HTPC Guide

 

 

The Best HTPC Guide for Internet and Live TV in America

Cut the cable and build your own DVR with Kodi, MediaPortal and SchedulesDirect.

Updated and Revised June, 2016

Introduction

There is a quiet revolution underway as people are dropping their cable and satellite TV services in favor of low-cost internet streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Amazon, Fox News and free terrestrial broadcast HDTV.  Taking back control from the Titans of TV not only saves money but also time which ultimately makes watching TV a better experience.  But don’t settle for a half-baked solution!  Most of the new services out there, such as Microsoft’s Xbox Live and Google’s Chromecast, offer internet streaming only, with no ability to receive broadcast HDTV.  Why forgo the largest source of free TV programming available, especially when it’s more reliable and provides better picture quality than streaming, cable or satellite TV?

The ability to time-shift record and skip commercials is essential to most users, as it should be.  The problem is that the DVRs provided by cable and satellite companies only function when their subscriptions are active.  Even those DVRs that can record free broadcast HDTV typically disable that feature if your subscription is not paid.  Even worse, those DVRs are closed systems, hindered by DRM copy-protection and advertising schemes and some even limit what streaming services you can receive.  Well, open-source HTPC software has made tremendous strides in recent years and now we don’t have to take it anymore!

HTPC software has advanced to the point that anyone who knows how to install and use Windows can build their own HTPC that is better than anything the Titans offer.  After extensive research, I found this beautiful, integrated solution that combines the best of internet streaming (from any service) and broadcast HDTV with full DVR features on a Windows PC optimized as a Home Theater PC.  The combination of Kodi (previously named XBMC) and MediaPortal software with the SchedulesDirect EPG service is outstanding!  When installed together with the Firefox or Chrome browser, you have a truly complete solution for internet and broadcast HDTV – all integrated into a single, elegant menu system which is driven by a wireless remote control and mouse.  Plus, this system is open, highly serviceable, expandable and upgradeable.  It’s ready to adapt to whatever happens next in the ongoing TV revolution.  Meanwhile, you will have a better TV viewing experience while saving money.

The Best HTPC Guide

• The most complete and actively-developed HTPC software – Kodi and MediaPortal.
• The most complete and reliable EPG service – SchedulesDirect.
• Optimized for broadcast HDTV with DVR for use in North America.
• Windows 7, 8 or 10 with Silverlight for the best streaming support for Netflix, Hulu, etc.
• Plugins for the most internet streaming channels, like YouTube Fox News, etc.
• Very low power and quiet operation – 50 watts typical power dissipation.
• Open system. No DRM.  Highly serviceable, expandable and upgradeable.
• Can support multiple TVs and older TVs without HDMI inputs.
• Great PC gaming and web browsing capabilities.
• Lowest cost of operation (See chart below).

Kodi Main Menu Showing Some DVR Events for Live TV

The Hard Part

It turns out that the most difficult part of building a HTPC is getting the DVR functionality with a reliable Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for the local HDTV broadcasts in your particular area, and a DVR is really useless without a good program guide.  This has been the major advantage of the Tivo service for many years.  However, there is another online EPG service for HTPC users in America named SchedulesDirect which offers excellent reliability and lower cost.  SchedulesDirect is actually the only online EPG service in America which is reliable, easy to install, low cost, legal and does not require you to buy and use a proprietary set-top-box.  The funny thing is that SchedulesDirect only supports open-source software projects like Kodi and MediaPortal.  They do not support, for example, Microsoft’s Windows Media Center because that’s not open-source software.  WMC has been a good solution for several years as it’s included with Windows 7, but Microsoft’s support for WMC has been fading recently.  Many WMC users are responding by switching to Kodi or MediaPortal, because these are open solutions with superior user interfaces and are supported by SchedulesDirect.  Most other HTPC solutions out there lack an EPG source for users in America and their websites largely ignore this problem.  They typically document EPG solutions that are only available in other countries, such as DVB EPG, or solutions that are difficult to install because they scrape EPG data from websites, such as XMLTV and WebEPG.  SchedulesDirect is by far the best solution for HTPC users in America because it does not have those problems.

SchedulesDirect Program Guide in Kodi for Live TV

The Solution

My HTPC solution is to use the combination of Kodi and MediaPortal with the SchedulesDirect EPG service on Windows 7, 8 or 10.  The MediaPortal TV-Server software manages the HDTV tuners and EPG and Kodi provides a beautiful user-interface that integrates everything into a single menu system; Live TV, DVR, Internet TV, Radio, BluRay/DVD, Music, Pictures and Weather.

Kodi and MediaPortal are the most widely used HTPC solutions with SchedulesDirect support and fortunately, these projects are compatible.  They actually share a common ancestry and compliment each other really well. They are also experiencing rapid growth in users and continued active development, so they are most likely to be well supported into the future.

Finally, Kodi and MediaPortal have plugin architectures which allow their feature sets to be extended.  This is where much of the important capabilities of this software actually lies.  The complete List of Add-ons for Kodi is impressive, although not all of them have been maintained well as Kodi has evolved.  But, the availability of such a large number of plugins and their active development is what really sets Kodi apart.  This guide details the installation of many of the best plugins that have been of the most use to me.  You will certainly find more, so please leave a comment below to share what you find!

If you have time to research other HTPC solutions, by all means do so, but keep in mind that most of the solutions you will read about are actually configured for use internationally, don’t necessarily support the ATSC standard for broadcast HDTV reception in America and probably rely upon questionable sources for the EPG data needed for a quality DVR.

Recommended Links for Further Reading

• Kodi Home
• MediaPortal Home
• Which Media Center Is Right for You: Boxee, XBMC, and Windows Media Center Compared
• 5 Alternatives to Windows Media Center on Windows 8
• MediaPortal – Why I switched from Windows Media Center
• Top 10 Best HTPC Software for HDTV
• How to Customize XBMC 12 Frodo with All the Bells and Whistles
• The Final Insult? Microsoft Explains, Dumps on, Media Center in Windows 8
• Beginner’s Guide to HTPC Software
• Cut that cord – How to ditch cable
• How To Set Up Your XBMC Media Center

A good first step for your HTPC project is to download and install Kodi onto any Windows PC just to give the user interface a test drive.  You can use much of Kodi even without a TV tuner installed, such as internet streaming channels and the music player.

Live TV in Kodi with Example Program Information

Why Not Linux?

There are versions of Kodi for Linux, but they require different TV server software (because MediaPortal is for Windows only) and a different streaming solution because NetFlix requires Microsoft’s Silverlight which does not run directly on Linux.  Windows is easier because it already includes most of the drivers and codecs required for HTPC and Windows is generally easier to maintain than Linux.  There are also a lot more games available for Windows.

By limiting this guide to a specific configuration on Windows, it’s much more concise and accessible.  The problem with the documentation for most HTPC solutions (including Kodi and MediaPortal) is that they support so many different hardware and software platforms that it’s really difficult to navigate if you have not built a HTPC before.  My aim with this guide is to focus on this very specific configuration designed for users in North America that combines the best of internet and broadcast TV technology and is easy and fun to build.  This is simply the best HTPC solution for North America!

Cost to Operate

This HTPC costs a lot less to operate than typical cable or satellite TV subscriptions and with the combination of NetFlix streaming and broadcast TV, we never miss seeing anything we want. Even when the TV Titans go to battle over re-broadcasting fees, we just record from the air.  For illustration, here is a summary of our monthly TV subscription costs, which includes our internet service.

Monthly TV Subscription Costs

Spectrum Cable  (Internet only)                                    $20.00
SchedulesDirect EPG    ($25 Annually)                         $2.08
NetFlix Streaming                                                            $11.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                                                                 $33.08

A SchedulesDirect account costs only $25 annually for the EPG service.  This is the only subscription fee that is required for this HTPC solution, besides an internet service provider. Add to this a paid streaming service, like NetFlix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime or HBO, and you have got plenty of TV for a fraction of the cost of cable TV – without the 50% commercial content of cable channels!

We used to pay 4 times as much for 50 Mbps internet (Time Warner’s Extreme Internet package). The crazy thing is, their cheapest package (3 Mbps) works just as well for HTPC. The more important issue is their network reliability, which is not great, but it’s the same regardless of which package we buy.

Client-Server Design

MediaPortal has a client part and a server part, often called the front-end and back-end, respectively.  You can run both on the same HTPC, or you can have other HTPCs that just run the client part and receive content from a shared MediaPortal TV server.  Kodi and MediaPortal are compatible projects and a popular configuration is to use only the TV-Server part of MediaPortal (to control the HDTV tuners and the EPG) and run Kodi for the client, instead of using the MediaPortal client.  This means Kodi provides the user-interface and the MediaPortal TV-Server does most of the work behind the scenes.  I use a single HTPC to run both the MediaPortal TV-Server and the Kodi client on Windows.

Some of my Favorite Internet Channels with Kodi Plugins

The Hardware

This software can be installed on any Windows PC, but since the DVR function requires the unit to be powered continuously, it’s best to build a dedicated HTPC designed specifically for low-power operation.  This design is compact, low power and very quiet. It’s styled like component audio equipment to sit near your HDTV. The Silverstone case features a black-anodized aluminum front with USB 3.0 sockets on the front.  The motherboard has PCI Express 2.0 and 3.0 x16 slots, which can accommodate a graphics card if you want better gaming capabilities than the HD4000 graphics, which is integrated into the Intel Core I3 processor. However, that will probably also require increasing the capacity of the power supply and running more of the chassis fans which are built into the Silverstone case. The integrated graphics works fine for all but the latest games and without a graphics card, the chassis fans are not even needed, so only the processor and power supply fans are required.  These are variable speed fans which only run as needed based on temperature sensors, which makes this system run extremely quiet.

I recommend using a combination of a solid state disk (SSD) and a Seagate Pipeline hard disk (HDD). Windows and all of the rest of the software is installed on the SSD and the HDD is only used for storing recorded audio and video.  This provides fast operation while also keeping the power and noise down.  The Seagate Pipeline series drives are designed for HTPC applications with a lower rotation speed (5900 RPM) that reduces power consumption and noise.  A cheaper solution would be to eliminate the SSD and install all the software on the HDD, in which case you should use a conventional 7200 RPM HDD.

Example Hardware Components with Links to Suppliers

SiliconDust External Dual ATSC Tuner HDHR4-2US                                            $100.00
Silverstone Micro-ATX HTPC Case GD04b-USB3.0                                               $115.00
Lite-on DVD Burner (Or substitute a BluRay Drive Instead)                                   $20.00
Seagate Pipeline HDD 2T ST ST2000VM002 64M 5.9K                                          $56.00
Intel Core I3 3225 3.3G 3M with HD4000 Graphics                                             $139.99
SDRAM Kit 2Gx2 GSK F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ                                                          $25.00
MicroATX MotherBoard ASUS P8H77-M/CSM                                                      $104.99
Seasonic High Efficiency PSU S12II 380B 380W                                                     $70.00
Crucial SSD 128G CT128M4SSD2   (Optional)                                                         $149.99
USB-IR Receiver Kit with Remote    (Search for “HP OEM WMC Remote”)         $19.00

The integrated Intel HD4000  graphics controller features HDMI, DVI and VGA outputs which can be configured for virtually any display format up to and including 1080p.  The HDMI connection should be used if it’s available on your HDTV.  The HD4000 also has the ability to shift the video image horizontally and/or vertically up to 10%, which is often needed when driving older HDTVs that don’t have an HDMI input.  In that case, an HDMI to Component converter is also required which can be difficult to find.  Here are two possible sources:

Enjoy Gadgets HDMI to VGA & Component Converter with Audio                 $42.50
KanexPro KAHDRGBRL  HDMI to Component Converter with Audio             $59.00

Of course, all prices shown are just representative of what I have seen recently at Amazon and NewEgg, which are my favorite hardware suppliers.  For more information regarding the selection of hardware components, see the Assassin HTPC Hardware Guide.

The Antenna

To receive live TV, you will need a UHF antenna.  This can be a small indoor antenna, if you are near the transmission towers.  If not, get a large yagi type antenna to mount in your attic or on the roof.  Attic mounted antennas work well provided your roof does not contain any metallic foil or radiant barrier. Yagi antennas are designed to pull in signals from a specific direction, so it’s essential to point it in the right direction.  The AntennaWeb guide will help with that.

I recently replaced our yagi antenna with this octal bowtie antenna and it dramatically improved the signal strength to our SiliconDust tuners. Even though we are only about 30 miles from our transmission towers, the improved reliability from having a stronger signal more than justifies a better antenna. I highly recommend this type of antenna, unless you are so close to your towers that it’s unnecessary.

Windows Versions

Either 32 or 64 bit versions of Windows 7, 8 or 10 can be used for Kodi and MediaPortal.  64 bit versions can address more than 4GB of RAM, but this software will never actually use more than 4GB anyway, so the only reason to install more RAM would be if you want better performance for high-end games, for example.  Do not use WindowsXP because it lacks many of the required drivers and codecs for audio, video and remote controls.

Software Components with Download Links

Microsoft Windows 7/8/10 (32 or 64 Bit)                                                                           $90
Microsoft Silverlight                                        Silverlight.exe                                              Free
Microsoft DirectX                                             DirectX9c_dxwebsetup.exe                       Free
Microsoft .Net Frameworks                           dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64.exe                  Free
HD Homerun Installer                                        hdhomerun_windows_20150826.exe     Provided
MediaPortal                                                        MediaPortalSetup_1.14.0_Final.exe        Free
Kodi for Windows                                              kodi-16.1-Jarvis.exe                                    Free
SchedulesDirect Plugin for MediaPortal     SchedulesDirectPlugin-1.11.0.2.mpe1    Free
MediaPortal TVServer KodiInstaller            TVServerKodi-1.12.0.131.mpe1                Free
NetFlix Plugin for XBMC                                  XBMC-Flicks-master.zip                             Free

Software Installation

1. Start by installing Windows onto the SSD along with all the drivers from the CD supplied with the motherboard and the Microsoft .Net Frameworks, Silverlight and DirectX updates listed above.  There are some optional optimizations that can be made when Installing Windows7 on a Solid State Disk Drive.

2. Create yourself a SchedulesDirect account.  This service is free for the first week, then they will ask for $25 payment for the first year via a credit card or PayPal.  The guide data will be provided based upon the zip code you provide when the account is created.

3. Install the SiliconDust HDHomeRun tuners with an antenna and its software from the supplied CD.

Run the HDHomeRun Setup program which should automatically find the HDHomeRun on your local network.

On the Configuration tab, enter your Location and set the BDA Compatibility Mode to MediaPortal.

On the Digital Antenna Tab, check that all of your desired channels have been found. If not, click the Rescan button. If the scan fails to find channels, the problem is likely with your antenna connection.

Click the OK button to save and exit.

Run the HDHomeRun VIEW program.  This will display live TV without the Kodi or MediaPortal software being installed yet.  This is an important test to be sure your HDHomeRun is working before proceeding. Another way to test your tuners installation is to click the View button in the HDHomeRun Config GUI program, which launches the Windows Media Player with live TV.

Note that after MediaPortal is installed, its TV-Server may interfere with running these live TV viewing tests because it will not share the tuners with other apps. A temporary workaround for this is to run comexp.msc to launch the Windows Component Services Manager, then search for the local service named TVService and right-click to stop it. That stops the MediaPortal TV-Server temporarily. It usually restarts automatically when Windows is rebooted.

HDHomeRun Setup Program Showing Tuners Installed for MediaPortal

4. Download and install MediaPortal 1. Even though we will use Kodi for the front-end client, a full installation of MediaPortal is necessary because it also installs several additional required packages such as MySQL, the MSVC++ Redistributable and DirectX libraries and configures the Windows firewall. Note that MediaPortal 2 can not be used. This is because it still lacks the extensions required for Kodi and SchedulesDirect integration. The only significant improvements in version 2 are to the client, which we are replacing with Kodi anyway.

5.  Download and install the two plugins required for the MediaPortal TV-Server to work with Kodi and SchedulesDirect.  In MediaPortal, plugins are called Extensions.  The names of the required extensions are:

TVServerKodi
SchedulesDirect

Run the MediaPortal Extension Manager:

Start > All Programs > Team MediaPortal > MediaPortal > MpeInstaller.exe

Click on the Known Extensions tab and search for these extensions and install them, if they are found.  If they are not found, they must be downloaded manually.  Then come back and open them in the MediaPortal Extensions Manager by browsing to the downloaded files.  These files have names that end with .mpe1. Note that extension files that end with .mpe2 are for Mediaportal 2 and can not be used with MediaPortal 1.

You can manually download the TVServerKodi extension from the MediaPortal TVServerKodi Installer page.  There are several versions available, but only download the latest version that is compatible with the version of MediaPortal installed.  The other download options for the RAR zip files with release DLL and debug executables are not needed.

For more information, refer to the MediaPortal TV Server Quick Start Guide page on the Kodi wiki.

You can manually download the SchedulesDirect extension from the SchedulesDirect Plugin for MediaPortal page.  There are several versions available, but only download the latest version that is compatible with the version of MediaPortal installed.

To make this easier, the required extension files are also provided here in a convenient ZIP file:

MediaPortal_Extensions.zip

MediaPortal Extensions Manager Showing the Required Extensions Installed

6. Configure the MediaPortal TV-Server.

Run the MediaPortal TV-Server Configuration program:

Start > All Programs > Team MediaPortal > MediaPortal TV Server > TV-Server Configuration

Click the box on the left of the TV Servers branch of the Project tree to expand it, then click on the name of your HTPC server on the branch (Typically HTPC).  There should be 2 SiliconDust HDHomeRun tuners in the list that is presented.  Be sure they are enabled and are assigned the highest priorities.

Select each tuner and click the Edit button to bring up the Edit Card Properties dialog.  Select these options in the Advanced Tuning Options section of that dialog for both tuners:

Allow this card to be preloaded
Pause card (faster for some cards)

For more information, refer to the MediaPortal TV-Server Configuration page.

Click on the Recording branch of the Project tree.  On the Folders tab, enter the path to store all DVR recording to (typically D:\Recording) and click the Same recording folder for all cards button.

Click on the Timeshifting branch of the Project tree.  On the Folders tab, enter the path to store all DVR recording to (typically D:\Timeshift) and click the Same timeshift folder for all cards button.

If you intend to access this TV server from Kodi running on PCs other than this HTPC, be sure to share both the Recording and Timeshift folders in the Windows Explorer properties for these folders. This is not required when Kodi is run on the same PC as the TV server.

Click the box on the left of the Plugins branch of the Project tree to expand these branches.  Check the boxes for these Available plugins to enable them:

TVServerKodi
SchedulesDirect

Click on SchedulesDirect EPG Client on the Plugins branch of the Project tree.  On the Configuration tab, enter your login Username and Password for the new SchedulesDirect account you created above.  This allows the MediaPortal TV-Server to automatically login periodically to download your EPG data.

For more information, refer to the SchedulesDirect Setup for MediaPortal page.

Click on TVServerKodi on the Plugins branch of the Project tree.  On the Shares tab, verify that the Recording and Timeshift paths are correct for each HDHomeRun tuner, as previously entered.

The MediaPortal TV-Server Configuration Program

Click on the TV Channels branch of the Project tree.  On the Channels tab, you should see a listing of all of the broadcast TV stations in your area that were found by the HDHomeRun tuners. There will typically be more channels listed than what you actually want. Some of them may not even function due to broadcast distance and limited  hours of operation. Therefore, use this interface to Preview and test each channel that you want. Uncheck the channels that you do not want. This will prevent them from appearing in Kodi. You can also Delete unwanted channels to remove them from this list completely. This configuration is stored until the next time you perform a channel rescan.

TV Channels Listing in MediaPortal TV-Server Configuration Program

Close the dialog and click OK to save your changes and exit the configuration program.

To configure Windows to automatically start the MediaPortal TV Service whenever Windows boots.  Run the Windows Component Services Manager and select the Services (Local) branch and search for the service named TVService and confirm that its Startup Type is configured for Automatic. The MediaPortal installation should have already configured this for you:

comexp.msc

Note that there is also a MediaPortal client Configuration program that looks very similar to the MediaPortal TV-Server Configuration program, but we don’t use it because we only use the client for testing purposes.

Run the MediaPortal client program to test the display of live TV.  If this does not work, revisit the installation of the HDHomeRun software above or the MediaPortal Setup Guide.

7. Download and install Kodi for Windows.  Plugins are called add-ons in Kodi and the add-on for MediaPortal is installed by default along with several other DVR (PVR) add-ons.  However, you must enable the MediaPortal PVR Client add-on and Live TV support on these menus within Kodi:

System > Settings > Add-ons > My Add-ons > PVR Clients > MediaPortal PVR Client > Enable

If Kodi is installed on the same PC as the MediaPortal TV-Server, the default settings will work fine. But, if Kodi is installed on a different PC (or non-Windows device), then the Connection parameters must be entered:

System > Settings > Add-ons > My Add-ons > PVR Clients > MediaPortal PVR Client > Configure > Connection

Set the MediaPortal Hostname to the name or IP address of the PC on your local network that runs your MediaPortal TV-Server.

Then enable Live TV support in Kodi:

System > Settings > TV > General > Enable

Then exit and restart Kodi. The TV option should now appear on the main menu:

TV > Guide > Select a Show > Switch

Test live TV by selecting a show in the guide and switching to that channel. If it does not work, run the MediaPortal client program again to test the display of live TV there. For more information, refer to The Kodi Live TV and PVR/DVR Setup Guide in the Kodi wiki.  Those instructions describe several back-end sources that can be used with Kodi, but MediaPortal is the only one that should be installed.

8.  Share some folders for easier maintenance of this software from other computers on your local area network.  Also share the folders for your recorded content and music.  For example:

C:\Users\<Name>\AppData\Roaming\Kodi
D:\Recording
D:\Music

Use the Windows control panel to unhide the Kodi folder.  In particular, you will need easy access to the Kodi log that is in that folder named kodi.log, to diagnose any errors that are reported.

9. Create a shortcut to the Kodi executable on your Windows desktop, if not already present. The Kodi executable is typically located here:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Kodi\Kodi.exe

Then, configure Windows to automatically launch Kodi every time Windows boots by placing a copy of the Kodi shortcut into your Windows Startup folder here:

C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Shortcut to Automatically Launch Kodi When Windows Boots

10. Windows 7 normally has Windows Media Center installed by default and it can interfere with configuring your remote control to drive Kodi. Microsoft has abandoned Windows Media Center and there is no reason to have it installed anymore. So, it’s best to disable Windows Media Center to prevent it from launching:

Start > Default Programs > Program Features > Turn Windows features on or off > Media Features > Windows Media Center > Uncheck

Install a Remote Control

A good remote control is an essential part of an HTPC system and there are several good options available.  Kodi can support a wide range of remote control types including those with integrated keyboard and trackball features.  But, Kodi is designed to work with remotes intended for Windows Media Center and those remotes operate on a different IR frequency than most remotes can generate – even most universal, programmable or learning remotes do not work directly with Kodi or MediaPortal.  There are some great tools available to resolve these compatibility problems, but configuring every button on a large remote can be tedious and error prone.  Therefore, here are some recommended options so you can choose what makes the most sense for you.

 Recommended Remote Control Options

1 - Start with a Windows Media Center remote kit such as the HP OEM WMC Remote.
2 - Purchase the Flirc IR Receiver to enable an IR remote you already own.
3 - Buy a high-end Logitech Harmony remote which can learn WMC key codes.
4 - Use your Android or Apple phone or tablet as your remote for Kodi.

In any event, use just a PC keyboard and mouse to get all of the essential software installed and working before proceeding with the installation of a remote.  The goal, of course, is to eliminate the need to use a keyboard and mouse to drive Kodi, but they will still be needed for occasional software updates, maintenance, gaming and web browsing.  Logitech has wireless USB keyboards and mice combos that share a common USB receiver dongle, which is a good idea.

Note that any of these remote control options can be used with Kodi running on either Windows or Linux. Even the Flirc can be used with a Linux distribution of Kodi, even though it must be programmed first using a Windows app. Once it is programmed, it can be moved to an ARM Linux distribution of Kodi such as GeeXboX, OpenELEC or LibreELEC.

Option 1 – The HP OEM WMC Remote Kit

The quick and easiest way to get started is with an HP OEM WMC Remote kit.  This kit includes an RC6 compatible IR receiver that connects to a USB port on your HTPC and a Windows Media Center IR remote control.  Even if you plan to use a different remote control, you still need an IR receiver and the WMC remote is useful for testing.  Beware that most universal remotes are not able to learn from WMC remotes because they use different IR frequencies.  The Logitech Harmony remotes are the exception.  The HP OEM WMC Remote kits are designed for use with Windows Media Center and the Microsoft eHome device driver which is provided with Windows 7.  This driver will install automatically when you connect the IR receiver to a USB port.

Most of the buttons on this remote will function correctly with Kodi and MediaPortal right out of the box, but there are some buttons that do not work.  To fix this, install the MCERemote add-on, which you will also need for button customization.  From the main menu, select:

System > Settings > Add-ons > Get Add-ons > Kodi.org Add-ons > Program Add-ons > MCERemote > Install

Now run the MCERemote Add-on to configure the remote for Kodi:

Programs > MCERemote > Apply current settings to remote.

This configures all of the buttons on the WMC remote for use with Kodi and stores the configuration in the Windows registry.  You must have run Kodi as Administrator to do this and you must also exit Kodi and reboot Windows for these changes to take effect.  This Add-on only works with Microsoft eHome compatible remotes and it will complain if your remote is not compatible.  For more information, refer to Using a Microsoft Remote Control in Windows in the Kodi wiki and from the Kodi main menu, select:

Programs > MCERemote > Read the instructions.

The default button assignments for Kodi make a good starting point.  But, after using Kodi for awhile you may want to change some buttons.  For example, there is no button defined for deleting recordings, by default.  So, here is an example of how to customize a button to do that using the MCERemote Add-on. Select:

Programs > MCERemote > Configure MCERemote settings.

This displays a list of all the buttons on the remote with the keyboard commands they transmit.  Scroll through this list and click on the one you want to redefine.  I chose the ENTER key (bottom right corner on the remote) because it’s redundant to the big round OK key in the center.  Other good choices are the RADIO, MUSIC, PICTURES , VIDEOS or LIVE TV buttons, which are colored on some WMC remotes.  When you choose a button, a virtual keyboard will pop up.  Use that keyboard to enter the name of the keyboard command you want that button to transmit.  I entered delete.  Then, click the Done button on the virtual keyboard, then OK and Yes to apply the settings to the remote.  Exit Kodi and reboot Windows for the changes to take effect.

To help identify how buttons on your remote correspond to the entries in the MCERemote Add-on list, download and install the ShowKey Windows Utility.  This utility shows the commands that are transmitted for each button pressed on the remote.

Option 2 – The Flirc IR Receiver

If you already own a remote control that you want to use with Kodi and you are willing to spend some time configuring the software to translate each key code, then purchase the Flirc IR Receiver, instead of Option 1.

This compact IR receiver has a built-in microcontroller with flash memory that will learn whatever IR key codes your remote transmits and translate them into the keyboard codes that Kodi expects.  In fact, Windows thinks the Flirc is an ordinary USB keyboard, which means it can also be used to launch other apps on the Windows desktop. Even though Flircs must be programmed using a Windows app, they can then be used with Kodi running on either Windows or Linux.

The difficult part of programming the Flirc is that the remote you choose must have a sufficient number of buttons to properly control Kodi and they must all generate unique key codes.  Most remotes do not have enough buttons and sometimes the buttons generate redundant key codes.  Your remote does not have to be programmable, but if it is, then you must first program it to emulate some other remote which must also have sufficient unique buttons.  If you don’t have a picture of the emulated remote, some trial and error will be required to find an emulation code that works well.  Programmable remotes typically come with a chart of 3 or 4 digit codes for all the devices they can emulate ordered by manufacturer and equipment type.   Also, buttons which have learned key codes from other remotes can cause problems too, so it’s best to program a universal remote with an emulation code that resets all of the needed buttons with unique key codes.

Download and install the latest release of the Flirc Installer for Windows.  Then, plug the Flirc device into any available USB port.  There is no cable supplied with the Flirc, so you can use an ordinary USB extension cable, or if you have an IR repeater, just tape an IR flasher onto the Flirc.

Run the Flirc configuration utility and start by selecting the Kodi keyboard guide option to program these essential keys:

Controllers > Kodi

        Keys

        Up
        Down
        Left
        Right
        Select
        Back
        Play
        Pause
        Stop
        Fast Reverse
        Fast Forward
        Skip Reverse
        Skip Forward
        Information
        Up Folder

The Flirc Kodi keyboard guide is somewhat out of date.  It shows some additional keys that are not really useful and you don’t want to waste your limited buttons with useless or redundant functions.  So, program just these important keys before adding others.  The following keys are also important for DVR operation, but you must  select the Full Keyboard Guide to program these:

Controllers > Full Keyboard

        Keys              Functions

        Ctrl + G          Display the EPG
        Ctrl + O          Display Recorded Shows
        Delete            Delete a Recorded Show
        C                     Show the Context Menu (Right Mouse Click)

For reference, there is a complete table of the Common Default Keyboard Controls for Kodi, but keep in mind that many of the keys shown are actually redundant or not useful.

If you attempt to program any button more than once, the error “Button already exists” will be reported.  You can then Erase that button and try again.  If this error is reported for a button you have not already programmed, it is likely because the button is generating the same key code as another button that you have already programmed.  Universal remotes will typically assign redundant key codes to buttons that are not mapped and that is usually because those buttons don’t exist on the device the remote is configured to emulate.  So, try configuring your remote to emulate a different device which has more buttons.  I have had the best luck programming my universal remote with emulation codes for Sony DVD recorders.

The ShowKey Windows Utility is also helpful to test your Flirc programming to confirm it’s actually generating the key codes you want.

Option 3 – Logitech Harmony Remotes

The Logitech Harmony Remotes are a more expensive option which I have not tried yet, but they have received good reviews on the Kodi and MediaPortal forums.  These remotes have premium features like back-lit buttons, an LCD display and the unusual ability to learn key codes from a WMC remote, so you can use them with the IR receiver from an HP OEM WMC Remote kit or with the Flirc receiver.  For more information, read How to use a Logitech Harmony Remote with XBMC in the Kodi forum.

There is a beta version of the Flirc software available which has a profile specifically to make configuration for Harmony remotes easier.  For more information, refer to this thread in the Flirc forum.

Option 4 – Android or Apple Phone or Tablet Apps

An Android or Apple phone or tablet can also be used as your remote control for Kodi by installing the appropriate app from either Google Play or the Apple App Store, respectively.  This requires your mobile device to have an 802.11 wireless connection to your local network because these devices do not have IR interfaces and therefore no IR receiver is required.

Kodi Remote Control App for Android

Option 5 – The LG Magic Remote with a Flirc

If you’re thinking about a new TV to use with Kodi, consider the LG Smart TVs with the Magic Remote. It’s the best solution I’ve seen for driving a web browser (and all the other apps on smart TVs), and it has all the essential buttons for driving a Kodi DVR. Most TV manufacturers have gone the other way, reducing the number of buttons on their remotes, which would require you to use an aftermarket remote. But, that would be a mistake because they can’t match the LG’s on-screen pointer feature which is the best solution for navigating web apps on a large TV. It works like a Nintendo Wii remote and not even Harmony remotes can do this because the remote must be made by the same manufacturer as the TV. Note that not all LG TV models have the Magic Remote.

LG TV’s have a feature for controlling attached devices called SimpLink, which is really HDMI-CEC. But, this can be quite complicated to get working with Kodi and it’s buggy. Using a Flirc with the Magic Remote bypasses HDMI-CEC entirely and it’s easier to setup and more reliable. A Flirc is required to use a Magic Remote with Kodi on Windows because it can not directly generate the MCE codes that Kodi requires. On Linux, it’s possible to configure the LIRC interface, if your board already has another IR receiver, instead of using a Flirc, but that requires editing the LIRC files manually.

First, configure the HDMI input on the TV for your HTPC using its Device Connector menu. Configure it for a Blu-ray DVD Player. This defines the type of device the Magic Remote will emulate. We use this because Kodi (or MCE) is not in the list, and the Flirc will be programmed to convert the key codes for this device to the MCE codes that Kodi requires:

 LG > Blu-ray/DVD Player > Remote Type 2

This allows most of the buttons on the Magic Remote to be programmed for Kodi, including the arrows, select, play, pause, numeric buttons and the four colored buttons. There are some configuration options for SimpLink, which can safely be ignored. Be sure to click the Next buttons to continue all the way through the configuration until it is saved. Now, to program the Flirc, see Option 2 – The Flirc IR Receiver, above.

There is a trick to programming the Flirc for an LG Magic Remote. This remote is actually both an IR and RF device and it must be able to communicate with the LG TV via both IR and RF to function properly. This means that when you program your Flirc, you must do it in front of the LG TV. So, install the Flirc programming app on a Windows laptop and plug the Flirc into it first, then sit in front of your LG TV as you program the Magic Remote key presses into the Flirc. If you try to do this too far away from the LG TV, it won’t work! Once you have the buttons programmed, move the Flirc to your HTPC/Kodi device. For more information, see this discussion:

Kodi Forum

This solution is fantastic because it allows for full Kodi DVR control from the same remote that is used to drive all of the apps built into the LG TV and this is much easier to setup than an HDMI-CEC or LIRC solution!

The Flirc USB IR Receiver and LG’s Magic Remote

Install the Channel Logos

By default, Kodi labels TV channels with only the names assigned to them by the HDHomeRun tuners, which will be the call signs for HDTV stations in your area, like KDFW-DT, for example.  It looks really cryptic, so fix this by installing proper logo images.  This greatly enhances the user interface.  I created this collection of logo images specifically for use with Kodi.  It contains high quality images for all of the major broadcast TV networks in North America with transparent backgrounds. Once installed, Kodi will display them on the channel listing and EPG Timeline.  Follow these steps to install:

TV_Logos_USA.zip

1. Download and unzip this file into this new folder:

C:\Users\<Name>\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\userdata\logos

2. You can skip this step if you are using a recent version of Kodi (15 or 16). Older releases of Kodi and XBMC required renaming each of the logo image files to match the TV station call sign names for the corresponding channel in your area. Use the channel listing in the MediaPortal TV Server configuration program as a guide to the exact spellings.  For example, in the North Texas area they should be renamed like this:

NBC.png    to    KXAS-HD.png
FOX.png    to    KDFW-DT.png
PBS.png    to    KERA.png

3. Now configure Kodi to use the new logo images. In the newer versions of Kodi (15 and 16), this can be done in the Channel Manager by loading each logo file individually, without renaming them:

TV > Channels > Right Click on any Channel > Manage… > Channel Manager > Channel Icon > Browse to the new logos folder > Select a logo file

Or, if you prefer to rename all of the logo image files, as described in the previous step, you can then load the entire logos folder in one step, in the LiveTV settings, instead:

System > Settings > LiveTV > Menu/OSD > Folder with channel icons > Browse to the new logos folder

Note that newer versions of Kodi will only show the ‘Folder with channel icons’ setting if the Settings Level is set to either the Advanced or Expert mode:

System > Settings > System > Settings Level > Advanced

Exit and restart Kodi and the new logos should appear on the channel listing and EPG Timeline.  If not, it’s probably because the file names do not match the station names exactly.

Logo Images for Major TV Broadcast Networks in North America

Install Your Music Collection

Once you have Kodi up and running with Internet and Live TV, be sure to explore Kodi’s music player capabilities as well.  Kodi originated as a music player with advanced visualization features that are fun to use on a large HDTV with your own music collection.  The first step is to copy your digital music files onto the HTPC’s hard disk in a new folder, then add that new folder as a music Source:

Music > Files > Add Source > Browse to your new music folder.

The Kodi Music Player can operate in three modes; File Mode, Library Mode or Party Mode.  Using File mode only requires that you add the Source with the path to your music files, then you can access them directly by their file names.  If your music files contain valid tags, you can also scan them into the Kodi music library and then access them in Library Mode which allows you to make selections based on an array of criteria such as artist, album, year, genre, etc.  Library Mode is only useful if your music files have been tagged with this information.  To scan a new Source into the library:

Music > Files > Right Click on Source Name > Scan item to library.

Kodi will then build your music library from the Source folder you added previously.  You should repeat this step anytime you add music files to that folder, or update the entire library with:

Music > Library > Right Click on Genres> Update Library

For more information, refer to the Kodi Music Library page.

The Kodi Music Player on the Main Menu

Ripping Music CDs

Kodi has the ability to create music files by directly ripping them from audio CDs.  In fact, there are a lot of apps available to do that, including the Windows Media Player.  But, the really tedious part is getting all the tag data just right, including song titles, genres, dates and album cover art and the Kodi Library Mode is much more useful if your music files have good tag data.  Therefore, I recommend using a dedicated best-of-class tool on another PC to do this, then copy your music files with the new tags to the HTPC and update the Kodi library.  For a good comparison of several shareware tools that automate the ripping and tagging process well, check out Six Best MP3 Tagging Tools.

Install Pandora Internet Radio

One of the best Add-ons for Kodi gives you seamless access to Pandora internet radio, which will continuously stream music selections to your HTPC based on a list of artists which you select. This Add-on works with any Pandora account, paid or free, and it’s easy to install.  The paid service is called Pandora One which costs $36 annually and offers higher fidelity audio (192 kbps) and no ads.  But this Add-on actually skips the ads from the free service also, which is just another reason why Kodi rocks!

Start by creating yourself a free or paid account at the Pandora website, if you do not already have one.  An email address is required.  While you are there, enter one or more artists names, genres or composers to create virtual radio stations that will feature that music.

Then, download this Add-on zip file into a temporary folder.  It’s not necessary to unzip it:

Pandoki Pandora Plugin

Install this Add-on from the zip file within Kodi:

System > Settings > Add-ons > Install from zip file > Browse to the zip file > OK

Then, configure the Add-on:

System > Settings > Add-ons > Enabled Add-ons > Music Add-ons > Pandoki > Configure

Enter your Pandora username (email address) and password, which you registered at the Pandora website.  Check the Pandora One button only if you have a paid Pandora One account, otherwise it will default to the free service.  Click OK to save and exit.  That completes the installation.  To launch Pandora select:

Music > Add-ons > Pandoki

For more information, refer to the Pandoki thread in the Kodi forum.

NetFlix Support

Kodi does not have an well-integrated solution for NetFlix that works reliably anymore.  This is because NetFlix requires DRM (through SilverLight) and the NetFlix website’s API has not had the stability that open source projects depend on. The most reliable solution is to exit Kodi to watch NetFlix in either the Chrome or Firefox browsers. However, there are some Add-ons that use Kodi’s Advanced Launcher Add-On to automate switching to either the Firefox or Chrome browser to use NetFlix from their website. These solutions can work, but are typically dependent on specific versions of Kodi/XBMC and the NetFlix website. One old solution used Windows Media Center, but that has been completely discontinued.

If you have time, here are some options to automate the launching of Firefox and Chrome from Kodi that might work with further research and experimentation. Of course, you must first create yourself a NetFlix streaming account, if you do not already have one.  These Add-ons require your NetFlix login name (email address) and password. If you find a better solution that works with a current version of Kodi, please leave a comment below to share!

Option 1 – Install Advanced Launcher Add-on for Firefox

This approach is more reliable than Option 2 because it does not use any Add-Ons other than the Advanced Launcher itself. This option requires the Firefox browser.

Option 2 – Install the NetFliXBMC and Advanced Launcher Add-ons for Chrome

You can read more about NetFliXBMC on the Kodi forum. This option requires the Chrome browser.

Option 3 – The PlayOn Service

Another way to access NetFlix (and other internet sources) from Kodi, is to subscribe to the PlayOn service.  I have not used this, but it’s a popular solution for people who use Kodi on Linux or Android because it eliminates the need for Microsoft Silverlight (which is not available on those platforms) and it works on Windows too.   PlayOn works by transcoding Silverlight video streams to an open format, which degrades the quality of the video some, but a lot of streaming sources are available, including Hulu, Amazon and HBO Go.  The PlayOn+PlayLater service requires either a monthly subscription or you can purchase a lifetime subscription for a one-time fee of $60. There is a good guide to installing this for Kodi on the My Media Experience blog.

My current thinking is it’s better to use the apps built into smart TVs for NetFlix and other web streaming sources that have unstable APIs and DRM protections.

Install Hulu

The Kodi Hulu Add-on provides access to one of the largest sources of free TV on the internet and a more seamless user experience than NetFlix.  This Add-on works with or without a Hulu account, paid or free, and much of the newer content is provided in HD.  The advantage of creating an account is that Hulu will keep track of your queue of shows and make suggestions.  The paid service is called Hulu Plus which costs $7.99 monthly and offers access to more recently released content and less ads.  Although, this Kodi Add-on does allow the ads to be skipped, manually.

Start by downloading the Kodi Plus Add-on zip file into a temporary folder from the XBMC Plus Repository.  It’s not necessary to unzip it.  Install the Add-on from this zip file within Kodi:

System > Settings > Add-ons > Install from zip file > Browse to the downloaded zip file > OK

Now, install the Hulu Add-on for Kodi from the Kodi Plus Repository:

 System > Settings > Add-ons > Get Add-ons > XBMCPlus Add-on Repository > Video Add-ons > Hulu > Install

 This repository also contains other Add-ons which are definitely worth installing as well, such as Free Cable, World News Live and VEVO.  If you created yourself a free or paid account at the Hulu website, be sure to configure the Add-on:

System > Settings > Add-ons > Enabled Add-ons > Video Add-ons > Hulu > Configure > Hulu Login

Enter your Hulu username (email address) and password, which you registered at the Hulu website.  Check the Hulu Plus button only if you have a paid Hulu Plus account, otherwise it will default to the free service.  Click OK to save and exit.  That completes the installation.  To launch Hulu select:

Videos > Add-ons > Hulu

For more information, refer to this thread in the Kodi forum. My current thinking is it’s better to use the apps built into smart TVs for Hulu and other web streaming sources that have unstable APIs and DRM protections.

Install The Wall Street Journal

This Kodi add-on provides access to a great source of current news videos with titles organized by subject.  No user account is needed and Kodi automatically skips the ads.  To install this from the main menu, select:

System > Settings > Add-ons > Get Add-ons > Kodi.org Add-ons > Video Add-ons > The Wall Street Journal Live > Install

For more information, refer to Add-on:The Wall Street Journal Live in the Kodi wiki.

Install Fox News

This Kodi add-on provides access to another great source of current news videos with titles organized by subject.  These are highlights from the live Fox News channel posted on their website.  No user account is needed and Kodi automatically skips the ads.  To install this from the main menu, select:

System > Settings > Add-ons > Get Add-ons > Kodi.org Add-ons > Video Add-ons > Fox News > Install

For more information, refer to Add-on:Fox News in the Kodi wiki.

Install NPR Radio

This Kodi add-on provides access to all available National Public Radio streams and most podcasts.  No user account is needed.  To install this from the main menu, select:

System > Settings > Add-ons > Get Add-ons > Kodi.org Add-ons > Music Add-ons > NPR (National Public Radio) > Install

For more information, refer to Add-on:NPR (National Public Radio) in the Kodi wiki.

Install Apple AirPlay

Kodi can also play music and video from 5^th generation Apple iPhone, iPad and other iOS 7 devices with the AirPlay feature, provided an 802.11 wireless connection to your local network is established.  Kodi will act as an AirPlay receiver, as if it where an Apple TV.  This requires first installing a Windows service on your HTPC named Bonjour, which provides Apple’s zero-configuration networking protocol.  Bonjour enables the automatic discovery and streaming to AirPlay receivers on your local wireless network.  The best way to install Bonjour is to install Apple’s iTunes for Windows, because Bonjour comes bundled with it:

First, go to Apple’s website to Download  iTunes for Windows.  Support for AirPlay is otherwise built into Kodi.  To enable it, select:

System > Settings > Services > AirPlay > Allow Kodi to receive AirPlay content

On the Apple device, you can now send music, videos or photos from a variety of locations, including from within the Photos, Videos, Safari and Music apps.  Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to access the iOS Control Center.

Then, select the AirPlay icon in the lower right corner.  Kodi should appear in the list as an AirPlay receiver.  For more information, refer to Apple’s Using AirPlay guide.

Get Involved

If this guide has been helpful to you, please leave a comment below to share your experience! I don’t ask for donations, but if you agree this is the best HTPC solution for Live TV in North America, please help spread the word. There are several active online forums where people go to learn about cord-cutting and building HTPCs. Simply answering a question and pasting the URL of this guide in appropriate threads on these forums can generate significant traffic and help new comers cut through the confusion. The most active forums (and were people need help) are:

 

Reddit HTPC Forum

Reddit Cord-Cutters Forum

Kodi Community Forum

MediaPortal Forum

SiliconDust HDHomeRun Forum