BETA: Custom Channels via M3U Playlists

Is there any way to trigger a "Reload M3U" or "Scan Network" externally, like from python or the API.

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Is there a way to get the Docker type version of Pluto working if I'm running my Channels server on an Nvidia Shield?

I'm newer to Channels and have only used it for OTA via an HDHR so far but I'm loving it. Adding Pluto would be great.

I used the TechZyon m3u list but it seems to struggle with commercials. I have to exit back to the guide to get it to play again.

No, you'll need to host it on another computer. Consider setting up a Raspberry Pi to do this, as they are very cheap.

You could also investigate just hosting it somewhere on the internet too. This project takes practically zero resources.

I assume a Pi Zero is powerful enough? I got one laying around I can use.

Maybe. It might be rough running docker in general on it though. But it's worth a try.

Hello! The Pluto TV docker is working very well for me now. Would also like to get Stirr working. I am currently trying to use these m3u and epg links:

https://techzyon.com/epg/stirr.m3u

https://techzyon.com/epg/stirr_guide.xml

The channels come through just fine, but the guide data does not. I looked at the XML and noticed that one of the XML tags is 'programme'. Would that spelling difference be the problem?

programme is the proper element for holding guide data. Anything else is incorrect.

For questions about the format of the XMLTV file, here's the canonical DTD (with examples):

@maddox thanks for pluto-for-channels and this great new feature. I have it running well using Docker on my Synology NAS. I noticed that you indicated updates would need to be done manually - pull a new image. I have not used Docker before. Do I need to follow any particular procedure to update the image and preserve the settings?

Thanks again for making this possible.

Is this status screen strictly for the Windows version of Docker? I can't seem to find it on my Synology version.

Good to know! I'm certainly a novice.

Do you see anything in the xml link above that would stop it from being properly parsed by Channels?

Comparing the output of the XML from the Pluto TV Docker and the one from Techzyon for Stirr I see that the Pluto one has the channel listed and then the shows for it right after. The Stirr one looks like all the channels are defined and then programs are listed. Would that cause problems?

I have an issue where the Pluto guide runs out of program data about midway through the day. It actually gets to the point where I have no guide data for the current time. It updates again overnight, then we start the same issue over again. I know the docker app updates the guide about every three hours. How often does ChannelsDVR server reach out to the docker files? It feels like I need to make that happen more often. Hopefully, I'm just being an idiot. :grin:

That's the status screen of the container itself, not Docker's.

You have to set the xmltv option on the dvr to refresh every few hours too

I had the same issue. Try this:

Go to the Basic Setup then to your Pluto TV source. Click the gear menu and choose 'Guide Data - Change Provider'

Then when that is open choose the gear that appears. There you can choose a setting to update the guide data more often.

Here is what mine looks like:

D'oh!! Every single time I looked at that, I just saw the trash can and my brain said "use that to delete Pluto", instead of "read the text next to the trash can". Thanks. That will probably fix it. Now, if I can just figure out how to integrate my Ring camera into Channels. :sunglasses: Love this community!!! Love Channels!!!

OK. Thanks for the info.

Ok, an XML validator says the EPG is valid. I then tried to re-add the Stirr EPG with a refresh rate of every 6 hours and then shows popped up! Does Channels not like gaps in the schedule? Will keep an eye on it as not sure it will stick around.

It seems as if the server loses track of a shorter epg refresh time whenever it's restarted, For example, with a 6 hour refresh, if it had been 4 hours since that last refresh and you restart, the next refresh won't be for 6 hours instead of the expected 2 hours. I've started forcing a refresh on restarts or dvr updates.

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Not related implicitly to this thread but when I recorded from Stirr a movies "Mega Shark vs Crocozaurus" and "Mega Shark vs Octopus" (don't judge me :P) they are classified as TV Shows instead of Movies, which makes me problems with organizing stuff.

Technically, I could delete mention on them from database and then made import from different folder but I assume that expected behaviour is to recognize this out of the box, anyone encountered similar problem?
Speaking of which I think it should be separate category for Live TV converts since they are neither movies nor tv series.

If your xmltv file doesn't tag it as a movie, then the DVR has no way to know it is a movie.

You can check the pluto-for-channels example to see how movies should appear inside xmltv files.