Kodi is a popular open-source media center application that allows you to organize and play your digital media content. With some additional configuration, Kodi can also be used as a live TV and DVR system for watching and recording live TV on your Windows PC.
Table of Contents
What You Will Need
To set up Live TV and PVR functionality in Kodi on a Windows PC, you will need:
- Kodi Media Center – Kodi needs to be installed on your Windows PC. Download the latest version from kodi.tv
- TV Tuner Card/Device – This is the hardware that will receive the TV signal and connect to your PC. Some options are internal PCI cards, external USB tuners, or network tuners.
- PVR Backend Software – Backend software that will interface between the TV tuner and Kodi to provide the live TV and DVR functionality. Some options are NextPVR, TVHeadend, or MediaPortal.
Step 1: Install a TV Tuner Card/Device
The first step is to install a TV tuner card or device on your Windows PC. This will receive the over-the-air TV signal via antenna or cable connection and deliver it to the computer.
Some things to consider when selecting one:
- Connection type – internal PCI card, external USB, or network device
- Supported TV standards for your region
- Number of tuners if you want to watch/record multiple channels
- Reviews and compatibility with your system
Refer to Kodi’s PVR tuner guide for more information.
Step 2: Install and Set Up PVR Backend Software
The backend software acts as the bridge between the TV tuner hardware and Kodi. It takes the signal from the tuner and feeds it to Kodi as well as providing DVR recording capability.
Some popular PVR backend options for Windows are:
- NextPVR – Easy to use, great for beginners
- TVHeadend – More advanced, more features
- MediaPortal – Great integration with Windows Media Center
Install your chosen backend software on the same Windows machine as Kodi. Configure it to connect to your TV tuner device. Enable the server/client component that will stream to Kodi.
Step 3: Configure Kodi for Live TV
With the TV tuner and backend server set up externally, Kodi now needs to be configured to connect as a client.
In Kodi’s settings:
- Go to TV settings
- Enable Live TV support
- Select the PVR client add-on that corresponds to your backend server
- Enter the configuration info like IP address, port number, etc.
Follow the specific steps for your selected backend software provided in Kodi’s PVR setup guide:
Step 4: Set Up EPG and Channels
Once connected, you can further set up your channel listings and program guide (EPG) within Kodi’s PVR settings.
To help match channels to guide data, it is useful to configure Kodi to use the same channel order/numbers as your TV provider if applicable.
Some options in PVR settings:
- Update Guide Data – Refresh it from the backend
- PVR Channel Manager – Enable/disable channels
- PVR Channel Groups – Organize channels by categories or numbers
Additional Tips
- Use the PVR TV Guide add-on to view an interactive TV guide in Kodi
- For stability, use a dedicated Windows PC for the PVR backend rather than running on the same system
- Adjust buffer size in PVR client add-on settings if you experience lag/stuttering while watching live TV
- Many TV tuner cards require the computer to stay powered on 24/7 for live TV or scheduled recordings
With Kodi set up for Live TV and PVR functionality, you now have a complete DVR system for watching and recording TV on your Windows PC!
Troubleshooting Problems
If you run into any issues getting Live TV working in Kodi, here is some troubleshooting advice:
- Confirm TV tuner device is detected in Windows Device Manager
- Verify backend server app can access the tuner by testing live TV viewing within the app itself
- Check backend app logs for errors and that the IP address/port configured in Kodi matches
- In Kodi, go to Settings > Logging and enable debug logging. Check log after trying to view live TV for clues
- Try a different PVR client add-on
- Double check all steps completed, re-read documentation/guides
- Search Kodi forum for your TV tuner model for specific advice
We hope this guide has helped explain the full process for setting up and configuring live TV, DVR, and PVR functionality with Kodi on a Windows PC. Let us know if you have any other questions!
