Android App always chooses "Home Streaming'

[kcchalk]

This topic has probably been addressed, but after searching, couldn't find any relevant posts. Is there a way to cause the mobile app (Android for example) to be on Celluar, so I can better control the bit rate when in weaker service areas? I am using Tailscale on a PC running Channels. I've tried using the tailscale address of the Channels server, but it still chooses 'Home Streaming' . I know i can change the bit rate on the 'Home Streaming', but then I have to remember to change it back. What is the app using to choose which connection I'm on? Does it have anything to do with location permissions on the app?

Thank you

[racameron]

Tailscale (or any other VPN) will force Channels to think it is "Home". "Remote" only applies if your client device does not have a local LAN IP address.

[maddox]

This is the answer.

[chDVRuser]

If using Tailscale on your server and client, when you "Connect at Home" using the Tailnet IP:port;
(I use the iOS Tailscale Client on my iPhone and the Synology Tailscale package on my Synology NAS which runs my six Channels DVR servers in containers.)
The Channels client can select the Streaming Quality > Cellular Streaming bitrate.
The Channels Client should recognize it as a Cellular connection.
Client Settings > Playback > Streaming Quality

[chDVRuser]

@chDVRuser

The Channels Client should recognize it as a Cellular connection.

Not sure if this is only for iOS/tvOS, but it was added a long time ago to iOS clients.

NEW: DVR Server + Tailscale integration, for easier Away from Home access (Experimental)

How are you calculating these speeds? Those settings on the client are specific just to that client. There is a check mark next to the streaming setting that is currently being used. It should properly notice if you are on cellular, but if you are out of the house on different wifi, it may consider that "Home" right now instead of "Internet". This is something we're looking at how to address.

NEW: DVR Server + Tailscale integration, for easier Away from Home access (Experimental)

This should better detect when you're on a Tailscale connection on WiFi and not consider it being At Home.

Remote Access to Channels DVR after Moving to T-Mobile

While connected via Tailscale playback quality shows as internet streaming while on home network and cellular streaming while on cellular data network.

Remote Access to Channels DVR after Moving to T-Mobile

I'm in Portugal currently as well, and using Channels DVR with Tailscale has been fantastic! Since the DVR considers me to be streaming from "home", I do have to adjust the playback settings on my FireStick 4K Max (2nd gen) at times. I could probably leave it set to 3 or 4 Mbps all the time, but usually I can stream at "Original", and I prefer to use that -- and then adjust down when needed. On the Algarve now, but had similar results in Lisbon.

[kcchalk]

Are you saying remote only works when I connect to the server directly from the cellular network (like with port forwarding) instead of connecting to the server with a tailscale client on my cellphone?

[chDVRuser]

Yes.
Using Tailscale you "Connect at Home", since it's a peer-peer VPN.

[kcchalk]

I am using an Android client. Using tailscale on the client and server and I connect to the Tailscale IP address, and the checkmark is on Home Streaming all the time, no matter what I do (even out of the houes on cell data network). I can select streaming quality on all 3 options, Home, Internet, Cellular, but Home is always checked no matter what I try.

[kcchalk]

Ok, Guess this is the downside to having Tmobile Internet and no way to port forward. Would be nice for the client to have another way to know that I'm on Cell network

[chDVRuser]

Are you using the Channels built-in Tailscale on either the client or server?
I'm not.
I use Tailscale iOS on my iPhone and the Synology Tailscale package on my NAS.
When I "Connect at Home" from my iPhone Channels client, I have to use the Tailnet IP address of my Synology NAS and the port number for the Channels DVR Server running on it.
i.e. 100.100.100.100:8089

[kcchalk]

I'm doing exactly the same thing, except from Android.

Android with Tailscale, tailscale on an Ubuntu server running channels. I connect to 100.123.107.128 which is the tailscale IP address of the Ubuntu server.

[chDVRuser]

@kcchalk

100.123.107.128

You need to add the Channels DVR port number
So if yours is running on port 8089 you would "Connect at Home" to 100.123.107.128:8089

[kcchalk]

I tried it - didn't work. I just tried it on an iphone, and it worked. I think its an Android client issue

[chDVRuser]

Question for the developers then.

[kcchalk]

Will they see it here? ( I am BRAND NEW to channels) or should I post somewhere else?

[chDVRuser]

Just tag them @tmm1 @maddox

[kcchalk]

Thanks very much for all your help

[kcchalk]

@tmm1 @maddox - I have a new question about this. I am primarily using channels remotely with onn Google TV sticks and boxes at a remote location from my antenna source. If the Android mobile app declares I am always "Home Streaming", even when I use the tailscale IP and port number, are the Google TV android clients going to do the same, and are there any negative affects with being remote but the clients believing I am at home? I just want to make sure I'm getting the full benefit of any algorithms that are applied to a remote connection vs one locally on the same subnet as the server.