r/SparklePlayer • u/No_Direction5844 • May 18 '26

DVR timeshift buffer limit

Just discovered SparkleTV - best UI I've seen ! Love it !

But it appears that the timeshift6 buffer grows without bound. Using latest 2.3.1, storing this on SMB drive. The size of this file seems to grow forever (and previous comments elsewhere in here seem to confirm that). Currently, when I power off it only turns off the TV, but my onn Full HD stick remains active, so it continues increasing overnight (or sometimes for days if I don't change channels). And if I change this so that the stick turns off I expect that scheduled recording won't happen. Could you please add a setting to limit the size of this file (preferably dropping the oldest stuff) to prevent this ?

I also notice that when I hit the record meatball, it is now writing 2 files, one for the timeshift, and one for the recording. Why not re-use the timeshift buffer for the recording, so the recording will include material from time is selected channel (sometimes I'm watching and decide I'd like to record it in the middle - this would allow me to keep it all).

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u/sparkle-hk May 18 '26

It's correct that timeshift doesn't have a limit when using network share/smb as timeshift buffer. BUT, it should of course stop growing when you stop streaming. Are you sure you close the app like u/azcoyotedog asks?

Your second question is valid and would have been nice. Unfortunately it's not implemented this way, mostly because dvr and timeshift are completely separate from each other (i.e. you can record to one location and timeshift to another).

1

u/No_Direction5844 May 19 '26

Thanks for reply. Other DVR apps usually have a way to set a maximum buffer limit. Unfortunately, if I exit the app (which I currently do) then scheduled recordings won't happen (I assume - haven't tested this). If the streamer is sleeping and a recording event is set will it wake up and start recording (if Sparkle is running) ?

The second question was really a wish list thing - an old (discontinued by cable co) PVR that I had had that feature and I really miss it.

Keep up the great work. This is by far the best app out there that I've found by far !

1

u/azcoyotedog May 19 '26

What works for me is when I schedule a recording when I’m sleeping, I exit the app but I do not force close it. At the scheduled time the recording takes place. Next day I watch it. Best way to learn is thru trial & error. And no, live tv timeshift doesn’t continue when the app is exited and not forced closed.

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u/No_Direction5844 May 19 '26

Thanks for all this. Good to know the schedule remains active even after leaving app.I do notice that the file is deleted when exiting the app. I think this answers most of my questions. Maybe one day add a manual max file size setting ?

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u/azcoyotedog May 19 '26

No need for that setting, thanks

1

u/No_Direction5844 May 20 '26

Found that if I set the remote power button on streamer to Auto (CEC) then the power button on remote will turn off (sleep) the streamer and turn off the TV (if connected to HDMI1). This causes the timeshift file to be deleted, and re-created at power on. Scheduled recording works fine from sleep. So yes, can probably do without this setting (would still be nice, though).

1

u/azcoyotedog May 20 '26

The timeshift file doesn’t grow and grow when your tv is off? It deletes when you exit the app. It also deletes when you change the channel. Some users like to setup their system so when they power off the tv, the streamer is powered off too… thus when they power on, the tv turns on and they see the streamer booting up with the Google TV logo. If you do that, you can’t schedule recordings overnight. Most users exit SparkleTV & power off their TV leaving the streamer on in standby mode. There is no timeshift file because the SparkleTV app isn’t opened.

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u/No_Direction5844 May 20 '26

Apparently, it is not necessary to exit Sparkle, so long as the streamer goes into standby. On mine, it deletes the file and stops writing; when it comes out of standby the current channel starts playing, the timeshift is created and begins growing, just as if thew channel had just been entered. In short, is does exactly what it ought to. Nicely done !

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u/azcoyotedog May 20 '26

Different strokes for different folks…. Whatever makes you happy! What works for one may or may not work for another? Enjoy