How? Why is it so complicated?

Peter Wilcox

Hi,

For the past couple of years or more I have been trying to do a setup for Freesat direct to Kodi.
At first I tried to do as asked and enabled a PVR.. except that I couldn't of course. Took me a year to learn I needed a 'backend'.
I have mental health issues (not crazy just very limited concentration).
I keep having a go. Nothing.
This week I figured another go.

Simple enough,, download tvheadend and install it, how hard can it be?

Too hard, I can't find a download, but I do find complex instructions. I don't have the faintest idea where to start.
So I have two questions
What do I do?

Why is it so complicated?

Thanks :)

stultus Strebor

Peter, well if was a well funded software project there would be a huge effort up front without even a line of code being written. Professional technical authors and a trainer at £1500 a day for on-site training. A top down approach, but TVheadend isn't, it's open source, community supported.

I've been using TVheadend for four years or so and even though I've bent it out of shape a few times by my own ineptitude it's been (is) a brilliant piece of software. I have however tried to make my life easier by choosing supported tuners and running it on a dedicated machine (X86) Ubuntu server and Webmin to help as the hardware is run headless in a closet. Ubuntu as there is a package available.

Thus start by building the server I suggest Ubuntu 15.04LTS

Strebor
<<

Peter Wilcox

Thanks Philip :)

I do take your point. I appreciate (fully) it being voluntary and free. But if it truly IS so hard to use (I'm actually assuming that the problem is with me) how come people can use it?
I downloaded something I think is for windows (AMD64) but can find no instructions that make any sense. Is it really a matter of being a programmer to be able to use it?

Do I give up and move onto something else?

A L

Hi Peter,

Just out of interest, do you have any experience with any other PVR software?

The reason I ask is that I am pretty good with Windows computing and have messed around with all the DVR software available on that platform for years.

I have only recently started experimenting with Linux and I too feel pretty overwhelmed by how different it is - I suddenly feel that I have pretty much no idea what I am doing and having to constantly hit the forums to try and work out how everything works.

stultus Strebor

Hi both, It's easy I suppose when, even as a non programmer non system admin type one has been using Unix since the late 1970s to underestimate the leap in the dark that command line Linux is from a modern GUI based consumer OS.

I just want my Linux to do stuff, I often want it to function like an appliance, turn key, Go.

So why make life harder, Windows for a small appliance application noooo. I could run my servers on fermented chicken shit but I choose lazy and plug them into the wall.

Once you have Ubuntu 14 or 15 installed and I suggest Webmin as i say to make life easier then installing TVheadend is little more than:

sudo apt-get install tvheadend Strebor

Saen Acro

It can be easy enough if use OpenElec or LibreElec (all included)
Small ITX box with tunner and remote control

stultus Strebor

LibreElec would be a good way to go if you want just a HTPC Frontend and Backend in one box. I don't as I run external tuners and the Logitech Media Server on the same tin.

Strebor

http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=270385

Peter Wilcox

A L wrote:
> Hi Peter,
>
> Just out of interest, do you have any experience with any other PVR software?
>
> The reason I ask is that I am pretty good with Windows computing and have messed around with all the DVR software available on that platform for years.
>

> I have only recently started experimenting with Linux and I too feel pretty overwhelmed by how different it is - I suddenly feel that I have pretty much no idea what I am doing and having to constantly hit the forums to try and work out how everything works.

Hi :)

Nope. Not a clue about any, otherwise I would have tried. Tvheadend was simply the recommended solution.

I am beginning to sense an error by myself. Linux. I am aware of it, but nothing beyond that. I know what an OS is, and the names of various choices. Before my breakdown (which is the cause of my inability to focus) I built my own PC's and was knowledgeable. Now it is very different for me. But then I am getting on in years and trying to avoid the need to learn more.
I just want a 'media centre' that I can watch my downloads and box sets with. My partner likes to watch TV and likes to record stuff. (Whether I already have a copy in the library or not..)
So my ideal world has those things.
I have two or three 'TV boxes' Wetek Play with built in SAT, a version of Openbox with built in SAT and an Android box supposed to have IPTV. (Doesn't get the channels of course and the guy that sold it me is asking for money for an update)
I don't mind paying someone to do it all for me, but the last time I did that he turned out to not have a clue.
I know its all supposed to be free, but I really don't object to paying someone to help me. They ARE taking up their time.

A L

Hi,

If you were building PCs, it sounds that you certainly have the potential to get TVHeadend up and running. I assume that you are otherwise pretty knowledgeable as soon as Windows goes.

My advice would be that you are perhaps trying to learn too much too soon.

PVR software can be pretty complex to begin with, regardless of the OS.

I am pretty good with the various PVR options out there (having tried most of them) but only because I used some of the simpler ones in the past - much of the terms and concepts are pretty much transferable.

I would strongly suggest that, as you have never had any contact with any PVR software before, having a go with something like Mediaportal first.

This is what I first had a go with - there is a great support forum and also lots of documentation on the site.

Hope that helps.

Peter Wilcox

philip roberts wrote:
> LibreElec would be a good way to go if you want just a HTPC Frontend and Backend in one box. I don't as I run external tuners and the Logitech Media Server on the same tin.
>
> Strebor
>
>

>
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=270385

Wow!
All I have done so far is read through it, but that post seems to answer many of my issues.

Thank you :)