Step Two: Install Your PVR BackendP

You'll need two different pieces of software to run your PVR: abackend and
a frontend. In this case, our frontendthe program from which we watch live V
and control our recordingsis going to !e "#$% via an add&on. he !ac'end is the
program that actually interfaces with your V tuner, decodes the signal, and does
the recording. (ome !ac'ends come with their own frontends !uilt&in, !ut allow
you to use another frontend instead, li'e "#$%. You have a lot of
choices depending on your operating system, !ut here are the instructions for two
of the easier !ac'ends around.
Windows Users: NextPVRP
For Windows, we recommend NextPVR because it's easy to setup, and
comes highly recommended. Here's what you need to doP
!. "ownload and install NextPVR. #ou'll also want to download
thelatest patch $les %rom here to ensure e&erything runs smoothly
'(ust drag the $les into your NextPVR program $les %older.
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-. )tart up NextPVR. Right.clic/ anywhere in the window to access its
settings.
0. 1n the le%t.hand sidebar, clic/ on "e&ices, then select the one you
want to use 2%or example, your ,3)4 tuner i% you're using an
antenna, or your 5,6 tuner i% you're using cable7. 4lic/ the
4on$gure button.
8. 4lic/ )can and wait %or it to $nd all your channels. When it's done,
it'll say 9)can 4omplete9 and you should ha&e a %ull list o% a&ailable
channels.
:. ;o to 9Recording9 in the le%t sidebar and set the %older where you
want recordings to be stored. #ou can also twea/ other settings
here. We recommend chec/ing the 9<ac/ground Recording9 box as
well.
=. ;o to 6isc in the sidebar and set your >i&e 3V bu?er %older.
3hat should be e&erything you need to get started. Head to 9>i&e 3V9 to
try watching 3V. 1% you don't get any picture or sound, you li/ely need to
use a di?erent decoder to get things wor/ing well.P
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3o change your decoder, open up NextPVR's settings and go to
9"ecoders.9 3he decoders you want to worry about will depend on your
de&ice. For example, my HVR.!-:@ uses 6P*;.- and ,,4 to stream and
record 3V, so the 6P*;.- and ,,4 codecs are the ones 1 needed to
change. #ou may $nd other codecs in the respecti&e dropdown menus on
this settings pane, but i% you don't 2or i% none o% the a&ailable ones wor/
well7, you'll need to download a new one and try it out.P
3his is the more arduous part o% the process. "i?erent codecs are going
to wor/ well %or di?erent people, so you'll ha&e to experiment. , good
place to start would be the ),F codec pac/ %or NextPVR, though you can
install and try other codecs too 2chec/ the NextPVR %orums %or
suggestions based on your eAuipment7. Beep trying di?erent codecs
until you $nd one that gets you the picture Auality, smoothness, and
sound that you want, and then continue to step three.P
Linux Users: TvheadendP
3&headend is a simple bac/end %or >inux that is &ery easy to install, and
can be managed %rom a web inter%ace'which means you can manage
your recordings %rom any computer in the house, without e&en entering
+<64. Here's how to install it on an Cbuntu.based systemP
!. Run the %ollowing three commands, one a%ter the other, to install
3&headend
sudo add.apt.repostory ppaadamsuttonDt&headend
sudo apt.get update
sudo apt.get install t&headend
-. ,s 3&headend installs, it will prompt you to create a username and
password %or its web inter%ace 2which you'll use to manage the
program7. 4reate one as instructed and continue the installation.
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0. When it's done, open up your browser and head
to http://localhost:9981. ,lternati&ely, you can access it %rom
another computer by heading
to http://192.168.0.11:9981 2where 192.168.0.11 is the 1P address o%
the machine on which 3&headend is installed7. *nter your
username and password when prompted.
8. #ou should be greeted with the 3&headend web inter%ace. First,
clic/ the 4on$guration tab, then clic/ the 3V ,dapters tab under
that. From the dropdown menu on the le%t, pic/ your 3V tuner.
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:. 4lic/ the 9,dd "V< Networ/ by >ocation9 button. 4hoose your
location and the type o% signal you're loo/ing %or. For example, i%
you're hoo/ed up to an o&er.the.air antenna, you would choose the
,3)4 option, and i% you ha&e cable, try the 4able )tandard option.
=. 4lic/ the 9,dd "V< Networ/9 button on the le%t to continue. Now,
loo/ to the box on the right. ,t the bottom, you should see a line
that says 96uxes ,waiting 1nitial )can.9 3his will slowly drop to @
as it scans channels. When it $nds channels, the number under
9)er&ices9 will increase.
E. When 96uxes ,waiting 1nitial )can9 reaches @, you should ha&e a
number o% )er&ices scanned and ready to go 2i% not, try a di?erent
signal type or ma/e sure your tuner is wor/ing7. 4lic/ 96ap "V<
)er&ices to 4hannels9 to $nish the channel scanning process.
3&headend doesn't ha&e its own %rontend %or watching 3V li/e many
bac/ends do, so to test i% your setup wor/ed, you'll ha&e to continue to
step 0 and try it out in +<64.P
All Users: ExperimentP
We'&e pic/ed these two options because they ma/e good choices %or
beginners due to their easy setup. Howe&er, e&ery bac/end program is
di?erent, and there's &ery little consensus o&er which is 9best9 or e&en
the most stable 2(ust search %or any two bac/ends on the +<64 %orums
and you'll $nd much debate7. )o, i% you don't li/e the $rst one you try,
download another one and see i% it wor/s better %or you. 1t's a long
process o% trial and error, but the more you experiment, the more li/ely
you are to $nd something that wor/s %or you.P
Step Three: Set Up XBMC's PVR Add!nP
Fnce you'&e ensured your bac/end is running correctly, it's time to
integrate it with +<64. 3his step is pretty easy. 6a/e sure you're running
the latest &ersion o% +<64 2/nown as !-, or 9Frodo97, and thenP
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!. Fpen up +<64 and head to )ettings G ,dd.Fns G "isabled ,dd.
Fns. Head to PVR 4lients, and select the one %or your program 2in
this case, either NextPVR or 3&headend7. 4hoose *nable.
-. Next, go to 4on$gure. 6ost o% the de%ault settings should wor/ $ne
here, but i% your bac/end has a username or password, type those
in now. 1% your bac/end supports 3imeshi%ting 2rewinding or
pausing li&e 3V7, enable it under the 9,d&anced9 tab.
0. ;o bac/ to +<64's )ettings and choose >i&e 3V. Cnder ;eneral,
chec/ the *nabled box, and twea/ any other settings you want
here. 1 generally li/e to go to Playbac/ and unchec/ )tart Playbac/
6inimiHed.
8. 1% you go bac/ to the main menu, you should see a new section
called 9>i&e 3V9 where you can watch shows, see an episode
guide, and set up recordings. 4ongratulationsI #ou'&e got +<64
wor/ing as a PVR.
#ou may still ha&e to do some experimentation here to $nd out the
settings that wor/ best %or your speci$c hardware and so%tware, but %or
the most part, you should be good to go. 3ry watching or recording a
show %rom +<64, twea/ your episode list %rom the >i&e 3V settings, and
en(oy.P
"#in$ %urtherP
3his is a pretty basic setup, but you can do a lot more with your PVR
once you get it set up, such asP
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%ind a Better Pr#$rammin$ "uide 3he electronic programming
guide 2or *P; %or short7 you start with is probably pretty lac/ing at this
stage. 3he best way to impro&e it is by setting up an *P; grabber, which
will download a high Auality episode guide and sa&e it as an +6>3V $le
to which you can point your bac/end. )chedules "irect comes &ery
highly recommended, and is only J-: a year 2well worth the price7, but
what you use will depend on your country. 4hec/ out NextPVR's *P;
section in the wi/i %or more in%o, and i% you're using 3&headend, po/e
around the %orums %or more in%ormation on how to set up an episode
guide.P
S&ip and Rem#ve C#mmer'ials #ou may also want to download a
program li/e 4oms/ip that automatically $nds and s/ips commercials %or
you. 4hec/ out this page on the NextPVR wi/i or this page on
3&headend's wi/i %or more in%ormation on how to set that up. #ou can
e&en set it up to remo&e commercials %rom your &ideo $les altogether.P
,gain, this is (ust the beginning. 3here are a lot o% cool things you can do
with your "1# PVR, so once you're all set up, chec/ out the +<64
%orums 2as well as the %orums %or your respecti&e bac/end7 %or more
ideas and support. <ut %or now, /ic/ bac/ with a cold one and en(oy
some li&e 3V. #ou'&e earned it.P