Best products from r/usenet

Everything depends on how much you want to spend. I'll outline what I did:

1. I use an Intel NUC with Windows 8.1. Whole thing cost around $1000 but it should last me for a while. Honestly, it's kind of a pain to set up and get working 100% (with Remotes and whatnot). And you'll need a keyboard to properly navigate it. In my bedroom, I have a Amazon Fire TV, which is much cheaper and handles 1080p, and only needs a single remote to navigate, but won't handle your usenet functions.
   
   
2. I have Tweaknews as a primary. Very few takedowns. reliable speeds. YMMV.
   
   
3. Yes. Don't risk getting caught. I have Private Internet Access.
   
   
4. I chose the most popular apps because of the wealth of resources out there. If I ever ran into a problem setting it up, a quick google would answer about 90% of my questions.
   
   
5. I use a [QNAP 8 bay] (http://www.amazon.com/QNAP-TS-869-PRO-8-Bay-SATA-6Gbps/dp/B007K9WEFI/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1406757597&sr=8-7&keywords=qnap) (16 TB total Raid 5). Rock solid. 8 TB for primary and the other 8 to backup the first 8.
   
   
6. Yes, once you get rolling on downloads, you do not want to lose them. Get Raid, make backups.
   
   
7. I use MySQL. [Here's how to do it.] (http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=MySQL) XBMC will only use ONE user account, so no tracking multiple users watched shows. You'll be messing around with XML files so make sure you have some comfort in this.
   
   
8. Use the right tool (like Sickbeard) and it will auto rename files for you. I manually download my movies and name them always in the same naming convention.
   
   
9. It will take a while to get everything set up and running. I've probably spent 40 hours over the last year making it as automated as I could and still don't have it perfect. Just tackle it a little at a time, and piece by piece you'll get there.
   
   
10. I have XBMC and Netflix because, sometimes, Netflixing is just easier.

I have the following hardware setup

• a ReadyNAS with X-raid.
  
• Inside the NAS are 4 x 3 TB - WD Red NAS Hard drives . So the drives are 3 disks + 1 redundancy.
  
  The whole setup is less than 1 year old. Additionally, any video files that are older than September play perfectly.

It'll feed directly into the antenna line and give much better audio. You'll need the factory car antenna to aftermarket 'standard' antenna jack adapter if the current deck does not already have it. This is an afternoon project to enjoy for a long time, make sure to get "t-tap" snap on spade connectors to tap into the wiring harness for power and install shouldn't be more than 20-30 min depending on how hard to get to back of your radio

If you ever have any tech questions feel free to look me up!

Ninja: these http://www.amazon.com/3M-Scotchlok-Self-Stripping-QuickSlide-Disconnect/dp/B003KOIBLI

Transcoding is best for highest compatibility and remote streaming to transcode the media to a compatible codec and container and/or lower the quality and therefor bandwidth requirements. If you are only doing local streaming you don't necessarily need a transcoding server. A simple DLNA server will do but your device must be able to natively support the media or it won't play.

I set my server up to DL h264/x264 first. I then use a script to convert them to .mp4 container in h264. If any have surround sound it adds a second audio track in stereo AAC. Also DLs and embeds subs. My dual core G3258 server can handle multiple 1080p streams while also handling two remote streams. Before I used a Celeron 1037u that had no trouble streaming at least one 1080p. Look at this to replace your server or a cheap (read sub$45) 1150 ITX board and the G3258 at $69.99(currently cheaper than the G3250?).

Also you can access Plex through DLNA, it is turned off by default. Easiest option for checking your files playing without transcoding. Note: I use PlexPass beta branch and can't confirm this is available through the free version.

I use this machine (my model has the E5200 Dual Core and 2GB of RAM) as my HTPC and it's super cheap and efficient. Granted I'm running Plex to my Roku player and not using it as an HTPC in itself. It runs on a stripped Ubuntu 13.10 Server OS and also runs Headphones/Sickbeard/Sabnzbd+/Transmission/Couch Potato at the same time as plex. I don't have any issues including transcoding 1080p x264 with DTS audio. Dunno about 3D as I don't have a 3D capable TV. I should also mention that I store and pull all of my media from USB drives on this system.

EDIT: Forgot the link but thank you kind redditor! /u/dr0n33

Nah man, I'm saying to get a micro-HDMI cable, a bluetooth keyboard, and use your old phone as a full blown HTPC. Hook it to your TV and leave it there.

Kodi (XBMCs new name) runs great on both Android and iOS phones. Get the Genesis add-on for an even better experience.

this motherboard

this case + PSU

this ram


this harddrive

this remote control (alternatively you could use apps on smartphones...i recommend hipporemote on the iphone)


that should do it. you can also put a dvd drive in there if you like...but it's pretty unnecessary unless they want to rip movies or do not own a dvd player

total cost = $237 for htpc + $25 for remote control

I got mine on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Banana-Pi-Mini-Source-Mainboard/dp/B00MWA5JKM

Works great for Usenet automation. Have nzbget, Sonarr and Plex running as a backend for Kodi. Not doing any transcoding.

I suspect that your router is part of your problem. The WNR3500Lv2 isn't powerful enough for the fast internet of today. I'd suggest plugging directly into your ISP modem/router and see what sort of speeds you get. I'm guessing it'll be better.

If it is better plugged in direct to the ISP device then its definitely your router that is the bottleneck. I'd suggest an upgrade to something like the TP-Link Archer C5, TP-Link Archer C7 or Netgear R6300v2. All should be a big upgrade over the WNR3500Lv2 for a minimal investment.

I had the same issue, I am not sure what the best solution is, I just switched to a new router. Specifically this one: http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-EdgeRouter-Advanced-Gigabit-Ethernet/dp/B00YFJT29C

Had no issues after the switch.

I just ordered a zyxel nsa320 media server from 1sale.com for $70 (that item will likely reappear again for that price if you're interested in it). It apparently has a nzb download client though I cannot vouch for how good it is. I doubt it could run sickbeard either unless perhaps you get it to run linux which is apparently possible.

If it wasn't for the "season pass" requirement, I'd honestly recommend a WD TV live. I've bought several WD devices (mostly the now-discontinued live hub) for technologically-illiterate family members, and all of them have loved it. It's dead simple to use, and "just works" with every media file I've thrown at it. I haven't used the new TV live, but it appears to have similar, WaF-compatible software.

Unfortunately, I don't think anything exists that will be as seamless as a tivo for recording. Sabnzbd + sickbeard will get the job done in a relatively painless fashion, but I still wouldn't trust my family to figure it out on their own. You may have to administrate that youself.

Yeah, it's definitely not perfect. I don't have surround sound, just 2.1 with a nice (I think, but I'm not an audiophile) cyberacoustics set.

These were the 2nd set I tried, had some boot issues with a previous pair of another Brand. BestBuy or Fry's tends to actually have better prices on these types of RAM in my findings.

I am using this budget SSD

https://www.amazon.com/Team-Group-480GB-Internal-T253TD480G3C101/dp/B075JMG7TM

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If changing ssd will help i will go for NVme SSD

I have Gigabit through EPB Fiber and I use an Asus RT-AC66U. It looks like there is a newer RC-AC87U.

On my router, I replaced the firmware with Merlin's firmware which adds some extra functionality.

It's nice having a built-in VPN and all the other features of Asus's firmware, but I doin't use many of them since I have a computer that acts as a server for that.