Frndly TV for Channels

Playground Custom Channels
#470

I'm running Channels DVR on Windows 10 and using the Python version of Frndly TV

Last night, the Frndly Hallmark channels stopped working with a FFmpeg/codec errors. Other Frndly TV channels are streaming just fine. I just updated the Channels DVR to the pre-release, but still get the error.
I can watch Hallmark via Frndly's website and with TVE.

/08/31 19:31:53.372092 [TNR] Opened connection to M3U-Frndly for ch9002 Hallmark Channel

2022/08/31 19:31:53.378864 [HLS] Starting live stream for channel 9002 from [127.0.0.1](http://127.0.0.1/) (bitrate=27641)

2022/08/31 19:32:03.806423 [HLS] Probe failed for live stream after 10.4264404s and 0 bytes

2022/08/31 19:32:08.145496 [HLS] Couldn't generate stream playlist for ch9002-dANY-ip127.0.0.1: Timeout waiting for session to start after 8s

2022/08/31 19:32:08.145496 [HLS] Stopping transcoder session ch9002-dANY-ip127.0.0.1 (out: 0s, finished: false)

2022/08/31 19:32:08.199958 [HLS] ffmpeg: ch9002-dANY-ip127.0.0.1-remux: pipe:: could not find codec parameters

2022/08/31 19:32:08.272686 [TNR] Closed connection to M3U-Frndly for ch9002 Hallmark Channel

2022/08/31 19:32:08.272686 [SNR] Buffer statistics for ch9002 Hallmark Channel: buf=0% drop=0%

2022/08/31 19:32:10.074740 [TNR] Opened connection to M3U-Frndly for ch9002 Hallmark Channel

2022/08/31 19:32:10.081953 [HLS] Starting live stream for channel 9002 from [127.0.0.1](http://127.0.0.1/) (bitrate=27641)

2022/08/31 19:32:16.920362 [NAT] Failed to discover upnp routers

2022/08/31 19:32:16.920362 [NAT] Failed to discover router using natpmp and upnp.

2022/08/31 19:32:17.337963 [HLS] Couldn't generate stream playlist for ch9002-dANY-ip127.0.0.1: Timeout waiting for session to start after 8s

2022/08/31 19:32:17.337963 [HLS] Stopping transcoder session ch9002-dANY-ip127.0.0.1

2022/08/31 19:32:17.536952 [HLS] Probe failed for live stream after 7.4544916s and 0 bytes

2022/08/31 19:32:17.542209 [HLS] ffmpeg: ch9002-dANY-ip127.0.0.1-remux: pipe:: could not find codec parameters

2022/08/31 19:32:17.582332 [TNR] Closed connection to M3U-Frndly for ch9002 Hallmark Channel

2022/08/31 19:32:19.087071 [TNR] Opened connection to M3U-Frndly for ch9002 Hallmark Channel

2022/08/31 19:32:19.093551 [HLS] Starting live stream for channel 9002 from [127.0.0.1](http://127.0.0.1/) (bitrate=27641)

2022/08/31 19:32:21.799057 [HLS] Stopping transcoder session ch9002-dANY-ip127.0.0.1

2022/08/31 19:32:23.454983 [HLS] Probe failed for live stream after 4.3612397s and 0 bytes

2022/08/31 19:32:23.459162 [HLS] ffmpeg: ch9002-dANY-ip127.0.0.1-remux: pipe:: could not find codec parameters

2022/08/31 19:32:23.509117 [TNR] Closed connection to M3U-Frndly for ch9002 Hallmark Chann
1 Like
#471

Yeah I noticed Hallmark channels (all 3) on Frndly went down the other night. It happened a couple of months ago too, took about a week for it to resolve itself on its own. A couple of things I can tell you is that it is not a ChannelsDVR problem. It also is not a TVE issue, because Frndly isn't TVE. So the standard TVE troubleshooting won't work. I have noticed that the Hallmark Channels on the Frndly Official apps are showing in SD while all the other Frndly channels are displaying HD.

So my belief is that Frndly is having a problem with the Hallmark HD Streams. Their officials apps will automatically switch to SD. The unofficial Frndly TV for Channels docker here I believe only pulls the HD streams from Frndly. Maybe @matthuisman can confirm that is how it functions.

This is my best guess at this time. But maybe some other people far brighter than me can shine some light on the issue. I am basically hoping that it will resolve itself like it did last time.

1 Like
#472

Thanks - Guess it's good to know that it's not a problem with my setup. But I do have another provider (which is where my TVE is coming from).

#473

Yeah, it took me a while to realize those Hallmark channels had gone rouge again because Channels automatically switched to my Spectrum account after not being able to use the Frndly account for Hallmark. So bravo to Channels for working perfectly and finding a working source.

3 Likes
#474

Happy Saturday everyone. For some reason Docker on my Mac Mini was eating RAM...so I removed it and would like to try the Python3 method.
I am in terminal and it appears I have xcode already...I read that was needed? Do I install Python3 from terminal....or? Sorry for the remedial questions.

#475

I just noticed since Sept 1st 2022 that I am getting "403 Forbidden" errors on all three Hallmark channels. Is this the same thing you are talking about. Will this go away on it's own or is there something I need to do, beyond restarting everything?

#476

I am pretty sure this is something we will have to wait for Frndly to figure out. I checked their official apps today and those channels are still SD there too (everything else HD). My current theory (recap) is Frndly is having problems with Hallmark HD streams, and the Frndly TV for Channels docker only uses the HD streams, so Hallmark is currently unavailable to us. The last time this came up it resolved itself in a week or two. That is the best I can figure.

#477

can someone please try latest code / docker container and see if that fixes Hallmark

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#478

All three Hallmarks appear to be working now on latest container.

1 Like
#479

I know this can not be related to what @matthuisman did with the container, but the Hallmark Channels in the official apps are now also showing HD streams again. During the down time, in the official apps the Hallmarks were in the 1.2m bitrate range, now they are in 3.25m bitrate range.

UPDATE: Hallmark is again not running on Channels. And is back to SD in the official Apps. Hallmark Drama and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries are still running on Channels and still HD in official Apps.

#480

Is there anyone that might be able to help me get FRNDLY into my Channels DVR via python on my MacMini?

#481

These are the commands. If you're not a developer it may not be worth the hassle.

git clone https://github.com/matthuisman/frndlytv-for-channels
cd frndlytv-for-channels
pip install -r requirements.txt
export USERNAME= PASSWORD=
python -u ./app.py
#482

Ok, now Hallmark Drama and Hallmark Movies and Mystery do not work, and are back to SD in the official apps. Hallmark Channel is working again since this morning, and now back to HD in the official apps. I am checking against the official app because that seems to being the only consistent data point. It seems like when the channels do not work here, it coincides with them being low bitrate in the apps. Only Hallmark group is being effected.

Looks like the latest container update did not solve the Hallmark issue. Hope some of this info helps @matthuisman.

#483

Have you seen this?

1 Like
#484

Awesome find @chDVRuser. I did check the status page a few days ago, but not recently. Glad to know that Frndly knows of the issue and is working on it. Thanks for letting us know.

#485

Thank you. I am not a developer…but I was able to get the docker to work many months ago……needed a new challenge…thanks for these commands…this will be my project tomorrow. :smiley:

#486

PS - I am supposed to use Python version 3 or the most current version to do this, right?

1 Like
#487

I just tried a clean install this morning with the latest code. All channels seem to work except the Hallmark ones.

#488
1 Like
#489

Well I am quite shocked. I was able to install Python3 on my macmini. I was able to install PIP...and run the commands by changing "python" to "python3". the results after running it show that the commands are all satisfied...the last command has a response of "starting service on port 80". Stupid question....is that the result I am looking for? Also, the custom channel that I created was originally using Docker....what do I need to edit that custom channel with to use the Python code? I am so surprised I made it this far....and I think I am almost at the finish line.....just had these two questions. Any help is appreciated. Please let me know who/how I can donate for the help. Thanks