PVR recording software

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PVR/Contents

Home icon grey.png   ▶ PVR ▶ PVR recording software
This map will give you a basic idea of what to look for if you are unsure what format/standard your TV signal is in.


I want to run my PVR backend server on...

You can run the PVR backend server on one of your existing XBMC installs, or on its own.

Use the tables below and click on the PVR backend software which best fits your needs.

Android

Sorry but there are not yet any compatible PVR backends that runs natively which have a PVR client addon for Kodi. Android is only added here on this page because requests and enquirers about PVR backends for Android compatible with Kodi is a frequently asked question.

If you want to get access to Live TV, EPG, and the other PVR features in Kodi running on Android then you currently need you use a workaround today such as runing your PVR backend on a other a computer or device on your local network to stream the video to Kodi running on Android

Linux

Name DVB ATSC / QAM ISDB DTMB CableCard (US) IPTV Recording TimeShift Radio
Tvheadend Yes Yes ? ? No Yes ? Yes Yes
VDR Yes Yes ? ? Yes Yes ? Yes[1] Yes
MythTV Yes Yes No No Yes[2] Yes ? Yes Yes
DVBLink Yes Yes No No No Yes ? Yes Yes


Mac OS X

Name DVB ATSC / QAM ISDB DTMB CableCard (US) IPTV Recording TimeShift Radio
MythTV Yes Yes No No Yes[2] Yes ? Yes Yes


Windows

Name DVB ATSC / QAM ISDB DTMB CableCard (US) IPTV Recording TimeShift Radio
ARGUS TV Yes Yes ? ? ? ? ? Yes Yes
DVBLink Yes Yes No No No Yes ? Yes Yes
DVBViewer Yes Yes ? ? No Yes ? Yes Yes
NextPVR Yes Yes ? Yes Yes[2] Yes ? Yes Yes
MediaPortal Yes Yes ? ? ? Yes ? Yes Yes
ServerWMC Yes Yes ? ? Yes ? ? Yes ?


Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi is technically just an embedded linux platform, but it's low price and features make it perfect for a PVR backend. In addition to this, since a lot of people will hopefully be using R-Pi's as backends, it will make it easier to streamline setup guides and provide help due to most of the hardware being the same for everyone.

Like every backend, the server needs to receive the live signal from a receiver. A typical DVB USB stick will do, but be aware that such a stick takes its power supply via the USB interface. It might be required to put a USB hub with independent power supply between the R-Pi and the DVB stick. Make sure that the DVB stick works with the linux OS on the R-Pi. Information can be found at http://linuxtv.org, including firmware downloads for many sticks. Alternatively, you may want to check the directory /lib/firmware on the R-Pi to list the firmware already installed.

/var/log/dmesg and .xbmc/temp/xbmc.log are files to check if the TV signal is not available.

Name DVB ATSC / QAM ISDB DTMB CableCard (US) IPTV Recording TimeShift Radio
Tvheadend Yes Yes ? ? No Yes ? Yes Yes
VDR Yes Yes ? ? Yes Yes ? Yes[1] Yes
DVBLink Yes Yes No No No Yes ? Yes Yes


Other

Name DVB ATSC / QAM ISDB DTMB CableCard (US) IPTV Recording TimeShift Radio
VuPlus Client for Enigma2 based set-top boxes (Vu+ and Dreambox) Yes ? ? ? No ? ? ? Yes
DVBLink for Synology, QNAP, NETGEAR, Western Digital and ASUSTOR NAS products Yes Yes No No No Yes ? Yes Yes
IPTV Simple Client No No No No No Yes ? No No
Tvheadend Yes Yes ? ? No Yes ? Yes Yes
Njoy N7 Yes ? ? ? No Yes ? ? ?

Notes

TVHeadend under Linux does not support the HD Homerun Prime's Cable Card channels.

  1. 1.0 1.1 VNSI supports full time shift. XVDR "XVDR Plugin for VDR" does.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Via Silicondust HDHomeRun Prime, the Hauppauge WinTV DCR-2650, or the Ceton InfiniTV 4.