Advice on Remote Streaming

Channels DVR Server
#1

Wondered if anyone could advise on how Channels streams remotely…

I have Playback > Streaming Quality > Home Streaming set to ‘Original’.

I have Internet streaming also set to Original as I’m on WiFi with good bandwidth.

I expect the stream delivery to be ‘Direct’ for home use and to increase speed on turning live tv etc

However, when out of the house I want this delivery ideally to be ‘Stream’ as I’m expecting to prioritise being network efficient.

Do I need to change the delivery method each time or is my remote location taken into account?

Anyone advise on how this works?

Thanks!

#2

The Home setting is used when you're at home

#3

Ok - and is internet streaming always forcing HLS?

#4

This should help.

#5

Got it, so stream is always the away from home behaviour. In that case what triggers the away from home. If I have a Tailscale VPN on does it still think I’m at home?

Is ‘away’ only when I’m connected via the channelsdvr url?

#6
#7

It should show a checkmark next to the current config. What does it show over tailscale?

#8

I’ve got Tailscale running as a subnet router on my network and connect to Channels via that route rather than using the Tailscale plugin you have as part of channels.

In this instance, am I still seen as ‘At Home’?

I’m trying to confirm whether I can leave the Stream Delivery to Direct, so home clients work unaffected and allow Stream method for ‘Away from home’.

To ensure this behaviour I should connect via the channelsdvr.net URL and avoid using a VPN or Tailscale?

#9

NO you are not.

Yes leave it as direct

You can if you want but there is no need as it does your desired scenario via tailscale the same as dvr.net connection

Connected via WiFi on a network that the dvr server is not on, let’s say a network at your work. You enable Tailscale on your phone, you launch channels and select connect at home, since it sounds like you are broadcasting subnets on your Tailscale you can use either the tailnet ip 100.x.x.x or you can use the actual lan ip at your home ie 192.168.1.x

Now in the playback quality under the checkmarked “internet streaming” you have “original “ selected and under “original quality delivery” you have “direct” selected.

This will result in HLS. The software recognizes you are not actually on your home network even though you have connected using the home choice.

In short leave “original quality delivery “ set to direct and it will use HLS stream when off of your dvr’s network.
It will use direct when you are at home on the dvr’s network and the “home streaming “ is checkmarked.

1 Like
#10

Thanks for clearing that up - I think the UI says Original delivery - Direct and I’ve selected original streaming for out of home quality, I was a bit confused.

Thanks all for clarifying.

#11

In my experience running Tailscale as a VPN it always shows as home in channels client, so I toggle to stream when away from home. But I have subnet routes enabled so my clients are on my home subnet with VPN, I think if you don't enable this it works as Rice said.

#12

Yeah understood.

Would love to see a small UI and web admin improvement to clarify the transport method.

Thanks all for your time.

#13

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