- August 2, 2016
- 10
- 0
- 45
- Home Country
- United Kingdom
Hi guys,
Since WMP was disabled for Windows 10, I needed a suitable replacement - and found success using Kodi as a front-end, with MediaPortal as a back-end TV server. Thank you for the work done so far on developing this software.
One thing I notice, however: when I watch live TV, it isn't actually live. It seems delayed for several seconds.
My best guess is that this is due to timeshifting. I understand that when a stream is opened, a temporary timeshift buffer file is created, allowing the viewer to pause the stream. That's all very well and good.
However it appears (and please correct me if I'm wrong), that the system first creates the timeshift buffer file, and only then serves out the stream from the "live point" - via the file? This takes some time to set up.
This is quite noticeable when watching TV timed to certain live events. A good example would be when watching the countdown to the New Year. When watching the so-called "live" TV countdown, the TV stream is delayed by up to 8 seconds. Result: neighbours launch their fireworks, while my own TV hasn't yet reached midnight.
In my book, a timeshifted 8 seconds, via a buffer file, is not actually live TV.
Please correct me if I have made any erroneous assumptions about the program's behaviour. However, could anyone tell me whether MediaPortal is capable of simply acting as a TV tuner, and serving out the stream DIRECTLY - avoiding a mandatory timeshift buffer file?
I understand that this would result in the loss of the instantaneous ability to pause the steam with zero content loss (as a timeshift buffer would have to be set up following the user pressing the pause button - taking time). However it would be nice to have the option. I'd rather have a real, live TV stream and accept the fact that I'd lose a few seconds if I decide to start timeshifting - than have timeshifting forced upon me, and never actually have a live picture.
Thanks.
Since WMP was disabled for Windows 10, I needed a suitable replacement - and found success using Kodi as a front-end, with MediaPortal as a back-end TV server. Thank you for the work done so far on developing this software.
One thing I notice, however: when I watch live TV, it isn't actually live. It seems delayed for several seconds.
My best guess is that this is due to timeshifting. I understand that when a stream is opened, a temporary timeshift buffer file is created, allowing the viewer to pause the stream. That's all very well and good.
However it appears (and please correct me if I'm wrong), that the system first creates the timeshift buffer file, and only then serves out the stream from the "live point" - via the file? This takes some time to set up.
This is quite noticeable when watching TV timed to certain live events. A good example would be when watching the countdown to the New Year. When watching the so-called "live" TV countdown, the TV stream is delayed by up to 8 seconds. Result: neighbours launch their fireworks, while my own TV hasn't yet reached midnight.
In my book, a timeshifted 8 seconds, via a buffer file, is not actually live TV.
Please correct me if I have made any erroneous assumptions about the program's behaviour. However, could anyone tell me whether MediaPortal is capable of simply acting as a TV tuner, and serving out the stream DIRECTLY - avoiding a mandatory timeshift buffer file?
I understand that this would result in the loss of the instantaneous ability to pause the steam with zero content loss (as a timeshift buffer would have to be set up following the user pressing the pause button - taking time). However it would be nice to have the option. I'd rather have a real, live TV stream and accept the fact that I'd lose a few seconds if I decide to start timeshifting - than have timeshifting forced upon me, and never actually have a live picture.
Thanks.