FastChannels - FAST Channels aggregator/manager

Playground
#1023

Not currently, but easy request. Will add

Also, add to feed from admin/channels: It’s a new feature to help manage feeds from channels page. I had to be a little creative how I added it via pins since it was slightly different from the original way of just from feeds (with filters). In theory, they should all share same data of being in a feed or not. Clear as mud?

1 Like
#1024

I appreciate the help!:slightly_smiling_face: Maybe this is where I went wrong... I didn't realize that this was a drop-down(pop-up?) menu. I manually typed the entry in... I managed to get guide data into CDVR. But, all of my recordings from this channel failed. :thinking: Looks like it's working now! I'll schedule a couple recordings overnight to see if they fail again. Hopefully, with your assistance, this is a winner this time.

#1025

That was one thing that stumped me. I didn't realize it was a selection of channels and when you start typing the selector value it gives you a list to choose from.

The other issue I had was thinking that the verify button brave_screenshot (5) was supposed to tune to the channel in Chrome. It doesn't (on a muli channel website with grid guide). It just takes you to the website to authenticate (if needed).

#1026

This :arrow_up: made me think that I had done something wrong. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who stumbled a bit on these little details. Thanks again!

1 Like
#1027

Same for me. Logos broken for FastChannels.

(Local and Away) Channels DVR (Android)

1 Like
#1028

This is like the 50th question about channel logos and proxying in general, so here's FAQ for everyone:

  1. FastChannels is a locally hosted service for your home. You must be on your local LAN for images to work on the CDVR portal (access it with local ip ie 192.168.x.x) - not my.channelsdvr.net .. If it doesn't work, I promise it's your network

  2. If you truly are in need to see logos remotely, setup a Tailscale network with your clients or something simliar.

  3. I'm going to add an override to skip image proxy and append the upstream image URL, but I cannot support it'll work for all sources (ie Plex). Some absolutely require proxy - user be warned.

Also, many people have asked about why I don't just send upstream direct URL for streams in the M3U. Well, here's why:

  • Tubi — Could store the resolved CDN URL directly. Risk: URL might rotate between scrapes, but clients would just get a 403 until next scrape refreshes it. Not a great user experience in my opinion.
  • Distro (open CDN) — URL is stable between scrapes. resolve() is basically just reading a field. Could store directly.

Doable with manipulation:

  • Samsung — follow the jmp2.uk redirect chain at scrape time and store the final Akamai URL. Works until Akamai rotates the token (could be hours or days depending on their TTL).
  • Xumo — URL is hour-based. Could refresh the stored CDN URL every hour alongside the EPG job. Bit janky but would work.
  • LG Channels — macros like [CB] (cache-buster timestamp) have to be fresh at play time, so this one's a no.

Not viable:

  • Roku, Plex, Pluto, Amazon, LocalNow, Sling, TCL — all have JWTs or session tokens that expire in minutes. Storing them would mean every other play fails.
  • Stirr — IP-bound, impossible.
  • FreeLiveSports — timestamp macro must be generated at play time.
3 Likes
FEATURE REQUEST: Cache station logos to server, parse to clients
#1029

For what it's worth, other containers (such as Matt Huisman) had the actual external URL's stored in the M3U playlists. This one has internal URL's and is doing some proxying of some sort. That could be why you are seeing issues. I had issues as well.

#1030

The channel icons appear when connected locally, but they don't appear when using Tailscale to connect to my server remotely. Tailscale installed on my server and Tailscale installed on my iPhone. I'm guessing it's a Channels client issue.

#1031

The image URL is right inside the M3U. See if you can access the image link from your remote device. If you can’t, then it’s a network issue on your end.

#1032

LOCAL
LOCAL750×1334 75.2 KB
TAILSCALE
TAILSCALE750×1334 70.3 KB

#1033

Again, try the actual URL inside the M3U. Grab it and type it into Chrome and see if an image comes back.. Debug from there. It’s not on my end at all.

1 Like
#1034

Yep. I would have to change my configs since it's showing my local private LAN IP address for the container.
tvg-logo="http://192.168.1.4:5523/logos/e9ad952fd1c274a272c9eb523d4a5888.png"

#1035

When I set up FastChannels, I used the local LAN IP address for my NAS/CDVR server. FastChannels also runs on the same device. It looks as if it would be better to use my Tailscale Magic DNS address for the NAS instead.

Where would be the correct place to make the change? In the FastChannels Stack Evvironment Variables? Perhaps, change the FastChannels server URL? (as in the bold italics below?)

FASTCHANNELS_SERVER_URL=http://192.168.1.100:5523
CHANNELS_DVR_SERVER_URL=http://192.168.1.100:8089

FASTCHANNELS_SERVER_URL=http://nas-home:5523
CHANNELS_DVR_SERVER_URL=http://192.168.1.100:8089

#1036

Screenshot_20260427-155151
Screenshot_20260427-155151451×1005 134 KB

These are my fastchannels on LAN (Android). I'm chalking it up to CDVR bug...

#1037

I'd recommend using whatever IP/DNS name is accessible on all your devices (at home/remote). If it's 192.168.1.100, use that.. If Tailscale IP/DNS name is accessible everywhere (at home/remote), then use those.

And yes, change in admin/settings both FastChannels Server IP (most important) and Channels DVR (less important as I assume you'd be making admin changes at home anyway). If you make a change, make sure you re-scrape to generate new XML/M3u files.

#1038

Nope - do as I told ChDvruser -- grab a M3U and sample an image link .. then plug that image URL into your device there. If it doesn't load, then you have a network issue.

#1039

I'll give it a try. Thanks! :slightly_smiling_face:

#1040

Do you have a subnet router set up on your Tailnet? With one established, LAN IP addresses should resolve even remotely.

#1041

No.
I just renamed my NAS hostname the same as my tailscale hostname for it and will use that hostname instead of IP address.

Rescraped all enabled sources in FastChannels then delete & recreate guide database in CDVR and it's working fine w/Tailscale now.

Thanks @KineticMan for pointing me in the right direction.

#1042

http://192.168.1.180:5523/feeds/default/m3u

That's my m3u from fastchannels. how do i sample an image link? the images are all there in the fastchannels web ui.

EDIT: THINK I FIGURED IT OUT THANKS

OOPS spoke too soon. They work when on LAN but not when away. Need to read more posts above...