I have (2) HDHR Quads in the house, one for Channels DVR and one for another DVR software. I've been having trouble with a specific range of a few channels (10.1, 10.2, 10.3 , 10.4 ... for example) because of my antenna. I have purchased a second antenna that should resolve the issue with this older VHF style frequency, and I have a third HDHR Quad in the closet. How do I limit Channels DVR to use just 2 of the 4 tuners on that third HDHR so I can use the other 2 for my other DVR software?
Unfortunately, I don't believe this is possible. At least, not natively. (To restrict access to a discrete tuner's individual inputs is quite a niche scenario. Such a situation could be achieved, but it is far outside of general users.)
(Or do you mean to have Channels have control over 2 devices, and other software over 2 other devices?)
Well let's see, there are 3 hardware devices .... so ...
Well, let's address the issues:
- Presently you have 2 tuners for Channels, and 1 tuner for "other"
- You asked about that "other" tuner
- You want to partition that 3d tuner so some of them can be used with Channels, and some can be used with "other"
Do I have the gist?
Yes, I understand your ask. But my statement stands. Partitioning a tuner device between disparate software is not easily accomplished. And using Channels to achieve this without any middleware is not possible as it currently stands.
(If I'm wrong correct me, but I don't think I am.)
Channels DVR has only been in development for a year or two, so I can't expect them to address one or two out of four tuner on a single hardware device like other DVR software, I get it. Is there a "middleware" solution that can at least attempt it?
I have no idea if it's easy or not. The only thing I know is that it was being done well over a decade ago, and these guys here at Channels are pretty sharp.
Just to be clear, here in Channels DVR, there is no way to address just 2 of 4 tuners on a single tuner device? If the answer is no, then are there at least plans to try and figure it out?
No, this is not possible. (As far as I am aware.)
In Channels, again, no.
The way it works is Channels queries the network for tuners, and receives which devices are available. Then when a stream is requested, it asks each tuner if it can deliver the stream. The only way a particular tuner from an HDHR device can be excluded from these queries is if some other software on your network—the "middleware"—can "lock" the tuners beforehand so they are unavailable when Channels requests them.
In short, if you want your 3d tuner to operate as you like, you must use some sort of middleware to delegate the requests for its tuners; Channels cannot presently do that for you.
Im assuming that the 3rd tuner will be for the purposes of those channels that need the different antenna. So if that is the case then what you could do with channels is to make that tuner the 3rd priority. Then on the other 2 HDHR's (priority 1 & 2) disable the channels that do not work properly with the other antenna. That way the 3rd tuner will only be called on by channels dvr if the stations in question are tuned. The other 2 HDHR's will take the rest of the channels. If there is a way to do that with your other software as well then you may he able to just get by that way instead of trying to segregate specific tuners.
Im doing a variation of this (not with multiple dvr's)
I have one group of stations that is hot. I have to attenuate them about 18dB. Then I have another small group of stations that cannot be tuned with that level of attenuation. So i have a 3rd HDHR that is not attenuated, and it is only used when those stations are tuned. Just be sure to set your device priority on the server as well as each client (if you dont use tuner sharing)
1 Like
I do this same thing, but with multiple TVE tuner sources.
Its a bit of work, and tedious, but once setup right, should work fine and easier to manage afterwards.
Add two M3U sources.
One points to that 3rd QUAD tuner 0 and the second points to that QUAD's tuner 1
For each playlist use text for only the channels you want to access on that 3rd QUAD unit.
1 Like
I didn't even think of the M3U route using the tunerN specific URLs; good idea. Definitely quite feasible with that implementation, assuming the other software can then also isolate specific tuners to use.
Exanple M3U source using tuner0 of my HDHR PRIME at IP address http://192.168.1.7:5004
#EXTM3U
#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="52" tvg-id="52" tvg-chno="52" tvg-logo="https://tmsimg.fancybits.co/assets/s16123_ll_h15_aa.png?w=360&h=270" tvc-guide-stationid="26046" tvg-name="TVLANDP" group-title="SD",TVLANDP
http://192.168.1.7:5004/tuner0/v52
#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="150" tvg-id="150" tvg-chno="150" tvg-logo="https://tmsimg.fancybits.co/assets/s52199_ll_h9_ac.png?w=360&h=270" tvc-guide-stationid="52199" tvg-name="REELZ" group-title="SD",REELZ
http://192.168.1.7:5004/tuner0/v150
Exanple M3U source using tuner1 of my HDHR PRIME at IP address http://192.168.1.7:5004
#EXTM3U
#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="52" tvg-id="52" tvg-chno="52" tvg-logo="https://tmsimg.fancybits.co/assets/s16123_ll_h15_aa.png?w=360&h=270" tvc-guide-stationid="26046" tvg-name="TVLANDP" group-title="SD",TVLANDP
http://192.168.1.7:5004/tuner1/v52
#EXTINF:-1 channel-id="150" tvg-id="150" tvg-chno="150" tvg-logo="https://tmsimg.fancybits.co/assets/s52199_ll_h9_ac.png?w=360&h=270" tvc-guide-stationid="52199" tvg-name="REELZ" group-title="SD",REELZ
http://192.168.1.7:5004/tuner1/v150
1 Like
Sounds like a good workaround, at least until the software has matured to the point where it can handle it. Thanks for the suggestions. Now, to figure out what m3u is.
m3u files are added via Add Source > Custom Channels
the docs are here: Channels Support - Add Custom Channels with M3U Playlists
since you control the m3u, you would also essentially be setting a static list of channels which would not be affected by any hdhr auto scans
1 Like
If it's static, is there any kind of notification when a new [legitimate] channel is added to the lineup, or does that require yet more user intervention?
You create the m3u so it's up to you to figure that out
Yes sir! I will get right on that work, sir!
If you don't have any issues with channels taking over the second tuner could you split and then combine the VHF signal to both existing tuners? This wouldn't require the 3rd tuner but would require a splitter and two combiners. Depending on your signal strength it could possibly require amplification as well.