How To Install Channels On Plex

READING Time: 14 MINUTES

In this guide, I'm going to show yous how to install dizqueTV on Windows Server 2022. DizqueTV is an awesome application that lets you create pseudo "Telly channels" from your locally stored Plex media.

There are installers for Windows, Linux, MacOS, Docker, and raspberry pi, then anyone tin can set this up! I have Plex installed locally on my Windows Server 2022 server (to accept advantage of hardware transcoding), so I'm using the Windows executable for dizqueTV.

My footstep-by-step install guide below is for Windows users because I assume the majority of Plex users have it running on Windows figurer rather than something like Docker.

This is a pretty long guide that I wrote it as I set it upwards for myself. As long equally you follow the guide exactly, y'all should no trouble setting this upwards yourself.

If you're looking for DizqueTV channel icons, hither's a 50+ pack of them yous tin can download: https://smarthomepursuits.com/download/5404/ .

I honestly tin can't remember where I found these, merely they all look similar this in diverse categories:

What is dizqueTV?

DizqueTV is a service that allows yous to create "Telly channels" from your your local Plex Media. You can create equally many channels as yous want, and sort them in any style meets your needs.

For case, you lot could:

Create a "Kids" channel and add cartoons.
Recreate a network Idiot box channel similar TNT, and add shows like Fauna Kingdom.
Create a music video aqueduct.
Create an Action channel, where you add your favorite action Tv shows or movies.

DizqueTV is as well capable of playing random videos from a list and inserting them in-between TV shows, which could exist used equally commercial breaks, countdowns, advertisements, etc.

It's great for those nights where y'all don't know what to spotter, to play something in the background, or for when guests come up over.

Another application which is similar to DizqueTV called ErsatzTV could also be installed instead. I recommend reading that guide to see which option you prefer.

How Does DisqueTV Work?

Information technology works by creating a spoofed HDHomeRun (HDHR) server and uses IPTV streams. If yous're using a Plex Pass, and so you can add this service as a DVR tuner within your Plex settings.

This sounds more complicated than it is. Once your dizquetv server is running, you basically just paste in the path to an XML file in the Plex Live Goggle box & DVR settings.

Then, y'all can view the guide and play any aqueduct you've created.

Limitations of dizqueTV

If yous desire to play Television receiver channels inside Plex, then you'll need a Plex pass. Nonetheless, you don't accept to add this to Plex at all if you don't want. Yous tin but view the .m3u streams from some other awarding.

It also doesn't dynamically add content to existing channels. For example, if y'all have Sonarr grab new episodes automatically, yous volition have to manually update the TV channel to include those episodes. There is a handy script here you can utilize to add them automatically.

If you do add this to Plex DVR, it will constantly tape and transcode which can use up your available CPU or GPU resources.

While it'south not necessary to add together to Plex, you lot do get the added benefit of viewing these TV channels from whatever device that has the Plex client application installed. You besides get a handy "guide" in Plex which makes it wait and feel similar a regular cable provider.

Does DizqueTV piece of work for shared users?

DisqueTV volition simply piece of work for Plex users added to your local 'Dwelling' network. If you share your Plex library with others, they will not be able to use information technology.

Technically, in that location are ways to allows shared users to access information technology (which is out of scope for this guide) , only you lot should understand the security risks of doing so. Hither'south some more info on that.

If your Home users have the Plex client installed, and you have Remote Admission enabled, then your Home users should exist able to use this remotely likewise.

Install DizqueTV in Windows

Follow the steps beneath to setup and install dizqueTV.

Stride i: Download installer

Download dizqueTV from the Github link here: https://github.com/vexorian/dizquetv/releases

Scroll down to locate the latest version. It will be called dizquetv-win-x64.exe. Save information technology to your Downloads folder.

Step 2: Create dizquetv folder

Create a folder somewhere on your server. I have my media on my G:\ drive, so I'm creating information technology there.

Stride iii: Re-create .exe into Folder

Copy the dizquetv-win-x64.exe into your new folder.

Stride 4: Change directory via CMD

Open Command Prompt and modify directory (cd) to the folder you but created.

If y'all created the dizquetv folder on your C:\ bulldoze, here's the command y'all'd employ:

          cd C:\dizquetv

If you take it pointed to a unlike drive letter, and so CD into that by:

cd

Followed by the drive letter:

          1000:

and then cd to that binder (hint: afterward typing cd, hitting tab to bike between folders)

          cd chiliad:\dizquetv

And so, beginning the awarding using this command:

          start dizquetv-win-x64.exe --port 8000 --database .dizquetv

You should see a command prompt window open after a few seconds. You also need to brand sure the .dizquetv folder was created successfully. This folder contains your configuration files and channels.

At the finish of the guide, I'll show yous how to create a batch file to first the disquetv server automatically whenever your PC restarts.

Stride 5: Open WebUI

At present that it'southward running, yous can launch dizquetv from your web browser. Blazon http://localhost:8000 in a web browser (or if accessing from your phone/another computer – apply ServerIPAddress:8000).

To notice your IP accost, open up CMD and type:

          ipconfig

Under the ipv4 address is your IP address:

Step 6: Configure Plex Server in Settings

One time the page loads, click Settings:

Click the Plex tab. Then click Sign In/Add together Servers.

A Plex hallmark window will popup. Sign in with your Plex account. Enter your 2FA lawmaking if/when prompted.

In the web UI, information technology should begin to start looking for your server:

Once it adds them, make sure the UI Route and Background Route have green checkmarks:

Step seven: Verify FFMPEG version or install

Click the Version tab. If you don't encounter a version for FFMPEG and it says Error, then yous only need to install FFMPEG.

Mine had an mistake, so I installed from here with all defaults. Choose the blue Windows package.

Click the release builds tab and download FFMPEG 4.ii.3 or later:

Save to your Downloads folder. Right-click > Extract All.

Create a new folder chosen ffmpeg . (I put this on my M:\ drive besides – i.due east. M:\ffmpeg) Copy the extracted contents to this folder:

And then, in the disquetv web UI, become to Settings > FFMPEG and update the path to point to the ffmpeg.exe. Then click Update.

          M:\ffmpeg\bin\ffmpeg.exe

Click the Version tab again. This time, there shouldn't be an error message. If you still see an error, check your paths again:

Stride viii: Create a Test Channel & Add Shows

Now comes the fun part: creating your first TV aqueduct!

Click the Channel tab > + button.

Give your channel a number and name. Leave the icon alone for at present during testing. We tin update this later once we confirm information technology'southward working.

In the Programming tab, click the blue + push. Add a few random Goggle box shows (individual episodes, not seasons) and click Done.

It should now testify your selected evidence programming. Click Add together Channel.

Step 9: View Your TV Channel

Adjacent, click Guide. Expect a minute or then for it to populate.

Then, click the Play push (Note: You lot must have VLC Media Player or something similar to play the downloaded file).

Clicking the play button will download a .3mu file. One time downloaded, double-click information technology to ensure the video plays in VLC.

If information technology does – you lot can proceed to the next step where we add it to Plex.

Pace 10: Add DizqueTV as a Plex DVR

Showtime, you need to add the spoofed HDHomeRun tuner to Plex.

To do this, log into your Plex spider web interface: http://localhost:32400

Click your Plex Settings:

Under the Manage tab, click Live TV & DVR.

Click Set Up Plex DVR.

Information technology should automatically discover your dizqueTV tuner. If not, you can add it manually by clicking theastward "Don't come across your HDHomeRun device?" Mine plant it automatically.

Click Setup Device.

Under Postal Code, click "Have an XMLTV guide on your server?"

Side by side, you need to discover the path of your xmltv.xml file. This should be in your .dizquetv folder. Y'all could besides use the URL (i.e. – http://192.168.68.137:8000/api/xmltv.xml):

Add together the path to the XMLTV Guide field in Plex. You could as well change the guide name during this pace, if you lot'd like.

          M:\dizquetv\.dizquetv\xmltv.xml

Then, merely click Go along. It will take a moment to download the EPG information, however y'all can click View Guide while you're waiting.

Under your Plex Server, click Alive Television receiver & DVR. You lot should at present encounter the new channel you created!

Once you add more channels, they volition all prove up under the Guide tab.

Step 13: Create Additional Channels

To create more channels, just follow Footstep 8 again.

If adding to Plex, it won't automatically pull in the new channel, so you'll also need to:

Go to your Plex web UI > Settings > Live Television & DVR. Under your Tuner devices, it shows only 1 our of 3 channels is enabled, so you'll need to click into information technology to enable the new channels.

Other Customizations

At this footstep, you lot are 100% complete. You accept installed the dizquetv server, created a few channels, and added them to Plex.

A few things I would recommend doing are:

Setting a fallback paradigm. dizquetv > Channels > pick a channel > Flex.
Setting a channel icon. Backdrop tab > Ready a channel icon.
Create a Filler List. These are basically commercials you can take randomly play in betwixt shows. There'south a list of filler repositories in the wiki.
Customize playback. Whenever you first added shows, it added them in sequential guild. If you lot become to Channel > Programming, in that location are some options to practice a Random Shuffle, Cyclic Shuffle, configure Fourth dimension Slots, and much more.

Adding Custom Aqueduct Logos to DisqueTV

Here is the Plex template in .psd grade and so you tin can create your own: https://smarthomepursuits.com/download/5411/

They all await like to this:

Make sure the channel icon path is changed from localhost to your server's IP address!

Create Batch File To Run Dizquetv

In Footstep 2, I mentioned that you should create a batch file to autostart dizquetv after a restart. Otherwise, whenever yous reboot your computer or server, you'll have to type that command in again.

Create Batch File

Open Notepad. Paste in the code beneath > Salve Equally > Name it DizquetvAutoStart.bat. Y'all can save information technology to your desktop for at present.

Change drive letter M: with whatever bulldoze letter you are using.

          G: cd dizquetv start dizquetv-win-x64.exe --port 8000 --database .dizquetv

At present that the batch file is created, permit's test it out. Close out of the CMD window if it's open. This will close and leave dizquetv.

Double-click the batch file. The CMD window should open up and you should see green text if it launched correctly.

Afterwards that, y'all have a couple options. You can either:

Commencement the server automatically subsequently signing into the server
Start the server automatically without needing to sign in

Both methods are documented below.

Launch Automatically Subsequently Reboot (requires signing in)

To configure the application to launch on startup:

Press your Windows key+R to open "Run". Then type Shell:Common Startup.

Re-create and paste the .bat file into the startup folder. The next time your computer reboots and y'all sign in, information technology'll automatically launch! This method definitely works, but it does crave that you lot sign into the reckoner first.

Use Task Scheduler (Launches without signin)

A meliorate method would be to create a Scheduled Task that launches the .bat file.

Movement the batch file to folder (like C:\Scripts). So, create a chore with the parameters beneath.

Search Windows forTask Scheduler.
Correct-click Task Scheduler Library >Create Chore.
Requite information technology a name, chooseRun whether user is logged in or not > and configure forWindows 10.
Under Triggers, begin the taskAt Startup. Make sure the Enabled box is checked.
Under Actions, cullStart A Program
1. Programme/Script: point to the location of your Autostart Home Assistant batch file. (for me, this is"C:\Scripts\DizquetvAutoStart.bat" )
Then clickOKand enter your credentials.

Wrapping Upward

Hopefully this guide helps you lot create your own IPTV aqueduct to exist used in Plex!

If you meet whatsoever issues during your setup, let me know in the comments and I'd be glad to help you out.

My Homelab Equipment

Here is some of the gear I apply in my Homelab. I highly recommend each of them.

Server 2022 w/ Hyper-Five
Case:Fractal Blueprint Node 804
Graphics Carte du jour: NVIDEA Quadro K600
CPU: AMD Ryzen vii 2700

The full listing of server components I apply tin exist found on my Equipment Listing folio.

Source: https://smarthomepursuits.com/how-to-install-dizquetv-create-iptv-channels-plex/

Posted by: bowmanprinnybod.blogspot.com