Tvheadend

Running TVH on an old PC shouldn’t be a problem. It’s only a backend server. The frontend would probably be more of an issue.

TVH can be easily compiled on Ubuntu https://tvheadend.org/boards/4/topics/47932
or you can add one of available PPAs like this https://launchpad.net/~mamarley/+archive/ubuntu/tvheadend-git

Got a old $40 intell pc to replace pi, what version of linux would you recommend? Easy install?

Ubuntu Server
for no monitor

Libre/OpenElec
if directly connected to TV

jim okoren wrote:

Got a old $40 intell pc to replace pi, what version of linux would you recommend? Easy install?

What processor does the old PC contain.

If all you need is the ability to serve TVH to a client I’d recommend Ubuntu 22.04 lts. All you’ll need here is the ability to serve streams. The streams won’t be processed by TVH. I provided instructions for adding a PPA and simply install TVH using the sudo apt install from the command line. No need to compile.

I’m not sure what client (frontend) you intend to use. You could install Kodi for Ubuntu on the same PC but don’t expect miracles when viewing your streams. They will work though.

The best advice is to try what I suggested above. If you’re familiar with Linux you should be up and running in two hours.

Docker would be one answer, kinda difficult to get started, but it does take the pain out of bare metal install. For a first time, start with dockstarter:
https://dockstarter.com/ makes it very easy to get going, they have tvheadend within there web apps.

joe blow wrote:

Docker would be one answer, kinda difficult to get started, but it does take the pain out of bare metal install. For a first time, start with dockstarter:
https://dockstarter.com/ makes it very easy to get going, they have tvheadend within there web apps.

Stay away from this pseudo virtualisation they are bigger and slower than native.
On old PC this is a huge problem.

Plus one to don't use docker.

My media machine is probably older and slower than the one you just got, however the graphics does offer decoding of h.264 so it runs tvheadend, kodi and a few other odds and ends no problem. It is currently on Mint 20.2.

I compile my own packages from source, however there are precompiled packages available to download. See here:

https://tvheadend.org/projects/tvheadend/wiki/AptRepositories

If you are getting errors during compile it generally means that there are dependent libraries that you need to install first.

Tried all above & many distros, no luck;-(! Just need tvheadend & dlna! Record from ethernet hdhomerun tuner only, playback dlna on tv's.

What os should I install on "new" Intel I5 PC to get tvheadend?

There’s so many choices of Linux OS to install. Just pick one and try. Personally I chose Ubuntu. As soon as it is installed and update add this PPA

https://launchpad.net/~mamarley/+archive/ubuntu/tvheadend-git

Once that PPA is installed it is just a case of running sudo apt update and sudo apt install tvheadend

It really is that simple. In case you don’t believe me https://tvheadend.org/projects/tvheadend/wiki/AptRepositories

Please add to install wiki, Jim O'K!

Intel i386 linux don't work!
Use - "Ubuntu 20.04.6 LTS amd64" for old PC.

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y
sudo apt install --assume-yes software-properties-common
curl -1sLf 'https://dl.cloudsmith.io/public/tvheadend/tvheadend/setup.deb.sh' | sudo -E bash
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mamarley/tvheadend-git
echo 16384 | sudo tee /proc/sys/fs/inotify/max_user_watches
echo fs.inotify.max_user_watches=16384 | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
sudo apt install tvheadend

There's no point in adding the official repository and an unofficial one at the same time. Choose one of them.