Using TVHeadend as engine/server (2 Viewers)

[Mat Walker]

So, a very long-time MP fan here. Family have used MP (Only MP1 as all addicted to Titan skin) for ever - for my 13yo, thats 100% true :-D

However, with Microsoft moving away from providing a usable OS (Bloatware, SaaS model, constant updates, constant resetting of prefs etc etc etc, forcing use of cloud et al) I'm moving towards a simpler Linux based life (have never liked Apple).

As such - and with ALOT of sadness!! - I've been messing about with TVHeadend and Kodi. Neither is as well written and presented as MP but I really do have to move away from MS (I even tried downgrading to Win-7 for server/client & all clients!! I am not making the move lightly!!).

So, finally, got TVHeadend working and stable (as has been mentioned before in other threads, TVHeadend is horrible and overly complex to work with). However, I thought I'd have a look into seeing if MP2 clients can connect to TVHeadend? If so, then I'd at least keep MP(2) as my Livingroom TV (as the last MS Windows box in the house lol)?

Any thoughts? (Except the ones I have myself - TVHeadend/Kodi really is NOT a patch on MP; but MS have forced me into this move and so having to struggle thru :-( )

 

[CyberSimian]

I even tried downgrading to Win-7 for server/client & all clients!!

I currently use Windows 7 on my HTPC (with MP1). This is a dedicated system that is not used for web browsing, email, or social media, so I am not concerned that there may be security bugs that remain unfixed.

The disadvantage of using such an old OS is device support. My HTPC is a 16-year old Dell XPS 420 with an Intel Q6600 CPU. This is fully supported by Windows 7, but it is questionable whether Windows 7 could be installed on a current motherboard. Also, current PCIe expansion cards may not have Windows 7 drivers, so that may require more detailed research to find a suitable card and ultimately restrict your choice of expansion cards.

I thought I'd have a look into seeing if MP2 clients can connect to TVHeadend?

Two points:

• MP2 skins are different from MP1 skins. Several are available, but none may be as appealing to you as the MP1 Titan skin.
• Development of MP2 seems to have stopped, with none of its developers visiting the site any more. This means that there is no one who can help you determine whether it would be possible to use TvHeadEnd with MP2. So you would have to work that out for yourself.

Microsoft moving away from providing a usable OS (Bloatware, SaaS model, constant updates, constant resetting of prefs etc etc etc, forcing use of cloud et al)

This sounds like you are using Windows 11. On my laptop I run Windows 10. With Windows 10:

• You don't need to create a Microsoft account when you install the OS. So no use of the cloud.
• You can delay updates by enabling the I am using a metered internet connection setting. You will still be notified when updates are available, but you can choose when to download and install them.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[Mat Walker]

I currently use Windows 7 on my HTPC (with MP1). This is a dedicated system that is not used for web browsing, email, or social media, so I am not concerned that there may be security bugs that remain unfixed.

The disadvantage of using such an old OS is device support. My HTPC is a 16-year old Dell XPS 420 with an Intel Q6600 CPU. This is fully supported by Windows 7, but it is questionable whether Windows 7 could be installed on a current motherboard. Also, current PCIe expansion cards may not have Windows 7 drivers, so that may require more detailed research to find a suitable card and ultimately restrict your choice of expansion cards.

Thats interesting. I really did persevere with W7; and with an older machine/s - like yourself, they would be dedicated MP boxes and as such I'm not bothered about security for them (within the LAN they would have zero permissions to any of the non-MP boxes).

I just kept getting all sorts of bum errors and issues with the install. I may well try and give it another go - I call myself a 'geek' so really I should be able to sort it... Hmmm

Two points:

• MP2 skins are different from MP1 skins. Several are available, but none may be as appealing to you as the MP1 Titan skin.
• Development of MP2 seems to have stopped, with none of its developers visiting the site any more. This means that there is no one who can help you determine whether it would be possible to use TvHeadEnd with MP2. So you would have to work that out for yourself.

Ah ok. That could well explain a lot. I have been keeping half an eye on MP2 as I'd assumed it would only be a matter of time before it 'took over' from MP1 with Titan (perhaps it is 'familiarity' tainting my love of Titan but it is great skin lol) properly ported. Without Titan, I'd probably not make the switch. Kodi has an 'attempt' at Titan and, to give the dev his due, it is not a bad try; but is still not 'Titan' lol. And it still has the buggy Kodi underneath).

This sounds like you are using Windows 11. On my laptop I run Windows 10. With Windows 10:

• You don't need to create a Microsoft account when you install the OS. So no use of the cloud.
• You can delay updates by enabling the I am using a metered internet connection setting. You will still be notified when updates are available, but you can choose when to download and install them.

Actually no. Windows 10 still. I have avoided W11 like the Plague - am forced to use it for work (along with 2 Macs! I'm stuffed :-D) and just hate it with a passion (All my non-work stuff is on Debian and it so refreshing to have an OS that is just an OS without trying to be my best friend or a forced relationship lol).

I just find W10 is too 'pally pally', but also resource hungry - I am just running MP1 clients on it/them, nothing more.



Oh @CyberSimian I hate you lol! You are not making the split easy Okay, I'll give it a harder try - been battling TVHeadend/Kodi for over a week (Biggest area of friction with me is Kodi calling Recording Schedule's 'Timers'! What??!?! As well as having a bunch of confusing 'Timer Rules'! Smacks of 100% Dev and no Test input lol)

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[CyberSimian]

I really did persevere with W7; and with an older machine/s ... I just kept getting all sorts of bum errors and issues with the install.

The last generation of Intel processors/motherboards that is supported officially by Windows 7 is Skylake (6th gen). I read on the internet that by editing a few files it is possible to install Windows 7 and the Intel chipset drivers on 7th gen (Kaby Lake), but I don't know the details. Installing on 8th gen and above is allegedly not possible.

In addition, there is a problem with the USB drivers. Windows 7 does not have USB3 drivers on the install DVD, but most/all motherboards with USB2 sockets run those sockets through a USB3 controller, so the USB2 sockets don't work during the install. So how do you install Windows 7 if you cannot connect a USB DVD drive? You can accomplish this in two ways:

• There are/were some tools that can insert the USB3 drivers into the standard Windows 7 installer, and create a new installer. This is usually called "slipstreaming". I have a copy of the Intel tool, but I think that there are/were others available.
• Use a SATA DVD drive and plug it directly into a SATA socket on the motherboard (i.e. don't use a USB DVD drive). This will allow you to install Windows 7 from the DVD. Once the install is complete, you can manually install the USB3 drivers. This is the method that I used on a new HTPC that I am building (thinks: I must get around to completing the build ).

All my non-work stuff is on Debian and it so refreshing to have an OS that is just an OS without trying to be my best friend or a forced relationship lol

An alternative that you have not mentioned is NextPvr. Perhaps you have already tried it and discounted it as being unsuitable, but I believe that it has a native Linux version (both client and server) in addition to the Windows version. Note: I have not tried it myself, so I don't know how it compares to MP.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[Jasmeet_181]

You can get a Tvheadend m3u8 playlist from http://ipaddressort/playlist which should scan into MP1 as an IP service or into TVMosaic for MP2.

 

[Mat Walker]

Thanks guys. Ok, spent the (whole) weekend on this lol.

First; TVHeadend/Kodi.... Nah. Given up on that - 'non-tech'; its horrible. 'Tech' - a few reasons but mostly that it is buggy. It is actually a real shame as it does have potential and promises a lot (was great to have Kodi on my phone and be able to watch live/recordings etc). However, delivery is patchy - doing searches, for example, seems to have been written with only the person coding it in mind rather than making it usable. And as for recordings (especially series etc) bugs/usability/weirdnesses all converge to make it 'mission-impossible'.
So, the TVHeadend/Kodi thown out.

I did look at other front ends that can hook up to TVHeadend (Including NextPVR - which again, on paper, looked like the 'dogs bo***cks'. I gave up when it started trying to force me use non-OTA EPG stuff; probably a bug) but none come even close to MP's delivery.

As for W7... Tried mutiple installs; doing things slightly differently etc (H/W all okay - including UBS ports - and compatible; just had to get a NIC driver seperately). Problem is the install of the updates (all over the place and no nice all-in-one to just install all at once etc) and poor old MP just kept falling over (I didnt investigate - from experience, if MP falls over it tends to be for very valid reasons and better to rebuilt machine to make nice rather than try and fiddle with MP to make it work). And anyway, it would not have been sustainable as any bit blowing up (cpu/motherboard/memory/etc) would mean an end as getting new old stuff would be impossible.... :-(

So, looks like I'm sticking with MP(1- thanks CyberSimian about MP2; yeah, does look like it is a repo deperately looking for a dev or 2 ), and so having to use the W10 'thing' (my personal view - XP was the best and it started going down hill after that. Seems to be trying to be all things to all users now and failing miserably. If it wasn't for MSWord/Excel I'd have jumped ship a long time ago; and worked for MS many moons ago! lol).

Will try and build bloatfree(ish - as much as possible) W10's and see if this 'kiosk mode' will help shut it up so it just runs MP client's without wanting attention from me/us every two minutes.... Looks like, after dabbling with the dark side, I'm coming crawling back to MP with my tail between my legs lol. Funniest thing is I now have 8 tuners (and only 5 FreeToAIr muxes lol. Trying to get my 2 Haupagge dual-turner PCI cards to work with TVHeadend looked to be too fun-and-games so got a HDHomeRun quatro lol)!!

And.... Just a last point. The folk on MP forum are a lot friendlier. Not quite so on the Kodi/etc forums - where they do tend to be populated by 'net nannies' and 'knowledge merchants' (oh, what!, Why dont you know that? Are you stupid?! Anyway xyz functionality is not Kodi, it is the plugin, learn to use it before asking stupid questions... That sort of forums.). MP forum lurkers do tend to 'suffer fools' a lot better, and that really helps noobs and those not quite as techy as others. Thankyou lol