wiki/wiki/tvheadend.md

TVHeadend

TVHeadend is a server application that forwards video streams to internet streams. It supports multiple dvb tuners and tuner sticks aswell as Sat>IP tuners. It also has the ability to record programs like a digital video recorder. TVHeadend has an official documentation on its website. TVHeadend is compatible with jellyfin with the help of a plugin.

Setup

The software can be setup via Docker with the linuxserver image. For different hardware there may be additional run options needed to get TVHeadend working properly. Additionally a solid initial configuration is recommended. This configuration includes the setup of different types of tuners.

Fritzbox

Using a Fritzbox as the router the build in SAT>IP tuner can be used. For this --satip_xml http://192.168.178.1:49000/satipdesc.xml needs to be added as a run option with the IP address matching the one of your Fritzbox.

For multiple tuners to work the hosting system has to have multiple IP addresses as only one address can be bound to one tuner at the time. Setting up a linux system with additional IP addresses is described in the netplan entry.

The still needed setup is equal to the setup for DVB-C Tuners.

Initial configuration

This subsection is about the recommended configurations for a TVHeadend instance.

One of the most important configurations is the naming scheme of the recorded files. To change this setting navigate to Configuration > Recording > Digital Video Recorder Profiles and select your current profile. Under Filesystem Settings Format string/Pathname specification can be found. In the according official documentation section The default format string and possible variations are specified there. The recommended Format string used by this guide is the following: $t/$t$_e_%F$n.$x. It will create a folder with the same name as the show for each show. The containing files are named with the title, the possible episode aswell as the date the show was recorded. If two files feature the same name an ascending number is added. This naming scheme is compatible with Jellyfins Other content type.

DVB-C

In TVHeadend navigate to Configuration > DBV Inputs > TV adapters. Create a Network, select Enabled, set your Network name, select one of the Pre-defined muxes according to your location and internet provider. Set Network discovery to New muxes + changed muxes and uncheck Skip startup scan. Then click Save.

In TVHeadend navigate to Configuration > DBV Inputs > TV adapters. There are the tuners connected to your system. Select them one-by-one, check Enabled, select your just set up network in Networks aswell as DVB-C as the network type. Set Next tune delay in ms (0-2000) to 200 and select On for Pass specinv. Then put in one of the IP addresses added to your system in the previous step under Tuner bind IP address. Then click Save.

After these steps a list of Muxes should appear in Configuration > DBV Inputs > Muxes and some of them should turn to OK under Scan Result. Following this a list of TV and radio channels should appear in Configuration > DBV Inputs > Services. After this the setup is completed.

Usage

This section addresses various features of TVHeadend.

Mapping channels

Following the Setup you have a list of possible channels available at Configuration > DVB Inputs > Service. Select the channels that are to be streamed and/or recorded and press Map selected services. After that the channels are mapped navigate to Configuration > Channel/EPG > Channels where a list of your selected channels is displayed. There you can select Numbers by invoking Edit on the Channels. Under Electronic Program Guide a list of current and future programs is shown.

Scheduling a recording

To record a show navigate to Electronic Program Guide after adding the channel that is to be recorded. In the program guide a list of all shows is given. Left click on the show to record and select Record in the pop-up. To record all shows of the same name select Autorec. In Digital Video Recorder all Upcoming/Current Recordings can be seen and deleted if neccessary. In Autorecs the show names to record are listed.