Backend source

Live TV and PVR Setup Guide:

Introduction Finding out what you need Setting up the backend source Configuring XBMC The basics of Live TV and recording Advanced Live TV and PVR topics PVR FAQ

Contents 1 I want to run my PVR backend server on... 1.1 Linux 1.2 Mac OS X 1.3 Windows 1.4 Raspberry Pi 1.5 Other 2 Notes

1 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.

Using the tables below, click on the backend software which best fits your needs.

1.1 Linux

Name	DVB	ATSC / QAM	ISDB	DTMB	CableCard (US)	IPTV	Live time shifting
Tvheadend	Yes	Yes	?	?	Yes[1]	Yes[1]	Yes[2]
VDR	Yes	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	yes/no[3]
MythTV	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes[4]	Yes[4]	Yes

1.2 Mac OS X

Name	DVB	ATSC / QAM	ISDB	DTMB	CableCard (US)	IPTV	Live time shifting
MythTV	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes[4]	Yes[4]	Yes

1.3 Windows

Name	DVB	ATSC / QAM	ISDB	DTMB	CableCard (US)	IPTV	Live time shifting
ARGUS TV	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	Yes
NextPVR	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	Yes[4]	Yes[4]	Yes
MediaPortal	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	Yes
DVBLink	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	?

1.4 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.

Name	DVB	ATSC / QAM	ISDB	DTMB	CableCard (US)	IPTV	Live time shifting
Tvheadend	Yes	Yes	?	?	Yes[1]	Yes[1]	Yes[2]
VDR	Yes	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	yes/no[3]

1.5 Other

Name	DVB	ATSC / QAM	ISDB	DTMB	CableCard (US)	IPTV	Live time shifting
VU+ for Enigma2 based settop boxes (Dreambox / VU+)	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	?
DVBLink for Synology NAS	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	?
Tvheadend	Yes	Yes	?	?	Yes[1]	Yes[1]	Yes[2]
Njoy N7	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	?

2 Notes

TVHeadend under Linux does not fully support the HD Homerun Prime Cable Card implementation.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Via HDHomerun Prime as the tuner
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Only pause/resume are supported in Frodo.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} The normal VDR XBMC add-on currently does not have time-shifting support (work in progress), but the "XVDR Plugin for VDR" does.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Via Silicondust HDHomeRun Prime, the Hauppauge WinTV DCR-2650, or the Ceton InfiniTV 4.