User:Robert d
Before getting started with this guide it is important to note the new version of XBMC, Eden v11.0 will include PVR support, but as of now, all of the current downloadable versions of the Eden version of XBMC are experimental, nightly builds. It is also important to note XBMC Dharma 10.1 + PVR v2 is experimental and is not an official release from Team XBMC. In that XBMC Dharma 10.1 + PVR v2 does use Dharma the stable XBMC release, and can be considered the most stablest from the available choices, this guide will use XBMC Dharma 10.1 + PVR v2.
If a user wants to watch TV on a PC, at least one supported tuner card, or a provider that provides IPTV access is required. The tuner hardware doesn't have to be installed on the same computer on which the user wants to watch TV. The computer with the tuner hardware is called the back-end. The computer used to view TV is called the front-end. The back-end and front-end can be on one computer. XBMC will run on the front-end.
XBMC Dharma 10.1 + PVR v2 does not have the capabilities to support a tuner card, or a provider that provides IPTV access, on it's own. XBMC Dharma 10.1 + PVR v2 gets this support from another program.(1) This guide will use MediaPortal 1.1.3. MediaPortal is a two (2) part, dual purpose, self supported, program. It works as both; a front-end for viewing TV or IPTV (also known as a TV Client), and a back-end for controlling the tuner card (also known as a TV Server). When the complete program, TV Client (front-end) and TV Server (back-end), is installed on one computer the configuration is called a single seat set-up. MediaPortal's TV Server can also be installed on a single computer, without the TV Client, and configured to support multiple tv cards as a back-end, server. This leaves MediaPortal's TV Client, and it can be installed on other computers, without the TV Server, and configured to support viewing TV or IPTV as front-ends, clients, and use the tuner cards installed on the back-end, TV Server computer. TV Clients can use any tuner card in the TV server that is not in use by another TV Client.
In this guide XBMC Dharma 10.1 + PVR v2 will be used as the front-end, TV Client, and MediaPortal is installed for the use of it's TV Server, the back-end. The problem here is both programs are not written using the same computer code, machine language. The two (2) programs can not communicate with each other. The solution is a plugin written for MediaPortal, MediaPortal 1.1.x - TVServerXBMC plugin v1.1.3.107. After installing MediaPortal the plugin will need to be manually installed into MediaPortal's file/folder structure before the MediaPortal TV Server can be configured for use with XBMC. XBMC can then be configured to use the plugin to communicate with and control the TV Server.
This guide will assume the user is familiar with XBMC Dharma v10.1. The guide will focus on a single seat (Windows) installation where both the TVServer and XBMC are running on the same machine. It will provide: links for preparing for an installation of a single seat set-up of MediaPortal 1.1.3, how to set-up and configure MediaPortal for scanning channels with a tuner card to view live tv through MediaPortal's TV Client, how to install the MediaPortal 1.1.x - TVServerXBMC plugin v1.1.3.107, how to configure MediaPortal 1.1.3 for using the plugin, and configure the MediaPortal PVR client add-on to, finally, view live tv in XBMC.
The guide will then continue by providing information for configuring MediaPortal to utilize Windows Media Center, TitanTV, or Schedules Direct, Electronic Program Guide (EPG) information for the users local area, acquired with additional software (mc2xml), and how to keep it up to date with a user defined scheduled task event in Windows. The EPG will be used in XBMC as a when and what to watch guide, with click-able watch now, or record, features. Additional information will also be provided for obtaining channel, station identification, icons, where to install them, and configure MediaPortal and XBMC to use the icons in XBMC's Live TV Guide.
(1)There are several programs available for this support depending on Operating System used with XBMC and which version of MediaPortal 1.1.x - TVServerXBMC plugin is used, such as: HTS Tvheadend, VDR, MythTV, MediaPortal, and ForTheRecord Argus TV Server.
Downloads required for this guide:
MediaPortal 1.1.3 - Scroll down the page to the "Older Versions" section and use the link to their download site for older versions.
MediaPortal 1.1.x - TVServerXBMC plugin v1.1.3.107
Also, required is a Supported TV Card.