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


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]].  
{{warning|Note! It is very important to understand that with "Live TV" in the reference to PVR in Kodi we do not mean [[wikipedia:Streaming media|streaming video]] from the internet via websites providing [[free content]] or online services such as Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and similar, no matter if that content is actually streamed live or not. If that is what you are looking for then you might want to look into "[[Add-ons|Video Addons]]" for Kodi instead, (which again is not the same as the "PVR" or "Live TV" we discuss in this article), but remember that [[free content|Kodi does not provide any video content or video streaming services]].}}
{{:PVR/Contents}}
<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 leveraging 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" />


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 a PVR for {{Kodi}} for the first time, this guide was created to try to help users from start to finish.


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.
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 Digital Devices Octopus NET network-attached TV-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}}? ==
== 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:
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]], like you normally recieve through an [[wikipedia:Coaxial cable|coaxial cable]] from an [[wikipedia:television antenna|Television antenna]], [[wikipedia:Cable television|cable]], or [[wikipedia:Satellite dish|satellite dish]]. This mean is that the Live TV reception to your house comes foremost from [[wikipedia:Terrestrial television|terrestrial television]] signals using a cable television, satellite service, or over-the-air television using a physical TV-tuner adapter or network attached TV-tuner appliance hardware.  
# 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 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.  
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.


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://www.howtogeek.com/247311/how-to-watch-live-tv-on-your-kodi-media-center-with-nextpvr/ How-To-Geek's guide on how-to Watch and Record Live TV with Kodi and NextPVR]
** [http://www.alphr.com/apps/1002788/how-to-set-up-a-kodi-pvr-on-windows Alphr - How to set up a Kodi PVR on Windows]
**[http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/watch-live-broadcast-tv-using-kodi-nextpvr/ MakeUseOf guide on how to Watch Live Broadcast TV Using Kodi and NextPVR]
* [http://kinkeadtech.com/tutorial-kodi-live-tv-epg-tv-guide/ Kinkeadtech tutorial: Kodi Live TV with EPG (TV Guide)]
* [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}}
=See also=
{{DISPLAYTITLE:The XBMC Live TV and PVR/DVR Setup Guide}}
* [[PVR recording software|PVR backends - Setting up the recording software]]
* [[Configuring live TV settings|PVR client addons - Configuring live TV settings in Kodi]]
* [[PVR/Basics|PVR getting started - The basics of Live TV and recording]]
* [[PVR FAQ|PVR FAQ]]
 
{{Isengard updated}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Live TV and PVR/DVR Setup Guide}}


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

Revision as of 18:25, 8 June 2017

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

Introduction:

Stop hand.png Note! It is very important to understand that with "Live TV" in the reference to PVR in Kodi we do not mean streaming video from the internet via websites providing free content or online services such as Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and similar, no matter if that content is actually streamed live or not. If that is what you are looking for then you might want to look into "Video Addons" for Kodi instead, (which again is not the same as the "PVR" or "Live TV" we discuss in this article), but remember that Kodi does not provide any video content or video streaming services.

PVR/Contents Kodi features powerful Live TV and video recording (DVR/PVR) abilities using a very flexible distributed application structure. That is, by leveraging other existing third-party PVR backend applications or DVR devices that specialize in receiving television signals and also support the same type of client–server model which Kodi uses, (following a frontend-backend design principle for 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.

Due to the somewhat complicated nature of initially setting up a PVR for Kodi for the first time, this guide was created to try 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 Digital Devices Octopus NET network-attached TV-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 broadcast television systems using standard digital television or analog television, like you normally recieve through an coaxial cable from an Television antenna, cable, or satellite dish. This mean is that the Live TV reception to your house comes foremost from terrestrial television signals using a cable television, satellite service, or over-the-air television using a physical TV-tuner adapter or network attached TV-tuner appliance hardware.

Logically, the Live TV and PVR functions in Kodi use a distributed application structure that is designed after the client–server model concept which consists of two parts, these two parts are also referred to as frontend and backend:

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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 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 step: Setting up the backend software


Alternative guides

See also