selecting a simple nas and accessing it remotely

[Enquiries]

hello,

i've watche a few of your videos about the qnap ts 230 and have the following scenario;

1) i've been ripping dvds for years and have them stored on an external ssd. collectively they make up about 2 tb of data;

2) at home i have fios internet service that operates at roughly 100 gb up and down;

3) i would like to be able to remotely access my movies;

4) i do not want to dedicate a computer to the task of serving my movies;

5) my fios intenet at home utilizes a dynaic ip address system;

6) my questions are:
i . can the qnap function with a dynamic ip to provide me continuous remote access to my movies?
ii. if the dynamic ip is a problem, will using a ddns such as no-ip solve the problem/
iii. is my internet up and down speeed suffiicent to smoothly watch my movies remotely?
iv. when i remotely access my movies, does the nas system require me to access the movie and download it to my remote device or is the movie be streamed from the nas?

thanks

[ed]

Thank you for reaching out with your scenario and questions! Based on your setup and requirements, the QNAP TS-230 is a solid choice for a simple, affordable NAS solution that fits your needs. Here are answers to your questions and additional considerations:

1. Can the QNAP NAS Function with a Dynamic IP Address for Remote Access?
Yes, QNAP can work with a dynamic IP address. To provide continuous remote access, you can use QNAP’s myQNAPcloud service, which simplifies remote access without needing to worry about your dynamic IP address. Alternatively, a Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service like No-IP or DuckDNS will also solve the problem if you prefer not to use QNAP’s built-in options.

2. Is Using DDNS Necessary for Dynamic IPs?
If you don’t want to rely on QNAP’s myQNAPcloud, then yes, a DDNS service is a good solution. It ensures that your NAS remains accessible even when your ISP changes your public IP address. Services like No-IP are free (with some limitations) and work well with QNAP devices.

3. Is Your Internet Speed Sufficient for Smooth Remote Streaming?
Your 100 Mbps upload and download speeds are more than sufficient for streaming movies remotely. Most DVD-quality videos (and even HD movies) require far less bandwidth:

Standard Definition (SD): ~3-5 Mbps.
High Definition (HD): ~5-10 Mbps.
With 100 Mbps, you’ll have no trouble streaming smoothly, even if multiple users are accessing the internet simultaneously.

4. Does the NAS Require You to Download Movies for Remote Access?
No, the QNAP TS-230 (or most modern NAS devices) supports streaming directly from the NAS. You can stream your movies using:

QNAP’s Video Station app: A built-in app for organizing and streaming your media library.
Plex Media Server (optional): An excellent option if you want advanced features like transcoding, metadata fetching, and a polished UI for streaming on various devices.
With these solutions, you won’t need to download the movies to your remote device—they will stream directly from the NAS.

Additional Recommendations:
Hard Drive Recommendation:

Since you have about 2 TB of data, a single 4 TB drive in the TS-230 will give you room to grow while keeping costs down. For reliability, consider a NAS-rated drive like:
Seagate IronWolf 4 TB.
WD Red Plus 4 TB.
Budget Consideration:

The QNAP TS-230 ($199 USD) plus a 4 TB hard drive ($100-$120 USD) fits comfortably within your $400 budget.
Remote Access Setup:

Use myQNAPcloud or set up DDNS for easy access.
Secure your NAS by enabling HTTPS, disabling default admin accounts, and using strong passwords.
Conclusion:
The QNAP TS-230 is a perfect fit for your use case: affordable, compact, and capable of providing remote access for streaming your movies. With your internet speed and the right setup, you’ll be able to enjoy your media library from anywhere without dedicating a computer to the task.