ADBTuner: A "channel tuning" application for networked Google TV / Android TV devices

[Edwin_Perez]

You have to have the device plugged into the HDMI inputs of the encoder

[dabox]

Thank you, I have video.

[rpaulmerrell]

ADB Tuner works great with YTTV.
IThe DVR experience on our platform beats what is offered on yttv.

[turtletank]

To help troubleshoot video playback detection and "who's watching" screens I added a new debug option to the experimental version that can be enabled by adding adb-debug=1 as a query parameter to the URL.

When enabled, the video stream will start immediately so you can easily see what's happening during the tuning process.

Example:

https://www.xfinity.com/stream/live/CHANNEL/123456789012345678/CHANNEL?adb-debug=1

or if the URL already has parameters:

https://link.fubo.tv/al1?v=1&a=play&t=channel&channel_id=12345&adb-debug=1

@kprice

Just some feedback.. Getting by the who's watching works perfect in either mode. In my case using Fubo, without compatibility mode, I see a quick pause symbol, which disappears in a few seconds and just leaves the last watched channel on - paused.

Thanks for taking a look. What Android device are you using? Any chance you could provide docker logs from when channel loading fails like this (video is just left paused)? I haven't been able to duplicate this, but would like to figure out why.

@nateg

Maybe the spotlight effect that comes down from the top of the screen, is screwing up your ability to identify the text from the image? Or HBO coders are just speaking a different language...

This is really odd. I tested on a Chromecast with Google TV (I'm assuming this is what you are using from the logs) and I'm not seeing this. Is there anything on screen that could possibly be read as "ne lee tce ily?"

@Edwin_Perez

After the video stops playing on relaunch this is what I see in the Preview ...

I didn't forget about this. I'm going to do some additional testing on this. There are some apps that just freak out and crash if you try to load another channel via URL when the app is already open. I don't know if the Xfinity app is one of them, but it might be. Thanks for testing.

@Bossmann

Would it be a option to get a "special setting" for apps like Kodi to have the choice in ADBtuner to send the video right away with appstart , i mean i rather see a video of the app starting and video is about to tune than have to wait 45 seconds. Don´t know if it is possible to have the "video running check" maybe 30 seconds later is this special case?

I have some ideas that I am working on to make ADBTuner better respect the HTTP protocol so things like connection retries don't tear down and build things back up. That is the correct fix for this, but it's a major change. In the meantime, you can just use the adb-debug thing that was recently added (see above) so you don't trigger Kodi's rapid-fire retries.

[Bossmann]

Thanks !
adb-debug reduced channel start in Kodi pvr simple to around 25s ( still some restart i think !?)
NextPvr for kodi seems like a better choice for now . Start time 8s ( same as VLC) But need to press stop before changing channel. That is not the case for iptv simple but has long channel change time.

[nateg]

@nateg

Maybe the spotlight effect that comes down from the top of the screen, is screwing up your ability to identify the text from the image? Or HBO coders are just speaking a different language...

@turtletank

This is really odd. I tested on a Chromecast with Google TV (I'm assuming this is what you are using from the logs) and I'm not seeing this. Is there anything on screen that could possibly be read as "ne lee tce ily?"

Thanks for the info that you weren't able to replicate my results. It was good to hear that it could work. I think I may have figured out what my issue was. Admittedly, I was kind of throwing darts when I suggested that the spotlight effect might be screwing up your ability to decipher the "Who's watching?" text from the screen. I think that seems to have actually been the culprit. I think that the spotlight, when it is behind the "Who's watching?" text reduces the contrast between the white text and the background. The dark background is lighter with the spotlight and it makes the text more difficult to read by machines apparently.

When I only had one user, the spotlight that goes on the default user can be seen interfering with the background of "Who's" in "Who's watching?" I would get fully garbled text when I looked at your logs when I was operating this way.

When I added a second user, the spotlight would stay on the first user, and everything being centered for the users made it so the spotlight was a little bit less stomping on the "Who's watching?" text. With this, I would get some garbled text, but the "watching?" part would sometimes come through.

When I added a third user, the spotlight shifted even further left, and was no longer generally behind the "Who's watching?" text at all, as can be seen in this image:

And this worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am consistently getting it to connect! Woohoo!!!!!!!

Thanks for your help and your recent software updates to help me get this going.

Add B/R sports and CNN Max both from the Max app to the list that is now supported by ADBTuner!

[kprice]

@turtletank

Thanks for taking a look. What Android device are you using? Any chance you could provide docker logs from when channel loading fails like this (video is just left paused)? I haven't been able to duplicate this, but would like to figure out why.

Appreciate you looking into this. I have 2 different FireTV 4k Max devices and 2 Onn's. Tuner 1 (this log) is using the latest version FireTV 4K MAX stick. In this test I did not see a profile screen. Attached image shows the device status after closing the preview session.

2024-03-13 06:47:08.317 - server - Reserved tuner 1
2024-03-13 06:47:08.317 - server - Using tuner id: 1
2024-03-13 06:47:08.318 - uvicorn.access - 10.0.0.50:56995 - "GET /stream/7 HTTP/1.1" 307
2024-03-13 06:47:08.329 - server - Tuner: Tuning to NBC on Firetv1
2024-03-13 06:47:08.331 - lib.adb - ADB: Connecting to device (attempt 1).
2024-03-13 06:47:08.409 - lib.adb - ADB: Connected.
2024-03-13 06:47:08.409 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - dumpsys display
2024-03-13 06:47:08.468 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - getprop ro.build.version.release
2024-03-13 06:47:08.501 - lib.adb - ADB: Android Version: 11.0.
2024-03-13 06:47:08.502 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - pm list packages -3
2024-03-13 06:47:08.576 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - pidof com.fubo.firetv.screen
2024-03-13 06:47:08.676 - lib.adb - ADB: Stopping media playback.
2024-03-13 06:47:08.677 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - input keyevent KEYCODE_MEDIA_STOP
2024-03-13 06:47:09.993 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "https://link.fubo.tv/al1%3Fv%3D1%26a%3Dplay%26t%3Dchannel%26channel_id%3D32639&adb-debug=1" com.fubo.firetv.screen
2024-03-13 06:47:12.725 - lib.adb - Detected 100.0% black pixels. Assuming HDCP is active and video is playing.
2024-03-13 06:47:12.725 - server - Tuner: Waiting for playback start. Status: playing
2024-03-13 06:47:12.725 - server - Tuner: Tuning completed in 4.4 seconds. Display was on, application (com.fubo.firetv.screen) was closed.
2024-03-13 06:47:12.725 - lib.adb - ADB: Closing connection - 10.0.0.62
2024-03-13 06:47:12.725 - uvicorn.access - 10.0.0.50:56995 - "GET /stream/1/7 HTTP/1.1" 200
2024-03-13 06:47:12.729 - root - Tuner: Stream open (attempt 1).
2024-03-13 06:47:12.792 - httpx - HTTP Request: GET http://10.0.0.60/0.ts "HTTP/1.1 200 OK"
2024-03-13 06:47:56.484 - server - http disconnect
2024-03-13 06:47:56.488 - lib.adb - ADB: Connecting to device (attempt 1).
2024-03-13 06:47:56.539 - lib.adb - ADB: Connected.
2024-03-13 06:47:56.539 - lib.adb - ADB: Stopping media playback.
2024-03-13 06:47:56.539 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - input keyevent KEYCODE_MEDIA_STOP
2024-03-13 06:47:57.698 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - input keyevent KEYCODE_MEDIA_PAUSE
2024-03-13 06:47:58.738 - lib.adb - ADB: Closing connection - 10.0.0.62
2024-03-13 06:47:58.738 - server - Released tuner 1
2024-03-13 06:47:58.738 - server - Tuner: Cleanup complete. Firetv1 (NBC)

[kprice]

@turtletank

Thanks for taking a look. What Android device are you using? Any chance you could provide docker logs from when channel loading fails like this (video is just left paused)? I haven't been able to duplicate this, but would like to figure out why.

And this is with compatibility mode back on.

2024-03-13 07:29:53.966 - server - Using tuner id: 1
2024-03-13 07:29:53.966 - uvicorn.access - 10.0.0.50:59008 - "GET /stream/7 HTTP/1.1" 307
2024-03-13 07:29:53.969 - server - Tuner: Tuning to NBC on Firetv1
2024-03-13 07:29:53.970 - lib.adb - ADB: Connecting to device (attempt 1).
2024-03-13 07:29:54.087 - lib.adb - ADB: Connected.
2024-03-13 07:29:54.087 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - dumpsys display
2024-03-13 07:29:54.132 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - getprop ro.build.version.release
2024-03-13 07:29:54.169 - lib.adb - ADB: Android Version: 11.0.
2024-03-13 07:29:54.169 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - pm list packages -3
2024-03-13 07:29:54.237 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - pidof com.fubo.firetv.screen
2024-03-13 07:29:54.291 - lib.adb - ADB: Stopping media playback.
2024-03-13 07:29:54.291 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - input keyevent KEYCODE_MEDIA_STOP
2024-03-13 07:29:55.574 - lib.adb - ADB: Force stopping com.fubo.firetv.screen.
2024-03-13 07:29:55.575 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - am force-stop com.fubo.firetv.screen
2024-03-13 07:29:57.708 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "https://link.fubo.tv/al1%3Fv%3D1%26a%3Dplay%26t%3Dchannel%26channel_id%3D32639&adb-debug=1" com.fubo.firetv.screen
2024-03-13 07:30:02.317 - lib.adb - Checking for profile screen
2024-03-13 07:30:04.333 - lib.adb - Checking for profile screen
2024-03-13 07:30:05.374 - lib.adb - On screen text: "your covid-19 test w.  please reviow the handout fror  dc regarding this testing utled . sheet for pationts™  fac uctio".
2024-03-13 07:30:06.375 - lib.adb - Checking for profile screen
2024-03-13 07:30:08.305 - lib.adb - Checking for profile screen
2024-03-13 07:30:09.287 - lib.adb - On screen text: "n"% mount carmel quality care. close to home.  mountcarmelurgentcare.com east broad | grove city | gahanna".
2024-03-13 07:30:10.289 - lib.adb - Checking for profile screen
2024-03-13 07:30:11.209 - lib.adb - On screen text: "nv mount carmel quality care. close to home.  mountcarmelurgentcare.com east broad | grove city | gahanna".
2024-03-13 07:30:12.211 - server - Tuner: Compatibility Mode - Stream released after 18.24 seconds. Display was on, application (com.fubo.firetv.screen) was running.
2024-03-13 07:30:12.211 - lib.adb - ADB: Closing connection - 10.0.0.62
2024-03-13 07:30:12.213 - uvicorn.access - 10.0.0.50:59008 - "GET /stream/1/7 HTTP/1.1" 200
2024-03-13 07:30:12.221 - root - Tuner: Stream open (attempt 1).
2024-03-13 07:30:12.284 - httpx - HTTP Request: GET http://10.0.0.60/0.ts "HTTP/1.1 200 OK"
2024-03-13 07:31:23.656 - server - http disconnect
2024-03-13 07:31:23.659 - lib.adb - ADB: Connecting to device (attempt 1).
2024-03-13 07:31:23.780 - lib.adb - ADB: Connected.
2024-03-13 07:31:23.780 - lib.adb - ADB: Stopping media playback.
2024-03-13 07:31:23.780 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - input keyevent KEYCODE_MEDIA_STOP
2024-03-13 07:31:24.837 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - input keyevent KEYCODE_MEDIA_PAUSE
2024-03-13 07:31:25.857 - lib.adb - ADB: Force stopping com.fubo.firetv.screen.
2024-03-13 07:31:25.857 - lib.adb - ADB: 10.0.0.62 - am force-stop com.fubo.firetv.screen
2024-03-13 07:31:26.007 - lib.adb - ADB: Closing connection - 10.0.0.62
2024-03-13 07:31:26.007 - server - Released tuner 1
2024-03-13 07:31:26.007 - server - Tuner: Cleanup complete. Firetv1 (NBC)

[waltgrace]

Anyone having Transcoding issues with ADBTuner? Until recently everything had been running well but now everytime my server needs to transcode the streams will constantly buffer. I'm using Intel QuickSync on a 9th gen i7 processor. My endpoints are Google Chromecast with Google TV and I am using a 4 port HDMI encoder.

[krazijoe]

Anyone get this working with Direct TV Stream? I am looking to move away from YTTV.
Thanks

[bnhf]

@krazijoe

Anyone get this working with Direct TV Stream? I am looking to move away from YTTV.

DTV Stream doesn't support deep links, which is a prerequisite for this project. We have it working with the ah4c project though:

AndroidHDMI for Channels (ah4c): A virtual channel tuner using HDMI Encoder(s) + streaming stick(s)

The original HDMI for Channels thread is super long, and this particular variant (dockerized version of ah4c plus ws-scrcpy) bears only a passing resemblance to the original project. So, I thought it might be time to create a new thread that highlights what the capabilities are of this very useful extension. There are two projects that use this same combination of HDMI encoder(s) + streaming stick(s) as a source for Channels DVR. This project, ah4c, and ADBTuner. ADBTuner is great for any strea…

[spammedeeper]

The Osprey Android streaming boxes work well with DirecTV Stream and work great with AH4C.

[waltgrace]

@turtletank Is the import/export broken? When I export from my current instance and import into my new instance for some reason the channel numbers and stream numbers change. I'm not sure why there is an offset in my current setup but for example.

Old Correct Config:
#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="201461084056971042226564267660924291399" channel-number="35" tvc-guide-stationid="10989",E!
http://192.168.1.29:5592/stream/34
#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="252295704591639726003434824124889956237" channel-number="36" tvc-guide-stationid="32645",ESPN
http://192.168.1.29:5592/stream/35
#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="53945956142932035475381372783991360932" channel-number="37" tvc-guide-stationid="45507",ESPN2
http://192.168.1.29:5592/stream/36
#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="331002770066912030276275174330770361100" channel-number="38" tvc-guide-stationid="16485",ESPNews
http://192.168.1.29:5592/stream/37

Config once I export and import into a new server

#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="242747140936481940037125989186269390617" channel-number="35" tvc-guide-stationid="10989",E!
http://192.168.1.17:5592/stream/35
#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="211898134837140895904663709016583725711" channel-number="36" tvc-guide-stationid="32645",ESPN
http://192.168.1.17:5592/stream/36
#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="60058069286449258042818106673401085556" channel-number="37" tvc-guide-stationid="45507",ESPN2
http://192.168.1.17:5592/stream/37
#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="244312838641368596565927173631008126189" channel-number="38" tvc-guide-stationid="16485",ESPNews
http://192.168.1.17:5592/stream/38

For some reason it wants to match up the channel numbers with the stream number but that shouldn't happen.

[dubx99]

so all i need is a docker and a firestick with ADB access?

[Edwin_Perez]

@dubx99

so all i need is a docker and a firestick with ADB access?

And a hardware HDMI Encoder ... to plug the firestick into.

[dubx99]

any deals on encoders?

[Dxcv]

LinkPi encoder family

Deal alert, I think - $263 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGM1Y56H/?coliid=I1X2IUMIUAT0PR&colid=1L118Z3ZGYC45&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

LinkPi 5 port is on sale

[Edwin_Perez]

I use uray

Amazon.com: URayCoder

[Jean0987654321]

Here's one
https://a.co/d/0QTnXu3

You could get a USB hdmi encoder on the cheap to get an extra tuner for this too

[cnp]

I got Plex and Pluto dockers going but this appears more complicated. I see I need an encoder. I've read a lot of the posts but there's so many it's confusing. Can someone help explain exactly what I can do with this? For example, I could create custom channels with guides from the peacock app live channels? Assuming that's accurate, is it difficult to get the links to put in my custom channels? Thanks.