DVR Status

Channels DVR Server Troubleshooting
#1

The lastest pre-release has cause the status to stay idle. No activity when viewing or recording channels. Server running on Pi 4.
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Log submitted. d7d5ade7-837f-4a3a-9182-9e8378ab8e4a

Plus the Reboot and Shutdown should be removed for PI. I have found in either case the server does not boot up property or not at all and always require a power reboot. Since I was not home I lost the remote connection to Channels all weekend.
I have complained about this in other forums with no comments except people say just buy a hard drive with its own power. Then the developers should not provide software if it really doesn't work with a HD powered by the onboard USB port on the PI.

#2

I am using Pi with 5TB USB drive powered from Pi. What is issue with drive that does not have its own power supply?

Tony

#3

When processor intensive operations happen on the Pi (like commercial detection), it can cause a drop in power to devices powered by the bus (like your hard drive), which can result in errors with read/write operations.

In short, just don't do it. If you want higher reliability, only use external drives with their own power supplies.

#4

The developers didn't say anything about recommending HD with their own power. I bought what they recommended on site. Their was no mention that a HD powered on its own was required. Here is their shopping list which I followed to a tee except for the case. I bought a case with fan. So why would they suggest this if its not reliable.
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#5

Put a powered hub in between

#6

In their use and testing, they may not have had any issues with bus-powered drives. In my personal experiences, bus-powered drives are simply not reliable enough to recommend for any use case. Coupled with the power fluctuations that can often occur with a Raspberry Pi (or similar SBC), that's just a chance I'm not willing to take.

You are more than welcome to use whichever drive you desire. I was simply responding to a question about why one may choose not to use a bus-powered drive. Again, these are my personal opinions based upon past personal experience, and nothing more.

1 Like
#7

Then it makes no since to me to even have the PI then if its going to require 2 power supplies. I guess my experiment with the PI is complete. I will be returning back to the NAS.

#8

I never understood the fascination with the DVR on the Pie ... by the time you finish getting all the pieces ... you can easily buy a celeron nuc/mini pc with 1TB HD and Install windows or linux on it.

1 Like
#9

I wanted something that was small and would not drain UPS quickly. The PI last hours compared to the NAS which drains it within half an hour. I was testing the setup and have decided that Channels DVR server for PI is not worth dealing with if it requires 2 power sources. If the USB power is not strong enough to keep the drive powered then it should not be a recommendation by the developers. If they tested their software with a powered external hard drive, they should have recommended that instead of the WD 2 TB drive.

#10

That requires another power supply.

#11

I always power my external drives and don't rely on the USB bus.
Makes me wonder how SiliconDust's FLEX products will deal with it if they only have a 12V/1A power brick for the HDHR Tuner and the external USB drive.

My guess is it comes down to marketing and how can I get everything for free mentality of some users.

#12

I had lots of trouble with one drive, the 5 TB version of the recommended one, but am using a 4 TB one now without no trouble, bus powered. There were earlier driver problems that are fixed in the latest beta image.

#13

no it doesn't require a additional power supply.
I dont use one with my pie, but they have ssds not hdds hooked up.
But if you chose to use normal platter drive, those use more power, some more than others.

#14

Running the DVR on the Pi has been pretty inexpensive: I spent about $130, and it has been generally solid.