I've been searching through anything I could find on this topic and have come up short.
Here are the list of things I'm really looking for:
Full timeshift capabilities
Network DVR Storage
Play while DVR recording / timeshift
It seems pretty simple but I can't seem to find something that works well enough.
Plex DVR is terrible. It can sort of do those things, but half the time my recording ends up corrupt or deleted somehow. I've had very limited success with it. It has gotten better from the original time I had used it but still bad.
Live Channels is what I use currently, but it's limited in the TS department. I have a 1TB usb external connected to it and I can only pause for like 10-15 minutes before it starts playing again. It also doesn't allow me to record, then go to the channel and start from the beginning like a DVR should.
I've read there's a Kodi live TV setup but I'm not sure that would work for me.
What other options have you all used out there that you're happy with? Being able to record a program and not have to wait until the end to watch it would be great.
Quite a few options these days
Channels DVR - Time shift, network storage, remote streaming, uses HDHomerun tuners, $8/mo, $80/yr. This is probably my favorite of all the ones I have used (though I use Plex because I have a lifetime Plex Pass).
HDHomerun DVR - Time shift, network storage, uses HDHomerun tuners, no monthly option, $35/yr
Tablo - Tablo is a bit different. They started out as a separate box purchase that handles the DVR engine and stores the files. They still offer this but they also ported their DVR engine to Android TV, specifically for the Shield TV and then you provide the storage capacity. Worth a look for sure. Has all the features you are looking for and they have a no subscription option (limited to 24 EPG this way). Tablo was my first DVR (when they only had the proprietary hardware option) but sold it when Plex launched theirs.
Emby - Plex alternative that includes DVR option. I believe you have to subscribe to their premiere service ($5/mo, $54/yr, $120 lifetime) to use their DVR & provide your own EPG data (whereas Plex pass includes EPG data as part of Plex Pass. I don't have any experience with this DVR
That brings us up to 7 options, 6 of which can run the server directly on an Nvidia shield TV, and 5 of those that would still be network DVRs.