By default, all the PLM Playlists are set to refresh XML Guide Data in Channels every hour. There is currently no automation to manually trigger this, nor are there plans to since this is an existing Channels function.
Or are you asking for a way to custom change the refresh interval? That might be possible. The endpoint /providers/m3u/sources/{source_name} exposes the xmltv_refresh field, which is just a value in seconds. It seems probable to be able to write to it, though I haven't tried.
i just noticed some timing issues when a Parent gets added to CDVR from my automation, i then have to wait for CDVR to refresh the XML. so CDVR sees the newly added channel, but the XML is out of date until next refresh.
it's not a huge deal obviously as CDVR does it hourly, but thought it'd be nice to have PLM go ahead and force a XML refresh right after "Refresh Channels DVR m3u Playlists" runs too.
this curl command works for the source in question if this helps:
curl -X PUT http://192.168.86.72:8089/dvr/lineups/XMLTV-PLMNonGracenoteMPEGTS01
This is likely a beginner error on my part. I've set up a YouTube channel to watch, and it created a stream link for it. It comes across to Channels DVR but doesn't function (I hit play, the indicator spins). I opened the stream link file and I found the URL began with "http://172.18.0.2" . This seems to be a private network address for the stack (named stream-library-manager_default), but Channels DVR isn't on that network, it's on the host network and wouldn't see that. I don't see that I can configure this.
Since we are in the PLM thread, I'm assuming you meant to say m3u file? Otherwise, if you are talking about a SLM Stream for a YouTube Stream Link, that setting is discussed here:
But again, assuming we are talking about a streaming station...
This is controlled completely by what webpage you are on when you click save on Streaming Stations. For instance, with the address of http://nexus-world-x:7901/playlists/streams I end up with a link like this:
http://nexus-world-x:7901/playlists/streams/stream?url=https://www.youtube.com/@KittenAcademy/live
But if I access PLM from the address http://localhost:7901/playlists/streams, I end up with this:
http://localhost:7901/playlists/streams/stream?url=https://www.youtube.com/@KittenAcademy/live
Just access the program from a web address that Channels DVR will be able to see, go to Streaming Stations, and click save. The m3u will be immediately updated (and you'll have to do any other update steps based on your setup to get it into Channels). You should also run the testing function that is available to confirm it is working, as discussed on the Wiki:
Thank you for your response on my out-of-place post. I'll admit being a bit confused in the difference between PLM and SLM, and in trying to get it set up to do something useful. I have done some stupid stuff (like trying to setup my wife's favorite Soap Opera, which has been on the air for 60 years with god-only-knows how many episodes per year and not being able to deal with the problems that caused the browser. I'll keep plugging away and try to avoid asking stupid questions.
I reviewed all the general settings looking for this URL, but missed this one down at the bottom of the provider setup page. When I originally set it up, I remember scrolling to the bottom, hitting TEST and it came back okay (of course it did, it's its own private network). Anyway, I changed it to the local IP for the host and it also works from SLM. I'll try pushing an update over to Channels.
Thanks again (for the software itself and the guidance).
SLM = On-Demand Movies, TV Show Episodes, and Videos
PLM = Live Linear Stations to be accessed via a TV Guide
I am working on a solution to this!
I think much of my confusion derives from not trying to do what these tools are used for manually ("that's too much trouble to create the links for Channels, I'll just use the native app"), and just trying to jump in to the deep end of the pool so I don't appreciate the distinctions as well.
I did get the strm file to work (doesn't work on web client on PC, but does work on Chromecast; haven't tried FireTV), although the episode handling is not making me happy (probably an issue with the YouTube channel, not SLM).
See the Wiki:
Streaming Library Manager is whatever you want it to be, however you want to use it! It's a completely self-service tool to enhance the media consumption experience. Just be sure to read the extremely detailed and screen-shot documentation and watch the videos. I've dedicated massive amounts of time to making sure everything has an easy-to-understand and follow explanation. Please take advantage of this resource!
I read through the docs before trying to do anything. And have referred back to them as I have issues/questions. But I think you really need to know what you are trying to accomplish better than I do to use the program/docs effectively. I get that you have redirected me to things in the documentation and it is frustrating to write documentation and have those moronic users not RTFM; I have tried, but I know I have missed things (clearly). I have only watched one or two of the videos, because they seem to cover the exact same contents as the documents, and I absolutely hate watching videos if I can read the same subject.
I'm making another pass through the document now, and my improved knowledge is making some things make sense that did not before. On the other hand, it is very difficult to read technical material more than once without trying to skip through it.
There are places where you dig deeper into the subject (e.g. SLM streams) and this is most helpful. But there are other places where I think there are assumptions that the reader will know/understand things that I do not because I haven't been there/done that. It may well be that the fault is all mine, rather than omissions in the documentation. But that has been my perspective, fair or not.
Please PM me or open up an issue with specific examples where the documentation can be enhanced. I'll endeavor to make some updates in the future. I'm also in the midst of building out a major update that will require updating a lot of the SLM documentation, so now would be a good time to lace in other changes!
That's a fair request. I'll do it this week.
I posted a thread earlier regarding why under Status in the Channels DVR server I see the channels being watched, but also how they're being transcoded at 5mbps. Most of these are being used at Home with a direct feed ad original quality.
A user mentioned that possibly Playlist is causing the watched channels to be transcoded.
Is there anything with Playlist Manager causing this? Am I over oooking something? The graphic below links the stations. You'll see the original with its OTA channel code and then the revised numbering. I just don't understand why it's transcoded and why I'm seeing two for one station.
Disable your HDHR in Channels if you are using PLM to feed those stations in. You can't delete it (believe me, I tried and it just came back), but you can make it not used. It'll look something like this:
If you have two sources with the same link to the stream, Channels will show that "both" are playing, even though only one is. For instance, this is what PLM is feeding for me in the m3u:
#EXTINF:-1 tvc-guide-title="NBC Boston (WBTS) [15.1]" channel-id="plm_0016" tvg-id="" tvg-name="WBTS-CD" tvg-logo="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/WBTS-LD_NBC_10_Boston_logo.png" tvg-chno="15.1" channel-number="15.1" tvg-description="No description available..." tvc-guide-description="No description available..." group-title="" tvc-guide-stationid="91446" tvc-guide-art="" tvc-guide-tags="" tvc-guide-genres="" tvc-guide-categories="" tvc-guide-placeholders="" tvc-stream-vcodec="" tvc-stream-acodec="",NBC Boston (WBTS) [15.1]
http://hdhr-108010f9.local:5004/auto/v15.1
And that link is exactly what Channels would have with the built-in HDHR functionality.
It might not be; it could just be an artifact of this situation. Here's me watching direct (VLC):
And here's me watching in the web (which forces transcoding):
In other words, Channels might be interpreting what is happening as a web-play, therefore it shows the Transcoder running.
Otherwise, if you are still seeing it, another reason it might be transcoding locally is if you are using the on-server buffer:
This makes sense. I was pulling the m3u for my two HD Homeruns from Channels. How do I pull it directly from the HD Homerun instead of through Channels DVR? Is it the IP Address . m3u or something like that?
You've got it all covered! Setting it up now.
Thank you
That worked for the HD Homerun. What about the TVE stations? I use Channels DVR Sources to pull in the TVE stations. I take that M3U and feed it into Playlist Manager. Is there a way to bring TVE stations directly into Playlist that I'm not aware of? I assume its a Channels DVR thing only.
Also what's interesting is the TVE stations either trigger a remux or a transcode. Any ideas what would cause that? I have the stations for TVE being brought into Playlist as MPEG-TS, but aren't the TVE stations likely HLS? Below are clips of TVE stations playing at home on my phone. You see the two stations pop up. The lower channel is the renumbered channel from Playlist while the 6000s are TVE from likely Channels DVR.
Example of TVE Remux (National Geographic)
Example of TVE Transcode (Freeform)
See above:
Got it. Thank you for taking the time.
It's a great solution to manage all channels.
