
If you’re using Windows 8 or Windows 10, the Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder will not be available for most of these options, particularly MPEG2 (which many TV tuners use). Most TV tuners should work with that setup. If you’re using Windows 7, change as many of these dropdowns as you can to “Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder”. Lastly, click “Decoders” in the left sidebar. Select the one you want to use–I’m using an antenna, so I’ll choose ATSC in my case–and click “Device Setup”.Ĭlick the “Scan” button to scan for available channels. For example, our Hauppauge WinTV tuner shows up twice: Once as an ATSC tuner (for broadcast antennas) and once for QAM (cable). Your TV tuner should show up in the list, possibly multiple times. (If you aren’t, right-click on the NextPVR window and choose “Settings”.

You’ll be greeted with the settings window. Double-click the resulting EXE file to install NextPVR, just like you would any other Windows program. Head to the NextPVR home page and download the latest version. The NextPVR add-on comes with Kodi, so you don’t need to install anything else (though depending on your setup, you may need to install some extra codecs during the process below). We’ll be using the NextPVR software for Windows as our backend, since it’s generally the most popular and oft-recommended.

Then, Kodi will connect to that backend through an add-on, and provide the “frontend”–the interface you use to browse channels and watch TV. It needs what’s called a “backend” to decode the broadcast signals from your antenna or cable box. But in our experience in the US, a CableCARD-equipped HDHomeRun is necessary more often than not. If it isn’t, the Hauppauge tuners may work fine for you.


You may want to check with your local cable provider to see if their cable signal is encrypted. You’ll need to have your cable company come to your home and install a CableCARD into the HDHomeRun, then hook the HDHomeRun up to your computer with an ethernet cable. Unlike the Hauppauge tuners, which you install directly into your PC, the HDHomeRun is a separate unit. Since most cable signals are encrypted in the US, you’ll need a TV tuner that supports a CableCARD. The SiliconDust HDHomeRun Prime ($130) comes highly recommended for this purpose. If You Have CableĬable TV is a bit more complex. If you’re using a laptop, you’ll probably need to use Hauppauge’s USB tuner ($65) instead. These install into your PC just like any other expansion card (like a video card), so it should be a five minute task.
