HDHomerun Flex 4k problems

Channels DVR Server
#1

Just getting started with Channels, but no end of stuttering with a HDHomerun Flex 4K and I am a bit puzzled by this. Some channels work ok but most Channels complains about the connection - others work fine. I suspect it is signal related and the HDHomerun tech utility program shows some yellow vs green in signal quality

Interestingly I have an old Amazon Fire Recast box sitting right beside the HDHomerun, same type of antenna in the same place, and it gets nearly perfect signals when played live, but I am not sure if it is doing some magic in the box itself.

A bit puzzled and wondering if my HDHomerun needs swapping out.

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#2

Check HDHR firmware is up to date

Check if official HDHR app can play without issues

#3

Did all that.

Firmware is current.

HDHR app struggles with solid, non-pixelated video on many channels. The same channels the old Amazon Fire Replay is playing without issue with an identical antenna in the same location.

Granted I am a decent way from the broadcast towers, but I am puzzled by the Replay handing the majority of channels fine and the HDHomerun most are pixelated and unwatchable.

I was also not sure if the Channels DVR's complaint about "Tuner Network Problems" was an error message about network connectivity TO the tuner on the local network, or that the tuner's signal was weak.

#4

If the hdhomerun app has the same issue as channels then its not a channels issue. Different tuners can behave differently so sometimes you cant compare them together as apples and apples.

I would troubleshoot this as a signal/antenna issue. Start with signalgh on the apple appstore. Troubleshoot signal strength first. That may lead you down the path of a new placement for your antenna, a whole new antenna, etc.

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#5

Thanks for the pointers on Signal GH.

#6

This error specifically means the network path between your tuner and the client is dropping packets.

Is it going over a mesh, powerline, or hopping multiple routers?

You can use tuner sharing to make the live stream go through the DVR server.

#7

It is actually going over a moca connection that reports reasonable throughput.

#8

You can use tuner sharing to make the live stream go through the DVR server.

I am not sure I understand what you mean.

The Channels DVR server has the HDHR as a source. Is there something different you are referring to?

#9

Your moca must be noisy or something. The HDHR requires very low latency. It has no buffer so it will start dropping packets easily. You must be seeing it on high-bitrate channels.

In the client app you can set Settings > Playback > Advanced > Tuner Sharing: On

In this scenario, you will end up with:

flowchart LR hdhr(HDHomeRun) --> dvr(DVR Server) --> client(Client TV)

with Tuner Sharing off:

flowchart LR hdhr(HDHomeRun) --> client(Client TV)

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#10

Yes, moving the network off the moca seems to be the real fix.