Cutting the cord: setting up a DVB-T2 server with a Raspberry Pi TV-Hat

To connect your house to the internet, a tethered 4G connection is a cheap and fast solution nowadays. But what about TV? This video solves that by creating a DVB-T server.

Version with Dutch subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpSjqoRULag

KPN recently rolled out 1080p DVBT2 Digitenne in the Netherlands with 4 free to air channels, and 6 free to air radio channels. In this video we set up a DVB-T2 server using a Raspberry Pi 3B+, a Raspberry Pi TV-Hat, TVHeadend PVR software and a compatible Kodi plugin as client.

Benefits of this system:
- FullHD public channels for free
- Viewing on all devices in local network
- Networked video recording
- Digital Radio channels
- no DRM on streams
- undistorted playback on different aspect ratio screens (16:10, 4:3).
- cheap: one time investment, no monthly fees.
- works on many devices: Mac OS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Chromecast.
- EPG, Teletext, subtitles, all included in stream.

Countries with Free-To-Air channels in HD:
Germany (H265 HEVC 1080p50)
Netherlands (H265 HEVC 1080p50)

Gear used:
Raspberry Pi TV Hat:
https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/raspberry-pi-tv-hat/
Raspberry Pi 3B+, although the regular 3B might be a better alternative as it runs cooler.
Samsung 64 GB SD card EVO Plus
Simple passive DVB T Antenna with magnetic feet with small coaxial connector.
USB Charger
Goobay 2 port 2400 mA 5V charger.
Computer for playback:
MacMini 2009 2,26Ghz Core2Duo with 9400M videocard

Software used:
Raspbian (Debian) Lite
https://downloads.raspberrypi.org/raspbian_lite_latest
Kodi media player software (various platforms)
https://kodi.tv/download
TV Headend
Install from Debian, for support see link below
https://tvheadend.org/
To trim commercials from captures for free
MPEG Streamclip for OSX and WIndows (ignore MPEG2 warning)
http://www.squared5.com/

The TV headend server also makes it possible to stream your TV signal to locations abroad, for example if you frequently swap your country of residence. All you need to do is open the NAT/Firewall for port 9981 and enable external access.

Update:
The Pi can get stuck after a couple of weeks, probably due to excessive logs or totally filled up SD cards on auto-record. I found out this problem goes away with a daily reboot. You can schedule one at say 03:00, a time that has almost no broadcasted content. Follow this guide:
http://www.vk3erw.com/index.php/16-software/58-raspberry-pi-how-to-periodic-reboot-via-cron

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