BETA: Custom Channels via M3U Playlists

TWIT uses Ustream for streaming. Ustream splits their audio and video tracks into two different streams in their HLS implementation.

Channels can not handle this style at this time.

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Tested using MPEG-TS mode as well. Submitted diagnostics logs.

2020/11/21 21:53:12.779542 [ERR] Could not start stream for M3U-Channels ch9290 MSNBC: M3U: Timeout after 10s connecting to: http://192.168.1.2:8089/devices/TVE-ATTOTT/channels/6050/stream.mpg
2020/11/21 21:53:13.707620 [TNR] Opened connection to TVE-ATTOTT for ch6050 MSNBC

What do the logs from the Channels DVR server that is sending the data say? I bet both sides of transaction would be even more helpful.

ok, what's the trick to getting this thing to recognize guide data? i have a scraper that i wrote to spit out the exact same format the pluto docker container is but for my custom channels, and channels just will not recognize it. what am i doing wrong? it sees my m3u and loads the channels fine, but the guide data just will not load...

edit: nevermind, i figured it out. i'll write an explanation for all of this at some point.

I keep having connection lost on the Pluto channels. Usually during a commercial. Nothing shows up in the logs. Using Windows 10 for the DVR and stream is set for HLS. Anyone else having a connection lost?

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I am as well, which is how I found your post. Thought I might be doing something wrong. It seems to be specific channels. Was watching This Old House and everything was ok, but then switched over to 007 and would only stay connected shortly after a commercial break. Has issues with the Cats 24/7 doing the same (wife wanted to see the kittens, not me).

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Bummer :frowning: So close.... and yet so far. Thanks for looking into it so quickly, though! :slight_smile:

I note that TWiT.tv also offers Twitch as well as YouTube Live streams, by any chance would either of those options work instead?

https://twit.tv/live

CleanShot 2020-11-22 at 06.51.22

XMLTV and custom tags

I have Pluto TV running here, but the stream locks up completely after a few minutes and I have to exit out and in to get it working again.

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What m3u file are you using? The Pluto channels are VERY sensitive to the stream url format. I was having problems using fHDHR but works solid using the pluto-for-channels docker.

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A quick question...what triggers the clients to update their guide data? The docker is running on 3hr interval and the DVR is running on my set 6hr interval (confirmed). But it seems as if the client (firetv) doesn't always update with the new data.

I’ve been using the m3u from way up top from a previous post. Sorry for the dumb question, but what exactly is a docker and how do I install on a Synology? I’ve seen that mentioned but this is fairly new to me and would like to have a stable stream. Appreciate any help you can offer.

I had the problems with the techzyon m3u too. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with Synology and how it handles adding extra capabilities. Maybe someone else can offer advice.
I've run the docker on Pi4 with standard Raspian base, a PC running Ubuntu server 18.04 and on a PC running Windows 10, Docker Desktop and WSL2 Ubuntu.

See https://www.synology.com/en-global/knowledgebase/DSM/help/Docker/docker_container

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yes, like I said in my edit I figured it out. I'm going to write up a blog post at some point on it so people can be aware of the potential pitfalls...

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without looking at it in depth and without knowing what kind of system resources it would use, is it possible you could set ffmpeg to do the conversion for you into a format channels can play?

I installed the docket and it is working good now!

This is really cool!

I would love to be able to add this for public access stations that stream online. It seems like the industry leader in this is Cablecast (https://www.cablecast.tv/feature/public-site). It would be great to add community channels and import guide data!

for everyone who has been asking for the ability to remap channels, this is what i've been working on since the M3U import was released...

it's not near ready yet, but it is possible. basically what i did is write a php app to do the channel mapping and then take the output from channels and apply that new channel map, and then send that as input to a second instance of channels. docker makes this all easier than it otherwise would be, but it's still not exactly simple.

once i have it all ready, i'll do a full writeup for anyone that wants to go down this road...

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Does this only work on certin platforms or beta versions. I am using Channels DVR on Windows version 2020.09.14.2100 and when i click on "add Source" I only get HD Home RUn Device, TV Everywhere (beta) and Locast (beta). Any advice appreciated .