2026 state of HDFX-4K / ATSC 3.0 / Channels

[rthurlow61]

So I bought an ATSC 3.0-capable HD Homerun today, and hooked it up. I knew DRM was not a solved issue, but I thought I could get some use out of it for the single ATSC 3.0 signal I can see. What I see in Channels:

• the DRM-protected signals for ABC and NBC on RF 34 in Denver are banned (good choice)
• the guide shows no program info on CW 102.1 and Fox 131.1 (this seems dumb)
• the web viewer has picture but no sound for the ATSC 3.0 channels

Using the HDHR config utility to start a stream to VLC doesn't have sound either; only the
HDHR software can play sound. I assume sound issues are due to needing ffmpeg support
for Dolby AC-4, but I thought I saw that someone had success with setting an "experimental"
flag for audio decoding at one point in the past, which I can't find.

The worst part is no info in the guide for these channels. This seems stupid, as the data
is present, it just needs e.g. 2.1 data copied to 102.1. Can someone explain this one? If
this worked, I could create recordings from a better signal, even if I had to find a player with
AC-4 support.

If I am missing something, yell.

[jator]

For guide info, you can map the 1.0 channel guide to the 3.0 channel. GO into sources, click the channels under the tuner (in my case, 42 channels):

Then click on the plus on the channel you want to map the guide to:

Then select the channel guide you want to import and it will now map the 1.0 channel to the 3.0 station.
On the audio front, Channels works for me with the 3.0 Channel audio, but some other players do not. Couldn't tell you why, others will know better than I.

[jkr4m3r]

@rthurlow61

If I am missing something, yell.

ATSC 3.0 is a mess. The best thing you can do is go through Lon's entire playlist over at Lon.tv. The link to the playlist is: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCZHp4d1HnItSSUpA-DskfKKKrQ_LQYwP

He just added to it a day or two ago.

[rthurlow61]

Thanks Jator - I have this:

It looks like Channels has figured out the correct mapping, so now I do have guide data for 102.1/131.1.

[jtanderson]

Now you just need to decide if the upscaled 1080p video you (likely) get from the ATSC3 channels is worth the inconvenience of the AC-4 audio.

[rthurlow61]

@jkr4m3r

ATSC 3.0 is a mess. The best thing you can do is go through Lon's entire playlist over at Lon.tv.
...
He just added to it a day or two ago.

I follow Lon, and am decently familiar with the state of ATSC 3.0, but thanks for the reminder.

What I am looking for is the space where this HDHR model and ATSC 3.0 channels hit Channels DVR. With the guide issue resolved, I wonder if there is something that can be done about the sound. I'm trying to learn enough to post a followup comment on the FCC docket about experiences with ATSC 3.0, now that I have hardware - I sent one in last week.

[rthurlow61]

@jtanderson

Now you just need to decide if the upscaled 1080p video you (likely) get from the ATSC3 channels is worth the inconvenience of the AC-4 audio.

Word. I was casting about looking for something that will play it - not finding anything yet. VideoReDo won't edit the saved file, either. I could fall back to the HDHR software, I suppose.

[Fofer]

I had a similar issue two years ago and it got resolved by contacting the station engineer, at least in that one case:

No audio on an ATSC3 channel for the DVR

What channel, specifically? If it's KTLA 105.1, as of yesterday I'm experiencing the same, but it's also happening in the HDHomeRun app, too.

In another case a year later, changing the Stream Quality setting allowed me to play the audio in the tvOS client, at least:

One OTA channel, missing audio, on some devices

Thank you, looks like this setting forced the direction connection, and now audio is passing through: [SCR-20251005-kols] I appreciate your help troubleshooting this!

Both threads have lots more details of my experiences with KTLA 105.1 / ATSC 3.0.

[rthurlow61]

I tried to fiddle with settings in Settings -> Clients -> Client Settings -> Playback -> Streaming Quality. I hit "Original Quality Delivery" and it's now gray and can't be further changed. I then hit "Home Streaming", and it's also gray:

I am just using the web interface to try to view things, not a downloaded client right now. Were you tweaking on a downloaded client?

[Rice]

@rthurlow61

using the web interface to try to view things

The web ui always transcodes, it’s possible your server just can’t transcode ac4. Try to play the channel on a real client using original quality.

[tmm1]

Audio will play back if you use the official Channels app

The web interface is not indicative of client

[Fofer]

@rthurlow61

Were you tweaking on a downloaded client?

Yes, AppleTV in my case:

@Fofer

In another case a year later, changing the Stream Quality setting allowed me to play the audio in the tvOS client, at least:

[rthurlow61]

@Rice

The web ui always transcodes, it’s possible your server just can’t transcode ac4. Try to play the channel on a real client using original quality.

Indeed, my only real client, the Channels app on my Fire TV Stick, plays audio. So I assume we're waiting for ffmpeg to decode AC-4 for the web ui use case.

[Rice]

@rthurlow61

So I assume we're waiting for ffmpeg to decode AC-4 for the web ui use case.

My server transcodes ac4 just fine in the web ui but not all servers are created equal. A recent intel or amd should handle it. My guess is you’re probably using a NAS or something older.

[rthurlow61]

I have a Dell, not especially new, with up-to-date Windows 11 and a good Nvidia graphics card. I don't have reason to think it's not able to handle it.

[masteryoda305]

This is a good thread as I was trying to decide on what tuner to get.

I only have 1 ATSC3.0 station in my market and 5/6 channels are encrypted. Testing with a good antenna and directly into my TVs shows the ATSC1.0 signal is decent enough so I'm trying to decide what tuner to get. I have no ATSC3.0 TVs.

Let's say Lon/AntennaMan win and they disable encryption but ATSC3 transition is accelerated. Then the Flex right now will only be left with 2 tuners and we'll need to upgrade. I could save $50 and get a Quatro and wait out the whole shakedown and upgrade when a 4 tuner ATSC3.0 device is available.

Or Lon/AnennaMan completely lose and its ATSC3.0 acceleration + Encryption, and the whole thing is a wash anyway and I saved $50.

Is there any difference today between the Quatro and Flex from an ATSC1.0 perspective?

[Pokemon_Dad]

@masteryoda305

Is there any difference today between the Quatro and Flex from an ATSC1.0 perspective?

For 1.0 there's no difference between the Flex Quatro and Flex 4K: flex [Everything HDHomeRun]

I'm still using a Connect Quatro which may be a little weaker in reception but not enough to matter here, and since I have Channels DVR I don't need the Flex USB port for the HDHR DVR feature.