Newbie - Why use Kodi with NextPVR?

[jlathem]

Newbie questions here:

I'm a (pretty happy) Windows Media Center user with a Hauppauge dual-tuner and an HD Homerun Prime for Cablecard. Now that WMC is not going to be developed anymore, I'm looking at my options moving forward. Everyone recommends Kodi, but as I understand it, you still need a PVR back end. I've done some experimenting with NextPVR, and it seems like it does everything I need all by itself - Live TV and Scheduled Recording from the HD Homerun and Tuners, plus it appears to support my WMC remotes.

So my question is, what's the reason to add Kodi on top of NextPVR? What does Kodi add that NextPVR can't do by itself? Thanks!

[mvallevand]

Kodi pluses

- multiplatform, isn't x86 Windows only.
- cec, android remote
- no need to install decoders
- don't need to update nextpvr patches on clients
- closed captioning (Isengard)

The following might be more personal
- very accurate comskip
- better buffer and error handling over wifi
- exact time skipping

Martin

[psycik]

Also the streaming plugin/adding functionality surpasses nextpvr due to a much bigger user community. And if you;re used to using kodi for media/streaming, why would you want to then load something else for recordings when you could have it all in one place.

I'd use kodi more if it handled plex properly, so I've never need to leave to access streaming, recordings or plex media. But that's my personal preference.

And some people just like teh pretties (sic) and there are a wealth of skins for kodi.

[JavaWiz]

I use NextPVR on my main windows machine as my PVR server and recording device. Coupled with SchedulesDirect, a Hauppauge card and a HD Homerun, I can setup my PVR server for scheduled recordings (both network and movie channels) and use utility scripts for commercial removal.

Kodi is used for my clients, primarily RaspPi's (with OpenElec) that I drive my TV sets with. The PI is a low powered/low cost device that when coupled with Kodi, works very well as a media center device for most TVs. Also, Silicon Dust (i.e. HD HomeRun) has just come out with a new Kodi plug-in that works well for Live TV also, so I can limit the number of cable boxes needed for the multiple TVs in the house. All my regular shows are watched after the fact, commercial free and at my leisure. I also use Kodi on my Nexus 7 devices for tablet viewing.

[jlathem]

This is good info - thanks everyone! I think I'll start by converting my main WMC machine to NextPVR, and then look at Kodi to extend to other clients.

[Deihmos]

I cannot recommend using kodi with nextpvr. For one it is just too slow especially compared to WMC. Changing channel takes a few seconds and I get green artificats and otther times it just sticks at buffering. I don't find it usable at all.

[pkscout]

Keep in mind that you won't be able to record any channels marked as anything other than COPY FREELY from the cable company. For most cable companies that means just the broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, theCW, and PBS). WMC is currently the only PC based solution of which I am aware that can record any of the copy-protected cable channels available via a cablecard. I think the SiliconDust folks are working on a DVR program that will do that, but I don't think it's available yet.

[BrettB]

Keep in mind that you won't be able to record any channels marked as anything other than COPY FREELY from the cable company. For most cable companies that means just the broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, theCW, and PBS). WMC is currently the only PC based solution of which I am aware that can record any of the copy-protected cable channels available via a cablecard. I think the SiliconDust folks are working on a DVR program that will do that, but I don't think it's available yet.

Which channels the cable companies mark as Copy Freely vary from company to company. For me, Comcast/Xfinity marks all but the premium channels (HBO, Showtime, etc.) as Copy Freely, so I regularly record shows from USA, Lifetime, Comedy Central, etc. Comcast/Xfinity has a corporate policy that it should be this way. From reports, Time Warner, on the other hand, seems to frequently (always?) mark only broadcast networks as Copy Freely as you describe.

[KarterJK]

Newbie questions here:

I'm a (pretty happy) Windows Media Center user with a Hauppauge dual-tuner and an HD Homerun Prime for Cablecard. Now that WMC is not going to be developed anymore, I'm looking at my options moving forward. Everyone recommends Kodi, but as I understand it, you still need a PVR back end. I've done some experimenting with NextPVR, and it seems like it does everything I need all by itself - Live TV and Scheduled Recording from the HD Homerun and Tuners, plus it appears to support my WMC remotes.

So my question is, what's the reason to add Kodi on top of NextPVR? What does Kodi add that NextPVR can't do by itself? Thanks!

You don't need Kodi if all you want is the LiveTV. Kodi is like Windows Media Center except without LiveTV (pictures, music, videos, etc). NextPVR adds the LiveTV functionality to Kodi (for non-encrypted channels). HBO, Showtime, ect. will not play in NextPVR (sadly). I have a large DVD collection stored in .vob format, Kodi other than WMC is only one that can read and play vob files on it's own. At least that I know of, it is my main reason for using it.

[stustunz]

I cannot recommend using kodi with nextpvr. For one it is just too slow especially compared to WMC. Changing channel takes a few seconds and I get green artificats and otther times it just sticks at buffering. I don't find it usable at all.

Why would you watch live TV and want to change channels whenyou are using a pvr I don't get people that moan about this crap