Channels DVR as PLEX tuner

Channels DVR Server Feature Requests
#137

I wanted to see if this would work outside my home for my daughter to have access to my DirecTV channels.

She is in college and she, as most 20 year somethings, have grown up on Netflix, Hulu, on demand services.... but there were times she wanted to watch something directly as Hulu has a day or two delay on certain programs. I wasn't going to get a cable subscription at $80-100/month for the VERY few times she wanted to watch something live.

Lord knows I have enough subscriptions and honestly I am growing very tired of everyone going subscription based EVERYTHING. I think that pendulum will swing back sooner rather than later but that's where we are now.

That was my reason for going down this path. I must admit that Channels + xTeVe + PLEX is pretty amazing. It's not super easy but it's not super difficult either and when setup properly it works without a hitch. I just want to thank everyone again in this great community for all of your help... nice to find a place like this...

If I can help anyone please let me know!!

3 Likes
#139

That is not a Channels DVR M3U output post a screen shot of the settings of this M3U in Channels DVR. Also how is XTEVE setup ?

#140

As soon as I get home I'll post my xteve setup, thanks :slight_smile:

1 Like
#142

You will need to contact xteve support/forums. This forum is for Channels DVR.

#143

That's not the right URL.

M3U's contain the tuner information, links to the actual program video feed. They end in m3u.
EPG XMLs contain the electronic program guide data, just the program guide, not any video. There is no need to indicate a video stream format in them. They end in .xml.

The xteve screenshot posted has the exact information at the bottom of the picture with the exact URLs you need to enter, there is no need to change or deviate from the URLs provided.

This all assumes that you have entered valid information into xteve in the first place.

EPG XML is not .m3u

#144

Sorry I will only help you if you are using M3U and XMLTV from Channels DVR Into XTEVE. That is why I want to see the M3U and XMLTV from your XTEVE... not the settings page.

2 Likes
#145

Ok sry guys and thank you for answers

1 Like
#146

So I decided to give this a try and after some trial and error I got it working. I imported the MLB.TV for Channels and Hulu Live. Also had to do my Tuner but that was an easy part. I couldn't do ALL as the ADBTuner was causing issues and making XTEVE crash during the import. Due to that I had to create 3 XTEVE instances on my Unraid box, each with different ports and folders. Plus I am using the import for the guide instead of PLEX.

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In PLEX it was a pain but I got it working.

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My Question is, does XTEVE always update the Guide Data? Or was it a one time import and now I have to manually do it? I am confused at that part.

2 Likes
#147

Goto Settings and under File:
Schedule for updating (Playlist, XMLTV, Backup):

#148

Thank You!

#149

Personally I have had Plex up and running without a glitch or reboot for years at a time. So IMO Plex is 10 times more stable than Channels.

My experience with Channels has been ok but it has required multiple installs on different computers to finally get it relatively stable.

Plex has been installed once years ago and like a Timex watch it just keeps ticking.

2 Likes
#150

Can’t disagree more from my own personal experience.

The plex UI and feature set is nice - but I couldn’t deal with the graphical glitches, video incompatibility and incomplete/not working ‘features’.

#151

What platform are you installing it on. I run a standalone ubuntu server and I actually just rebooted it due to an OS upgrade but before that my uptime was 370 days. No problem with channels since day 1

1 Like
#152

Ok not disagreeing but how many average people with limited or no computer experience is able to do what you did? My experience with Channels is completely different and I’m not alone just browse this community. If it was as easy as you say this community would be a ghost town.

#153

Personally I have not experienced any of these issues with Plex. Installed 7 yrs ago and other than software updates I haven’t touched it. Everything I’ve used has worked flawlessly.

#154

No argument that Plex has been very stable and maintenance free. On the other hand, Plex hasn't introduced any new features to their DVR like Channels has been doing over the years. Unfortunately, the addition of new features and keeping up with service changes of 3rd parties interfaces like TVE is what usually causes the issues with Channels. Personally, I'd rather deal with the periodic issues while enjoying the new features verses a static but stable product.

#155

There's a newer fork of xTeVe at GitHub - Threadfin/Threadfin: an M3U proxy for Plex/Jellyfin/Emby based on xTeVe

4 Likes
#156

Well this has some age on it so I thought Id update it a little. I have been critical of Channels and now a few months later I want to update my assessment.

So I have had Channels stable now for several months. It is working well and I do enjoy the features and the interface. After combing through my logs and with the suggestions on here I believe most if not all my recurring issues were related to the hard drive I used for Channels storage. It was definitely not the antivirus program. I purchased a new 8Tb drive and it is working well without issue. It took 24 hrs to copy the data from the old HD to the new one but it was the best move.

I still think what Plex does it does well. I find that when we vacation and are away from home watching remotely, Plex works better with a marginal connection. Channels works OK remotely but side by side Plex buffers less.

Now I just got fiber in our area so that may really help things out. We have 250 Mbps/250 Mbps vs the 6 Mbps/ 44 Mbps on a dsl line. So I'm thinking our next trip we shouldn't have any remote issues.

Overall, Channels has turned out to be a nice usable program. I subscribed as a transition from our Amazon Recast tuner which Amazon is no longer selling. Channels is a comparable setup with a few more features. Plex is doable and works well also obviously no TVE which is a bigee and if that disappears we will see. I could see combining Plex with one of the streaming services like PlayOn and getting close to Channels feature list.

So overall I think Channels is a good program with a nice interface that once stable seems to run without a lot of interaction or maintaince.

3 Likes
#157

See HACK: Use Channels DVR as a Plex tuner

3 Likes
#158