What is the most basic hardware needed to get ChannelsDVR running?
I’m thinking just a laptop with internet. No Tablo or HDHomerun.
This is going into a VRBO / AirBnB condo so would like less for guests
to fiddle with.
Anyone have thoughts on this?
do you have tv now? where do your channels come from?
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Just let them use WFI I am sure most quests will have their own APPS. Wouldn't it be easier to say have a YouTube/Hulu Acct and have quest accounts... no maintenance.... just an occasional password change.
I have Cox cable, TV and internet.
It's so I can get stations from that town.
ChannelsDVR would not be for guests.
OTA are a problem unless you have a Prime or HDHomeRun OTA unit. You can test drive Cox Cable TVE. A laptop is good enough to try out.
Are you looking to have something just for live tv like a kiosk mode setup? So the channels server would live at your house and then the guest would open the channels app and view live tv?
I doubt basic isn’t an option. The following comes to mind:
Would your guests know what Channels is or how to use it?
You would likely need a way to remotely administer whatever equipment you choose. All of it, not just the server.
You might (will) get roped into providing tech support.
I agree that just providing good WiFi and a convenient hdmi port so folks can bring their own content would be better than most.
Otherwise, starting Channels in kiosk mode is worth exploring. That’s a whole other can of worms.
No, sorry, I did a poor job of explaining my goals.
It’s not for the VRBO guests, just so I can view stations from 600 miles away
(ie, another broadcast market). Having use of the DVR would also be nice but not required.
So with that in mind, would I need a HDHomerun also?
If I use TV Everywhere only will I be able to view and record?
Thx
No need for a HDHR if you use your Cox account for TVE. Most of the channels you get at home will be in the Channels guide. I'm an AT&T customer and it worked well for me. You can view and record any program in the guide.
The $8 per month subscription includes DVR function. I've been testing it on my laptop for the past few days and it works great. Recording to and playing from both the computer's HD or an external drive was flawless. It's a very nice DVR. The commercial skip feature is cool.
Keep in mind that the computer needs to stay on while recording.
Maybe I’m misunderstanding but the only different channels you would potentially get via TVE for the remote DVR versus one at your home would be your locals. If you log into the networks websites from the internet at the remote site and it gives you different local channels, then yes that would let you access them remotely using the DVR.
One other possibility - some networks have an east coast and west coast feed. I doubt the distance is great enough to give you the opposite of what you have at home, but you could also check that.
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I love Channels DVR and been using it for over a year. We just bought a beach house we intend to do short term rentals sometimes. I would NOT put the current Channels DVR in there. I think there is an opportunity for the developers to solve this use case as a new feature, but currently it's not a good idea.
First off, no one needs a DVR in a short term rental. What they may want is live TV with a Guide, and more likely, access to their existing streaming subscriptions. The last thing you want put into a rental is something that no one is familiar with that has complex settings that could easily be messed with and no way to remotely get them sorted out. Channels DVR has some tools to help with this, but I think it would be a mess.
A Roku is the best solution that I have found because it has a guest mode that lets the renter configure for their own accounts and then when they leave it all gets automatically reset for the next renter. I am planning to do this, and currently have a Spectrum Choice subscription that auto configures to their app so that a renter could have "free TV". I'm thinking of dropping that in favor of them just using the free Roku TV and maybe add an antenna for locals.
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I think the OP clarified that it is not for guest use but for his own personal use .... Guests will not be even aware Channels DVR exists.
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At main home service is from DirecTV at remote home it’s Cox cable
(via TV Everywhere)
I’m thinking the programming would be different, correct?
having local content in one region vs another is something I have an interest in as well. I live in columbus ohio but wife loves Chicago Bears. but when it comes to football, we don't get any of the bears games. just cleveland and cincy. so I could see a desire to have a channels in a region you want to remote view to get teh local content you are interested in.
Just the locals, potentially
Besides locals, if you compare what you could get with Channels TVE, DirecTV is only missing 3 available cable channels and Cox is missing 14 available cable channels
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Interesting. Where did you find that info?
Did you click the links to the Channels DVR Support website listings?
They went from no documentation to a lot since I started using Channels DVR.
Used to be, you had to be good at searching this forum to get answers, or ask the devolopers the same Q&A's. When I joined their public website was full of fancy marketing info with no links to show how to do things it said it could do.
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I can also offer some personal experience. DirecTV via TV Everywhere gives you nearly complete access for everything offered. The two areas where you get no coverage: DirecTV does not offer NBCSN RSNs, nor does it support any Pac12 streams. Otherwise, if you have the networks in your package, you can receive them.
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