MythTV Backend on RPi2

[johnsonbrewer]

Greetings,

Need a little direction on setting up MythTV backend software ( ver. 0.27 ? ) on a new Raspberry Pi2. This will be feeding a Kodi machine front-end. I've been using Kodi on various platforms for a couple a years while running WMC Server on the backend with very good results so I'm familiar with the ins and outs of that system. Used both Chromeboxes and FireTV's for the Kodi front-end. This new front-end will be the new FireTV2. A couple of reasons for going this route now -- I want something that doesn't rely on WMC, and a few friends want me to install an easy to use Kodi GUI platform that will handle Amazon Prime, Netflix, Live TV, and have DVR functionality for OTA. I've also used OpenElec / Kodi so I installed that on the new Pi2 and wanted to use the built in MythTV as the backend and soon discovered that Add On app is only for the client side front-end. I have a couple of SD HD Homerun dual tuners that work great too.

So where I need direction is 1) Am I correct that the OpenElec MythTV add on is front end client only and I still need to install the MythTV backend ver. ~ 0.27 to have a functioning LiveTV and DVR? and 2) Do I need to start fresh on the Pi2 by removing OpenElec ( and Kodi ) and then installing the correct MythTV software for the backend? If so, are there simple instructions to install the correct software? I've looked for days and the more I look the more confused I become.

Best I can determine if my line of understanding is correct I should install MythBuntu on the Pi2 to have it install the right software? Again, if so, where are the best idiot-proof instructions for getting this done? Or is TVHeadEnd still an option for a backend?

Any guidance is greatly appreciated.

 

[LoveMachine]

FULL DISCLAIMER: I've never used the rPi, so I'm unfamiliar with the linux builds for it, and if packages for that require different builds. That said, since no one else has chimed in, I'll throw in what I can.

Question 1&2) Correct, the add-on does indeed need a backend running before the addon can do anything. I highly doubt you would be able to get Mythtv-backend properly configured with OpenELEC. Raspbian, much more likely to work.

As a linux noob, getting Myth up and running on KodiBuntu was incredibly frustrating, but now that I've got it all figured out, it's great. Myth is a very powerful backend PVR that is highly customizable and was easy to integrate a SchedulesDirect subscription into (if you are in North America). MythBuntu was far easier (just follow the tutorial in the Help section of Mythbuntu.org), but then Kodi installed on top of that had some audio/video/remote issues. I tried TVHeadEnd with OpenELEC, and found it rather clunky and not nearly as feature-filled, and a lot tougher to get SchedulesDirect to play nicely.

If get Raspbian or something similar installed, and it uses a similar package manager to Ubuntu (I have no idea), the MythbuntuControlCentre package will install everything you need. If this does work for you, below are some links that were very helpful for me to get Mythtv-backend up and running:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19knOlqz8cV5_8VQ1tCvEd8tjEk6U50KsSOJCROR60o4/edit
http://askubuntu.com/questions/475918/mythtv-could-not-connect-to-the-database
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/M...head-75ded5e7682340f0a88f9ed6ec69a68b6a8b4162
http://askubuntu.com/questions/347967/mythtv-cannot-connect-to-database?rq=1

 

[johnsonbrewer]

Thanks for the lengthy reply. I will check into Mythbuntu to see if that path is any easier to set up the MythTV backend. Probably just start fresh with a new microSD card for the Mythbuntu install and park the card with OpenElec.

Thanks again.

 

[Binky]

I'm guessing that this wont work out well but I could be wrong. Is ubuntu as optimized for the pi as raspbian? You could install raspbian, then try to install Myth on top of that. I'm not sure if the performance will be there; the Rpi2 really isn't a powerhouse. Worst case, you tinker with it for a while, then abandon the backend project and go back to openelec. You didn't mention if you were looking to use the Myth front end on the Rpi. That's also possible I would assume.

I agree with lovemachine on the frustration of gettting myth up and running. I'm terible with linux but I finally got myth up and running in a VM. Now it just runs 24/7 but I don't even use it, yet. My trial of schedulesdirect ran out before I had time to get the damned thing running right.

An easier setup would be to use Win7 or Win+TV addon with serverwmc as the backend. Free guide data (for now...)! Super-easy setup too.

I'm still underwhelmed by the recorded TV front end on Kodi, so I just use serverwmc to control the Win8 recordings, but all of the recordings are sorted and renamed by WTV MetaRenamer into standard folders. Then I use the standard TV section in Kodi.

 

[LoveMachine]

I'm guessing that this wont work out well but I could be wrong. Is ubuntu as optimized for the pi as raspbian? You could install raspbian, then try to install Myth on top of that. I'm not sure if the performance will be there; the Rpi2 really isn't a powerhouse. Worst case, you tinker with it for a while, then abandon the backend project and go back to openelec. You didn't mention if you were looking to use the Myth front end on the Rpi. That's also possible I would assume.

I agree with lovemachine on the frustration of gettting myth up and running. I'm terible with linux but I finally got myth up and running in a VM. Now it just runs 24/7 but I don't even use it, yet. My trial of schedulesdirect ran out before I had time to get the damned thing running right.

An easier setup would be to use Win7 or Win+TV addon with serverwmc as the backend. Free guide data (for now...)! Super-easy setup too.

I'm still underwhelmed by the recorded TV front end on Kodi, so I just use serverwmc to control the Win8 recordings, but all of the recordings are sorted and renamed by WTV MetaRenamer into standard folders. Then I use the standard TV section in Kodi.

Binky, just FYI, if you do want to give Myth another shot without the VM, read through those links I posted. The key things to getting the backend up and running are to set the bind address (your computer's IP which should be a manually set IP) in the 2 config files, and the dpkg-reconfigure steps. I had to run those twice to get everything working. Once it's all setup, I really like Myth, and it's running well on a KodiBuntu OS without a VM. I nearly gave up on the whole thing but made it a personal challenge to myself to get it right.

 

[ivwshane]

I thought kodi had an app that allowed you to access HD Homerun cards with no additional backend server?

https://www.silicondust.com/products/hdhomerun/kodi/

 

[LoveMachine]

I thought kodi had an app that allowed you to access HD Homerun cards with no additional backend server?

https://www.silicondust.com/products/hdhomerun/kodi/

Quite true, but it can only fetch guide data for roughly 2 hours ahead of time which severely limits setting up recordings with no way currently to integrate SchedulesDirect etc., and has limited functionality in terms of channel customization compared to a full Myth setup. It works and it's simple, but it's also, well, simple.