Can't fast forward, it jumps back to the same segment

Channels DVR Server Troubleshooting
#1

This is a throwback issues. Used to happen to me in MediaCenter,

Recently I've had more and more recordings that play through fine but can't be fast forwarded. It will jump forward then immediately back several seconds so it keeps replaying the same loop over and over. If I let it play through, it will get past that part (usually). Sometimes I can't fast forward through the rest of the program or it will skip back to the beginning. My workaround right now is opening the file in Channels DVR on my phone and scrubbing to the point in the show I want, then closing and hitting resume from my TV (Shield TV specifically).

I know there is an issue with MPEGs if they are cut wrong with editing software and it seems similar. But I didn't think the commercials were actually cuts as much as they were reference points.

If it helps, this happens considerably more on ad-hoc then scheduled recordings which leads me to believe its the hand off between live tv and recording that things go south.

1 Like
#2

What does View Details on the web UI show for such a recording? Does the Fix Video Timestamps option help?

#3

There's already a thread on this: Seeking during commercials - Channels DVR / TV Everywhere - Channels Community (getchannels.com)

#4

@scottuf I saw this but these are OTA channels not TV Everywhere

#5

I never saw the fix timestamp. I'll try it tonight if I saved that recording and report back tomorrow. Thank you.

#6

Sounds like the same issue though. I tried the fix timestamp on recordings I had the issue with and it didn't help. You can try though. Only solution I've found is to just watch through the commercial then it may or may not happen again. Also seems to happen on different channels so not one network specific.

#7

@scottuf Good call, I recorded the end of a TVE show I got sucked into last night and sure enough it's got the same issue in the beginning. I deleted the OTA example so I'm trying to remember which one and restore it to get better data. @tmm1 your stuff is epic! I didn't even know about all those awesome webui features. The comskip details are awesome! The view details is attached if it helps, please don't judge it was an impulse watch. The skipping happened in the first 30s of the recording.

Screenshot_20210218-195512_Chrome
Screenshot_20210218-195512_Chrome720×1480 200 KB

#8

I've noticed this with OTA Channels as well. I think it's related to a signal quality drop during the recording. I had tested a Amazon Recast before purchasing HDhomeRun. What I've noticed is the HDhomeRun Tuner is not as sensitive as my TV's built-in tuner or Recast; so it needs a very good clean signal from your antenna. You can catch a blip in signal drop by refreshing the tuner status web page for the HDhomeRun. Symbol quality would be 100% and refreshing tuner status page when the screen pixelated, it would show the drop in symbol quality from 100%. This is where the DVR recording could have issues fast forwarding for me. The weak channel I have this problem more; but noticed fast forward issue on one other channel that is better signal strength but still does lose symbol quality. On channels that are solid 100%, I don't think have fast forward issue. I had a helpful Tech for the channel I was having problems and had me point my antenna almost 20degrees difference that made my symbol quality numbers stay solid. I'll report back if this helped reduce fast forward issue.

#9

You can try switching your SHIELD to Settings > Playback > Advanced > Video Decoder: Software

#10

Dont have access to the Shield today but firetv is also doing it on that file and the advanced setting for hardware decoding is not there so I'm assuming it doesn't have hardware decoding. Is that at all helpful?

Fix timestamp did not help.

#11

Can you click Settings > Support > Submit Diagnostics and I'll see if anything in the logs stands out

#12

Sure, thank you again

It is definitely the commercial skip marker. If I set comskipping to manual on the fire I have no noticable issues skipping back and forth over that section.

I submitted them just now and just realized I submitted them after doing just that. So if you need me to resend cleaner logs let me know and I'll turn comskip back on and let it skip wrong and resend.

#13

I noticed this was recorded from Discovery via TVE. I have also run across this, but only on recordings from Discovery. I think it might have something to do with how they insert commercial segments.

#14

Most of my issues with this have been OTA local channels. 90% of my recording are OTA and I use Philo to record upper channels because they are better viewing quality. There are a few exceptions for shows I may want to keep indefinitely.

Unfortunately I can't remember which local recordings, I've since deleted, had this problem smack in the middle of the recording. This example was just some amazing timing that I caught it on a recording whim.

#15

Not sure if it's the same issue, but I have commercial skip issues with Cable recordings viewed from a web browser in that thread.

#16

I found a workaround to this last night. I switched off "automatic" commercial switching and let it play at regular speed past the point of trouble. Muting seemed to help with the unwanted commercial.

I find this trouble on both OTA and TVE recordings, including the Super Bowl which was OTA.