Basic general information for popular DVR software packages - not all actually record.
Information about what common and prominent DVR features are implemented natively (without third-party add-ons unless stated otherwise):
Each features is in context of computer-to-computer interaction.
All features must be available after the default install otherwise the feature needs a footnote.
1 Yes with registry change
2 Yes with retail third-party plugin
3 Yes with free supported third-party plugin
4 Yes with free unsupported third-party plugin
5 Yes with free third-party software Web Guide 4
6 Yes with add-on software called DVBLink Server
7 Yes with using symlinks, or just adding folders in settings
"DVB Dream". www.dvbdream.org. Retrieved 2019-10-23. https://www.dvbdream.org/
"DVBViewer 6.0.0". DVBViewer community forum. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 2019-10-23. https://www.dvbviewer.tv/forum/topic/59624-dvbviewer-600/
Emby Server is available for free under GPL which provides web access to the library. Client software is generally free when connected to an Emby Premiere-licensed server, though some, like Emby on the Windows Store, cost $4.99.[3] /wiki/Windows_Store
Premiere license costs $4.99/month, $49.99/year, or $99.99 for lifetime.[4]
"Emby: Latest Versions". Emby. 2022-01-13. Retrieved 2022-01-15. https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/21348-emby-latest-versions/
"Introducing the new Live TV for Emby (and a new Emby Server beta)". Emby. Archived from the original on 2015-08-26. Retrieved 2015-08-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20150826195357/http://emby.media/introducing-the-new-live-tv-for-emby-and-a-new-emby-server-beta/
"Release Notes MC25". JRiverWiki. Retrieved 2019-10-23. https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Release_Notes_MC25
"Kodi". 2024-04-06. Retrieved 2024-07-13. https://kodi.tv/article/kodi-21-0-omega-release/
"MediaPortal 1.23 Final Regeszter Edition". MediaPortal. Retrieved 2019-10-23. https://www.team-mediaportal.com/news/mediaportal-1-23-release
"MediaPortal 2.2.2 Release". MediaPortal. Retrieved 2019-10-23. https://www.team-mediaportal.com/news/mediaportal-2-2-2-release
Porting MythTV to Windows is under development.[11]
"Release Notes - 33". MythTV Official Wiki. Retrieved 2023-07-14. https://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Release_Notes_-_33
"6.1.5.231022 Available (22nd October 2023)". NextPVR Forums. Retrieved 2024-02-07. https://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?tid=65136
There is also a Windows Home Server Edition
"SageTV is Open Source!!!". SageTV Community. Retrieved 2015-08-20. http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62315
"tvtime: High quality video for Linux". tvtime.sourceforge.net. Retrieved 2019-10-23. http://tvtime.sourceforge.net/downloads.php
"ANNOUNCE - VDR Version 2.4.1". VDR Portal. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-23. https://www.vdr-portal.de/forum/index.php?thread/132836-announce-vdr-version-2-4-1/
"Windows 8 and 8.1 Pro Pack and Media Pack are no longer available to buy". support.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2016-09-06. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3107057
Allan, Patrick (10 September 2015). "Get Windows Media Center Running on Windows 10 in a Few Easy Steps". Retrieved 2016-09-09. https://lifehacker.com/get-windows-media-center-running-on-windows-10-with-a-f-1729919907/
Manage and schedule recordings
"Guides and Downloads". www.vboxcomm.com. Retrieved 2019-10-23. https://www.vboxcomm.com/shop-support/download.html
A system similar to TiVo's which enables the DVR/PVR application to record programs based on past viewing habits and interests. /wiki/TiVo
To take advantage of operating system power management with Beyond TV, the main user interface must be closed.
Supports over-the-air EPG when using cards/boxes which support this functionality, and in areas where such a service is available. For example, over-the-air 7-day programme data is available in the UK for DVB-T services (Freeview, TopUp TV etc; DVB-T2 listings for Freeview HD are encrypted) and Freesat (DVB-S/S2).[f 8] /wiki/Freeview_(UK)
Elgato's contract with TitanTV for the US market expired in 2010. When it expired, TV Guide became the sole EPG provider for EyeTV in the United States. There, one year of TV Guide EPG service costs $19.95.[20][21]
Support is limited to content broadcast as 'copy freely' (DRM Free)
Natively supports broadcast EPG. Able to use alternative EPG, like XMLTV and Schedules Direct in countries that don't provide a decent broadcast EPG.
Support is limited to content broadcast as 'copy freely' (DRM Free)
Supports over-the-air EPG when using cards/boxes which support this functionality, and in areas where such a service is available. For example, over-the-air 7-day programme data is available in the UK for DVB-T services (Freeview, TopUp TV etc; DVB-T2 listings for Freeview HD are encrypted) and Freesat (DVB-S/S2).[f 8] /wiki/Freeview_(UK)
Supports XMLTV programme data which is provided by various sources for various costs depending on territory. For example, the (supported) 14-day Radio Times feed for the UK is free of charge.
Version 1.5.0 or higher required - only 'Copy Freely' support - No Encrypted 'Copy Once' support[22]
via aMPdroid app; requires WifiRemote and MpExtended plugins[23]
via aMPdroid app; requires WifiRemote and MpExtended plugins[23]
Supports over-the-air EPG when using cards/boxes which support this functionality, and in areas where such a service is available. For example, over-the-air 7-day programme data is available in the UK for DVB-T services (Freeview, TopUp TV etc; DVB-T2 listings for Freeview HD are encrypted) and Freesat (DVB-S/S2).[f 8] /wiki/Freeview_(UK)
Supports over-the-air EPG when using cards/boxes which support this functionality, and in areas where such a service is available. For example, over-the-air 7-day programme data is available in the UK for DVB-T services (Freeview, TopUp TV etc; DVB-T2 listings for Freeview HD are encrypted) and Freesat (DVB-S/S2).[f 8] /wiki/Freeview_(UK)
Subscription-free EPG is available in areas where program listings data is freely available without violating copyright laws or data owners' Terms of Service. In North America, Schedules Direct provides legally-licensed EPG data for a nominal fee of $25 per year.[24] /wiki/Schedules_Direct
Support is limited to content broadcast as 'copy freely' (DRM Free)
Supports hardware-based CAMs supported by LinuxTV framework. http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/DVB_Conditional_Access_Modules
External third-party plug-in required, e.g. "tvwish", "MythMiner"; not supported. http://www.templetons.com/brad/myth/tvwish.html
Supports any tuner card supported by LinuxTV framework. http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Hardware_Device_Information
The official MythTV plugin MythWeb allows users to browse the programme guide, schedule recordings, manage media and playback video via a Flash-based player, which works on Android phones and tablets.[25] /wiki/Adobe_Flash
The official MythTV plugin MythWeb allows users to browse the programme guide, schedule recordings, manage media and playback video via a Flash-based player, which works on Android phones and tablets.[25] /wiki/Adobe_Flash
Support is limited to content broadcast as 'copy freely' (DRM Free) - Smartphone and tablet control of the full range of Windows Media Center features is possible on iOS and Android.[26]
Supported by 3rd party plugins: ComSkip and ShowAnalyzer http://nextpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Utility/ComSkip
Windows Media Center supports two NTSC (Analog) tuners and two ATSC (Digital) tuners out of the box. Using additional tuners requires registry modifications. Windows 7 Media Center supports up to 4 tuners of each type out of the box, DVB-T, DVB-S, NTSC/PAL.
Windows Media Center supports CableCard when used on CableLabs certified OEM Hardware.[27] Windows 7 Media Center supports CableCard on any hardware that passes the Digital Cable Advisor tool in MCE.[28] /wiki/Windows_Media_Center
Requires an external plug-in such as "DVRMSToolbox", "Lifextender" or "MCEBuddy"; not supported by Microsoft. http://babgvant.com/Wiki/view.aspx/DVRMSToolbox
Vista Media Center can do partial intelligent recordings based on keywords, actor(s) name(s), or genre.
DVB-C is achievable using certain cards that are detected as DVB-T tuners. And also using addons such as DVBLink
Possible with third-party software.
Possible with third-party software.
Possible with third-party software.
Windows 7 only
Possible with third-party software.
Windows 7 only
Possible with third-party software.
Windows 7 only
Possible with third-party software.