HD Homerun Browser Recorder

HDHR Browser Recorder is a web automation streaming recorder for use with a PVR application. It is specifically targeted at MythTV and provides the necessary scripts to implement either an iptv recorder or an external recorder.

This is alpha quality.

Overview

This recorder will automate browser control, allowing ffmpeg to record the screen and audio to a udp stream.

• The default port is udp://localhost:55555
• The browser listens on port 5004
• Xvfb is on display :99
• x11vnc port is the first free one. This is used for debugging automation or fix up any control issues while recording.

Requirements

The following packages are required

• python 3.7 or greater
• pipenv
• xvfb
• x11vnc
• ffmpeg
• google-chrome (stable or other)

Also requires passwordless sudo to execute modprobe for installing snd-aloop. You will have to disable pulseaudio for this device otherwise there is contention for this resource.

Installing

• git clone ...
• cd hdhr_browser_recorder
• pipenv --three install

Development

I use pycharm. Choose the virtualenv appropriately after pipenv install

Add extra packages

• pipenv install <package>

Running

Install pipenv and run in a screen within pipenv shell

• screen -S recorder
• reattach with screen -xr recorder

Run service:

• ./hdhr_browser_recorder.py

Change states:

• curl "http://localhost:5004/play/FOX%20SPORTS%20506"
• curl "http://localhost:5004/record/FOX%20SPORTS%20506"
• curl "http://localhost:5004/off"
• curl "http://localhost:5004/stop"

There are other variations. See the main file for more path options.

Integration with MythTV

There are 2 ways to do this

• iptv
  • Create a program list m3u file and import is. See example in utilities.
  • Get a guide. webgrabplus is good for this. Make sure the channel names are correct.
• externalrecorder
  • Guide is the same
  • Import program list TBD.
  • use netcat to capture the udp stream to stdout.

Caveats

• The web automation side currently only implements foxtel which requires a username and password for your account.
• This is also not 100% robust with pop-ups and other variations TBD.
• HDHR HTTP stream URL is untested.
• HDHR tcp interface is not fully working. UDP discovery is working.
• Lots of TODOs to make it better and a bit more provider generic.