Behavior with Multiple Providers?

Channels DVR Server TV Everywhere
#1

I'm just curious how TV Everywhere behaves when you factor multiple providers into the equation? For example, I've added TV Everywhere using my Spectrum Login and my DirecTV login. Will it "select" between the two providers as needed to record a particular show or is it useless to have more than one provider configured? The Spectrum login gets some ESPN channels that the DirecTV login doesn't get, and vice versa.

Will it perform like the traditional HDHomeRun devices and pick the "Best" connection if one craps out because of authentication for example, or will it just default to one provider or the other all the time?

#2

This is a great question. I've also got a dozen TVE channels that are double-covered like you describe. I assume it just prioritizes the TVE provider/login via the tuner priority like it does when you get the same OTA or cable channel from multiple sources. But I'm also curious whether it will cycle through secondary sources to find a TVE if there are problems with the 'primary' source.

#3

It works the same way the DVR works with multiple HDHRs. You can set the priority of the sources on the DVR web UI, and it will try them in that order until it finds a channel that works to make the recording.

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#4

@tmm1 - I'm not 100% sure my DVR is not working the way you described, but maybe I'm just looking at something wrong. I have three sources, listed in this order of priority:

  1. HDHomeRun QUATRO
  2. HDHomeRun PRIME
  3. Frontier Communications (TVE)

In the Web UI, favorites such as TLC and CNBC are favorited only on the HDHomeRun PRIME tuner. But when I look at the recording schedule on my iPad, it displays the TVE channel number for upcoming recordings. When I look at the recording schedule on the Web UI, it shows both channels but the TVE is listed first. I would expect to see the HDHomeRun PRIME first. Thoughts?

#5

Sounds like it might be choosing an earlier airing for recording. For instance, I receive both East and Pacific feeds for TNT via TVE, but have only the Pacific feed favorited on the Prime (which has higher priority). If a program is set to record on that channel, it will choose the earliest airing, which is the East feed.

Priority for favorited channels when choosing which channel to record only matters when there are multiple options. Since it aired earlier on a different channel, it chose that airing instead of waiting 3 hours for the favorited channel. (At least, that is what may be happening. Without additional details, most things are guesswork...)

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#6

I would say that is an excellent theory, except I am EST. :slight_smile: So my Prime would not only have the favorites but also be the earlier time slot.

#7

Well shucks, there goes that idea. Although, I have noticed that the channel number listing for a queued recording isn't always accurate, especially when multiple channels air the same program. It's even more noticeable when not only do the channel numbers differ, but the channel names, too (as in simulcasts).

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#8

The channel numbers listed on the schedule are not representative of what will be used to make the recording. The rules I described are used when the recording starts. I know the schedule is confusing and that's something we need to fix.

#9

@racameron @tmm1 I think I can confirm what each of you said in your last post. I kept an eye on one of the shows I am recording tonight on TLC. Leading up to the scheduled time, the DVR listed the TVE channel number. But once it started recording, it did show the correct PRIME channel number. So I think we're good. It's just a little confusing. Thanks for your responses!

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#10

That has been my experience. The DVR shows all available channels (in Channel# descending order); however, when the recording starts, the DVR uses your priority setting.