Recommendation for DVB-T software?

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PSlover14

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#279791 9-Nov-2020 13:25

As the title suggests, I'm looking at putting together a small computer out of spare parts to be connected to my TV Aerial, mainly to stream the TV signal to other computers around my house rather then watch directly on the box. It's been a few years since I've bothered to muck around with watching actual TV on my computer, and I think back then I was using something like MediaPortal? Would've been 2011/2012 from memory. However, I'd prefer this time around for the box connected to the TV aerial to be headless so I don't necessarily have to take up an HDMI port on the TV (the aerial is already connected to the TV plus I have Vodafone TV) and so it can handle recording and saving to a server in another part of my house.

If anyone has a recommendation for a piece of software/OS that would do this for me, I'd love to hear it.

The PC specs are roughly:

Some sort of Core 2 Duo

4GB RAM

320GB HDD (I have more spare but want to just use one as like local storage for recording before offloading to my mediaserver)

Gigabit ethernet (PC will be hardwired)

Some PCI DVB-T tuner (don't remember the model atm)

I can also squeeze a GPU in, but spare GPUs are either GeForce 210 spec or are way too overkill for a TV box (RX 480 or GTX 750ti)

Thanks!

rb99

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#2600471 9-Nov-2020 13:41

Not sure about the headless bit, and never tried using for sending to other devices, but should imagine NextPVR would be worth a try.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

JonnyCam

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#2600477 9-Nov-2020 13:47

There is some NZ based software, NextPVR

https://www.nextpvr.com/

I used to use it all the time, but since I don't have DVB-T or S feeds into my currently house, everything is online

Pretty sure the software author (Sub) still hangs out on geekzone too.

really supportive community https://forums.nextpvr.com/

Cheers

JonnyCam

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#2600479 9-Nov-2020 13:48

rb99:

Not sure about the headless bit, and never tried using for sending to other devices, but should imagine NextPVR would be worth a try.

Yeah, I used the client server model when I was running it. You can get iOS / Android clients too

rb99

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#2600484 9-Nov-2020 13:58

JonnyCam:

rb99:

Not sure about the headless bit, and never tried using for sending to other devices, but should imagine NextPVR would be worth a try.

Yeah, I used the client server model when I was running it. You can get iOS / Android clients too

I use v5 still, as a feed to other media software.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

gbwelly

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#2600494 9-Nov-2020 14:17

I'd suggest don't bother unless you have existing infrastructure to integrate it with.

I use a HDHomeRun with Plex, If I was a home without a server running 24/7 anyway, there is no way I'd bother with a computer based DVR, it's a lot of electricity for the 6pm news and 7 Days.

shanes

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#2600497 9-Nov-2020 14:23

Have you considered a Raspberry Pi running TVHeadend, with a cheapy USB SDR?

gbwelly mentions power, a Raspberry Pi would probably be paid for pretty quickly with the power savings :)

davidcole

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#2600518 9-Nov-2020 15:08

Nextpvr i think is headless now (linux + docker). But for the amount of recording I do now (bugger all) I actually use plex.

Works for live tv...though I use a hdhomerun dual, not a pci card any more.

Previously known as psycik

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fearandloathing

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#2600548 9-Nov-2020 15:58

I would also recommend an hdhomerun over a pc.

PSlover14

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#2600597 9-Nov-2020 18:20

Can't quote everyone, but this is mostly a "for fun" kind of project so don't really want to go buy more hardware.

As it is I already have Vodafone TV doing what I want for the Sky channels, this theoretical box would just be pretty much recording TVNZ Duke in reality, since VF TV won't record much off the free to air channels.

Thank you for the suggestions however and the concerns regarding power use, I already have a couple of home servers so might try seeing if I can get the antenna signal into the room with the servers (rented property so no drilling holes) and just chuck the tuner card into one of those and call it a day.

Edit: also thanks for the suggestions for NextPVR! will look into it!

PANiCnz

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#2600672 9-Nov-2020 19:45

If you're comfortable with Linux, TVHeadend is really good. Can be easily run in Docker too.

restecp

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#2600825 10-Nov-2020 09:33

If you have PLEX pass look into Xteve (HDhomerun emulator) and use the PLEX DVR functionality. I have mine currently set to 5 Tuners and it's working well

Pretty sure I followed this guide: https://www.smarthomebeginner.com/plex-iptv-guide/

sdavisnz

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#2600849 10-Nov-2020 09:55

You don't need plex pass anymore for live tv and DVR.

Voice gives context

dklong

167 posts

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#2600893 10-Nov-2020 10:54

@PSlover14

One question worth asking is what are you planning on using as the client? Do you have a smart TV that you plan on using or are you looking to use your Vodafone TV. In either case, your device needs to support the particular client app you go with and this may define your choices.

Also, be aware that both Plex and Emby seem to prefer HD Homeruns and have limited support outside of those as far as I have experienced. Both require their paid Premium pass or equivalent to record local TV, although Plex does now have its 'Free Live TV' which is a weird list of channels you would probably never want to watch. Channels DVR is another with a monthly subscription but only offers TV DVR functionality and not all of the other features of Plex/Emby and, again, seems pretty keen on using HD Homeruns.

With the more traditional solutions like Mediaportal, NextPVR or TVHeadEnd, they generally have greater support for card based tuners, but can be more limited in terms of clients. I ran a Mediaportal server for years as a headless server in another part of the house but it required a Windows device in the lounge as a client. NextPVR seems to have come a long way and now has clients for IOS/Android/AppleTV/Android TV and various computer OS's. A quick Google suggests that TVHeadEnd also has a variety of clients. The other approach is to use Kodi as a front end to one of the above if that is the only client you have access to.

Good luck with your project but I do suggest sorting out how you are going to view the TV streams and what options you have there before you build the backend. :-)

PANiCnz

989 posts

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#2600903 10-Nov-2020 10:59

dklong:

Also, be aware that both Plex and Emby seem to prefer HD Homeruns and have limited support outside of those as far as I have experienced. Both require their paid Premium pass or equivalent to record local TV, although Plex does now have its 'Free Live TV' which is a weird list of channels you would probably never want to watch. Channels DVR is another with a monthly subscription but only offers TV DVR functionality and not all of the other features of Plex/Emby and, again, seems pretty keen on using HD Homeruns.

Jellyfin will provide similar functionality to Emby but without the need for a Premium pass. Jellyfin also has a TVHeadend plugin that works pretty well, otherwise there are proxy's like Antennas and tvhProxy that can be used to make Plex/Jellyfin/Emby think TVH is a HD Homerun.

Agree with your sentiment that figuring out which clients / OS's you're going to use is pretty key.

dklong

167 posts

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#2601167 10-Nov-2020 17:13

Jellyfin will provide similar functionality to Emby but without the need for a Premium pass. Jellyfin also has a TVHeadend plugin that works pretty well, otherwise there are proxy's like Antennas and tvhProxy that can be used to make Plex/Jellyfin/Emby think TVH is a HD Homerun.

Interesting. I don't think Jellyfin had implemented the TV functionality when I last looked at it. I assume it the same code base as the current Emby TV service which does have a couple of issues. May be worth another look. Thanks! :-)