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dinkypumpkin edited this page Aug 25, 2017 · 31 revisions

PVR usage

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PVR Basics

The PVR functionality allows you to record any number of iPlayer programmes using any combination of search terms that you would normally run on the command line. The PVR searches are saved in $HOME/.get_iplayer/pvr/ or %USERPROFILE%\.get_iplayer\pvr\ in Windows.

You can add, delete and list the PVR searches. This feature allows you to run multiple batch recordings from a scheduler such as Unix cron (and possibly the Windows scheduler). A tutorial is on how to set up and use the PVR with cron is here.

Add a new PVR search for a specific programme (i.e. 'series link'):

get_iplayer --pvr-add=Top_Gear "Top Gear"

Add a new PVR search for a specific programme with lower recording quality:

get_iplayer --pvr-add=Top_Gear "Top Gear" --tvmode=good

Add a new PVR search for a specific radio programme with lower recording quality:

get_iplayer --pvr-add=Doctor_Who_Radio "Doctor Who" --type=radio --radiomode=good

Add a new one-off recording PVR search. This will effectively queue the programmes for recording and delete the PVR search after completion:

get_iplayer --pvr-queue 123 231 32 "Blue Peter"

Add a new one-off recording PVR search for a specific PID:

get_iplayer --pvr-queue --pid=b01a2b3c

List the PVR searches already added:

get_iplayer --pvr-list

Remove a PVR search:

get_iplayer --pvr-del=Top_Gear

Disable a PVR search:

get_iplayer --pvr-disable=Top_Gear

Re-enable a PVR search:

get_iplayer --pvr-enable=Top_Gear

Run the PVR (this really should be added to a scheduler such as cron):

get_iplayer --pvr

Scheduling the PVR

Unix/macOS

Add this line to add to user's crontab (use crontab -e to edit) - this will run all of the PVR jobs every hour:

0 * * * * /path/to/get_iplayer --pvr --quiet 2>> /tmp/get_iplayer.log

Optionally, to notify by email when programmes have been recorded, add this to the top of your crontab (this will take the stdout from the cron job and send it to the specified email address):

Or, run the PVR Scheduler from the command line. This will fire off the PVR every hour as long as the command is running:

get_iplayer --pvrscheduler 3600

Windows

With the latest installer there will be an entry in the Start menu to 'Run PVR Scheduler Now'. This will start a command window which will fire off the PVR every 4 hours. Alternatively, if you wish to use the Windows Scheduler see this guide for full instructions.

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