The storage is a bit why I'm thinking that maybe I should be looking into the Google TV Streamer instead. It isn't a big upgrade but it does come with more storage than the CC has.
I tried the stretch to fit setting, but changing that had no effect.
No. We do subscribe to a VPN service but it is always off unless we manually turn it on (I live in HI and the closest VPN servers are at least 2,500 miles away, so it's only used in specific situations).
Yep, it's one of the things I tested and why I believe the issue is either with my CC or with the app on the CC. I have clear/smooth video and audio on my phone with no need to change any settings. When testing the speed between the app and the cDVR server, I got the same speeds on the 2.4 GHz network (roughly 20 Mb/s) and over 600 Mb/s on the 5 Ghz network. I made the CC forget the 2.4 Ghz network and it's now only connecting via 5 Ghz to make sure it has a decent speed available.
Thanks. I've changed the setting to streaming as instructed and changed the buffer on the server side to 4 hours, but it appears this isn't making any difference 
Just to add weight to this problem. I have the same problem. My setup is very similar. I haven't done any in-depth testing like this user has. However I have 3 HDrunner units. 2 get feeds from my cable provider and 1 is the same over the air unit this user has. I only have problems with my Chromecast 4k and recordings or feeds from the over the air HD runner
When viewing the other HDHR units through Channels on your Chromecast, do you also experience this issue, or only with the HDHR Flex 4K?
In the meantime, I have ordered the Google Streamer. I'm not sure it will help, but I was able to get it at a discount (I'm not sure I would've gotten it at the full price, though) and will give it a shot when it arrives (which isn't for another few weeks as I didn't want to go with the white one lol).
It seems that it's only happening on the hd flex.
I'm hoping you will post your results when you get the Google streamer running. If it works those footsteps you hear behind you will be me. 
Thanks for taking one for the team.
clairnas - Sorry for my late reply.. been trying to space it out a bit to avoid the topic from closing before I receive the streamer. Anyways, will definitely get back with results here once the streamer arrives. I just checked, it should arrive within the next 10-12 days.
Well, I received the Google TV Streamer, but it does not solve the issue. It is the same as with my Chromecast 4K.
I'm pretty much at a loss at this time. I tried so many things, but the issue appears to be only present on Google devices. I did the same checks mentioned before, and I even got myself an extra ethernet switch to be able to hardwire everything, including the TV streamer, so Wifi could be ruled out, too, but alas.
It's weird. It works perfectly when I look via a browser on my TV, my Android phone etc. But Google devices, for some reason unknown to me, seem not to be able to work correctly with the Channels DVR app.
Not sure what I'm going to do next, but I'm probably going to cancel my Channels subscription and go with the HDHR one instead. I'm not liking it, but that seems to work without issue.
If anyone else has any suggestions, I'm open to them.
You could try apple tv, its just a better experience in general.
I have a Chromecast with GTV, and used it briefly with Channels, both Release app, and the Carbon modded app.
It streams any channel fine. OTA, TVE, M3U. It is a bit slow though, and does not even come close to the performance of the old 2019 Nvidia Shield Pro. If you have to have a Android/Google based streaming device client, the Shield is your only real option.
However, if you want the best experience with Channels, the most current generation Apple TV 4K 128gb(due to it having ethernet port) is the best option. Having both in my household, Shield and ATV, for sure, the win goes to Apple TV.
Have you tried plugging your Google Streamer into the port that the working TV is using?
I did, but that didn't make any difference either. It works correctly everywhere else, just not on my Chromecast or Google TV Streamer. Streaming it from a mini PC when hooked onto the TV isn't an issue either. Seeing it work everywhere else and that the HDHR app works fine as well makes me believe the Channels DVR app on Android must be having issues when being used on Chromecast or the Streamer.
As for Apple TV; truth be told, I never was one to support Apple. But besides that, I just looked up the price and I'm not exactly willing to spend yet another $129+ for my setup when I can get other apps to work fine on the TV streamer and Chromecast. With the Streamer, new antenna, mini PC, and other things like new cabling and such, I spent over $500 only to rule out that those weren't the issue.
There are a lot of us using Google TV devices with no issues. It is something about your environment.
There are also plenty of people with issues (someone with the same issues posted above but I found more threads mentioning the same), so that doesn't have to mean much. It only makes the issue more complex. As for my environment, it is easy to accuse that but after everything I already said above, do you have any suggestions as to why the Channels DVR app is the only one that has these issues on my Chromecast and TV Streamer, and only on those two devices and not any of the others? Environment seems very unlikely TBH.
The issue isn't present on any of the phones in my home, nor on any of the computers or tablets. It isn't a WiFi issue either. Once I had the streamer, I hardwired everything to rule WiFi out. Cable distances have been long and short and I changed the cables out more than once to rule out any cable issues. An issue with the antenna signal seems also unlikely as I tried 3 different antennas. Plus, as I said several times before, the issue is only present on these two devices, not on any of the others. Other apps such as that of HDHR works without a flaw on Chromecast and the TV Streamer. At some point, there isn't much more to troubleshoot, and is the only conclusion that the app itself must have an issue with those two devices somehow.
Have you contacted support? I would submit diagnostics from the app right after experiencing the choppy video playback, and then email [email protected] with a link to this topic.
I've reread the thread because you pointed out somone else with the issue. I see a difference between our environments. We are using different tuners! I use a HD HomeRun PRIME (cable). You use a HD HomeRun Flex (antenna) as dose the other person with the issue. I'm guessing that if we swapped recordings you would be able to play mine and I would not be able to play yours.
Do you have the latest firmware on your HD HomeRun Flex?
Do you have TVE or another source configured and do those recordings exabit the issue?
I have a Chromecast Google TV that I use for testing, I prefer Firestick Max devices for my TV viewing. But I do use the newer HDHomerun Flex 4K tuner for my OTA channels.
Using my Chromecast Google TV, I do not get any dropped frames viewing SD channels. I do get some dropped frames from HD channels (about 300/minute), but my TV and old eyes do not notice any choppiness of the video. I also do get many dropped frames from ATSC 3.0 channels (greater than 1000/minute) and I can see some choppiness of the video.
You can look for dropped frames by using the Channels app and playing a live TV channel, selecting options Show Stats. If you do see dropped frames, for testing you can also unselect the audio. You may notice the dropped frames and video choppiness will also completely stop.
The only way I have been able to correct the dropped frames and keep audio is to change the app Settings for Playback/Steaming Quality/Home Streaming to 4Mbps or one of these lower settings.
It is my opinion that the Channels audio is not completely optimized for these lower power devices, since AppleTV has a very powerful processor and that is their preferred device.
I have a similar problem with my Chromecast with GoogleTV. The primary program we watch on this device is Jeopardy. The video is pretty good when it’s just the players or KJ on the screen. But when the view cuts to the board, and when they “zoom in” on the selected category, causing a lot of motion/changes on the screen is when the problem really is evident. I’ll try changing the streaming settings and or buffering settings (one at a time) to see if that helps.
Make sore you have buffer protection on. I'm using 30 seconds and you want video hardware.
Also, test your network speed to the server.