PVR: Difference between revisions

From Official Kodi Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
m (Robot: Changing Category:XBMC Manual to Category:Manual)
(16 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{DISPLAYTITLE:The XBMC Live TV and PVR/DVR Setup Guide}}
{{:PVR/Contents}}
{{:PVR/Contents}}
<big>'''Introduction:'''</big><br />
{{mininav|[[Video library]] {{l2|[[Live TV]] }} }}
{{big|'''Introduction:'''}}<br />


As of v12 (Frodo), XBMC features live TV and [[wikipedia:Digital video recorder|video recording (DVR/PVR)]] abilities. This allows you to watch live TV, listen to radio, view a TV guide (EPG), schedule recordings and enables many other TV related features.
As of 2013, (with the introduction of v12 Frodo), {{Kodi}} features powerful Live TV and [[wikipedia:Digital video recorder|video recording (DVR/PVR)]] abilities using a very flexible [[wikipedia:distributed application|distributed application structure]].  


Due to the somewhat complicated nature of setting up PVR for XBMC, this guide was created to help users from start to finish.
By levering other existing third-party [[PVR backend]] applications or devices that specialize in receiving television signals and and also support the same type of [[wikipedia:client–server model|client–server model]] which {{Kodi}} uses, these PVR features allows you to watch Live TV, listen to radio, view a EPG TV-Guide, schedule recordings and enables many other TV related features, all using {{Kodi}} as your primary interface once the initial pairing connection and configuration have been done.
 
Due to the somewhat complicated nature of initially setting up PVR for {{Kodi}} for the first time, this guide was created to help users from start to finish.


{{-}}
{{-}}


== How does live TV/PVR work in XBMC? ==
== How does Live TV and PVR work in {{Kodi}}? ==
 
Logically, the PVR / Live TV design in {{Kodi}} uses a [[wikipedia:distributed application|distributed application structure]] that is designed after the [[wikipedia:client–server model|client–server model]] concept which consists of two parts:
Logically, the XBMC PVR / Live TV consists of two parts:
# The PVR '''backend''' (as the server side part), which communicates with a TV tuner adapter(s) to receive the Live TV signals and create a video or audio stream, and  
# The Live TV backend '''server''', which communicates with a TV tuner adaptor to create a video or audio stream, and  
# The PVR '''client''' (as an addon for {{Kodi}}) - an {{Kodi}} addon which controls the presentation of that content via the {{Kodi}} GUI that acts as unified frontend and common interface for all connected PVR backends.
# The PVR '''client''' - an XBMC Add-on which controls the presentation of that content
 
The PVR backend is a process/application that performs the task of tuning, streaming and recording over-the-air and cable television and radio programming. It  can either run on the same host running XBMC, on a stand-alone host or completely by itself with XBMC only running when needed. Some servers may be able to serve several clients simultaneously, which may be XBMC clients or others.  


When paired with a matched backend, a configured PVR Add-on enables XBMC to handle the interface, or frontend, allowing the user to watch live TV  (with pause/time shift, if supported by the backend), schedule recordings or listen to radio, giving the same sort of functionality as Tivo-style video recorder devices.
The "'''PVR backend'''" as such is a separate application/process that directly interfaces with your TV tuner adapter(s) and the performs the task of tuning, streaming, and recording over-the-air and cable television signals and radio programming. PVR backends can either run on the same host running {{Kodi}}, or on a stand-alone host/device completely by itself with {{Kodi}} only running when needed, as long as they have a network connection between them. Some PVR backends may be able to serve several clients simultaneously, which may be {{Kodi}} clients or others applications/devices, and in those cases such PVR backends that serves multiple clients are commonly refereed to as PVR servers.  


When paired with one or more matched PVR backends, a configured '''PVR client addon''' enables {{Kodi}} to handle the GUI interface, or frontend, allowing the user to watch Live TV  (with pause/time-shift, if supported by the PVR backend used), display a graphical EPG (Electronic Program Guide) of all available television programming, schedule recordings or listen to radio, giving the same sort of functionality as TiVo-style video recorder devices.


{{next|[[PVR/Backend|Setting up the backend software]]}}
{{next|[[PVR backend|Setting up the backend software]]}}


== Alternative guides ==
== Alternative guides ==
* [http://lifehacker.com/5981757/how-to-watch-and-record-live-tv-on-your-xbmc-media-center Lifehacker's excellent Live TV guide for XBMC v12]
* [http://lifehacker.com/5981757/how-to-watch-and-record-live-tv-on-your-xbmc-media-center Lifehacker's excellent Live TV guide for XBMC v12]
* [http://montgomery1.com/htpc/ Montgomery One's PVR guide]
* [http://montgomery1.com/htpc/ Montgomery One's PVR guide]
{{Gotham updated}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:The XBMC Live TV and PVR/DVR Setup Guide}}


[[Category:How-to]]
[[Category:How-to]]
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:PVR|*]]
[[Category:PVR|*]]
[[Category:XBMC Manual]]
[[Category:Manual]]
[[Category:Live TV]]
[[Category:Live TV]]

Revision as of 21:38, 17 November 2014

PVR/Contents

Home icon grey.png   ▶ Video library
▶ Live TV
▶ PVR

Introduction:

As of 2013, (with the introduction of v12 Frodo), Kodi features powerful Live TV and video recording (DVR/PVR) abilities using a very flexible distributed application structure.

By levering other existing third-party PVR backend applications or devices that specialize in receiving television signals and and also support the same type of client–server model which Kodi uses, these PVR features allows you to watch Live TV, listen to radio, view a EPG TV-Guide, schedule recordings and enables many other TV related features, all using Kodi as your primary interface once the initial pairing connection and configuration have been done.

Due to the somewhat complicated nature of initially setting up PVR for Kodi for the first time, this guide was created to help users from start to finish.


How does Live TV and PVR work in Kodi?

Logically, the PVR / Live TV design in Kodi uses a distributed application structure that is designed after the client–server model concept which consists of two parts:

  1. The PVR backend (as the server side part), which communicates with a TV tuner adapter(s) to receive the Live TV signals and create a video or audio stream, and
  2. The PVR client (as an addon for Kodi) - an Kodi addon which controls the presentation of that content via the Kodi GUI that acts as unified frontend and common interface for all connected PVR backends.

The "PVR backend" as such is a separate application/process that directly interfaces with your TV tuner adapter(s) and the performs the task of tuning, streaming, and recording over-the-air and cable television signals and radio programming. PVR backends can either run on the same host running Kodi, or on a stand-alone host/device completely by itself with Kodi only running when needed, as long as they have a network connection between them. Some PVR backends may be able to serve several clients simultaneously, which may be Kodi clients or others applications/devices, and in those cases such PVR backends that serves multiple clients are commonly refereed to as PVR servers.

When paired with one or more matched PVR backends, a configured PVR client addon enables Kodi to handle the GUI interface, or frontend, allowing the user to watch Live TV (with pause/time-shift, if supported by the PVR backend used), display a graphical EPG (Electronic Program Guide) of all available television programming, schedule recordings or listen to radio, giving the same sort of functionality as TiVo-style video recorder devices.

Next step: Setting up the backend software


Alternative guides