Options Timeshift

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DVBViewerPro-Options-Timeshift.png

What is Timeshift?[edit]

Timeshift. The TV-transmission is saved to the harddisk and you can jump backward and forward in it (depending on how much of the programme has been saved up to then). You can even pause LiveTV and resume watching later. But on switching channels the timeshifting will be stopped and depending on your settings the timeshift file will be deleted.

Timeshift is not suited to zapp between channels and continue watching a certain program after some time, that's what recordings are for. Remember, you can watch an ongoing recording with the DVBViewer without problems.


Directory[edit]

Defines the directory where the DVBViewer writes the timeshift files.

Below the input field the free disk space of the drive is shown. It is advised to use a timeshift folder on a disk with several gigabyte free space (the more the better). If keep Timeshift-files is activated you may need a lot of disk spacce.

Settings[edit]

Automatic Timeshift[edit]

If activated Timeshift starts after each channel change automatically. Be careful using this option together with Keep timeshift file, your harddisk can fill up very fast.

Display warning on channel change if timeshift is enabled[edit]

On changing channels timeshift is stopped or restarted, depending on your settings. To stop you from accidentily changing channel while timeshifting you can active this option, which will output a warning whenever you try to change channels with active timeshift. If you are using automatic timeshift, you should dissable this option or it will drive you crazy.

Minimum free disk space (MB)[edit]

Defines the lower limit of free disk space if reached timeshift will be stopped.
If the directory is on the system drive (normally C:\...) you should leave at least 200 MB free otherwise windows might act up.


Remove Filler Data[edit]

Broadcasting stations (for example in Germany and Austria): Das Erste HD, ZDF HD, arte HD and ORF HD add filler data in their H.264 video stream or zero byte stuffing in MPEG2, to ensure a constant bit rate. The amount of filler data depends from the content. So a slow scene can have 50% or even more filler data. End credits up to 90%. This means that in most cases using this option the size or a recording can be reduced by up to 50% thus saving disk space.

Recording Timeshift[edit]

A time shift recording is a very specialized form of an instant recording. it converts the time shift data from the currently shown position into a "normal" recording. One exception: if time shift position = LiveTV a normal instant recording is started.

  • The conversion is done as fast as possible until it reaches the end of the time shift buffer. If the end is reached the data will be converted at the rate they arrive.
  • It's a real timer, all timer settings have effect on it. One exception: only the current audio stream is recorded because time shift only uses the current audio stream.
  • If time shift is stopped, the recording will be stopped.
  • If a time shift recording is active the channel switching warning will be shown even if it is deactivated. Switching channel stops time shift and with it the recording.
  • If present the EPG data correlating to the time shift time will be used for the recording.
  • The instant recording popup menu does also work for time shift recording, but the times in it take the current time and not the time shifted time as basis.
  • The Time shift Timer are visible in all timer lists.
  • The Time shift Timer are never saved to the timers.xml.


Ring Buffer[edit]

The DVBViewer does not use a so called ringbuffer; that means the data is recorded linear with only the available file space as a limit, instead of using a limited amount of space and overriding the oldest data if running out of free space. On first thought this method seems well suited for time shift but if you look closer and take the variable bitrate of digital TV into account you soon realize the "end" may move faster than the current view point and as soon as it reaches this point you will loose you time shifted data.

If this is of no concern and you want to try it anyway you can use the Plugin TimeshiftPlus which uses this kind of ringbuffer see also in the Forum.

MiniEPG and Timeshift[edit]

If you want the miniEPG with OSD-OK even if timeshift is active and change channels with OSD-up/OSD-down, you can use a Tweaks, well more exactly this TimeshiftEPGdisplay.



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