migrating from Popcorn Hour to ???

[dongna]

I've been using NPVR with 2 Popcorn Hours attached to my two TVs for many years now. Recently one of them died. Before trying to scrounge up a replacement on ebay or something, I figured I'd wander over to this forum to see what's new.

I see we're not in Kansas anymore.

So support for the Popcorn Hours is dead. Understandable. I see there are a multitude of replacement options available. If I gather correctly, the most popular seem to be the Amazon (Fire TV, FireStick, etc.) and Apple TV offerings? If there are options I'm missing, please let me know.

My question is simple: are any of these device preferable to the other for the purposes of running NPVR?

[mvallevand]

I suspect right now there are too many choices. When the PCH came out it was pretty much alone for h264 support and NextPVR support was a bonus. I do wish that sub had kept the old interface going instead of UI client I really wanted to do an Android client as a PCH replacement but since the NextPVR client is being replaced I guess that is understandable.

You basically have to decide between Kodi and one of sub's Android or Apple clients. If you decide on Kodi then you also have to decide whether you want to use Kodi pvr.addon or knewc which gives is the NextPVR UI and it is almost as good as the PCH for rendering screens. You can install Kodi on any PC to test anytime and it isn't a fixed decision.

For Kodi you choose the unique features platform based on the applications other than NextPVR that run we can't help there. A really good guide to current devices is here https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=252916 You will note the RPi is never highly rated but I find a lot of NextPVR like it for reasons unknown to me, it has the market share I guess

Platform choices

Computer Linux or Windows, RPi, or Arm,
Android,
Android TV, (not an Android TV box)
Amazon,
Apple*

Apple needs jailbreaking so I will keep it out of the discussion, at least until I have time to jail break mine.

You also may have preference for a mini keyboard, remote and wired networking for extra stability. Many of the devices now have simple remotes with too few keys.

Martin

[HarryH3]

If you really want another Popcorn Hour, I'm pretty sure that I still have a couple of working Popcorn Hour boxes, with power supplies and remotes. I think they're the A-110 model. The ones with the balloon font on top. I'd part with them pretty cheap.

[dongna]

I think it makes sense for me to use one of the "mainstream" devices. I don't feel the need for a mini keyboard. A wired connection would be nice (I have cables run to both TV locations), but WiFi has gotten so much better maybe that's adequate?

So if understand this correctly, if I use an Apple TV, there is an app, developed by sub, that runs NPVR?

And if I use one of the amazon Fire TV products, I first install Kodi... and then I have further options? I'm not clear on what these option are? Is this documented anywhere?

I'm confused by your "platform choices". Is this the platform that NPVR is running on? I thought it was Windows only?

[dongna]

HarryH3, thank you for the offer, but if the Popcorn Hours are a dead end I think I'll take this opportunity to get my setup updated to something that will be a longer term solution.

[mvallevand]

I think it makes sense for me to use one of the "mainstream" devices. I don't feel the need for a mini keyboard. A wired connection would be nice (I have cables run to both TV locations), but WiFi has gotten so much better maybe that's adequate?

You can't compare the bandwidth used by Netlix and broadcast but if your wifi is stable and gives you consistent 15Mbs you should be ok.

So if understand this correctly, if I use an Apple TV, there is an app, developed by sub, that runs NPVR?

Sub wrote an app that runs on the Apple TV that connects to the NextPVR backend but it doesn't look like the NextPVR UI you are used to seeing

And if I use one of the amazon Fire TV products, I first install Kodi... and then I have further options? I'm not clear on what these option are? Is this documented anywhere?

On the FireTV (really only consider the 4K or cube at this point) Kodi is pretty much your only choice.   It doesn't run Android it runs FireOS On Android sub does offer a custom client.

On Kodi any platform there are two ways to access NextPVR.   It has a standard Kodi PVR with a Kodi look and feel.  There is also knewc addon which gives the NextPVR look and feel that you have on the PCH

I'm confused by your "platform choices". Is this the platform that NPVR is running on? I thought it was Windows only?

Two points here.  First, the NextPVR backend is now multiplatform but if you are happy with Windows why change.

Second I was actually talking client platform.  You're right we aren't in Kansas anymore and we've moved to the colour part of the movie.

When dealing with platform each of the devices will have a different set of apps so you need to check what services you use other than NextPVR and if the platform you want has an app for it.  Netflix is fairly ubiquitous  but there tends to be bickering, like getting YouTube on Amazon, Amazon Prime on Android, AppleTV+ on other platforms, etc.  Check your cable co's app too. 

Also sometimes newer services like NBC Peacock or Disney+ don't arrive on all platform at the same time.  Amazon is probably trickiest because you may have to sideload an Android app.

If you are considering cheap Android boxes be forewarned they usually don't have DRM and may not even be able to play any DRM'd services like Netflix.

Martin

[dongna]

Just to put a cap on this thread, I ended up going with an Apple TV. Although I'm no Apple fan-boy and it was the most expensive option, I like the fact that there's an "official" NVPR app with no need for side-loading or other third-party software, and the fact that it has a wired connection, and the fact that it runs just about anything else I think I'm going to want for the foreseeable future.

Installed the app and NPVR is working fine. I do have some questions about the app functionality, but I'll save that for a separate thread.

Thank you to all who jumped in to help.

[jksmurf]

I went from an MVP to a PCHA100 to PCHA110 to an Android TV, all running Kodi with XNewa and now knewc. I also ran a Rpi2 but it died, so now have a RPi4 (also Kodi/knewc) serving as a client to an old TV. I have an AppleTV but I prefer the old interface and functions so stuck with it rather than the native App (which also runs on the Android TV, but with Kodi/knewc).

k.