Best method for remote family access

[diaz1510 154]

OK, I've got 3 user accounts created in the server, mine and my wife who, of course, log on locally, and my brother who lives halfway across the country.  I've got Emby Premiere myself but am a little unclear as to the rules for allowing family to access the server remotely.

 

I added him as a user, then explained to him the process to access my server.  He runs only apple products so isn't able to use Emby Theater so he is accessing via web client and/or the app for his mobile devices.  Anyway, he's able to access the server, even create a playlist, but when he attempts to play a movie he is asked to unlock the play feature for $4.99 or subscribe monthly to premiere for $6.99/mo.  My question is, if he just wants to watch media, which is the best option?  Is that $4.99 charge a one time charge or is that for each media file?  And as much as I love Emby, $6.99 a month seems to be a pretty steep cost considering what I believe it is competing with as far as a remote user would be concerned.  For me as a server administrator, it doesn't sound expensive as I am managing my media with Emby and enjoying the features inherent with that ability, but for a remote user who only watches media, for just a little more per month, Netflix or Hulu contain WAY more content then my personal server ever could.

 

I'm not looking for a free ride or anything, but is there an option or a way to setup the server so that I could at least get my core family members who live away access?  I was reading somewhere about a family rule but couldn't find any specifics on it.

 

Anyway, just looking at what my options are for letting my brother have access to my server to be able to just watch media.  Thanks.

[epayson85 72]

If you pay for premier then anyone can access your server for no additional cost. Or each person can spend the $5 to unlock their individual apps, it's not per item watched.

[Cerothen 97]

My understanding is that for premiere users the apps are free though the authentication method requires the apps to be local (I think they are working on this).

 

If he was to buy the app it would only be for users of his Apple account (eg his devices only) but it would be a one time cost.

 

Another option is to connect his device to a VPN so it thinks it is local, that would allow it to be authenticated as part of your premiere subscription, if he uninstalled the app or got a new phone he would have to do it all over again though.

 

Someone correct me if I am wrong

[diaz1510 154]

If you pay for premier then anyone can access your server for no additional cost. Or each person can spend the $5 to unlock their individual apps, it's not per item watched.

As I mentioned, he has ACCESS to the server, browse my collection, create playlists, etc, but whenever he presses play on an actual media file, he is given the options to either unlock the PLAY feature for $4.99 or buy Emby Premiere for $6.99/mo

 

I'm not ruling out that I may have done something incorrect in setting up his account, I'm just wondering what it was if that is the case.

 

I created a user account for him within the Server Dashboard, then I sent him the links to be able to access the server with the remote access IP address along with a password I created for him.  Below is an email I sent him with instructions on how to access my server.  Did I give him incorrect directions?

 

Preferred Method

Emby Theater:

 

1.  Go to https://emby.media/download.html

2.  Scroll to Emby TV Apps

3.  Select ‘EMBY THEATER FOR WINDOWS’

4.  Select ‘DOWNLOAD’

5.  Install ‘SETUP.EXE’

6. Within Emby Theater, Select ‘NEW SERVER’

7.  Enter:

Host: XX.XXX.XX.XX

Port: 8096

8.  Select ‘MARIO’

9.  Enter:

                Name: Mario

                Password: XXXXXXXXXX

 

 

Alternate Method

Web Client:  

 

1.  Go to app.emby.media

2.  Select ‘NEXT’

3.  Select ‘SKIP’

4.  Select ‘ADD SERVER’

5.  Enter:

Host: XX.XXX.XX.XX

Port: 8096

6.  Select ‘MARIO’

7.  Enter:

                Name: Mario

                Password: XXXXXXXXXX

 

Mobile Access

Emby for Android/iOS:

 

1.  Go to Google Play or Apple Store and search for official Emby app

2.  Download and Install App

3.  Select options and enter values from above to access the server.

 

[MSattler 390]

As I mentioned, he has ACCESS to the server, browse my collection, create playlists, etc, but whenever he presses play on an actual media file, he is given the options to either unlock the PLAY feature for $4.99 or buy Emby Premiere for $6.99/mo

 

I'm not ruling out that I may have done something incorrect in setting up his account, I'm just wondering what it was if that is the case.

 

I created a user account for him within the Server Dashboard, then I sent him the links to be able to access the server with the remote access IP address along with a password I created for him.  Below is an email I sent him with instructions on how to access my server.  Did I give him incorrect directions?

 

Preferred Method

Emby Theater:

 

1.  Go to https://emby.media/download.html

2.  Scroll to Emby TV Apps

3.  Select ‘EMBY THEATER FOR WINDOWS’

4.  Select ‘DOWNLOAD’

5.  Install ‘SETUP.EXE’

6. Within Emby Theater, Select ‘NEW SERVER’

7.  Enter:

Host: XX.XXX.XX.XX

Port: 8096

8.  Select ‘MARIO’

9.  Enter:

                Name: Mario

                Password: XXXXXXXXXX

 

 

Alternate Method

Web Client:  

 

1.  Go to app.emby.media

2.  Select ‘NEXT’

3.  Select ‘SKIP’

4.  Select ‘ADD SERVER’

5.  Enter:

Host: XX.XXX.XX.XX

Port: 8096

6.  Select ‘MARIO’

7.  Enter:

                Name: Mario

                Password: XXXXXXXXXX

 

Mobile Access

Emby for Android/iOS:

 

1.  Go to Google Play or Apple Store and search for official Emby app

2.  Download and Install App

3.  Select options and enter values from above to access the server.

 

 

The app itself is free, it's playback that ends up being charged for IOS.

 

Web/Browser based playback costs nothing.  He could use a Chromecast on the tv and cast from the web browser to the Chromecast, but that's a $35 cost.

 

So far for Android, the app is free at least the last time I looked, I've never seen a request for payment for Android.

[MSattler 390]

The app itself is free, it's playback that ends up being charged for IOS.

 

Web/Browser based playback costs nothing.  He could use a Chromecast on the tv and cast from the web browser to the Chromecast, but that's a $35 cost.

 

So far for Android, the app is free at least the last time I looked, I've never seen a request for payment for Android.

 

Now Emby Theather will cost an unlock I believe if it's not local.

[Deathsquirrel 745]

Premier is unlimited use for your household.  It sounds like your brother would be a different household.  If he's just using the app on one device he should just buy the app.

[epayson85 72]

I have never run into any issues using my premier account in another household.  I used a friends firetv when I was traveling and had no issue.  Of course... I don't use emby connect so maybe that is the difference.  Dynamic DNS is $60 a year and I love it especially when you consider all the other things I use it for.  

[overClocked! 65]

Let's not over-complicate this.

 

In order for an iOS app that cannot connect to the local network to be able to playback content, the user pays a ONE TIME in-App purchase of $4.99. He will then be able to use the app on that iOS device to playback all content on any Emby server he connects to now and evermore.

 

If he wishes, he can connect to the server using a mobile web browser like Safari or Chrome for iOS. But the iOS app is much better.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited April 7, 2016 by overClocked!

[diaz1510 154]

sweet...sounds like the one time 4.99 purchase will be the way to go for my brother...thanks...