The Furious Angels
FA Discussion => Off Topic => Topic started by: Tbone on September 20, 2011, 01:19:59 am
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First off I'm going to put a disclaimer that I pay monthly for cable that provides me with access to most if not all of these TV shows. The method I describe here is merely a more convenient way to view the TV I pay for on my own schedule.
So fall TV is starting back up, and I thought it was a good time to update my TV schedule in preparation. See, I don't have a TV in my room - I use my computer instead. I work late at night, and usually watch TV while going to bed in the wee hours of the morning. The solution I came up with was a combination of torrents and RSS feeds, but the site I was using became pretty unstable. I started looking for an alternate source, and I think I've found a great one. Just leave the uTorrent client running and it will download all your favorite TV shows after they air so that you can watch them when you get home or at your convenience.
What you will need:
uTorrent client (http://www.utorrent.com/)
The site you will use:
DailyTVTorrents.org (http://www.dailytvtorrents.org)
I will try to make this as simple as I can.
Step 1: Download and install uTorrent (http://www.utorrent.com)
Step 2: Go to the show list (http://www.dailytvtorrents.org/show-list/) of DailyTVTorrents. For each show that you want to watch, click the green plus sign next to it. This will mark it as a favorite and throw it to the top of the list.
Step 3: If you have 20 or less shows marked as your favorite, you can click the button on the right of that page labelled "Create combined RSS feed of favorited shows". This will take you to another page.
Step 4: Copy the url of that page.
Step 5: Open uTorrent. Right-click on "Feeds" on the left and choose "Add RSS Feed..."
Step 6: The url of the feed will automatically be pasted for you. Click "Custom Alias" and choose a name (TV Feed). Click "Automatically download all items published in feed" and "Smart episode filter".
Viola! All of your favorite shows will now instantly download to your computer when they become available. This is the SIMPLEST way to do this, but there are many settings that will make it more efficient.
If You Have More Than 20 Shows
For whatever reason, you won't be able to combine your favorited into an RSS feed if you choose more than 20. If that's the case...
After Step 2, copy this link: http://www.dailytvtorrents.org/rss/allshows?prefer=hd
Then go to Step 5 and 6 and just use the same feed for each show. This is the simplest solution and what I use.
Separate into Folders
If using one mega-feed, in uTorrent click "Options" and "RSS Downloader" at the top. Click "Add" for each show you want to separate out. For "Filter", use a word from the name of the show. For "Save In" choose the folder you want it to save to.
If using an individual feed for each show, go to "Options" and "RSS Downloader" right after you create the feed. You will see the feed is already listed in the list. Just click on it and choose a folder in the "Save As" section.
Advanced Techniques - helpful link (http://www.dailytvtorrents.org/blog/rss-feed-parameters-for-hardcore-geeks--3)
Adding a preference - Videos can be uploaded in HDTV, 720p, 1080p, etc. You can choose which version you prefer to download using a command added to the end of the RSS url. So if you wanted to download 720p of Breaking Bad...
http://www.dailytvtorrents.org/rss/show/breaking-bad
ADD
?prefer=720
FOR
http://www.dailytvtorrents.org/rss/show/breaking-bad?prefer=720
This will download the 720p version of the show if available. If it isn't available, it will download the lesser quality (in this case, HDTV).
Adding a wait to your preference - Most times the HDTV version will be the first available. If you want 720p, for example, you may need to wait an additional 15 minutes for it to be uploaded. To avoid it automatically switching to the HDTV version, you can add a wait (by hours) to the RSS.
http://www.dailytvtorrents.org/rss/show/breaking-bad?prefer=720
ADD
&wait=1
FOR
http://www.dailytvtorrents.org/rss/show/breaking-bad?prefer=720&wait=1
This will make the RSS wait one hour after the HDTV becomes available before defaulting to it instead of the 720p version.
Saving Your Favorites - The website saves to your browser. You can export your settings and import them later to avoid losing your favorites. This can be done here (http://www.dailytvtorrents.org/settings/).
BONUS:
For all you football fans (like me!), a new site I've found that's been pretty consistent with their streams:
http://ilemi.me/
UPDATE 1/4/13
To update this a bit, for streaming your TV content to just about any device, I'm using Plex ( http://www.plexapp.com ). This is a media streaming server, so as long as your server computer is on, you have access to your content anywhere. This works on just about "any device with a screen". If you have an Xbox/PS3, it works with that as well. It transcodes all your files on the fly (so just about any time of file will work on any device). There is also an iPhone/Android app that allows you to stream your content on the go and provides a remote control for when you're at home. You can even get your content on any computer by using their browser app ( http://my.plexapp.com/ ). It automatically downloads show/episode information and organizes your files into seasons (same with movies and music). And it's all free except for the mobile app if you want it on your phone (which is $5).
I also broke down and purchased a Roku streaming box for $50 ( http://www.amazon.com/Roku-2450D-LT-Streaming-Player/dp/B008R7EVE4/ ). It hasn't come in yet, but it has a native Plex app for streaming to the TV, so if you don't have an Xbox or other console, this is a cheap alternative that also gives you access to hundreds of other streaming content channels.
As for uTorrent safety, just make sure the IP filter is activated ( http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/additional-torrent-settings.htm#uTorrent-ipfilter ). That'll keep you away from the cable company's crosshairs.
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Have a way to add prefer 720 to the long list of RSS?
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May I suggest the elite alternative? Usenet + sabnzdb, sick beard and couch potato. Ultimate internet PVR.
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Have a way to add prefer 720 to the long list of RSS?
What do you mean the long list?
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When combining all rss feeds into one.
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http://www.dailytvtorrents.org/rss/combined/d0afb38b9681bfb00500827d4e337380#?prefer=720&wait=1
^The above is an example. It should work exactly the same, though admittedly I haven't tried it since I did the shows individually.
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About to watch House the season premiere that airs next monday, the screener got leaked online, i love that show!
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I watched that last night. I was actually surprised at the couple of places they insert FX.
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<3 GLEE.
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A few notes after tweaking this a bit...
Currently the site is fetching torrents with the title "download at superseeds.org" attached to them. These torrents are usually 720p and seem to be designed to never actually complete (forcing you to go to their superseeds site). For now I would avoid 720 and stick with HD until they fix this.
Also, there's an rss feed that will fetch EVERY TV show. I'm using that and then just fetching the ones I want using uTorrent. The all show feed is:
http://www.dailytvtorrents.org/rss/allshows
To just fetch certain shows, don't choose to automatically download in the feed settings. Instead, go to the RSS Downloader and add a filter for each show you want. The BIG thing to know about this is how to make the filter. You'll notice the filter starts out with just a *. You'll want to add a word that filters it down to your show, but don't forget to maintain the *. For instance...
You want to download Modern Family. Your filter would be:
*Modern*
The * is your basic wildcard anything can go after (or before) symbol.
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Don't you have problems getting letters from your ISP from torrenting? I keep hearing about them from people in Phoenix. Aside from the amazing speed and retention this is probably the biggest reason why I use encrypted usenet.
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No I've never gotten a letter. You can download a peer blocker if you are going to get games and movies. TV shows generally aren't watched, though, since most are available to stream for free from websites anyway and most people are already paying for cable.
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What do you guy mean by letters? As in a physical letter from your isp?
I've been Torrenting for years and I have never had an ISP send a letter about torrenting. The most I have heard about torrent protection is from schools in the are limiting their bandwidth allocation to weed out peer to peer ttransfers.
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With Cox here in Arizona (and I've heard that Comcast does much of the same) a few people at my work have received letters for downloading from torrents. I could have been movies, I'm not sure but many of the companies attach to popular torrents, log IP addresses and send out threatening take down letters.
How effective are peer blockers? I can't imagine it's full proof as these guys can get and use nearly any IP address they want, right? Which one do you recommend tbone?
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To update this a bit, for streaming your TV content to just about any device, I'm using Plex ( http://www.plexapp.com ). This is a media streaming server, so as long as your server computer is on, you have access to your content anywhere. This works on just about "any device with a screen". If you have an Xbox/PS3, it works with that as well. It transcodes all your files on the fly (so just about any time of file will work on any device). There is also an iPhone/Android app that allows you to stream your content on the go and provides a remote control for when you're at home. You can even get your content on any computer by using their browser app ( http://my.plexapp.com/ ). It automatically downloads show/episode information and organizes your files into seasons (same with movies and music). And it's all free except for the mobile app if you want it on your phone (which is $5).
I also broke down and purchased a Roku streaming box for $50 ( http://www.amazon.com/Roku-2450D-LT-Streaming-Player/dp/B008R7EVE4/ ). It hasn't come in yet, but it has a native Plex app for streaming to the TV, so if you don't have an Xbox or other console, this is a cheap alternative that also gives you access to hundreds of other streaming content channels.
As for uTorrent safety, just make sure the IP filter is activated ( http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/additional-torrent-settings.htm#uTorrent-ipfilter ). That'll keep you away from the cable company's crosshairs.
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It amazes me that the simple act of watching television can be extrapolated into so many freakin' paragraphs.
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My file server at home is also running plex server. It's pretty awesome although not as good as XBMC. So we use plex on the roku in the bedroom and on our mobile devices in the house and while on the road. XBMC is still king for main home theater TV though in my opinion.
The best part about both though is they're both totally free. Very good stuff.
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I was under the impression that Plex was basically XBMC+. They took the XBMC technology and added to it. The dev team split up and the Plex group started adding more features with the XBMC group remained focused on just the raw open source technology. If you use Plex for your TV and mobile devices, what do you use XBMC for? And why do you think it is better?
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I use the usenet and XBMC. I haven't tried Plex yet, but what XBMC gives us is unlimited access to our library of movies and tv shows. We can sort the movies by title, year, genera, etc. That comes in pretty handy when you've got 500+ movies. The tv shows are also sortable, but the nice thing is it marks what's watched and unwatched.
Probably the biggest thing that would keep me from leaving XBMC is all of my downloaders work directly with it. When my media server downloads a TV show via Sickbeard, it updates my XBMC library automatically. Couchpotato does this too.
Automated library management and a simple to use interface it where it's at.
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What's keeping me on XBMC for our living room TV is that Plex, while pretty and smooth... still doesn't support on the fly movie trailers or airplay. We use both of these features a lot and would be sad without them. Being able to have friends over and fling videos from your smart phone or tablet to the main TV where everyone can see them is really fun.
The only reason we use plex is because it'll stream to the Roku and iPad and stuff easily.
The differences aside from that weren't enough to make me care one way or the other. They both give you a pretty front end to getting all of your TV shows and Movies just fine. XBMC is much more customizable if you care about that sort of thing but we just picked a skin we like and have stuck with it ever sense.
Plex is neat to run as well because you can stream all of your content over the internet as well. All you have to do is make sure you're logged in with your plex account on the server and any client devices and you can transcode on the fly over the internet and watch anything and everything in your library.
It's pretty good stuff. So we use both.
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I haven't downloaded PLEX yet just because my Galaxy S3 is already DLNA equipped to talk to my Xbox 360.
Looking at either getting a Roku or hooking up my old media server. Any thoughts?
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Plex automatically fetches information about your file and organizes it in a pretty interface. TV shows go into seasons (it can even play the theme song when you browse to that show). Movies get box art, play time, etc. It auto updates when you download/add a file to the folders that it is watching. It says if a video is watched or not and you can even resume where you left off regardless of which device you were watching it on.
You can also share your media server with friends. I sent my brother an invite and he was able to watch my TV shows on his browser in Mississippi (he also could have downloaded the Plex client).
I used to use just DLNA for the Xbox, but Plex just organizes it SO well. I don't have to do any work on my end. I got my Roku box in as well and it is EXCELLENT! Roku has a Plex channel, so it works perfectly.
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^ What he said.
Plex is ideal for people who wanna play it on a device like a tablet, smartphone, roku or whatever. It's really good for that.
Still, I prefer XBMC for our "serious" TV and Movie watching. It does all the stuff Tbone listed above minus the streaming over the internet and to devices stuff. We do enjoy it on our Roku in the bedroom though a LOT.
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Started using Plex today, dropped five bucks for the Android app in a New York minute. 3g streaming isn't as reliable as I'd like it, but I'll be quicker to blame shoddy coverage. Wanting to use this to stream playlists I drop in media folders instead of, say, streaming Pandora or another streaming audio app.
I will also add, the ability to email a video link to my queue to watch on whatever device is fucking sick yo.
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Set up the roku and plex with hulu plus, amazon prime, and torrents... AMAZING!!!!!!!
The wife can not wait to call the cable company and tell them to go to hell...
They literally just raised our rate to 200 a month... gonna save like 140 - 160 a month now.
F-YOU CABLE!!!
OH AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD CHANGE MY AVATAR ALREADY
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That's ok. Put that 140-160 away each month and then you can get me a sweet birthday present in April! =P
...you don't like Chuck Norris?
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Queuing With Plex
I finally got around to testing this. There are several ways to do this, but I use the Plex Chrome Extension. There was a Youtube video about the Oculus Rift that I wanted to watch, but I still wanted to work on some things on my laptop. The Chrome Extension puts an icon on my taskbar. I simply hit that button when at the Youtube page and it added it to my "queue". From Roku I just went to the queue and there was the Youtube video. It played perfectly in 720p on my TV as I continued doing things on my laptop! Sweet!
Sharing
Another cool option is sharing your media. Go to the media manager and you can type in an email address to share the server with. This allows that person to use Plex to stream all (or stuff you've selected) of your media! My brother and father have been watching Homeland this way and have even started putting in requests. I'm not positive if it works for DLNA or not. For instance, my brother could stream to a Plex client on his computer, access it in a browser, or access it on his phone if he has the app. If he wanted to play it on an Xbox or a Roku, however, I'm not certain that he could do that since they detect Plex through the local network.
There are ways to sign in to Myplex on these devices, however (at the very least the Roku), so it might be possible. Just be aware if you are sharing the server that it doesn't actually tell you when someone is streaming from you. This means that if your internet can't handle it, you might find yourself with sub par performance without being able to check and see if it is a Plex friend. For this reason, I suggest limiting the number of people you share this with or only share a limited number of things.
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Roku is pushing out a new update this week that overhauls the UI. It looks pretty sleek. They'll basically have the Roku 3 interface.