Prioritizing Channels HDHR Flex (1.0 vs. 3.0)

Channels DVR Server
#1

Flex 4k using Channels DVR program. It has two tuners that are 1.0/3.0 and two that are only 1.0, so I need to prioritize while making sure 1.0 is a backup for certain channels.

I'm not seeing any instructions on how to prioritize which channel gets priority. In general I'd prefer to record ATSC 3.0 channels, but on one channel only 3.0 and another only 1.0. So for example, Komo in Seattle 104.1 rather than 4.1, and KCPQ only 113.1.

I assume I go to Channels lineup in the HDHR setup and make the 3.0 channels a favorite (e.g. 104.1 and 113.1) and for the ones I don't want to record in 1.0 at all, disable that channel (e.g. 13.1).

Or conversely, if I prefer a 1.0 signal but am okay with a 3.0, I'd make the 1.0 a favorite (e.g. 5.1) and allow the 3.0 (e.g 105.1).

Is that correct?

#2

Favorite the channels you prefer, but for 100% certainty also specify a channel in each recording Pass.

#3

Favorite where? HDTV or Channels?

But if I specify a channel that's a 3.0 channel it might not record if two other 3.0s are recording prior.

#4

Either. The DVR server keeps its favorite/disabled channels in sync with the tuner. Just remember that the DVR web UI is for recording; setting favorite/disabled channels in the client app is local to that client only, and only used for live viewing.

Correct. That's why it's probably best to set the preferred channel to record from as a favorite, but not to disable the ATSC 1.0 channels, as the DVR can then use that as a fallback.

Also, you're probably better off enabling tuner sharing (Settings > Playback > Advanced > Tuner Sharing in the client apps), to ensure that if a tuner is being used for a recording or live stream, a second client or recording requested for that same channel will not occupy an additional tuner, but instead the existing stream will be used.

#5

The tuner sharing would be only relevant for live viewing, correct?

#6

Partially. A recording and a live viewing session can share the same stream.

#7

Slightly off topic, but would tuner sharing work for recording? For example I have 2 ATSC 3.0 shows scheduled to record at 8pm, but have them set to start 1 min early and end 3 min late. I also have 2 shows set on the same channels at 9pm with the same early start and end. Will Channels use the those two tuners to record the overlapped time but for separate recordings? I would think it could, but running a test on my new HDHR tonight, it picked up the next recording on TVE instead of recording during the overlap.

#8

Yes tuner sharing works for overlapping recordings.

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#9

I assume this might have been the case if either the TVE source had higher priority, or if the TVE station was marked as a favorite and OTA channel was not.

#10

The TVE had a lower priority, as that was the first thing I did upon setting it up, but the favorite may have been the issue. I've since gone through and removed the TVE stations from favorites.

#11

I hadn't thought about the overlapping recordings issue. That could be good both to get the right channel AND to not have a conflict if you otherwise had four things recording.

The reason I asked about live viewing was we don't do much of that. Mainly a bit of news in the morning when nothing is recording--morning news is not a high enough "priority" for me to make it into a recording. :wink: But overlapping recordings, there that could be a significant benefit given the limit on 3.0 tuners.