This is because while you are on cellular, when you are attached with tailscale you are literally on your home network. If you can’t reach the server using the my.channels it is because your router doesn’t support hairpin nat. To reach your server while using tailscale you need to use the lan ip of the server in a web browser
7 Likes
Will enabling the tailscale implementation within the DVR modify the DNS server that Channels will use.
4 Likes
No
9 Likes
By coincidence, I installed Tailscale on my Channels DVR server the same day this support came out. When I installed Tailscale on my server, the Remote DVR settings changed from my local network to the Tailscale for the manual port forwarding setting. (Was 192.168.x.x and changed to 100.x.x.x)
Is there a use case to keep the port forwarding enabled when direct tailscale integration is enabled? Or should I just turn if off?
4 Likes
We haven't yet done extensive testing regarding the difference in performance characteristics of using Tailscale vs direct connections (with port forwarding enabled). The port forwarding system is something we have had in place for a long time and have confidence in how it performs when it has been setup and is working.
This Tailscale integration is most interesting right now for situations where port forwarding turns out to be difficult (or impossible to use because of network realities). As we have more experience with it, we'll continue to evaluate the best practices we convey.
We like Tailscale because it also gives access to other services beyond the DVR when we are remote, which has turned out to be helpful for many reasons for more technical users. The direct Tailscale integration inside the DVR will not provide that access to other services and is being created to provide a simple alternative to port forwarding when it doesn't work.
4 Likes
This is a display bug picking the wrong suggestion for the setting. Please submit diagnostics and we will figure out how to ignore the native Tailscale device
4 Likes
Eric, thanks for the explanation.
tmm1, before I saw your post, I changed the priority of my network interfaces so that my local network is higher priority than Tailscale. Previously, both networks were set to automatic. When I changed the priority to favor the local network, Channels DVR displayed my local network for the manual port forwarding. I will change it back & submit diagnostics.
2 Likes
just starting with tailscale myself, i noticed when connected, it doesnt use the server's dns. is that a tailscale thing, or can that be changed in your implementation?
thanks
1 Like
Sweet. Thanks!
3 Likes
FYI, I was in touch with a Channel tech over something else and they helped me get the link to work in addition to getting the app to work. You guys are awesome!
3 Likes
First, let me say this is a big plus for people in my situation. I now have T-Mo and have had issues getting Tailscale (or any VPN solution) to work properly and have failed. I am sitting here...remote from home...and was able to set this up and streaming recordings in maybe two minutes...tops.
Now, I am asking for some advice:
Using Tailscale, you have to use the Home streaming settings...is that correct? I think that I read that and it seems to be the case. If not, please educate me.
When I set a streaming bit rate, on the client (in this case, my phone), is that setting specific to that client? Or does changing the Home streaming quality, at the client, change the setting, at the server, for all clients?
On my phone...where I am currently sitting...is averaging about 175Mbps down and my home computer, where the Channels server lives, is averaging about 50Mbps up. But, connecting through Tailscale, in the Channels client, the speed back to the server is only averaging less than 4Mbps. Does that meet expectations, is there a limitation with Tailscale, or is there something I can change to improve that?
I am not going to lie...without this, I was thinking about dropping Channels, but this has made me rethink, for now.
Thanks guys...great job.
2 Likes
How are you calculating these speeds?
Those settings on the client are specific just to that client.
There is a check mark next to the streaming setting that is currently being used. It should properly notice if you are on cellular, but if you are out of the house on different wifi, it may consider that "Home" right now instead of "Internet". This is something we're looking at how to address.
3 Likes
Using the "Test Speed to DVR Server" applet, in the client, under settings.
Awesome.
Okay...the checkmark was on Home and I could not manually change it.
1 Like
I appreciate once again the efforts of the developers who strive to constantly improve the offerings. I currently use Channels on a Synology NAS. I separately had installed Tailscale on the NAS a few months ago and have been using it to access my Channels DVR as needed. Would it be redundant to use this new feature within Channels?
2 Likes
Yes, it would be redundant. This is an experimental feature to make the process easier for people who aren't comfortable installing the separate component.
4 Likes
I already have tailscale installed in my network. Subnet routers, exit nodes. It all works really well. Performance is really good. Tested channels a few times. Never had any issues.
1 Like
This is awesome news! I can’t wait to have this on the client side. This will solve my CGNAT and IPV6 problem I’ve had.
2 Likes
I’ve been using Tailscale for awhile now. I have Tailscale and channels both installed on my synology. Since synology and channels share the same internal ip that was all that was needed to be up and running . Been using it for months now and it’s rock solid. Way way better than any port forwarding anyone could do (I’m behind carrier nat so i can’t even port forward if i wanted).
This is a game changer addition for many. I’m not sure i will change my setup only because i still need the synology Tailscale install for accessing other things on the synology so it would be a bit redundant in my case to have in installed twice - but this is the biggest addition to channels in awhile! Great work!
4 Likes
I assume you don’t have it on remote ATVs…only on mobile devices
1 Like
No - when i travel i use a firestick because it’s small and easy and can load things like Tailscale onto it 
.
If it’s essential though you could use an iPhone connected to Tailscale and throw the screen to your Apple TV.
4 Likes