Table of Contents
Introduction
Kodi is an open-source media center software that allows you to organize and play your personal media library including videos, music, podcasts, and photos. It also has the capability to stream live TV channels and record them similar to a DVR.
Setting up live TV in Kodi does require some additional components and configuration but provides a centralized place to watch and record live television along with all your other media.
Prerequisites
To set up live TV capabilities in Kodi, you will need:
- Kodi Media Center software – Kodi v18 or newer recommended
- Compatible hardware device – Such as Amazon Fire TV Stick, NVIDIA Shield TV, or a desktop computer
- TV Tuner – Either a USB TV tuner connected to the device running Kodi, or an HDHomeRun networked TV tuner
- PVR Backend Software – Such as HDHomeRun DVR server software to interface with the TV tuner
- Stable Internet Connection – For guide data and streaming
Steps to Set Up Live TV
Follow these steps to set up live television capabilities in Kodi:
1. Install Kodi
First, install Kodi on your compatible hardware device if you haven’t already. Refer to Kodi’s documentation on how to install it on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, or tvOS.
2. Set Up the TV Tuner
Next, set up the TV tuner that will supply live television signals to Kodi. This can either be a USB TV tuner connected directly to the local device, or a networked tuner like HDHomeRun connected to your home network.
Install any required drivers and software that accompanies the TV tuner.
3. Install PVR Backend Software
PVR backend software such as HDHomeRun’s DVR server is required to interface between the TV tuner and Kodi. Install this software on the device that has the TV tuner connected.
Configure the PVR backend software to detect channels and enable DVR capabilities for recording live TV.
4. Enable PVR Support in Kodi
Within Kodi, enable the PVR client add-on functionality to integrate with the backend PVR software.
Go to Settings > Add-ons > My add-ons > PVR Clients and enable the client add-on that corresponds to your PVR backend software.
For example, if using HDHomeRun DVR, enable the “PVR HDHomeRun Client” add-on.
5. Configure the PVR Add-On
After enabling the correct PVR client add-on, you will need to configure it to connect properly to your PVR backend software.
Go into the add-on’s configuration menu, enter the correct IP address or URL to your PVR backend server software along with any necessary login credentials.
Test the connection – if successful, Kodi will start populating the EPG guide data.
6. Access Live TV & DVR Features
You can now access live television channels directly within the Kodi interface by going to the main menu and selecting TV. An electronic program guide (EPG) will display showing you what is currently playing as well as upcoming programs on each channel.
You can also schedule recordings for upcoming programs. Go into the Guide menu and find the show you wish to record, select it, and choose “Record” or “Record Series” if applicable. All recordings will be saved automatically to your PVR backend for later playback in Kodi.
Tips & Considerations
- For best performance, connect your device running Kodi to your network via Ethernet if possible rather than WiFi.
- Keep your PVR backend software up to date for maximum compatibility with Kodi.
- Configure power saving settings so that your PVR backend device and any networked TV tuners stay powered on.
- If receiving multiple unwanted channels, you can hide them from view within the PVR client add-on settings menu.
And that’s it! With Kodi’s robust PVR and live TV support, you now have a centralized media center for accessing and recording live television, videos, music, and more.
