Simple server for streaming media to my own tv? reddit / selfhosted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AkitoOnReddit · 2023-09-29 23:29 Hello. I'm posting here because I need some orientation on how to start. I have a Samsung Neo QLED tv on a room, an old pc on another room, and a pretty good Internet connection. I want to stream 4k media stored on my pc to the tv on the other room. I'n renting, so I can't drill holes in the wall for a long HDMI. But even if I could, I don't want my pc to stay on all the time (paranoia + city prone to surges). Also, 4k media from the pc to the tv through HDMI looks choppy (crappy pc and can't upgrade in this economy). Whenever I store 4k media on an USB pen drive, the tv does all the work. Is there a way to wirelessly stream 4k media stored on the pc to the tv, and having the tv do all the work? I've been reading on Jellyfin but I don't get why the pc/server has to be good enough for 4k media if I already have the tv. I appreciate any tip. Thank you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2023-09-30 00:02 [deleted] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- jerwong · 2023-09-30 00:38 Your PC/server doesn't have to be that powerful as long as you don't need transcoding. I'm using a Raspberry Pi4 8 GB and running an \*arr stack including Jellyfin. If your TV can natively read H265 HEVC then you'll have no problem. By that I mean you are able to install the Jellyfin app directly or have a FireStick/Roku/etc that can install the Jellyfin app. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AkitoOnReddit · 2023-09-30 00:41 But it is still the pc doing the work and having to stay on? Isn't there a way of having a drive where I store the media, and playing the media on the tv, without them having to be connected? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- jerwong · 2023-09-30 00:50 Yes your Jellyfin machine needs to stay on. It's a server. That's why I said natively. Jellyfin is just a media server that "streams" the video to another machine. If the TV can natively ready it, then the machine doesn't have to transcode since it's just transferring the file over. If it transcodes, then yes, it will need to actively process the data before sending. Where were you wanting to stream the media from? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- thekrautboy · 2023-09-30 00:50 How the ef would that work? How do you imagine a hard drive being connected to another computer, but that computer isnt powered on, but another device (like your smart tv) can still access that drive?! how?? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AkitoOnReddit · 2023-09-30 00:58 I don't know, that's why I'm asking. Does the whole pc needs to be on for the drive to work? I'm on zero knowledge here man. I saw some thingies called bays or something where you put big drives. But I don't know if they need to still be connected to a pc with a gpu to work. In dumb terms: I want a big pendrive that I can leave on to stream media to my tv, a Samsung QN85B. Also, what device does the actual streaming? My router? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AkitoOnReddit · 2023-09-30 01:02 Ok, so I need to have a machine dedicated to just Jellyfin. Does it need to be a whole machine? I want to be able to download media to a drive whenever I'm actually sitting on the pc, and later watch it on my tv without having to turn the pc on. I know the drive has to be on, but does it need the whole pc? My tv is a Samsung QN85B, it plays 4k media from a cheap pen drive just fine. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- thekrautboy · 2023-09-30 01:02 > In dumb terms: I want a big pendrive that I can leave on to stream media to my tv, a Samsung QN85B. Go buy a simple NAS then. Try /r/Synology /r/QNAP etc. > Also, what device does the actual streaming? My router? No, whatever device is actually serving the media, like your computer. The TV is only playing back what it receives, the router only provides the connection between them. Try /r/HomeNetworking or maybe /r/TechSupport too. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- jerwong · 2023-09-30 02:55 You need some kind of a server. I use a tiny raspberry pi with a 1 TB hard drive attached to it. The drive is physically larger than the Pi. Since this is r/selfhosted most of us self host stuff like jellyfin ourselves on hardware such as raspberry pi. If the cheap pen drive works for you, then you can keep using it. It's a lot easier than setting up a small computer but for most of us, setting the stuff up is part of the fun. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- flaming_m0e · 2023-09-30 02:59 > I know the drive has to be on, but does it need the whole pc? Seriously, I want you to find me a product that can use the drive that's inside the PC, and share it over the network without the PC on. It doesn't exist because that's not how this works...that's not how any of this works. If you want something to go across the network, you need an Operating System that runs on the source device. >I want to be able to download media to a drive whenever I'm actually sitting on the pc, and later watch it on my tv without having to turn the pc on. You're looking for a USB hard drive and you're going to swap between the devices. Connect to PC, download files, disconnect from PC, connect to TV, watch the content. If that's not what you want, then you're asking for a fucking impossible feat. GET A NAS