Apple TV Client best solution?

[sota]

Hi,
I have a test setup of NextPVR as I'm looking at getting rid of my Sage TV and returning to the fold . I used to run NVPR with Hauppauge MediaMVP devices many years ago. I'm currently using Sage HD300s as remote devices that connect via the network and have an HDMI output, but they are slowly dying and keep having to be powered off and on again. SageTV is mainly used for watching and recording DVB-S2 Freesat channels on Astra 28.2. The priority is to have remote access for the TVs around the house similar to the HD300s.

I have been busy catching up on the forums and I seem to have a few options:

A Windows PC client, which seem a bit over the top.
Android client which could run on an Amazon Fire TV or Google Chromecast device - I'm not sure if this is possible/supported.
As I already have Emby running on my Google Chromecasts, I could use use the plug-in for it. But my impression is that this is not an optimal solution and is not native NextPVR software.
And finally, use the Apple TV client. The reason for my hesitation is that I don't currently have an Apple TV device to test it, and I would need to buy at least four if I decide to move. 

As the Apple TV client seems to be an official NextPVR product, I'm inclined to go with it despite the extra cost.

My priority is a stable system for maximum partner approval factor, so I would appreciate any thoughts or comments on what I should do.

Thanks.

Pat

[mvallevand]

I guess the "official" ones are written by sub and I have been written the other "unofficial" ones that don't get installed via an app store. I also wrote an "unofficial" client for the MVP which you may have used.

There is a NextPVR client in Kodi. It is I guess semi-official since sub and I both contribute to it. It is very popular with some users but doesn't have the NextPVR GUI.

The clients that give you NextPVR UI are called UI clients and they run on Android, Roku, Mac, webOS and Windows plus knewc in Kodi. Many people like UI clients but the only UI client for Apple is via Kodi. For FireTV the official client is not on the Amazon store but uidroid works.

For whole house use Apple is a little more expensive per device. My main beef with Apple TV is I like remotes with numbers for changing channels etc and that isn't supported.

Martin

[sota]

Hi Martin, yes I remember your MVP client very well. It was extremely fast as I recall, as the MVP itself was pretty much brain-dead until it downloaded the software from the server. The reason I moved to Sage was to watch HD televison channels.

At the moment, I have a mixture of the Sage HD300s, Google Chromecasts and a couple Amazon Fire devices. I don't want to go down the Kodi route as it's adding a layer of complexity that my family won't appreciate. I like the Apple TV as it also supports Emby which I use for movies & TV series. I don't need channel numbers as I use Logitech Harmony Elite remotes with the channel icons on the touchscreen. Ideally, I would like to end up with just one device that gives me access to NextPVR and Emby.

I think I will just order an Apple TV and see how it goes. If it doesn't work out, it can keep my collection of MediaMVPs company gathering dust in the shed!

Thanks!

[mvallevand]

All PVR integration with NextPVR was removed from Emby so recordings scheduling etc in NextPVR no longer carry across. Your best bet would be to only use Emby (with NextPVR as a dumb tuner). You won't need the NextPVR Apple client either.

Martin

[BrettB]

I think I will just order an Apple TV and see how it goes. If it doesn't work out, it can keep my collection of MediaMVPs company gathering dust in the shed!

Since you said you already have a couple of Amazon Fire sticks and you have a test NextPVR server, I'd suggest you try out Martin's uidroid client on it before spending money on Apple TV hardware. Also, make sure that you know that sub's Apple clients do not get updates a quickly/often. So, newer features (like the thumbnails) are not added to the Apple TV client nearly as quickly as the set of uiclients.

I would agree with you about not adding the Kodi layer if you are only interested in a NextPVR client. But Martin's uidroid client is actively/quickly updated and runs on many different hardware platforms (all with the same ui interface). You can get inexpensive ($20-$40 USD) Android TV hardware like the TiVo Stream 4K or the ONN streaming box to run uidroid.

Some food for thought.

-Brett

[sota]

Hi Brett,
Thanks, I hadn't picked up on Martin's uidroid client. I'll try it out over the weekend. It's been a steep learning curve getting back into NextPVR!

Pat

[Kiwiamg]

Hi Brett,
Thanks, I hadn't picked up on Martin's uidroid client. I'll try it out over the weekend. It's been a steep learning curve getting back into NextPVR!

Pat

[mvallevand]

Note that uidroid only runs on Android.

Martin

[Kiwiamg]

Hi Brett,
Thanks, I hadn't picked up on Martin's uidroid client. I'll try it out over the weekend. It's been a steep learning curve getting back into NextPVR!

Pat

Just tripped across this thread. I was also a long time SageTV user with HD100, 200 and 300 extenders. About four years back I moved to NextPVR, mainly because I moved to a rental house without wired Ethernet, I guess I could have used powerline adapters though. My clients are Firesticks and FireTV cube on wifi running Kodi with the NextPVR plugin. Very happy with the look of the UI and performance and stability. Just acquired an Apple TV 4K free as part of a broadband deal. Hardware is well made but honestly hard to justify the price vs Firesticks as a pure extender. Apple don’t allow Kodi in their AppStore and have other limits I find frustrating.