Anyone using www.playon.tv?

DominionZA

DominionZA

Executive Member
Joined
May 5, 2005
Messages
8,306
Reaction score
73
Location
Edenvale, Gauteng
I took the plunge and purchased the life time license of PlayOn and PlayLater (DVR) for $59.99. Call it an impulse buy :)

First impressions are very good. I keep getting buffering issues with Hulu on my PC which is driving me nuts. So while looking for a solution I discovered this PlayOn stuff.

I have installed everything and started "recording" Hulu shows. Awesome. Can queue up the recordings and let it run. Then watch later.

Then I saw the History Channel button. Oh boy. Selected and viola. Started recording shows from History Channel.

PC is too confined though. I use a PC to code on. I watch movies on my big screens or via the Roku2 XS on my projector screen. Guess what... PlayOn channel available for Roku. It uses the PlayOn installed on your PC to stream. Oh my... Not tried it yet, but I suspect I can record all sorts of shows on my PC, and stream them via PlayOn on my Roku2.

Anyone else experienced this lot? My first impressions are very hopeful and I have high expectations. This can help those of use with buffering issues in a BIG way.

Next step is to find an XBMC add-on and hook this up on the Raspberry Pi.
 
playon.tv

Hi Mike.

Thank so much for the post im also very interested in this product.

I need to ask you to please explain on how this DVR works and how did you get it from oversees, did they post the DVR to you ?

Did you get like a media centre device with a remote that now simulates on-line tv channels and does it first have to stream the channels first before you can record ?

Does the DVR connect to your TV and has a WI-FI connection ? Does the software you install on your PC allow you to connect wireless to the DVR ?

Also what ADSL line are you using as i have only have a 1MB ? Thinking of canseling my DSTV and upgrading my ADSL Line rather but then the DVR device must be easy to use via a remote just like DSTV.

Would be cool if the DVR has a remote so i can connect the device to a TV for the not so tech savvy people to use on a TV.

Hope to hear from you again.

Johann


Mike Smit said:
I took the plunge and purchased the life time license of PlayOn and PlayLater (DVR) for $59.99. Call it an impulse buy :)

First impressions are very good. I keep getting buffering issues with Hulu on my PC which is driving me nuts. So while looking for a solution I discovered this PlayOn stuff.

I have installed everything and started "recording" Hulu shows. Awesome. Can queue up the recordings and let it run. Then watch later.

Then I saw the History Channel button. Oh boy. Selected and viola. Started recording shows from History Channel.

PC is too confined though. I use a PC to code on. I watch movies on my big screens or via the Roku2 XS on my projector screen. Guess what... PlayOn channel available for Roku. It uses the PlayOn installed on your PC to stream. Oh my... Not tried it yet, but I suspect I can record all sorts of shows on my PC, and stream them via PlayOn on my Roku2.

Anyone else experienced this lot? My first impressions are very hopeful and I have high expectations. This can help those of use with buffering issues in a BIG way.

Next step is to find an XBMC add-on and hook this up on the Raspberry Pi.
Click to expand...
 
corswors said:
Hi Mike.

Thank so much for the post im also very interested in this product.

I need to ask you to please explain on how this DVR works and how did you get it from oversees, did they post the DVR to you ?

Did you get like a media centre device with a remote that now simulates on-line tv channels and does it first have to stream the channels first before you can record ?

Does the DVR connect to your TV and has a WI-FI connection ? Does the software you install on your PC allow you to connect wireless to the DVR ?

Also what ADSL line are you using as i have only have a 1MB ? Thinking of canseling my DSTV and upgrading my ADSL Line rather but then the DVR device must be easy to use via a remote just like DSTV.

Would be cool if the DVR has a remote so i can connect the device to a TV for the not so tech savvy people to use on a TV.

Hope to hear from you again.

Johann
Click to expand...

The DVR is just software that enables you to queue up movies and TV Shows to download to your computer and watch later instead of stream and watch instantly (although you have this option too).

The other devices in my house (Roku2 XS, XBox, etc..) will then hook up to PlayOn on this PC where I download, and stream across the home network. You can also stream direct of course.

The DVR just basically gives you recording capabilities.

I recorded an episode of Modern Family from Hulu. While the episode played perfectly, adverts were still slotted in and kept stuttering/buffering. I am not sure why my OpenWeb Gold on 6mbps suffers like this while streaming video.
One the adverts were out the way, everything was smooth.

I have some shows recording of History Channel at the mo. Will test those out as soon as they are in.

EDIT: Some more info after reading your post more thoroughly.
My development PC is where PlayOn is installed. I am recording shows and movies onto this machine.
In the house I will use the PlayOn app on my XBox and Roku2 XS to hook up to my PC and stream both recorded and direct content. I see PlayOn also has DLNA support, so this should extend to my Raspberry Pi running OpenELEC/XBMC too. If this all works, I am going to be rather excited.

I will update as I test and fiddle. I won't be doing much of that today though as it is my wife's 40th today and we will be going out just now and basically dedicating the rest of the day and evening to her. Tomorrow I will fiddle more. After all, I dropped $60 on this lot, so I have to check it out in depth :)
 
Last edited:
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Damn, this looks quite cool.

Same price as one months DSTV :o
Click to expand...

Ye. If you going to make use of Hulu+ and Netflix there is still a subscription there, but fraction of the cost of DSTV and more on offer (if a movie and TV show fan). Plus the subscription to UnoTelly or something similar. Still a LOT cheaper though.

My DSTV was canned in Dec 2012. Just over paying so much for so little (not a sports fan).
 
Mike Smit said:
Ye. If you going to make use of Hulu+ and Netflix there is still a subscription there, but fraction of the cost of DSTV and more on offer (if a movie and TV show fan). Plus the subscription to UnoTelly or something similar. Still a LOT cheaper though.

My DSTV was canned in Dec 2012. Just over paying so much for so little (not a sports fan).
Click to expand...

Ahh, the fineprint. Not so cheap then.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Ahh, the fineprint. Not so cheap then.
Click to expand...

Depends on what you after dude. I love History Channel and Discovery. Quite a lot of content there that does not require a subscription. Hulu also has a lot of content available for free.

Netflix $7.
Hulu+ $7
UnoTelly $5
Total: R170 odd PM. Not too shabby?

PlayOn is just a tool to get everything in one place, and of course the DVR ability which to me is worth the cost alone.
 
Mike Smit said:
Depends on what you after dude. I love History Channel and Discovery. Quite a lot of content there that does not require a subscription. Hulu also has a lot of content available for free.

Netflix $7.
Hulu+ $7
UnoTelly $5
Total: R170 odd PM. Not too shabby?

PlayOn is just a tool to get everything in one place, and of course the DVR ability which to me is worth the cost alone.
Click to expand...

Doesn't Plex already have those channels though?
 
Mike Smit said:
Depends on what you after dude. I love History Channel and Discovery. Quite a lot of content there that does not require a subscription. Hulu also has a lot of content available for free.

Netflix $7.
Hulu+ $7
UnoTelly $5
Total: R170 odd PM. Not too shabby?

PlayOn is just a tool to get everything in one place, and of course the DVR ability which to me is worth the cost alone.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately you also need a internet connection....
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Doesn't Plex already have those channels though?
Click to expand...

Not officially as far as I am aware. Even so, would be direct streaming. DVR is what I am after to bypass the buffering issue.

McGuywer said:
Unfortunately you also need a internet connection....
Click to expand...

That's a given. Didn't even think about adding that as a cost as I have had one for as long as they existed. I did not get one just for movies and TV shows. Just making better use of it.
 
Don't forget that if your internet connection slows down or rather the content buffers. Then your download will also be either damaged or will be jumpy!
 
Mike Smit said:
Depends on what you after dude. I love History Channel and Discovery. Quite a lot of content there that does not require a subscription. Hulu also has a lot of content available for free.

Netflix $7.
Hulu+ $7
UnoTelly $5
Total: R170 odd PM. Not too shabby?

PlayOn is just a tool to get everything in one place, and of course the DVR ability which to me is worth the cost alone.
Click to expand...

Thats fine.... but most of those channels are available on wii/xbox/ps3 anyway so it might not be necessary to get the palyon ?

What I want to know is do you still have to use a DNS service ? or can you just connect directly ?
 
Nerfherder said:
Thats fine.... but most of those channels are available on wii/xbox/ps3 anyway so it might not be necessary to get the palyon ?

What I want to know is do you still have to use a DNS service ? or can you just connect directly ?
Click to expand...
Still need a dns or vpn service
 
Lino said:
Don't forget that if your internet connection slows down or rather the content buffers. Then your download will also be either damaged or will be jumpy!
Click to expand...

Huh.. How did you arrive at that? Never encountered downloaded movies being jumpy - or damaged.
 
Lino said:
Don't forget that if your internet connection slows down or rather the content buffers. Then your download will also be either damaged or will be jumpy!
Click to expand...

Why would it do this? If I am downloading movies they don't get all jumpy if my internet slows down.
 
Mike Smit said:
I took the plunge and purchased the life time license of PlayOn and PlayLater (DVR) for $59.99. Call it an impulse buy :)

First impressions are very good. I keep getting buffering issues with Hulu on my PC which is driving me nuts. So while looking for a solution I discovered this PlayOn stuff.

I have installed everything and started "recording" Hulu shows. Awesome. Can queue up the recordings and let it run. Then watch later.

Then I saw the History Channel button. Oh boy. Selected and viola. Started recording shows from History Channel.

PC is too confined though. I use a PC to code on. I watch movies on my big screens or via the Roku2 XS on my projector screen. Guess what... PlayOn channel available for Roku. It uses the PlayOn installed on your PC to stream. Oh my... Not tried it yet, but I suspect I can record all sorts of shows on my PC, and stream them via PlayOn on my Roku2.

Anyone else experienced this lot? My first impressions are very hopeful and I have high expectations. This can help those of use with buffering issues in a BIG way.

Next step is to find an XBMC add-on and hook this up on the Raspberry Pi.
Click to expand...

Hi Mike
I have been using it for a couple of days already. we watched the batchelor the other evening and i experienced no buffering at all. maybe its got to do with your line speed. with 6meg you should'nt experience issues. what i like is that 57 channels is all in 1. you can also test your channels with your login details before you play them in the PlayOn settings. you can share your media to all your other devices connected to PlayOn. you can change the Video Performance tab under the General Settings and test the buffering issues you have. i think the setting is on Auto by default, but i recommend you set it to medium or high perhaps.

I am going to see whats worth watching in the plugin channel list and add them to the list. happy hunting as they say.
 
KOPITE said:
Hi Mike
I have been using it for a couple of days already. we watched the batchelor the other evening and i experienced no buffering at all. maybe its got to do with your line speed. with 6meg you should'nt experience issues. what i like is that 57 channels is all in 1. you can also test your channels with your login details before you play them in the PlayOn settings. you can share your media to all your other devices connected to PlayOn. you can change the Video Performance tab under the General Settings and test the buffering issues you have. i think the setting is on Auto by default, but i recommend you set it to medium or high perhaps.

I am going to see whats worth watching in the plugin channel list and add them to the list. happy hunting as they say.
Click to expand...

My line is 6mpbs dude. Using OpenWeb Uncapped.
I did some experimenting yesterday. YouTube buffers too.
I hooked up CNN, CNET, Revision 3, etc... On Plex Channels and found EVERYTHING buffers. Yet downloads cruise at just over 600KB/s.
Looking at my firewall today. I may have a dodgy setting that is messing with video streaming.

What you say about PlayOn is encouraging. Thanks man. :thumbup:
 
So its basically like downloading the movies/series and watching at your convenience?
I've been doing this for years with dsl, plex and a smart TV.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X