Official Kodi Wiki - User contributions [en]

Archive:PVR FAQ

2017-01-06T02:11:00Z

MacLondon: Updated information

{{:PVR/Contents}}
{{mininav|[[PVR]]}}
'''F'''requently '''A'''sked '''Q'''uestions for Kodi and PVR related.
__TOC__
{{-}}

{| width="100%"
|-
{{FAQ|1= PVR
| BGcolor=
| Question= What is PVR?
| Answer=
* PVR (Personal video recorder) allows you to watch live TV, listen to radio, view an EPG, schedule recordings and enables many other TV related features.
}}

{{FAQ|1= PVR Backend
| BGcolor= WhiteSmoke
| Question= What is a PVR Backend and why do I need it?
| Answer=
* A PVR Backend is the actual software that interfaces with your tuner hardware and handles the recording. Kodi simply acts as a graphical interface to this software, allowing you to access it from within Kodi.
}}

{{FAQ|1= Hardware
| BGcolor=
| Question= What PVR Hardware/TV Cards does Kodi support?
| Answer=
* Kodi itself does not support any specific PVR Hardware; it only outputs and interacts with TV streaming servers, i.e. PVR backends.
* Each PVR backend has different hardware and operating system requirements. Please visit the webpages of the individual PVR backends for more information.
}}

{{FAQ|1= Addons
| BGcolor= WhiteSmoke
| Question= What are PVR add-ons and why do I need them?
| Answer=
* Kodi relies on add-ons to interact with each individual PVR backend. Hence you need to ensure that Kodi has the appropriate add-on installed for the PVR backend that you are using.
}}

{{FAQ|1= DownloadAddons
| BGcolor=
| Question= Do I need to separately download PVR add-ons or do they come bundled with Kodi?
| Answer=
* Official Kodi.tv versions of Kodi for Android, iOS, Mac OS X and Windows all come with PVR add-ons already included with Kodi. Linux users will need to install PVR add-ons using the instructions for their specific PVR backend. See '''[[PVR backend]]'''.
}}

{{FAQ|1= Skins
| BGcolor= WhiteSmoke
| Question= Do all Kodi skins support PVR?
| Answer=
* Not all skins have PVR support. [[Confluence]] (default Kodi skin from v9.11 to v16) and Estuary (default skin in Kodi v17) both contain full PVR support.
}}
|}
{{frodo updated}}

[[Category:PVR]]
[[Category:FAQ]]

PVR recording software

2017-01-06T01:27:12Z

MacLondon: Corrected spelling and grammar

{{mininav|[[PVR]]}}
{{incomplete}}
{{:PVR/Contents}}
{{TOCleft}}
[[File:Digital broadcast standards.png|400px|thumb|center|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 (over-the-air signals).]]
{{-}}
== I want to run my PVR backend server on... ==
You can run the PVR backend server on one of your existing Kodi installs, or on its own and connect over your local network. Just use the tables below and click on the PVR backend software which looks to best fit your needs.

=== Android ===
Sorry but there are not yet any generically compatible PVR backend software applications that run natively on Android and have a PVR client addon for Kodi. Android is currently only added here on this page because requests and enquiries about PVR backends for Android that are compatible with Kodi are frequently asked questions.

If you want to get access to Live TV, EPG and the other PVR features in Kodi running on Android today, then you currently need to use an IPTV client or use a workaround such as running your PVR backend on another computer or device on your local network in order to stream the video to Kodi running on Android, (like example on a [[PVR recording software#Raspberry Pi|Raspberry Pi]])

=== Linux (including Raspberry Pi) ===
{{backend table header}}
<section begin="Tvheadend"/>
{{backend table
| Name= Tvheadend
| Page_Link= Tvheadend PVR
| DVB=yes
| ATSC_QAM=yes
| ISDB=
| DTMB=
| CableCard= {{no}}
| IPTV=yes
| Recording=yes
| TimeShift={{yes}}
| Radio=yes
}}<section end="Tvheadend"/>
<section begin="VDR"/>
{{backend table
| Name=VDR
| Page_Link= VDR
| DVB={{yes}}
| ATSC_QAM={{yes}}
| ISDB=
| DTMB=
| CableCard={{yes}}
| IPTV=yes
| Recording=yes
| TimeShift={{yes}}<ref name="VDR timeshift">VNSI supports full time shift. XVDR "[https://github.com/pipelka/vdr-plugin-xvdr XVDR Plugin for VDR]" does.</ref>
| Radio=yes
}}<section end="VDR"/>
<section begin="MythTV"/>
{{backend table
| Name=MythTV
| Page_Link= MythTV PVR
| DVB={{yes}}
| ATSC_QAM={{yes}}
| ISDB={{no}}
| DTMB={{no}}
| CableCard= {{yes}}<ref name="three cableCARDs">Via Silicondust HDHomeRun Prime, the Hauppauge WinTV DCR-2650, or the Ceton InfiniTV 4.</ref>
| IPTV={{yes}}
| Recording={{yes}}
| TimeShift={{yes}}
| Radio={{yes}}
}}<section end="MythTV"/>
{{backend table
| Name= DVBLink
| Page_Link= DVBLink
| DVB=yes
| ATSC_QAM=yes
| ISDB={{no}}
| DTMB={{no}}
| CableCard= {{no}}
| IPTV=yes
| Recording=yes
| TimeShift={{yes}}
| Radio=yes
}}<section end="DVBLink"/>
|}<br />

==== Raspberry Pi ====
The [[Raspberry Pi]] series is technically just embedded Linux platforms, but their low price and very capable hardware make it almost perfect as a PVR backend for Kodi. In addition to this, since a lot of people are using Raspberry Pi and Raspberry Pi 2 as PVR backends, it makes it much easier for the Kodi community to streamline setup guides and provide help to use Raspberry Pi as a PVR backend due to most of the hardware being the same for everyone. For compatibility and links to these guides please see the [[PVR recording software#Linux (including Raspberry Pi)|Linux]] matrix above and the community forums.

Like every PVR backend, the server needs to receive the live signal from a receiver. A typical TV-tuner USB-stick will do, but be aware that such a USB-stick takes its power supply via the USB-interface. It might be required to put a USB-hub with an independent power supply between the Raspberry Pi and the TV-tuner USB-stick. Make sure that the TV-tuner USB-stick you choose works with both Linux OS on the Raspberry Pi hardware. Much more 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 .kodi/temp/kodi.log are files to check if the TV signal is not available.

=== Mac OS X ===
{{backend table header}}
{{#lst:PVR recording software|MythTV}}
{{backend table
| Name=EyeTV (EyeTV IPTV Server)
| Page_Link=EyeTV IPTV Server
| DVB={{yes}}
| ATSC_QAM=
| ISDB=
| DTMB=
| CableCard=
| IPTV=
| Radio=
| TimeShift=
}}
|}

=== Windows ===
{{backend table header}}
{{backend table
| Name=Argus TV (formerly "For The Record")
| Page_Link= Argus TV
| DVB={{yes}}
| ATSC_QAM={{yes}}
| ISDB=
| DTMB=
| CableCard=
| IPTV=
| Radio={{yes}}
| TimeShift={{yes}}
}}
{{backend table
| Name=DVBLink
| Page_Link= DVBLink
| DVB={{yes}}
| ATSC_QAM={{yes}}
| ISDB= {{no}}
| DTMB= {{no}}
| CableCard= {{no}}
| IPTV={{yes}}
| Radio={{yes}}
| TimeShift={{yes}}
}}
{{backend table
| Name=DVBViewer
| Page_Link= DVBViewer
| DVB={{yes}}
| ATSC_QAM={{yes}}
| ISDB=
| DTMB=
| CableCard= {{no}}
| IPTV={{yes}}
| Radio={{yes}}
| TimeShift={{yes}}
}}
{{backend table
| Name=NextPVR
| Page_Link= NextPVR
| DVB={{yes}}
| ATSC_QAM={{yes}}
| ISDB=
| DTMB={{yes}}
| CableCard= {{yes}}<ref name="3 cableCARDs">Via Silicondust HDHomeRun Prime, the Hauppauge WinTV DCR-2650, or the Ceton InfiniTV 4.</ref>
| IPTV={{yes}}
| Radio={{yes}}
| TimeShift={{yes}}
}}
{{backend table
| Name=MediaPortal (MediaPortal TV-Server)
| Page_Link= MediaPortal TV-Server
| DVB={{yes}}
| ATSC_QAM={{yes}}
| ISDB=
| DTMB=
| CableCard=
| IPTV={{yes}}
| Radio={{yes}}
| TimeShift={{yes}}
}}
{{backend table
| Name=ServerWMC (Server interface for Windows Media Center)
| Page_Link= ServerWMC
| DVB={{yes}}
| ATSC_QAM={{yes}}
| ISDB=
| DTMB=
| CableCard={{yes}}
| IPTV=
| Radio=
| TimeShift={{yes}}
}}
|}<br />

=== Other ===
Other PVR backends include IPTV clients, standalone network attached television tuners, and PVR recording software running on NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices or similar home server appliances.
{{backend table header}}
{{backend table
| Name=VuPlus Client for Enigma2 (Dreambox, DBox2, and Vu+) based set-top boxes
| Page_Link= VUPlus
| DVB={{yes}}
| ATSC_QAM=
| ISDB=
| DTMB=
| CableCard= {{no}}
| IPTV=
| Radio={{yes}}
| TimeShift=
}}
{{backend table
| Name=DVBLink for Synology, QNAP, NETGEAR, Western Digital and ASUSTOR NAS products
| Page_Link= DVBLink
| DVB={{yes}}
| ATSC_QAM= {{yes}}
| ISDB= {{no}}
| DTMB= {{no}}
| CableCard= {{no}}
| IPTV= {{yes}}
| Radio= {{yes}}
| TimeShift= {{yes}}
}}
{{backend table
| Name=IPTV Simple Client
| Page_Link=Add-on:IPTV Simple Client
| DVB= {{no}}
| ATSC_QAM= {{no}}
| ISDB= {{no}}
| DTMB= {{no}}
| CableCard={{no}}
| IPTV= {{yes}}
| Radio= {{no}}
| TimeShift= {{no}}
}}
{{backend table
| Name=FilmOn (IPTV)
| Page_Link=PVR/Backend/FilmOn
| DVB= {{no}}
| ATSC_QAM= {{no}}
| ISDB= {{no}}
| DTMB= {{no}}
| CableCard={{no}}
| IPTV= {{yes}}
| Radio= {{no}}
| TimeShift= {{no}}
}}
{{backend table
| Name=Stalker Middleware (IPTV)
| Page_Link=PVR/Backend/Stalker Middleware
| DVB= {{no}}
| ATSC_QAM= {{no}}
| ISDB= {{no}}
| DTMB= {{no}}
| CableCard={{no}}
| IPTV= {{yes}}
| Radio= {{no}}
| TimeShift= {{no}}
}}
{{#lst:PVR recording software|Tvheadend}}
{{backend table
| Name= Njoy N7
| Page_Link= Njoy
| DVB={{yes}}
| ATSC_QAM=
| ISDB=
| DTMB=
| CableCard= {{no}}
| IPTV={{yes}}
| Radio=
| TimeShift=
}}
{{backend table
| Name= PCTV Systems Broadway
| Page_Link= Add-on:PCTV Systems PVR Client
| DVB={{yes}}
| ATSC_QAM=
| ISDB=
| DTMB=
| CableCard= {{no}}
| IPTV={{yes}}
| Radio=
| TimeShift=
}}
{{backend table
| Name= VBox Home TV Gateway
| Page_Link= VBox Home TV Gateway
| DVB={{yes}}
| ATSC_QAM={{yes}}
| ISDB={{no}}
| DTMB={{no}}
| CableCard={{no}}
| IPTV={{yes}}
| Radio={{yes}}
| TimeShift={{yes}}<ref>With Kodi VBox PVR addon or with TVheadend, MythTV, VDR</ref>
}}
|}

== Notes ==
<references/>

{{Helix updated}}

[[Category:PVR|*]]
[[Category:Live TV]]

PVR

2017-01-06T01:17:37Z

MacLondon: Corrected spelling and grammar

{{:PVR/Contents}}
{{mininav|[[Video library]] {{l2|[[Live TV]] }} }}
{{big|'''Introduction:'''}}<br />

<section begin="intro" />{{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]]. That is, by levering other existing third-party [[PVR backend]] applications or [[PVR backend|DVR devices]] that specialize in receiving television signals and also support the same type of [[wikipedia:client–server model|client–server model]] which {{Kodi}} uses, (following a [[wikipedia:Front and back ends|frontend-backend]] design principle for [[wikipedia:Separation of concerns|separation of concerns]]), these PVR features in Kodi allow you to watch Live TV, listen to radio, view an EPG TV-Guide and schedule recordings, and also enables many other TV related features, all using {{Kodi}} as your primary interface once the initial pairing connection and configuration have been done.<section end="intro" />

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

Kodi can today act as a PVR frontend to many PVR backend software and DVR set-top boxes that the manufacturer and/or the community are providing compatible PVR client addons for. This includes, but is not exclusive to, PVR client addons for PVR software and hardware such as Argus TV, DVBLogic DVBLink, DVBViewer, ForTheRecord, Tvheadend, MediaPortal, MythTV, NextPVR (formerly GB-PVR), VDR, Windows Media Center, and Enigma2-based DVR set-top boxes such as Dreambox, DBox2, and Vu+. as well as PVR client addons for direct LAN connection to network-attached TV-Tuners such as HDHomeRun, PCTV Systems Broadway, VBox Home TV Gateway, and Njoy Digital AnySee N7 DVB-S2 Network-Tuners. There is also a PVR Client Addon for the internet-based television providers FilmOn (FilmOn.TV Networks) and Stalker Middleware, as well as a simple PVR client addon for IPTV in general.

{{-}}

== How does Live TV and PVR work in {{Kodi}}? ==
First of all, an important terminology clarification in regards to this article is needed, as when we refer to "Live TV" here we are only talking about traditional [[wikipedia:Broadcast television systems|broadcast television systems]] using standard [[wikipedia:Digital television|digital television]] or [[wikipedia:Analog television|analog television]]. This means that the Live TV reception to your house comes foremost from [[wikipedia:Terrestrial television|terrestrial television]] signals using a cable, satellite or over-the-air television using television physical TV-tuner adapter or device hardware, (so with "Live TV" we do not mean [[wikipedia:Streaming media|streaming media]] content from the internet via online services or web sites such as Netflix and similar, no matter if that content is actually streamed live or not).

Logically, the Live TV and PVR functions in {{Kodi}} use 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, these two parts are also referred to as [[wikipedia:Front and back ends|frontend and backend]]:
# The PVR '''backend''' (as the server side part), which directly communicates with a TV tuner adapter(s) to receive the Live TV signals and create a video or audio stream, and also record to files
# The PVR '''client''' (as an addon for {{Kodi}}) - a {{Kodi}} addon which acts as a middleware which translates the commands and controls the presentation of content from the backend to the frontend
# The PVR '''frontend''' (as the Kodi graphical user interface) - {{Kodi}} that acts as a unified frontend and common interface which displays the content from all connected PVR backends

This concept follows a [[wikipedia:Separation of concerns|separation of concerns]] design principle, with the "'''PVR backend'''" as such being a separate application/process that directly interfaces with your physical TV-tuner adapter(s) or controller(s) that receives the broadcast television signal into your house and performs the actual task of tuning and streaming, and performs local recording of over-the-air and cable television signals and radio programming. PVR backends can either run on the same host/device running {{Kodi}}, or run on a stand-alone host/device on your local home network completely by itself (as a server) with {{Kodi}} only running when needed, as long as they have a network connection between them. It may be that PVR backends support only {{Kodi}} clients as a frontend for it, but most PVR backends can support both Kodi as well as other frontend applications/devices. In those cases where a single PVR backend is setup for the sole purpose of serving multiple frontend clients, then that PVR backend is commonly referred to as "'''PVR server'''".

When paired with one or more matched PVR backends, a configured '''PVR client addon''' enables {{Kodi}} as a frontend to handle the GUI interface, allowing the user to watch Live TV (with pause/time-shift, if supported by the PVR backend used), to display a graphical EPG (Electronic Program Guide) of all available television programming, to schedule recordings or to listen to radio, thereby giving the same sort of functionality as TiVo-style video recorder devices. Kodi as a frontend can support multiple PVR backends at the same time, and also some PVR backends may be able to serve several clients simultaneously, which means that it is Kodi that displays what is seen on your screen and allow you to navigate its menus with a remote control.

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

== 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://montgomery1.com/htpc/ Montgomery One's PVR guide]

{{Helix updated}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Live TV and PVR/DVR Setup Guide}}

[[Category:How-to]]
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:PVR|*]]
[[Category:Manual]]
[[Category:Live TV]]
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Quick Start Guide]]
[[Category:First time user]]