On-demand/on-pause timeshift in Kodi

[loucurapt]

In Kodi with the NextPVR addon, when timeshift is enabled, switching channels takes a few seconds and live TV is also a few seconds late.
With "real time" switching channels is very fast, but there's no timeshift.

What if there was an "on-demand" timeshift mode?
Live TV would work as if "real time" was active, but pressing pause (or a "Timeshift" button) would start timeshift mode from that point forward in that channel.
Switching channels would be fast, and timeshift would also be possible.
Would that be possible?

Obviously, the best experience would be if timeshift was automatic (as it currently is), but switching channels was as fast as "real time" and live TV was also like "real time".

Nevertheless, this is currently still great software!

[sub]

The NextPVR backend is always in a timeshift mode, even when you have realtime selected in kodi. So...NextPVR is definitely doing it's thing quick enough. It's more a request for the Kodi side of things.

[mvallevand]

Kodi needs to set up timeshifting before the call to backend is made. Best to confirm in setup that the prebuffer is low, perhaps 1 or even 0 if that works for you.

Martin

[loucurapt]

Lowering the prebuffer to 1 or 0 does make channel switching faster, but then it pauses a few seconds to buffer.

I have to say that, with "real time", live TV is still a little bit delayed, but switching channels is almost instantaneous, at least between channels in the same frequency (maybe that's why it's so fast).

This was a suggestion mostly for the Kodi addon.
It would be awesome if I could have both timeshift and very fast channel switching and Live TV with little or no delay, but that would probably translate to a lot of structural code changes. NextPVR is already great, so this is more like something to just think about.

[mvallevand]

If the issue is channel changes on the same frequency, do you have the option keep digital tuners primed set?

Martin

[loucurapt]

Oh no, it's no issue. I was just commenting that channel changes on the same frequency in "real time" mode were almost instantaneous.
I can't test channel changes on different frequencies (because all open channels here are on the same frequency), so I can't say if it's as fast in that case.

[mvallevand]

No I meant on the Device setting page there is an checkbox to keep digital tuners primed.

Martin

[loucurapt]

I tried that setting now. I had to restart the NextPVR Service to see any effect.
It makes channel changes about 1 second faster in KODI, and the status light in the tuner doesn't turn off and on (on NextPVR version 4 that light stayed on, but it's not an issue).
However, the tuner stays on after stopping Live TV. It's by design, I know. But I only connect my tuner when I want to watch or record TV, so I don't use it.
But this information may be useful for other people, so thanks!

Just for information completeness, changing channels in NextPVR's web interfaces takes about 3 second, which is quite quick.
Changing channels in KODI with my settings ("extended timeshift" mode with prebuffer of 4 seconds) takes about 7 seconds. In "real time" mode it's about half a second.

[mvallevand]

Are you saying you can't use a prebuffer of 1 or 0? It should be the same as the web browser.

Martin

[loucurapt]

Yes, I could use a prebuffer or 0 or 1 (I think the default was 1, but I was using NextPVR v4 before).
But then it usually pauses for a few seconds to buffer, so I just keep it at 4 seconds.
The delay is reasonable, nothing major, and if I want faster channel changes, I can just switch to "real time".

Thank you for the time you spent! This post was an "improvement idea" (a what-if idea, if that idea is even possible), not a support request, so you don't need to waste more of your time with me.