FastChannels - FAST Channels aggregator/manager

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#3418

Unfortunately, no success. I changed the FastChannels Server to http://192.168.1.13:5523 and the black screen issue continued. Also, after the update to the server URL I started getting an error message when trying to add a feed to CDVR:
error

Whether I am on the Capture source or on the FastChannels Created source I can see the Fire TV interface and when I use the remote I can see the corresponding actions. I can even load videos which play fine. It is only when I try to tune a channel do I get a black screen.

#3419

This is because your FireStick is unable to communicate with FastChannels, which the FC Player requires. This is the networking problem we need solve.

If you're running Portainer, could you post a screenshot of the complete Portainer - Containers page, including the URL you're using to access it (by LAN IP if possible please).

If you're not running Portainer, could you open Docker Desktop maximized, and get a screenshot of the Containers page there?

Also, could you right-click on the Network icon in your Windows System Tray, select Network & Internet Settings, followed by clicking on Ethernet (or Wi-Fi if you're not using Ethernet) and post a sceenshot of that page?

#3420

What's going on with LocalNow channels? All or most of mine seem to be dead??

1 Like
#3421

Looking good over here - try to play a few channels from that source and send me logs

#3422

Hmmm for whatever reason they look good again today. Yesterday most if not all would fail when trying to tune or checking on the FastChannels page. Sorry for the disruption.

1 Like
#3423

I just want to say THANK YOU for all of the hard work. FastChannels combined with ah4c and PrismCast is all providing a fantastic solution to my needs via Channels DVR. Thanks for all of the hard work that all of you are doing.

3 Likes
#3424

I know you were going to take a much needed break from all of this, but I just want to say THANK YOU for all of the hard work. FastChannels combined with ah4c and PrismCast is all providing a fantastic solution to my needs via Channels DVR. Thanks for all of the hard work that all of you are doing.

2 Likes
#3425

Thanks. I'm actually pretty grateful @KineticMan actually, merged in my Android TV flow today. I'm very happy.

Should be a lot more stable for everyone. I am still maintaining the code that displays local ads instead of the national ones, but maybe he'll have a change of heart on that, and I won't have to maintain it anymore. But I've written actually a really nice continuous integration that deals with any upstream changes with a very cheap AI model.

It's basically set and forget, so it shouldn't really require much intervention to keep running on my end. So I'm quite happy. I'm referring to the DirecTV integration, by the way.

#3426

Hey @KineticMan , while watching hurricane coverage on Fox Weather (via Plex) each time they return from commercial break like clockwork this happens (and it's giving me deja vu from one of the other older Plex projects for CDVR that I think was eventually solved?):

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#3427

Just recently it seems, I've started to have some audio issues with the bridge setup (both HDMI capture an dah4c). When a video starts, it might take a couple of seconds before audio is heard clearly, but in that couple of seconds a clicking noise is heard. I have my Firestick set to PCM audio, so it doesn't passthrough anything else, and the HDMI capture is set to mpeg-ts. Has anyone experienced this? Below is a snippet from the CDVR log.

2026/10/09 07:49:07.841993 [TNR] Opened connection to M3U-FastChannelsFCDirectvAndroidBridgeGracenoteah4c for ch1048 NHL Network HD
2026/10/09 07:49:07.841993 [HLS] Starting live stream for channel 1048 from 192.168.88.245
2026/10/09 07:49:08.606463 [HLS] ffmpeg: capture-usb-hdmi: [aist#0:1/pcm_s16le @ 00000144cee8d140] Guessed Channel Layout: stereo
2026/10/09 07:49:08.606463 [HLS] ffmpeg: capture-usb-hdmi: [vost#0:0/h264_mf @ 00000144d5798780] -enc_time_base -1 is deprecated, use -enc_timebase demux
2026/10/09 07:49:08.606463 [HLS] ffmpeg: capture-usb-hdmi: [aost#0:1/aac @ 00000144cee5ab80] -enc_time_base -1 is deprecated, use -enc_timebase demux
2026/10/09 07:49:08.886492 [HLS] ffmpeg: capture-usb-hdmi: [h264_mf @ 00000144d0f52f00] stream format change
2026/10/09 07:49:11.557888 [HLS] ffmpeg: ch1048-dANY-ip192.168.88.245-remux: [mpegts @ 000002d5929d7c40] DTS 35965 < 105000 out of order
2026/10/09 07:49:11.560471 [HLS] ffmpeg: ch1048-dANY-ip192.168.88.245-remux: [vist#0:0/h264 @ 000002d595610d40] timestamp discontinuity (stream id=256): -800388, new offset= 800388
2026/10/09 07:49:11.577760 [HLS] Session ch1048-dANY-ip192.168.88.245 started in 3.735767s

#3428

Stupid plex. I’ll check into it. Anything in logs by chance ?

1 Like
#3429

Which source?

#3430

Nothing in logs after playback begins unfortunately.

#3431

I access Portainer - Containers with this URL: https://localhost:9443/#!/1/docker/containers

Portainer-Containers
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Screenshot 2026-10-09 140423
Screenshot 2026-10-09 140423994×907 115 KB

#3432

hanks — the log shows it's DirecTV (NHL Network). Those ffmpeg warnings are normal start-of-stream noise from Channels' capture source, so they don't tell us much.

Three things would narrow it down:

(1) does it click on other bridged sources or only DirecTV?

(2) if you tune the capture card's own channel directly in Channels while the Fire Stick is already playing something, do you still get the click at the start?

(3) which FC Player version is on the stick, and did Channels DVR, Fire OS or Windows update recently? FastChannels only starts playback over ADB and isn't in the audio path, so I'm trying to work out whether it's the capture starting up or the stick re-initialising audio on each tune.

#3433

You need to change your Network profile type to Private network

#3434
  1. The other bridged channels I have are in the Prismcast Bridge and they do not click.
  2. No
  3. FC Player is 5.2.10. Channels DVR has updated a few times, it is on version 2026.10.08.1422. Neither Fire OS nor Windows has updated recently.
#3435

@Victor_Bodenmiller You should be sorted out now. The combination of the incorrect IP addresses you were using, plus having your Network profile set to Public explains everything you were seeing. Can you confirm please?

#3436

I can't replicate this. perhaps double check your firestick audio settings? keep in mind, these encoders only export Stereo so maybe just select that as your output? just guessing here

#3437

i can't replicate this either... I will say - Plex is by far the least reliable source. If you can find alternative coverage for your channels, do it. LG seems to be the best overall in my opinon.

1 Like