Live TV "Away from Home" Channel Loading Time

Channels DVR Server
#1

I recently setup Channels DVR and I noticed that it takes between 5-10 seconds to load a channel when using the Away from Home feature. When I play recorded content it only 2-4 second to load. At first I thought this was do to transcoding, but I checked and most of my channels are remuxed. The remuxed channels are only consuming 4Mbps and the uplink Internet at the server side is 20Mbps (verified in the Channels speedtest), so I don't think bandwidth is the issue. I am using an HDhomerun Prime connected via a Gigabit switch to my Channels DVR server.

Is this 5-10 seconds to load Live TV normal and is there anything to optimize this speed?

#2

While it may only be remuxing, Channels still has to receive and buffer some of the incoming stream first, to analyze its resolution and bitrate. Then, after it has buffered some of the stream and analyzed, then it can make the determination whether to transcode or remux.

(While not definitive, this is the most plausible explanation I can see.)

1 Like
#3

If you submit diagnostics from the client after the delay we can take a look.

How long does it take at home with original quality?

#4

Great, I will submit a diagnostics. I have tried from both Android, Web, and IOS and all take about 6-8 seconds while Away, where as it loads in 2-4 seconds while at Home on my AppleTV.

#5

4 sounds like a lot for local playback. My local streaming via the tuner is always <2

#6

Yeah, local is very quick, so you are right it is more like ~2 seconds, not 4 seconds. Away from home is about 3x longer to change channels. Its livable, but annoying when surfing.