Catch-up or recording?
| Catch-up | Recording | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it’s stored | The provider’s servers | Your device or drive |
| How long it lasts | The archive period, usually days | Until you delete it |
| Which channels | Only archived ones | Any channel you can play |
| Storage needed | None | Yes |
If catch-up covers the channels and days you need, it’s simpler. See IPTV catch-up explained.
Ways to record
| Option | How it records | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TiviMate (Android TV) | From the TV guide | Recording is listed among its features; some features need Premium. See TiviMate |
| Formuler boxes | Scheduled recording from the guide to a USB drive | The box wakes from standby to record. See Formuler |
| HDHomeRun with Freeview | Whole-home recording to a USB drive | For aerial TV rather than IPTV playlists. See stream Freeview around your home |
| Home DVR software | A server records from your playlist or tuner | Plex’s Live TV & DVR needs a Plex Pass; see Plex. Channels DVR takes an M3U directly, with a subscription |
Storage you’ll need
Recordings take up roughly the stream’s data use per hour: about 1 to 4 GB an hour for HD and Full HD, and 7 to 11 GB for 4K, based on typical bitrates in our data usage guide. A stick’s internal storage fills fast, so use a USB drive or a box with more space, formatted the way your player or box asks.
Tips for reliable recordings
- Keep the device on or in standby as the player requires; some boxes wake to record, many apps don’t.
- Check the guide times are right, or recordings start late; see EPG wrong time.
- Add a few minutes before and after, if the player allows padding.
- Mind connection limits: recording one channel while watching another uses two connections. See too many connections.
The UK rules
Section 70 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 says that making a recording of a broadcast in domestic premises, for private and domestic use, solely to watch it at a more convenient time doesn’t infringe copyright. Recording live TV also needs a TV Licence. None of this makes recording from an unlicensed service lawful; see is IPTV legal in the UK.