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Record live TV with your own server

Choose Jellyfin or Dispatcharr, connect it once in North IPTV, and schedule recordings from your channels or TV guide. Recordings are stored on the server, so your phone and TV can be off.

Before you begin

What you need

Your own live TV source, a computer or NAS to run the DVR server, free storage for recordings, and North IPTV Premium to schedule them. North IPTV does not provide channels or a recording server.

Which server?

Dispatcharr is convenient for an Xtream or M3U source. Jellyfin is a good choice if you already use it and have an M3U playlist. Jellyfin can work without Dispatcharr; you only need both if you choose to use Dispatcharr as Jellyfin’s TV source.

The server must stay on. Keep its computer or NAS powered, connected to the internet, and running Jellyfin or Dispatcharr at the scheduled time. The North IPTV app and your viewing device do not have to stay open. Your TV provider may still limit the number of simultaneous streams.

Option A: Jellyfin

Jellyfin uses an M3U playlist for live TV and can use an XMLTV programme guide. An Xtream login alone is not the M3U link: ask your TV provider for its M3U URL if you do not have one.

  1. Install and open Jellyfin. Follow the official installation guide for your computer or NAS. Complete its first-run setup.
  2. Add live TV. In the Jellyfin dashboard, open Live TV, add an M3U tuner, and enter the playlist URL from your provider. Check that a channel plays in Jellyfin before proceeding. See Jellyfin’s live TV guide.
  3. Add guide data and storage. Add your provider’s XMLTV guide if available. In Jellyfin’s recording settings, choose a folder with enough free space and confirm the server can write there.
  4. Create an API key. In the Jellyfin dashboard, create a dedicated API key for North IPTV and copy it to North IPTV’s DVR settings. Treat it like a password.

When you first schedule a Jellyfin recording in North IPTV, select the matching Jellyfin channel. North IPTV will remember that match. An existing Jellyfin recording made before this channel was linked may not appear in North IPTV; it remains available in Jellyfin.

Option B: Dispatcharr

Dispatcharr accepts Xtream and M3U sources and includes its own DVR. You do not need Jellyfin for this option.

  1. Install and open Dispatcharr. Use the official Dispatcharr documentation for installation and initial administrator setup. Its usual web port is 9191.
  2. Add your TV source. In Sources, add your provider’s Xtream account or M3U playlist. Let the source import finish. Add an XMLTV or provider guide if available.
  3. Check channels and recording storage. Confirm the channel you want is present in Dispatcharr’s source and plays there. Check DVR storage and available disk space. Dispatcharr can create a channel from a matching imported stream when North IPTV schedules it, but it cannot record a stream that was never imported.
  4. Create an API key. In Dispatcharr’s settings, create a key with permission to manage channels and recordings. Enter that key in North IPTV.

Connect North IPTV

  1. Find the server address. On the server’s local network, use its hostname or IP address and port, for example http://192.168.1.50:8096 for Jellyfin or http://192.168.1.50:9191 for Dispatcharr. Replace the sample IP with your server’s actual address.
  2. Open Settings → DVR. Choose Jellyfin or Dispatcharr, enter the server address and its API key, then select Connect & Save.
  3. Repeat on each viewing device. The API key is stored securely on each device, not copied to your other devices. Use the same reachable server address on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV.

Do not use localhost on another device. It points back to that device, not to your DVR server. For access away from home, use a trusted VPN or HTTPS; do not expose an unprotected HTTP server and API key to the internet.

Record and watch

  1. Schedule. Open a live channel’s actions and choose Record on Server. You can also select a future programme in the guide. For a recording starting now, choose a duration. Confirm the request.
  2. Watch. Open Downloads → Server Recordings, or Settings → DVR → Server Recordings. Recordings stream from your server; they are not offline files on the viewing device.
  3. Manage. Refresh the list if a new recording is not shown yet. Use the recording’s delete action and confirm if you want to remove it from the server.

Server recording is for live TV. It does not turn on-demand movies or TV shows into server downloads; those retain their usual playback and device-download options.

When something does not work

What you seeWhat to check
Cannot connectOpen the server’s web page from the same device. Check its address, port, firewall, running service, and API key. On a phone or TV, replace localhost with the server’s LAN address.
No channels or no guideVerify the M3U/Xtream source and XMLTV guide inside the DVR server. In Dispatcharr, a source catalog is different from its published Channels list. In Jellyfin, confirm the M3U tuner imported the channel.
Recording fails or stopsPlay the channel in the server’s own interface. Check free disk space, write permission, server uptime, and your provider’s simultaneous-stream limit.
Recording not in North IPTVCheck that both devices use the same DVR server and refresh Server Recordings. For Jellyfin, link the matching channel when scheduling; older unlinked recordings can still be watched in Jellyfin.
Playback fails away from homeConfirm the server is reachable through your VPN or HTTPS address. A home-only IP address cannot be reached from the public internet.

Still stuck? Contact North IPTV support. Do not send your API key, playlist password, or a full M3U URL.