse...

Got an old xbox 360 too that I can use to stream videos from my private network...


Now im trying to setup my private network so I can stream videos from whichever location I want...but since they removed Homegroup function in windows 10, I can't freaking make it work like it used to

I went in the sharing options, gave access to all devices in my network...

But when I try to start a video on my basement PC, from the laptop, it has to download before it opens...

How can I make it so It streams directly?

Also, is it worth getting streaming sticks like Amazon fire TV or Roku ? Or is using a PC direclty connected via HDMI better?


Any help from a network guru would be appreciated. I am sure also there is plenty of ways to optimize the way to stream/share stuff via my network, feel free to share your advice

Plex is kinda what you are looking for. I have a huge 25TB+ library I can watch everywhere. I see Xbox 360 is not support only the later Xbox One does.
You can use a chromecast or most smart TVs.

All support devices https://www.plex.tv/apps-devices/# (keep scrolling past the TiVo, there is more options below it)

A good budget workaround is the external hard drive plugged into the router. For my router, I can just go to the home page (192.168.0.0 or w/e it is for your router), and just stream content from there.
Otherwise if you wanna go server route, Zwix is good at those!

Plex is free right? Ill give it a go.



yea this is also a good idea, ill test both!

Yes it is. Fairly easy to set up on the local network.
The good thing about Plex is you can download the app on pretty much all popular devices.
If the device do not support the codec off a video file, the Plex server will transcode it to something readable for the device.
Sadly it does not support ISO or IMG. You can use a format convert, depending on the project I use either MakeMKV(easy and fast) or Handbrake(Lots settings).
It also finds metadata automatically, so it has covers, summery, episode titles and trailers. Plus much more.

Setting up remote access can be a pain if you are sitting behind double-NAT/not having a static IP.

The PC you use as your Plex Media Server. Should have an CPU with 2000 Passmark if you wanna transcode/stream 10.000kbps aka a 10-12GB file (typical a bluray rip). 1000 passmark if your files are 720p.
My Ryzen 1700 OC server has a passmark score of 16000, which means it can handle a lot of concurrent streams.

I have an old i5-750 lol

I’ll test it at 720p

That's more than sufficient. You should easily be able to transcode both a 1080p + 720p at the same time.
If the device do support all the codec in the file you are playing. It will do direct play, which means that will take next to nothing on the CPU.

This post was edited by ZwiX on Aug 20 2018 06:53pm

I installed Plex app on my Ipad and Iphone 7, I get a message that I am limited to 1 minute streaming?

Do I need to pay to stream from my Ipad?

This post was edited by BiG_BeN on Aug 20 2018 07:09pm