Remote Access to Channels DVR after Moving to T-Mobile

Channels DVR Server
#1

I've been looking at T-Mobile Home Internet to replace my Cox internet, which will save me $80+ a month. I use an Orbi mesh system in my home, and have reserved IP addresses for all devices on my home network (Orbi Router). I have an account on the dyn.com, and have activated the ' Dynamic DNS Service' on the Orbi Router using my Dyn account and site. I've made all of the 'Port Forwarding' required for 'Plex' and 'Channels DVR systems I run, on my NAS. Before moving my Orbi to the new T-Mobile gateway, I turned off WiFi on the T-Mobile gateway so all devices connect to the Orbi, then go out to the internet via the dynamically assigned IP address from T-Mobile.

Once I made the switch, all of the devices all worked fine and connected to the internet without a problem. I tested Plex using my smartphone with only data turned on, and it worked. I had one of my kids who lives in FL try accessing my Plex, and he said it took a few extra seconds, but he was able to connect to my Plex system.

When I tried Channels on my phone, it starts with the Welcome to Channels DVR screen. I've tapped on 'Connect to Channels DVR', which open a page asking if I'm 'At Home', 'Away From Home', or 'Log Out'. I selected 'Away From Home' and I get a message saying 'Your Channels DVR Server at home can not be reached'. I also tried starting Channels on a Fire TV stick on a TV that is connected to a network out side my house (a neighbor) and I get the same screen that asks if I'm 'At Home', 'Away From Home', or 'Log Out'. I selected 'Away From Home' and a screen opens that has me go to the 'go. channelsdvr.net' site and enter the provided code, but after entering the code, a screen opens saying it can't access the server.

Is there a way to get channels DVR to remotely connect to my Channels server the same way a remote Plex user can connect to my Plex server? I've researched using a T-Mobile gateway out on the Channels Community site and know about the double NAT and CNAT issues, but I read about those same issues out on the Plex sites, yet someone came up with the Dynamic DNS. In the YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E7ogM9AVSY&t=303s) he shows using the 'noip.net' service, but I already have an account with 'Dyn.com' so I stuck with that.

This sure would be a lot easier that having to run a VPN, which adds some overhead, and having to jump through hoops to get a VPN installed on my Fire TV sticks.

#2

Dynamic DNS won't help with CGNAT

The best solution is to use Tailscale Mesh VPN

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#3

Why does Plex work. Where can I learn more about Tailscale Mesh VPN? Will that still require sideloading something on my Fire TV stick I take with me when I travel?

#4

Plex runs servers that proxy your content, so if you're watching its going through Plex's servers. As far as I understand anyway, I don't work at Plex.

To use Tailscale you install the Tailscale app on your FireTV. On your DVR you can install Tailscale on your NAS or you can enable the built-in Tailscale in the DVR.

#5

I see that you an enable Tailscale in the Channels DVR settings which is simple, but I didn't think there was a Tailscale app for the Fire TV stick. Where can I learn more about installing and using Tailscale app on a Fire TV stick?

#6
#7

You can download the APK from Tailscale | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository and sideload it onto FireTV

They are still working on adding it to the Amazon appstore put Android app in the Amazon Appstore · Issue #7774 · tailscale/tailscale · GitHub

#8

To install Tailscale on a Fire TV don't you have to jump through hoops and do a sideload? I really don't care about it on my phone, I'm more interested in being able to use my Fire TV stick when traveling on the hotels WiFi.

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#9

Yes you have to sideload it. You can download the AFTV Downloader app, put the URL to the apk there and it will install. It's not hard and you just have to do it once so its ready to use in the hotel.

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#10

Thanks tmm1, I'll play with it tomorrow. Sideloading apps on the Fire TV stick is a pain in the butt. Once it's installed, how do you use it? VPN's have a tendency to slowdown the bandwidth, how bad is it with Tailscale?

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#11

Tailscale is a way to let your devices talk to each other. It's not like other VPNs that change your IP and send your traffic through other places. It's more like automatic port forwarding.

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#12

Are there any instructions on how to use it with Fire TV? I've turned Tailscale on in my Channels DVR settings, and logged into the Tailscale site and it added the Channels DVR. Tailscale assigned an IP address for the Channels DVR. Now, what do I do on the Fire TV Stick? How do I add the Fire TV stick as a device?

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#13

You side load the APK on the FireTV, run the Tailscale app and login to your account. That's it.

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#14

Where do you log into your account once I open the Tailscale app on the Fire TV Stick?

#15

On your FireTV screen. In the Tailscale app. You use your remote to click login in the app and scan a QR code or something.

Once both devices are on your Tailnet, you would go into the Channels app, click Connect > At Home and enter the tailscale IP of your DVR (100.x.x.x)

#16

Where in the app do I login? I couldn't find a place to login or a QR code to scan.

I went to the link you posted above and right clicked on the 'Download F-Droid' button and saved the link to my desktop. I then entered that URL ('https://f-droid.org/F-Droid.apk') into Downloader on the Fire TV stick. After it installed. it appeared in my list of apps, see below. If that isn't correct, what is the link for the Tailscale apk?

image
image1942×1588 550 KB

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#17

https://f-droid.org/repo/com.tailscale.ipn_178.apk

#18

Thanks. I used the URL and got Tailscale installed. After a little messing with the app, I got signed in. Now when I start Tailscale, at the top left corner it is toggled ‘Active’, the Fire TV name and Tailscale IP address below that, and under ‘My Devices’, the Channels DVR server and its Tailscale assigned IP is listed.

I go back to My Apps and start the Channels app. The app starts and goes through the remote start and displays a code number and QR code. I used the QR code to connect but after a few seconds, I get a message saying it can’t connect.

What did I miss?

#19

See:

#20

That's the missing piece of the puzzle. I'm so used to selecting the away from home option, I didn't realize I needed to select At Home and then plug in the Tailscale IP address for Channels. I tested it both on my Fire TV stick and my smartphone and it worked great.

Thanks again for you help and patience.

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