Pausing live tv

[DaPad]

Does pausing live tv record/save to the server or streaming device?

[tmm1]

Local streaming device

[DaPad]

Why doesn’t it record to the server? I have an ATV and feel like that could degrade onboard storage.

[tmm1]

Buffering to memory vs. buffering to hard drive

Modern flash storage uses wear-leveling and can last for decades even when writing constantly. If you really want to use the DVR for buffering, the easiest way is probably to switch Home Streaming Quality from Original to 1080p 8mbps. That will keep the 1hr buffer on the DVR server. However if your recordings are mpeg2 then it will also transcode, which you may or may not want. Of course you can also hit record on any program and watch the recording instead of buffering live data on the player…

[DaPad]

Thanks, there’s a way, just don’t know about the transcoding, may tax server.
So does lowering remote viewing quality transcode on the fly?

[Macnbaish]

Any setting but “original” will require transcoding of some kind by the server.

[racameron]

@Macnbaish

transcoding of some kind by the server

Maybe "processing" would be more accurate. If your resolution and bitrate are high enough, the server may just remux the feed rather than transcode it.

[scottuf]

If we used the DVR for buffering live TV, would it fix the issue on Apple TV where if you switch out of the Channels app to say Settings then immediately back, it would maintain the live TV buffer on that channel? Using the Apple TV currently, if I leave the app for even just a second, the buffer is gone.