Two-Way Media Server
Discussion
I suspect I've asked this before, but can't find the thread.
We record quite a lot of stuff on Freeview,,as well as using Netflix, NowTV and Amazon Prime.
I know I can get/build a server to allow us to watch recordings on any one of four tellies, but is there a solution that will allow me, via any one of those tvs, to set the server to record something, or does one tv have to be the 'master'?
We record quite a lot of stuff on Freeview,,as well as using Netflix, NowTV and Amazon Prime.
I know I can get/build a server to allow us to watch recordings on any one of four tellies, but is there a solution that will allow me, via any one of those tvs, to set the server to record something, or does one tv have to be the 'master'?
There are solutions and I am sure someone will come along with the name of one but you are thinking about it from the wrong direction.
You would have the server setup, with your streaming services (if you wanted) and the server would also record, from directly and dish out the recordings, as it would your own other media.
The TVs would have no interaction beyond being screens to display what the server feeds them. Depending in the age of the TV, you might be able to install an app such as Plex to do this.
In the old days this would involve the server needing a TV card to receive the incoming broadcast to record. I guess these days there may be an internet version of this, so no aerial is needed. Not something I have done in a long time (mid 2000’s) but I know people who have and still do. I just couldn’t tell you what they use.
You would have the server setup, with your streaming services (if you wanted) and the server would also record, from directly and dish out the recordings, as it would your own other media.
The TVs would have no interaction beyond being screens to display what the server feeds them. Depending in the age of the TV, you might be able to install an app such as Plex to do this.
In the old days this would involve the server needing a TV card to receive the incoming broadcast to record. I guess these days there may be an internet version of this, so no aerial is needed. Not something I have done in a long time (mid 2000’s) but I know people who have and still do. I just couldn’t tell you what they use.
Thanks, but at the moment, my PVR is connected to the tv in the lounge. If I want to record something, need to use that tv to set up the recording. I want to be able to do that from any tv, but them all to record to the same place.
So I can use the tv in the study to schedule a programme to record and, a few days later, I want to watch that programme in the kitchen. Or use the kitchen tv to tell the PVR to record Bargain Hunt, which I can then watch ob the tv in the living room.
So: 1x PVR (or alternative) streaming to several tvs, and also controlled by any of those tvs. From your answers, I'm concluding that there's nothing off the shelf that'll do this.
So I can use the tv in the study to schedule a programme to record and, a few days later, I want to watch that programme in the kitchen. Or use the kitchen tv to tell the PVR to record Bargain Hunt, which I can then watch ob the tv in the living room.
So: 1x PVR (or alternative) streaming to several tvs, and also controlled by any of those tvs. From your answers, I'm concluding that there's nothing off the shelf that'll do this.
Your problem is going to be controlling it from the TV. If you went with a media server and tuner card you'd need to log in to the server, or use a phone app, to set up recording. I suspect Plex or Jellyfin could do this via thier phone app, and you can install thier media player on most smart TV's via the inbuilt app store. However you'd need a PC or a Pi or similar plus a tuner card to act as the recorder.
I wouldn't be surprised if someone makes a freeview recorder with a phone app that would let you set up recordings though.
I wouldn't be surprised if someone makes a freeview recorder with a phone app that would let you set up recordings though.
Doofus said:
Thanks, but at the moment, my PVR is connected to the tv in the lounge. If I want to record something, need to use that tv to set up the recording. I want to be able to do that from any tv, but them all to record to the same place.
So I can use the tv in the study to schedule a programme to record and, a few days later, I want to watch that programme in the kitchen. Or use the kitchen tv to tell the PVR to record Bargain Hunt, which I can then watch ob the tv in the living room.
So: 1x PVR (or alternative) streaming to several tvs, and also controlled by any of those tvs. From your answers, I'm concluding that there's nothing off the shelf that'll do this.
You need to change your thinking on how this would work.So I can use the tv in the study to schedule a programme to record and, a few days later, I want to watch that programme in the kitchen. Or use the kitchen tv to tell the PVR to record Bargain Hunt, which I can then watch ob the tv in the living room.
So: 1x PVR (or alternative) streaming to several tvs, and also controlled by any of those tvs. From your answers, I'm concluding that there's nothing off the shelf that'll do this.
Your existing PVR wouldn’t be needed, the server becomes a central PVR for all the televisions. Recording and serving up content. You just use the televisions to access it, from the TV (any of them) you can choose to record and choose which recordings to view.
99flake said:
You need to change your thinking on how this would work.
Your existing PVR wouldn t be needed, the server becomes a central PVR for all the televisions. Recording and serving up content. You just use the televisions to access it, from the TV (any of them) you can choose to record and choose which recordings to view.
I'm not proposing using my existing PVR, just trying to explain what I want to achieve. So there is software I can install on the server to do what I want?Your existing PVR wouldn t be needed, the server becomes a central PVR for all the televisions. Recording and serving up content. You just use the televisions to access it, from the TV (any of them) you can choose to record and choose which recordings to view.
Mr E said:
Doofus said:
I'm not proposing using my existing PVR, just trying to explain what I want to achieve. So there is software I can install on the server to do what I want?
Yes, but I doubt your TVs will natively interface with it in a manner you d like. Thanks.
have a look at hdhomerun, I bought one second hand of eBay, looks to do what you want I think. I use it with my Plex server.
https://shopuk.silicondust.com/shop/
https://shopuk.silicondust.com/shop/
NextPVR and jellyfin come close.
But UK EPG isn’t the best for a few reasons, and a separate actual provider via xml or whatever can work out better.
NextPVR isn’t the best on iPhone either, or AppleTV, lots of missing functionality because UK streams default to the Audio Description streams as standard, and the ‘recent’ update to nextpvr broke the ability to swap stream via IOS.
Apple give the NextPVR a hard time as he offers a “streaming” app for free, so he’s ‘tagged’ as some nefarious software provider because Apple don’t get a cut.
Plus adverts.
In the end I use nextpvr and paid for epg, use windows UI to pick stuff to tape.
Then I tidy them up in videoredo (get a copy), which cuts adverts out easily, then drop the files into jellyfin and watch from wherever you want.
Imo you’re not gonna get any nice paid for (unless exotic and stupidly expensive), or freebie setup that does what you want.
Jellyfin can work with a tuner card/epg too but I had pretty bad experiences with it for one reason or another.
I might take another look as I head into winter and the TV recording season (films at Christmas)
But UK EPG isn’t the best for a few reasons, and a separate actual provider via xml or whatever can work out better.
NextPVR isn’t the best on iPhone either, or AppleTV, lots of missing functionality because UK streams default to the Audio Description streams as standard, and the ‘recent’ update to nextpvr broke the ability to swap stream via IOS.
Apple give the NextPVR a hard time as he offers a “streaming” app for free, so he’s ‘tagged’ as some nefarious software provider because Apple don’t get a cut.
Plus adverts.
In the end I use nextpvr and paid for epg, use windows UI to pick stuff to tape.
Then I tidy them up in videoredo (get a copy), which cuts adverts out easily, then drop the files into jellyfin and watch from wherever you want.
Imo you’re not gonna get any nice paid for (unless exotic and stupidly expensive), or freebie setup that does what you want.
Jellyfin can work with a tuner card/epg too but I had pretty bad experiences with it for one reason or another.
I might take another look as I head into winter and the TV recording season (films at Christmas)
https://www.plex.tv/en-gb/tv/
It’s not free and you would need a DVB tuner for your server but in the UK I think this is the best solution at the moment.
There are products out there, that do exactly what you want, however they are commercial and come at an exorbitant cost.
I would say, depending on how happy you are with setting this stuff up, it can be flakey. I had a friend who spent months getting a Linux Kodi server to do what you want. It was ‘stable’ but when it went wrong, it was hours of him trying to get it going again. He worked in IT and Linux and it still caused him headaches.
I do feel you are right, there is and should be a market for this as a turnkey solution, I suspect the rise of streaming/on demand means it’s no longer a priority.
It’s not free and you would need a DVB tuner for your server but in the UK I think this is the best solution at the moment.
There are products out there, that do exactly what you want, however they are commercial and come at an exorbitant cost.
I would say, depending on how happy you are with setting this stuff up, it can be flakey. I had a friend who spent months getting a Linux Kodi server to do what you want. It was ‘stable’ but when it went wrong, it was hours of him trying to get it going again. He worked in IT and Linux and it still caused him headaches.
I do feel you are right, there is and should be a market for this as a turnkey solution, I suspect the rise of streaming/on demand means it’s no longer a priority.
Part of the reason there isn't an easy way to do this is that you achieve exactly the same thing by setting up Radarr, Sonarr etc and just letting that download other people's 'recordings'. No hardware, limited messing, tell it the series you want and it sort it all for you. Legally suspect but both methods leave you with exactly the same ability to watch content.
paulrockliffe said:
Part of the reason there isn't an easy way to do this is that you achieve exactly the same thing by setting up Radarr, Sonarr etc and just letting that download other people's 'recordings'. No hardware, limited messing, tell it the series you want and it sort it all for you. Legally suspect but both methods leave you with exactly the same ability to watch content.
Those aren't what I want, and they won't do what I want,
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