Linux HOW-TO watch Live TV in XBMC for Linux with Tvheadend, the easy way!

**opdenkamp** · 2011-01-23 03:59

The old thread became quite large, having 166 pages, so I created a new one with the latest info. The "howto" is quite basic and could be expanded later.

Tvheadend
Tvheadend is a lightweight TV tuning backend that supports DVB-C, DVB-T, DVB-S, DVB-S2, ATSC, IPTV and PAL analog TV. It has an integrated web frontend that can be used to configure the backend, view the EPG and start and view live TV or recordings.

Installation
If you're running Ubuntu, you'll only have to execute 3 commands to install Tvheadend and XBMC-PVR. Open a terminal window (Applications -> Terminal) and copy + paste the following commands into it and press enter:

Code:

sudo apt-get -y install curl && \

curl -Ls --output /tmp/install-xbmc.sh http://packages.pulse-eight.net/ubuntu/install-xbmc.sh && \

bash /tmp/install-xbmc.sh

If you are using XBMCbuntu, install the following too:

Code:

sudo apt-get -y install xbmc-standalone

Configuring TVheadend
Go to the TVheadend GUI by visiting http://yourserver:9981/
Go to configuration -> tv adapters and select a tv adapter.
Set the "NIT-o Network ID". You can find that in your provider's manual.
Enable "Autodetect muxes" and "Idle scanning"
Then select "Add DVB Network by location"
Click "save"

Tvheadend will now start to detect multiplexes and services. Wait for "Muxes awaiting initial scan" to become 0.
Then click "Map DVB Services to channels". TVheadend will now try to open each channel and will add each channel that can be opened.

Repeat this process for every DVB adapter.

Configuring XBMC
After installing, you can head to http://yourserver:9981/ to access the web interface and configure the backend.

After you configured the backend, start up XBMC and go to System -> Addons -> Installed -> PVR clients -> Tvheadend HTSP Client. Choose "configure" and fill in the requested information. Then choose "enable" to enable the PVR client. The only thing you should have to change is the server address. Fill in your server ip or host name there.

Go back to System and choose TV -> General -> Activate.

Now you can start using Tvheadend from within XBMC by accessing the LiveTV in the main menu.

For Tvheadend support, visit #hts at irc.freenode.net
For XBMC PVR support, visit #xbmc-pvr at irc.freenode.net

whoareyou · 2011-01-23 07:15

What about documentation of the XBMC PVR. Wiki, Screendumps... Haven't found anything.

odoll · 2011-01-23 11:05

dushmaniac Wrote:The "howto" is quite basic and could be expanded later.

thx a lot dushmaniac: my suggestions about expanding it

i) an IMO not too obvious thing worth mentioning. Even Live TV support is installed it
a) has to be enabled in the System section (System -> TV: enable)
!and!
b) one has to pick the right feed which is hidden as an add-ons
(System -> Add-Ons -> PVR Clients: enabale Tvheadend HTSP Client).

[esp. b took the the most headache as it was not obvious too me. As with other functions like "Video" or "Music" you normally add a source within the function. So I first added an HTSP source in "Video" as my first trys to add a HTSP source within the "Live TV" section did not work. That it's handled as an Odd-On feature is not a very consistent IMHO?!?]

**Jezz_X** · 2011-01-23 11:40

dushmaniac I edit your first post to point people to the right irc channel for xbmc support we really don't want to crowd up the HTS channel with xbmc related issues. Hope you don't mind

**opdenkamp** · 2011-01-23 14:35

sure mate, no problem. I just took the info from the old thread and changed it a bit.

Ruud · 2011-01-23 14:43

Hi,

with the Dharma beta's I noticed that afte using XBMC for some time and then pressing the shutdown button on my remote, it would not shutdown but rather restart XBMC. A second press would shutdown.

Dharma final solved this issue except when in full screen tv.

synopsys:
1. start XBMC
2. start live TV (full screen)
3. press shutdown
.... system does not shutdown, but XBMC restarts
4. in home screen press shutdown again
.... system shuts down properly

log can be found Here
versions as stated in signature.

hope this helps.
regards,
Ruud.

**opdenkamp** · 2011-01-23 14:47

@whoareyou:
PVR integration in XBMC is under development. there's no (complete) documentation yet. feel free to complete the wiki page here: http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=HOW...BMC-PVR%29

@odoll:
even though I kept the OP quite basic, I did mention those things:

Quote:After you configured the backend, start up XBMC and go to System -> Addons -> Installed -> PVR clients -> Tvheadend HTSP Client. Choose "configure" and fill in the requested information. Then choose "enable" to enable the PVR client.

Go back to System and choose TV -> General -> Activate.

**opdenkamp** · 2011-01-23 14:48

@Ruud:
known issue that has been fixed in the development tree.

Ruud · 2011-01-23 15:06

dushmaniac Wrote:@Ruud:
known issue that has been fixed in the development tree.

Cool, not using the development tree at the moment.
Thanks for all your hard work!
Can you elaborate some more on what the new features are that currently are worked on in the development tree.... might take the jump Cool

regards,
Ruud.

**opdenkamp** · 2011-01-23 16:55

stay with Dharma unless you're developing. I'm mainly restructuring and cleaning up the data structures now.

whoareyou Junior Member Posts: 9 Joined: Jun 2009 Reputation: 0	2011-01-23 07:15 Post: #2 What about documentation of the XBMC PVR. Wiki, Screendumps... Haven't found anything.
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Jezz_X Team-XBMC Skinner Posts: 5,263 Joined: Jun 2006 Reputation: 55 Location: Earth	2011-01-23 11:40 Post: #4 dushmaniac I edit your first post to point people to the right irc channel for xbmc support we really don't want to crowd up the HTS channel with xbmc related issues. Hope you don't mind Skins I have done.... And others in the past... Want to know what I'm working on currently? Check me out on Google+
	find quote