Pik TV capabilities and limitations

[Luddite_2]

I have been using a re-purposed Windows 7 Pro computer as our media & streaming server.  We have Plex server installed and run the usual streaming services through Chrome.  This has some issues, to say the least.

We recently subscribed to Telus Fibre 150 + Pik TV and are considering different options to enhance viewing experience.

Currently we have:

• Marantz SR8002 7.1 AVR
• 6.1 audio setup
• Samsung Bluray with smartTV apps
• Samsung smartTV
• Epson 1080p projector.
• the afore mentioned computer attached media storage hardwired to network

Negatives

• Pik TV, GEM, Crave crash at inopportune times  (Netflix does not crash)
• Upon crash Pik TV will often reset to start of program and gives no ability to fast forward
• inability for computer to handle surround audio
• awful video quality from Cineplex Store app, and other web based apps
• just the general mish-mash of everything, dance of technology, and resulting marital disharmony we experience when trying to find a watch content

Positives

• HD and surround content from bluray player can be mind bending when source is good
• Plex server on computer delivers our stored music well, if a bit lacking in depth
• Stereo CD music through sound system is awesome
• Netflix through bluray player delivers surround audio (I suspect it is degraded somewhat as the side and rear channels sound suspiciously like the fronts)

Questions

• Will the Pik TV android box output surround signal?
• Can I install Plex on Pik TV box or will Pik TV server our network stored media files
• What would you suggest to replace the Windows 7 computer, if that is the best course?  (I am considering setting up an Ubuntu server)

Thanks in advance for any tips

[NFtoBC · Accepted solution]

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@Luddite_2 wrote:

Questions

• Will the Pik TV android box output surround signal?
• Can I install Plex on Pik TV box or will Pik TV server our network stored media files
• What would you suggest to replace the Windows 7 computer, if that is the best course?  (I am considering setting up an Ubuntu server)

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Based on previous comments surround sound is not supported on PikTV device.

There is a Plex App for the PikTV device. I expect it will use existing network storage for the files.

[dominicl]

Netflix on the Pik TV box should be able to output surround sound. I don’t have speakers to test it, but in theory Netflix is one of the few apps that use the passthrough mode to let the AVR decode the surround audio instead of letting Android convert it to stereo.

[Danger]

Yes you can install Plex on the PikTV box, I have it and works fairly well. The PikTV box is not very powerful and some videos it will not play well natively and I have to tell it to automatically decode (server does the work). However, and this is a big one, unless your projector is HDCP 2.2 compliant the PikTV box will NOT work. I have a Benq HT3050 and I can hear some audio sometimes with a onscreen message that tells me that my device is not HDCP 2.2 compatible, so now I am looking at newer projectors to get around it or while researching and stalling hoping that telus releases a version of the PikTV app for shieldtv(one can hope).  As far as surround sound I do not believe it does with the PikTV  but as for Netflix and plex I am not sure since my projector is part of my home theater and as mentioned will not work with it. 

[Danger]

Adding to this because I am not 100% sure what you are talking about when you are asking about Plex storage. In order for the Plex client to work on the PikTV box you would still have to run the plex server on whatever computer you are currently running it on so the storage would stay the same as it is now.

[zulu53]

HDCP 2.2 is for 4k media High Definition Copy Protection, so only applicable when trying to stream 4k.  To view a stream in 4k one needs to have a screen and screen driver capable of 4k pixel resolution (4000 pixels horizontal) AND an HDCP chip to confirm the legality of the stream before display on the screen.

So HDCP 2.2 is not applicable and not installed on 1080p equipment (e.g. here of his 1080p projector).