Pixelation only on Channels DVR

Channels DVR Server Troubleshooting
#1

Hi there.

I’ve been having issues with pixelation with Channels DVR, it’s incredibly unreliable, dropping out and getting distorted, on Live TV and recordings

This doesn’t happen in Plex or HDHomeRun software, this is a shame as Channels DVR has a much better user interface experience.

Server running: Mac Mini 2011 (Intel i5, 13 Gb RAM(
Viewer: Meecool M8S L (running Android TV OS) (No issues with Plex and HDHomeRun on device).

The .mpg/.mpeg (can’t remember which) on the Mac also plays distorted on Mac via VLC.

Signal Quality on HD Home Run

Virtual Channel 107 BBC NEWS HD
Frequency 570.000 MHz
Program Number 40960
Modulation Lock tt8qam256
Signal Strength 97%
Signal Quality 100%
Symbol Quality 100%
Streaming Rate 6.075 Mbps
Resource Lock 192.168.2.13

Many thanks

#2

Is your mac mini wired or on wifi? If the recorded file on disk is corrupted, that means the video didn’t make it to the DVR properly.

Can you check the DVR log tab around the time a recording that was affected was taking place, and see if any errors are shown?

#3

The Mac Mini is set up via gigabit Ethernet, and it’s the same Mac mini that has no issues with Plex and HDHomeRun DVR.

The other night I disabled Plex and HDHomeRun and set up all my programmes using Channels, every programme recorded was unwatchable, I haven’t seen any logs as I unfortunately uninstalled.

I might however try Channels on a Raspberry Pi and see how it gets on with that, if I get better results perhaps as I like the interface and the options.

#4

The Pi is very underpowered as compared to your Mac. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Please try recording something and see what the logs say. There may be some obvious error.

#5

Okay yeah I knew the Pi would be heavily underpowered.

I’ve disabled HDHomeRun DVR software and Plex and I’ve reinstalled Channels DVR, selecting programmes that is on repeat again later tonight and programmes that I’m not fussed about, and I’ll see if there’s anything in the logs.

#6

So I set a HD recording for Undercover Boss USA on 4Seven HD and it's unwatchable, here is a picture
IMG_20181001_132737

The logs doesn't appear to be complaining about anything
2018/10/01 12:59:29 [DVR] Waiting 1.574877ms until next job 1538395170-ch110 Undercover Boss USA
2018/10/01 12:59:30 [DVR] Starting job 1538395170-ch110 Undercover Boss USA on ch=[110]
2018/10/01 12:59:30 [DVR] Waiting 29.991979187s until next job 1538395200-ch46 Catchphrase
2018/10/01 12:59:31 [TNR] Opened connection to 1250C8C3 for ch110
2018/10/01 12:59:31 [DVR] Recording for job 1538395170-ch110 from 1250C8C3 ch110 into "TV/Undercover Boss USA/Undercover Boss USA S04E09 2013-02-01 Boston Market 2018-10-01-1259.mpg" for 1h0m59.991807707s
2018/10/01 13:00:00 [DVR] Starting job 1538395200-ch46 Catchphrase on ch=[46]
2018/10/01 13:00:00 [DVR] Waiting 43m59.904794672s until next job 1538397840-ch105 Neighbours
2018/10/01 13:00:00 [TNR] Opened connection to 1250C8C3 for ch46
2018/10/01 13:00:00 [DVR] Recording for job 1538395200-ch46 from 1250C8C3 ch46 into "TV/Catchphrase/Catchphrase S11E06 1998-08-14 2018-10-01-1300.mpg" for 29m59.904720204s
2018/10/01 13:23:34 [TNR] Closed connection to 1250C8C3 for ch88

Here is the tuner stats
Screenshot_20181001-132813

Thanks

#7

The log looks good, and so does the tuner status.

Can you try updating to the new DVR pre-release to see if it helps. Hold SHIFT on your keyboard and click the Check for Updates button on the DVR web UI.

Try on your mac downloading some video directly from your HDHR to see if it saves cleanly. Save it to the same disk as your DVR is recording to. To do this, you would open http://192.168.2.12:5004/auto/v110?duration=300 in Chrome and it will prompt you to save a 5 minute recording.

If that works, then try the same test again by via the DVR server. For that you would open http://127.0.0.1:8089/devices/ANY/channels/110/stream.mpg and you would need to cancel it manually after a few minutes. See if that file plays correctly in VLC as well or not.

#8

Bought a new antenna today so the system could have it’s own without boosters and splitters involved.

Same result… Plex can record and watch fine, can watch on HDHomeRun.

I can’t watch live TV or recordings on Channels DVR as they get all pixelated.

Such a shame as the Channels DVR is much more robust, with a proper TV guide, I even tried a different routers incase there was a bottleneck which was causing pixelation and also tried the raspberry pi (same issues) .

#9

Since you stated that it isn’t right on both live and recorded with Channels, and that recordings don’t play correctly with VLC on the Mac, you should try taking the DVR out of the equation and start with just pure live and get that working or the DVR doesn’t stand a chance.

Did you capture the 2 streams that @tmm1 mentioned above?

#10

I haven’t tried it as every other DVR service works fine, it’s JUST Channels DVR that I’m having issues with. Even Live Channels on my Mecool M8S L works fine, and this a cheap Chinese Android TV OS box.

I’m trialing that Live Channels app although I feel the box may be underpowered to support DVR fully.

#11

If you don’t follow the troubleshooting suggestions offered, you can hardly expect the reason for the problem to be discovered. Just sayin’.

#12

Just trying it now! I didn’t have a keyboard for the mac but I found an old on!

It’s downloading v110.mpg and then I’ll try the other troubleshooting item.

Google Live TV Android app wouldn’t release the tuners

#13

Hey!

v110.mpg seemed to have recorded fine with no issues I could see.

I couldn’t download http://127.0.0.1:8089/devices/ANY/channels/110/stream.mpg as everytime I canceled the download to watch it, the file would be deleted from the browser, however playing it in VLC directly was no issues.

Thanks

#14

Where is your DVR configured to save recordings? Is it a usb drive?

1 Like
#15

No, it’s stored in a DVR directory which is on the desktop.

#16

Okay, just to confirm… if you:

  • go to dvr web ui, click On Now
  • click any program, hit record now
  • wait a few minutes
  • go to DVR > Schedule and stop the recording
  • run VLC and open the newly recorded mpg file

You’re saying that the recorded file will play back messed up in VLC? This happens regardless of what channel you record?

Can you email one of these short (couple minute) recorded mpg files to [email protected]?

#17

I shall look into doing that tomorrow! (It’s getting near bedtime here)

But here’s a comparison between Channels DVR and HDHomeRun in a YouTube video I uploaded (unlisted)

#18

I’m wondering if this could be a subtitle issue, I’ve noticed that when there is no speach (aka no subtitles) and commercial breaks don’t seem to play up nearly as much!

#19

After the issue occurs, please go to the bottom of the Player tab and click Submit Diagnostics > Video Player

#20

Definitely starting to think it’s linked to DVB subtitle (even though they are disabled) - notice in the video above that during the countdown there’s no issues, but when she starts to talk and the subtitles would start to appear it starts to play up big time.

I noticed this on Channel 5 HD too for Big Brother the adverts were fine, then the show started and it started to stutter, but not when the opening sequence is on, no stutter at all!