Kodi/LibreEec Guide - show program set to record.

[ceejayemm]

I have been exploring the use of the NextPVR server and client plugins for Kodi 21 / LibreElec 12 using the Quartz skin and so far most things seem to work.  

One thing that it foxing me relates to the Kodi Guide.  This is provided by the NextPVR plugin I understand.  I can create a new single, or series, recording request via the Kodi interface.  If I then look at the NextPVR guide, via the NextPVR web app, I can see the programs set for recording are shown in red.  In the Kodi Guide however the programs set to record are NOT identified at all, certainly not with a red highlight. The programs do seem to record properly and I can play them back in Kodi.

Am I missing a step, or two, here or is the way the NextPVR plugins works with Kodi ?

Thanks for any inspiration anybody can provide.

Chris

[mvallevand]

It should be better than "most things". On LibreElec it will be a full Linux implementation so everything will work subject to the limits of the h/w.

No idea how the Quartz skin works. In Estuary they aren't red either it is an icon showing that a timer. Change to Estuary and if you see that go to the Kodi forum for Quartz and ask what it is supposed to show.

If you want the NextPVR GUI there is always KNEWC

Martin

[ceejayemm]

Martin

Thanks, I will take this over to the Kodi/Skins forum and see what I can find there. I will get back to you as and when I have any further information.

Chris

[ceejayemm]

This is going nowhere I am afraid as it turns out the Quartz skin is no longer being maintained. This is a shame as it provides a simple clear interface which is easy to configure to just give me the items I want.

Is there an alternative NextPVR client interface which will run on a small Linux / Raspberry Pi box accessing a remote NextPVR server ? Plex/Emby/Jellyfin are all way to complex for my needs. If there was a version of the NextPVR web app interface which would run in a kiosk style mode on a small box that would be great and serve all my needs. If not I will have to stick with the existing Kodi / NextPVR setup and try to remember which programs I have already setup for recording when looking at the guide.

Thanks

Chris

[BrettB]

Is there an alternative NextPVR client interface which will run on a small Linux / Raspberry Pi box accessing a remote NextPVR server ? Plex/Emby/Jellyfin are all way to complex for my needs. If there was a version of the NextPVR web app interface which would run in a kiosk style mode on a small box that would be great and serve all my needs. If not I will have to stick with the existing Kodi / NextPVR setup and try to remember which programs I have already setup for recording when looking at the guide.

I use the uidroid client running on a few different Android TV based streaming devices/tvs. It works great! My preferred device is the TiVo Stream 4K which you can usually pick up for $20-$30.

[mvallevand]

I wrote a UI client for the RPi but I gave up on it since no one is interested but as I suggested earlier maybe try KNEWC to see what a UI client looks like on Kodi. This does not run as solidly as it does on other platforms because it has to be written in python but is will give you the idea and it might work well enough if you want a good PVR focused GUI.

IMO, Kodi PVR has become a bit cumbersome as have Kodi skins but maybe install a few yourself to see the different way PVR is displayed. Remember that some skins are really fat so won't run well on the RPi, and they can install a lot of helpers and other kruft that is not removed well by the installer. For me I don't browse the EPG to see what my upcoming recordings are (except when there are conflicts). In the Estuary skin for Kodi there is a Timer list on the main TV dashboard and also in the TV Timer menu (or with the B key) where you can see the upcoming recordings at a glance. I expect most skins will have something similar.

As for a browser in kiosk mode, I don't see why you'd want to use a mouse based interface or forced transcoding for web playback on a RPi for PVR.

Martin

[ceejayemm]

Thanks for your comments. If the Kodi Quartz skin had the marker (icon / colour change) for programmes set to record in the Guide then that would be the IDEAL setup for me. BUT...

I was looking for alternatives and you have done that to a certain extent, thank you. I have looked at KNEWC in the past and I have also tried the YAUICLIENT (for windows only at the moment) recently. I have dabbled with a web browser based kiosk - again not really what I want. None of these fit my needs. You are right I DON'T want a multi-click interface nor do I want a bloated interface.

I DO want an interface that works well on reasonable size TV screen at a distance with a simple left/right/up/down/enter/home remote (on mouse or keyboard). I am not even wedded to Kodi but this does seem to offer the best interface so far - if a replacement for the Quartz skin can be found. Nor am i fixated on RPi / Windows / Linux or any other SBCs unless these offer the kind of interface I am looking for. I don't need all the functionality of NLite (or the Windows app either) for example.

I DO like the NextPVR web app but I understand the limitations of browser based playback, I don't really need any more functionality than the web app currently provides. I have no problem with carrying out any setup configuration via the web app. I have no problems with the client UI being separate from a remote recording server. If there was some way of turning the web app format into a client UI that could run on Windows/Mac/Linux, be output to a HDMI television screen and provide good video playback then that might be ideal.

Am I asking too much?

Chris

[sub]

I was looking for alternatives and you have done that to a certain extent, thank you. I have looked at KNEWC in the past and I have also tried the YAUICLIENT (for windows only at the moment) recently. I have dabbled with a web browser based kiosk - again not really what I want. None of these fit my needs. You are right I DON'T want a multi-click interface nor do I want a bloated interface.

I DO want an interface that works well on reasonable size TV screen at a distance with a simple left/right/up/down/enter/home remote (on mouse or keyboard). I am not even wedded to Kodi but this does seem to offer the best interface so far - if a replacement for the Quartz skin can be found. Nor am i fixated on RPi / Windows / Linux or any other SBCs unless these offer the kind of interface I am looking for. I don't need all the functionality of NLite (or the Windows app either) for example.

I DO like the NextPVR web app but I understand the limitations of browser based playback, I don't really need any more functionality than the web app currently provides. I have no problem with carrying out any setup configuration via the web app. I have no problems with the client UI being separate from a remote recording server. If there was some way of turning the web app format into a client UI that could run on Windows/Mac/Linux, be output to a HDMI television screen and provide good video playback then that might be ideal.

UI client interface (which is available in several client applications nlite/yauiclient/knewc/etc) is intended to be driven by a remote, and designed for use with simple up/down/left/right/enter/escape keys etc, like you get from a remote, and provides native playback, so sounds like exactly what you're asking for. This is what I'm using on my LG TV, with it's remote. What aspect of these clients did you dislike?

The web app on the other hand is really designed around the mouse and clicking, and targeted at someone sitting at a computer, 2 feet from the screen. This is the furthest from what you want to do.

[mvallevand]

The UI client interface has a few options, a horizontal menu for example and you can remove the menu options you don't use. As sub posted it is really hard to understand what functionality you want in a client ie what does the Quartz skin offer that Estuary and other Kodi skins don't when we have to guess at it when we make suggestions.

The biggest thing lacking for me in the UI client GUI vs the web, Kodi and most TV apps is not having a channel list. Perhaps if the huide could toggle to a channel list view that would help.

Martin

[ceejayemm]

Thinking about this overnight, what I want is:

A client which
- can run on any current hardware (like the server can)
- can access local or remote NextPVR servers (like NLite or YAUICLIENT)
- has a simple clear UI (like the current Web App)
- does NOT have extraneous items like Photos, Music etc

Don't forget my current system is NextPVR 6.0 running well on an RPi 4 so I only have the Web App for access - if you discount the nano editor to edit the config file.

If the above could be achieved then I could do away with KODI or the like. I can't help with coding such a new client, although its not that new as most of the components already exist just not in the same place. I could however help with testing, documentation etc.

I will be away from home for a few days so I wont be able to respond until I get home.

Chris