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Jellyfin struck me as a particularly interesting option during my search for an over-the-air DVR system, so I decided to check it out. It is geared toward a particular subset of cord-cutters who have a certain level of technological expertise. If you are prepared to put in the effort, it is possible to set up a whole-home DVR system for your TV antenna without having to pay the expensive membership fees that are typically associated with such a setup.
What’s even better about Jellyfin is that it can record content from some free streaming sources, and it also gives you the ability to save other video files, such as ripped DVDs or PlayOn recordings, at no additional cost at all. The best aspect is that you can easily stream all of this entertainment to your phone, computer, or any connected TV device. This gives you a lot of flexibility.
Having said that, I will be the first to say that Jellyfin is not for everyone. It does not have the most professional user interface, the initial setup can be a bit of a headache, and you will run across occasional problems and missing functionality, both of which can be aggravating. Those who are committed to using open-source software may be prepared to look beyond these limitations, but users who are looking for a more streamlined experience may be better served by exploring more refined solutions like Plex DVR or Channels DVR instead.
Jellyfin Specifications
Jellyfin is a robust and flexible media system that allows you to manage and stream your own media library to a range of devices. You can use Jellyfin to do one of these things.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Media support | Supports a wide range of media formats, including video, audio, images, and subtitles. |
| Streaming | Streams media to a variety of devices, including smart TVs, streaming devices, mobile devices, and web browsers. |
| Transcoding | Transcodes media on the fly to ensure compatibility with all devices. |
| Live TV and DVR | Supports live TV and DVR functionality with appropriate hardware. |
| Parental controls | Allows you to set parental controls to restrict access to certain content. |
| User management | Allows you to create and manage user accounts to control access to your media library. |
| Plugin system | Extends the functionality of Jellyfin with a variety of plugins. |
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What is Jellyfin?
Jellyfin is a free software media system that gives you complete command over the administration and streaming of all of your media files. It is a substitute for the proprietary Emby and Plex software, and it allows media to be distributed from a dedicated server to end-user devices via a number of different applications.
Jellyfin is an offshoot of Emby’s 3.5.2 release and was transferred to the.NET Core framework so that it can provide complete support for several platforms. There are no hidden agendas, premium licenses or features, and there are no other restrictions; there is only a group of people who want to develop something better together and collaborate to make that happen. Anyone who is considering assisting us in our mission is more than welcome to do so.
Jellyfin review: Try to Demo
The Jellyfin Demo is the best method to get a feel for what it is like to use Jellyfin. All you need to do is log in using the login “demo” to get a feel for the web interface. Through the use of this sample, you will not be able to acquire a feel for the backend settings and preferences. In addition, Jellyfin is a lightweight application that is simple to install on most systems by utilizing the server installers that are provided.
The installation of Jellyfin just takes a few minutes, and most of the steps in the setup procedure are self-explanatory. Using a Docker container is likely the most difficult part of the setup process; therefore, having prior experience running applications in containerized environments is highly recommended.
Jellyfin review: Time to start streaming
Once everything has been set up, you will be able to utilize Jellyfin to stream entertainment onto additional devices located throughout the home. Jellyfin has client applications available for the following platforms: Roku, Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, LG WebOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. Jellyfin will automatically discover the service for any devices that are connected to the same network, allowing you to connect and log in with ease. However, once you really have Jellyfin up and running, a number of issues will begin to present themselves.
To start, the user experience is extremely variable depending on the device being used. The Jellyfin app on Roku and Apple TV has a distinct appearance from the Jellyfin app on Fire TV and Android TV. The functionality available on each version of Jellyfin also differ. For example, the Roku and Apple TV applications do not permit recording a live channel from the playback screen, and they do not have a decent grid guide or schedule view.
Neither of these features is available on the Amazon Fire TV app. In terms of features, Jellyfin is just a step behind other over-the-air DVRs, despite the fact that it is compatible with any platform. Even if the grid guide allows you to select channels according to genre, you are unable to set channels as favorites unless you use the HDHomeRun website. For instance, the DVR does not emphasize the possibility of tuner conflicts.
Jellyfin review: Setting up
Install the media server software and load the web interface after assembling all the parts. You can do this by clicking a link on the Jellyfin taskbar icon or visiting localhost:8096 in a browser. This page lets you connect to Jellyfin and tell it where to store your downloaded TV episodes and movies. If you have media files in those locations, Jellyfin will make them available in your library.
Set up live TV using the Jellyfin dashboard afterward. The interface recognizes your HDHomeRun tuner and lets you enter TV guide information. Jellyfin, like Channels DVR, can import M3U internet videos. This lets adventurous users record content from legally problematic IPTV providers and free streaming services like Pluto TV. Throughout this, Jellyfin offers little guidance or aid.
Live TV configuration is concealed in a dashboard menu and not part of the installation. Jellyfin lacks an integrated guidance data acquisition technique. There is also no guidance on setting up streaming away from home, which I’ve tried several times but failed at. All of these criteria suggest that this solution is appropriate for technical experts.
Final Words
The flip side of all of these complaints is that Jellyfin might eventually cost you nothing more than what it takes to bring together the hardware that is required to host the media server. This might be a significant savings for you. If you are just using it to capture or if you can figure out how to put up the XML guide data, then great!Jellyfin is totally free to use, and it supports M3U playlist sources. Once you have your recordings, you should have no problems playing videos from your library or searching through it.
Jellyfin review: The Good and Bad
Jellyfin is comparable to Plex in the sense that it can be set up as a server and accessed through client applications as well as streaming devices. However, Jellyfin is entirely free to use and open-source. Move over, Plex, there’s a new player in the game when it comes to streaming video. Not only does Jellyfin provide a lot of the same functionality as Plex does, but it also does not lock any of its functions behind a paid upgrade like Plex does.
The Good
- Cheap, maybe free
- Recording M3U playlists from the air and online
- Nice playback speed controls
The Bad
- Setting up without guidance is difficult.
- Bad apps with conflicting features
- Technical issues abound.
Questions and Answers
Jellyfin is a remarkable media server platform that impresses with its user-friendly design and its many fascinating features. It gives a streamlined experience while also assisting customers in storing, organizing, and streaming their preferred material across a variety of devices.
The fact that Jellyfin is both cost-free and open-source provides its most significant advantage. Plex does offer a free tier, but in order to access all of its features, you will need to purchase the Plex Pass. If you are the type of person who does not want to experiment with Docker, setting up Plex is going to be a lot simpler for you, and that is where you should begin.