How do I prevent TVHeadend from modifying my scheduled recordings?

space_cadet

So I scheduled some recordings and I changed the times manually to the exact times I wanted them to start / stop. Next day I look and some of the recordings have their initial / EPG times again. I'd like my recordings to stay untouched, is there anything I need to do? I am using a recording profile where "Use EPG running state" is set to false.

davep

I don't believe it's possible to override the EPG directly. However it is possible to set pre- and post-recording padding on an individual timer which may achieve what you want.

space_cadet

So it's not possible to simply say "I'd like to record channel X from 20:00 to 21:00"?

davep

Yes it is possible.

Tvheadend has three different recording modes. The first, simply called "recordings", records a single item selected from the EPG, using the start/stop times from the EPG. The second, called "timers" will record a given channel between given start/stop times. The third, "autorecs", will record a series of items as defined by the EPG.

So for your use case "timers" (Digital Video Recorder -> Timers) will do what you want.

space_cadet

Hmm strange, when I try to add an entry in the "Timers" tab, the dialog won't appear. Also no debug output. I'm on HTS Tvheadend 4.3-2155 ~ gfe4df311d. Do you also have that symptom?

davep

space_cadet Did you click the 'Add' button?

space_cadet

Yes, here's a screen recording:

recording

davep

Very strange.

You are a long way behind the latest version (currently v4.3-2715-g80729d2f6) but that can't explain the issue. Does anything appear in the browser console? In your browser go to 'More Tools' -> 'Web Developer Tools' and select 'Console'.

DeltaMikeCharlie

davep You are a long way behind the latest version (currently v4.3-2715-g80729d2f6) but that can't explain the issue.

Could this error be related to the following?:

tvheadend/tvheadend1786

davep

DeltaMikeCharlie Aha! that looks very much like the issue, in which case an update should fix it.

space_cadet

Thanks @davep and @DeltaMikeCharlie - I did have the version that is the current default with Raspbian OS. But you were right, I registered the TVHeadend repo and updated the version, now I'm on 4.3-2715-g80729d2f6. And the timer works. So far so good!

But I have to say I'm a bit disappointed with the timer functionality. It's very much geared towards the "record my favorite show every Monday" use case, and not really suited for "I want to tape world cup football games". For example I can't select a date for the recordings - only weekdays.

I'm a bit stumped now, the EPG way isn't reliable and the manual way can't do single-shot recordings.

DeltaMikeCharlie

space_cadet I'm a bit stumped now, the EPG way isn't reliable and the manual way can't do single-shot recordings.

space_cadet

I seem to remember doing that a couple days ago, with TVHeadend force-"updating" my programmed times after a day or so. But I'll try it again and see what happens!

space_cadet

@DeltaMikeCharlie thanks I think it actually works! My scheduled recordings havent been modified since I added them. I think the difference was that in my first attempts I added the recordings via the EPG tab and then modified them.

When I use the "add" button in the "Upcoming / Current Recordings" tab, they will stay as I entered them. Cheers!