Raspberry running Kodi on network to replace Netflix

VPN
1

Hey,

I wannt to replace my streaming subscriptions with an all in one Solution. I don’t want to download stuff and it needs to be easy to use because my wife has to agree with the solution :smiley:

My Idea was to have a raspberry pi added to my network and connect to it via Lan (my serverrack is in the basement) I would then connect via my tv to the Raspberry running Kodi? and be able to stream most things I want. Is that possible? What steps am I missing? Would a RP4 4GB be capable of running two streams to two devices at the same time ?

because I’m in Germany should I add another Raspberry with a VPN ? Or can that be done on the same one? have an old RP3 B+ laying around…

2

I bought a pi4 for exactly this, but you can use librelec with a pi3 I believe.

Definitely add a VPN, you can use a plug in within Kodi OpenVPN manager and use a recognised VPN provider.

You can set kodi to auto connect the VPN on start up, having it pause the stream if the VPN drops and set up multiple connection locations.

There’s loads of tutorials online how to set this up. Start baking mate.

Edit: not sure if you can 1 device/ kodi stream 2 video files…so I’d set up the pi3 for her and treat yourself to a pi4 (4gb).

3

Addons simply (well, simple to say) find a torrent and pass that to kodi for kodi to play. I don’t believe an instance of kodi can play two streams at once - it’s a single thread if you like. I run a raspberry pi connected to my router which provides iptv services via nextpvr (and also runs thunderbird to remove junk from my emails) and pihole which all run fine, but I doubt it could run multiple instances of kodi as a server to separate clients.

4

If you just want to use your network storage for movies, then I’d suggest getting a raspberry pi 5 (out soon) and install casaos on raspberry pi os , then deploy jellyfin as a docker instance and attach your storage and play your media from the pi easily.

5

Re: pi’s and something I only realised after reading about the pi5.
Since the pi4 they no longer have native hardware h264 decoding?
(Correct me if I’m wrong)

So they can do software decoding obviously which is fine but you’ll probably want some kind of cooling solution.

So depending on your TV/budget/requirements you might think about a pi3.
(Although if you want x265 then pi4/pi5 is a definite)

6

The only reason to use a VPN would be for live content. I used to have a VPN from my Pirate days but whenever it was up for renewal I cancelled it in favor of Real-Debrid. They use end to end encryption so your ISP isn’t the wiser and they don’t throttle the connection. A VPN will slow your speeds down by quite a bit (in my experiences). I have 300mbs available and my TV pulls about 230 but with the VPN it was doing 8-80 and most of the time it was low. RD is €16 for 180 days.

7

I would suggest a Chromecast with Google TV running Kodi (or not?) and add OTG USB storage.

8

Okay, I will definitly look for the OpenVPN addon. Can I just use my TV remote to controll the Raspberry?

9

Ma initial question might be A little confusing. I dont want to add anc network storage. I just want to stream movies from the Internet. Idealy 2 streams to two devices.

10

But they keep a log for 1 year of all you do.

11

What do all you people paying for illegal streams have against torrents?

12

Sadly not unless you add a IR reciever and program it…its beyond my expertise.

I use an app called Kore to controll kodi, pretty easy to use and responsive.

13

If you directly connect the raspberry pi to your TV. It should work I tried it out

14

If you just want to stream then your server rack in basement has no role to play here, you would just have Kodi on the pi and connect it to TV via HDMI and use hdmi-cec to control Kodi with your TV remote and use a debrid service with kodi for maximum coverage of download and torrent hosts.

15

Over HDMI I have done that, but it will be over Ethernet, does it work with that too ?

16

Yeah i figured that would be the easiest solution. But what if i want to put my pi in the basement. Is that possible? What would I need to change about the setup ?

17

It’s not clear what you’re trying to do with the Pi being in your server rack. Connecting the TV to the Pi…with what?

Most people would run Kodi on the Pi connected directly to their TV with an HDMI cable.

18

Is your TV in the basement?

19

I want it in the track because I dont want to buy I for every tv in the house :wink:

20

No, TV is in the First and second floor. Tv is connected via Ethernet to the Switch. The raspberry would be connected to the Switch via Ethernet. I want to stream from the Internet to the tv using the raspberry