Please hurry, wife asking for cable company DVR back!

Channels DVR Server
#1

I was able to successfully migrate our 4 TVs and 3 demanding family members (wife and 2 kids) from the god-awful FiOS STBs to Apple TV + Channels + HDHR DVR.

They were fine with the setup at first but unfortunately it’s now failing the ‘it just works test’, especially the DVR (which I know was always in beta and is no longer officially supported).

Trying to schedule a recording via the Channels app never seems to work, and most recordings that do occur are unwatchable (garbled picture and sound, or playback just doesn’t start).

I got ‘the talk’ tonight about moving back to the FiOS boxes. Ugh. I just recently packed all that ridiculous hardware up, mailed it back, and got rid of all my universal remotes. I really don’t want to go back to that.

I’m going to hold back the tide as long as possible. I know you guys are working hard. Please keep it up - we’re counting on you!!

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#2

The previous DVR beta is no longer being developed, the reason you’re complaining is the same reason these guys are developing their own record engine. Be patient, this isn’t a Kickstarter and they don’t owe you anything just bc Silicondust screwed you over…

#3

LOL, I’m not complaining, and I think I made it pretty clear that I fully understand that the HD-DVR support was always in beta and is no longer officially supported. Of course these guys don’t owe us anything. I’m just looking forward to the Channels DVR beta!

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#4

To be clear I want the New DVR as well. But since we have a couple months I thought I would share my experience with you that I am not having any of the problems you are experiencing.

  1. I was on FIOS and now Frontier and I returned all of my FIOS STB’s (2x DVR, 2x STB with 12 tuners).
  2. I now have 8 Apple TV 4’s as my only STB’s.
  3. My recording rules are pretty much set. I sometimes create a recording with Channels but not often.
  4. I have no problems with my recordings playback.
  5. 80% of my recordings are CBS. I also record the weekend Golf with addition padded time.
  6. I also use the Kodi Plug-in on my Mac so I sometimes use it.

My DVR now is running on a Synology Box. I was on a WDMyCloud. But had some issues using Ethernet while watching a recording and my wife watching live TV. But on WiFi it was fine. Go figure. Anyway, you may want to experiment with your setup.

We also use Hulu (without commercials) Subscription for NBC, CW, ABC, FOX so we do not need to record those shows. I also have HBO Now for Game of Thrones and Netflix for other no commercial shows. I think over time my recording will be less and less based on available no commercial on demand options. So doing what I can now.

#5

@d21mike thanks for sharing your experience.

I actually just noticed that my iMac (where the HDHR DVR is running) was out of disk space. I deleted all the old recordings, restarted the HDHR DVR service and now the recordings are working great.

I still can’t schedule recordings from the Channels app but at least the recordings are watchable.

#6

When I was testing the Channels App and scheduling recordings I would hit the circle and check if only this one or a series or whatever. I would then go into Kodi on my Mac to verify that it was scheduled properly. Not sure if Kodi was setup for only this recording but you get the idea. I assume you are using Kodi now to schedule so you are familiar with the interface.

#7

Yeah, the problem I have is that when I pull up the ‘Search’ tab on the Channels app, there is no data returned no matter what search criteria I enter.

#8

Not sure whether your issue is the same but back when I was beta testing Channels DVR in the HDHR DVR days, I had the same issue and this post on the old HDHR forums solved the issue for me:

OurFamilySpot wrote:
FOR THOSE THAT DON’T HAVE SEARCH RESULTS…

I Believe I have found the issue. Search results appear to be “tied” to the activation of each specific HDHomeRun Unit. Go back to your registration/activation Link for the HDHomeRun DVR, and make sure every one of your HDHomeRun’s is activated there. It’s as simple as pulling up the link and re-entering your “activation” code. Note all your HDHomeRun’s need to be on and active when you do it…

I now see search results on all my units. (I discovered this reading through the logs on the recording engine and a little item/error that indicated the unit was not entitled for DVR)

#9

This worked - thanks!