Repeated disconnects from HDHomeRun

[rakgupta]

Hello - I recently set up HD HomeRun (4KFLEX) and I have Channels DVR connected to it. Since it has been installed, I keep getting "The connection to the tuner was lost. Press play to try again (Connection Reset)" error messages periodically. Things will work for a while and then randomly this message will show up. Waiting and pressing play often (but not always) gets things going again.

I have checked the firmware on the HD HomeRun and it is up to date, as is the Channels DVR software (WD - MyCloudEX2Ultra 4TB). Client is on AppleTV and is also up to date.

My home network is Ethernet (over Coax) and ISP is ATT Fiber. SpeedTest gives full 1GB (almost) up and down. Also, when Channels DVR disconnects, I have no issues with streaming with Hulu (live TV).

I am losing my "cord cutting" credibility with the family really quickly (), so any suggestions or troubleshooting steps would be really appreciated.

Thanks for your help

[slampman]

What does your network topology look like? Specifically your server and hdhr connectivity.

[rakgupta]

@slampman - they are plugged into the same switch (8 port D-Link). The switch is connected directly to the ATT Fiber modem. The Channels DVR server is a dedicated WD MyCloudEX2Ultra - 4TB NAS.

Also plugged into that switch is an Actiontec MOCA adapter. There are three other MOCA adapters around the house, each attached to 5 port switches that are connected to Apple TVs, a couple of other NAS devices etc.

DHCP is from my ATT Fiber modem and I have a Linksys mesh system that is in bridge mode for WIFI clients only. ATT modem WIFI is disabled.

I do have another WD MyCloudEX2Ultra (8TB) configured as a Channels DVR but not active.

EDIT: The HDHR and the NAS have static IP addresses.

[racameron]

It sounds as if there might be some interference or similar in the coax segments. MoCA is definitely the next-best option if ethernet is not available, it does have some of its own issues.

For troubleshooting purposes, is there any way to bypass the MoCA (temporarily) with a long ethernet cable?

[Edwin_Perez]

Have you tried the HDHomeRun APP instead of Channels DVR it will show you if it is having Problems discovering the HDHR units.... also play a few Channels using it.

I always do this before I start moving equipment around.

[rakgupta]

@racameron

is there any way to bypass the MoCA (temporarily)

Unfortunately not. The AppleTVs are in bedrooms and downstairs and no way to connected ATV/TV to the HDHR/Channels DVR server

@racameron

MoCA is definitely the next-best option if ethernet is not available, it does have some of its own issues.

This setup has been in use for a while and I run my home automation system as well as capturing data from my Powerwalls (every five minutes). I have alerts in place if something on the network is not reachable and it has been quite stable.

I did look at the logs of the Channel DVR and they looked clean, but I don't know what I'm really looking for (I did not see any timeouts, retries etc.) Is there something in specific that would show dropped connectivity? The HDHR logs show a sequence of "remote closed" but I don't know whether it was because I turned it off or something else

20250203-15:51:48 Tuner: tuner2 streaming http to 192.168.1.104:51712
20250203-16:42:30 Tuner: tuner2 http stream ended (remote closed)
20250203-17:12:48 Tuner: tuner2 tuning 8.8 WFAA-HD (8vsb:569MHz-2)
20250203-17:12:48 Tuner: tuner2 streaming http to 192.168.1.104:51757
20250203-17:13:46 Tuner: tuner2 http stream ended (remote closed)

EDIT: Wait - why would the port be different on the receiver (AppleTV)?

EDIT2: And the timestamps look strange - I was testing this out in the morning (US Central time) and it is showing a 5PM time entry

[rakgupta]

@Edwin_Perez

Have you tried the HDHomeRun APP instead of Channels DVR it will show you if it is having Problems discovering the HDHR units

I used the HD HomeRun app initially and also to confirm from the AppleTV that it was working. Did not have issues finding the tuner (though I didn't stream for long - and the problem appears to be intermittent).

[tmm1]

Is channels set to tuner sharing on or off?

The HDHR units don't like switch hops.

If you can make it one hop between the dvr and HDHR, then enable tuner sharing, it should work better.

[racameron]

@rakgupta

Wait - why would the port be different on the receiver (AppleTV)?

A random port is used; this is normal.

@rakgupta

And the timestamps look strange - I was testing this out in the morning (US Central time) and it is showing a 5PM time entry

HDHR logs are UTC, not local time.

@tmm1

The HDHR units don't like switch hops.

If you can make it one hop between the dvr and HDHR, then enable tuner sharing, it should work better.

This is likely the best solution.

[rakgupta]

@tmm1

If you can make it one hop between the dvr and HDHR

I'm not sure I understand this - the DVR server and HDHR are plugged into the same switch. The clients are connected to different switches (the only way to get a "wired" connection across the house). If this is the problem, then the solution is definitely not going to work for me☹️

@tmm1

then enable tuner sharing,

Where is this done from? I don't see it in the HDHR menu (hdhomerun.local) or in the Channels DVR menus

[rakgupta]

@racameron

HDHR logs are UTC, not local time.

Aargh - I just realized that my NAS (and hence Channels DVR) was set to Pacific time! Fixed that now🤦🏻‍♂️. Thanks for making me look!

[Edwin_Perez]

@rakgupta

Where is this done from? I don't see it in the HDHR menu (hdhomerun.local) or in the Channels DVR menus

You can set that up on the web page of Channels DVR. under playback

[rakgupta]

Thanks - found it. It was off and I have turned and I have turned it on.

[rakgupta]

@Edwin_Perez

under playback

On the "Clients" page, correct? That's the one I turned on, but there appears to be no way to "save" it? I went back to the page and it was off again
EDIT: I think I figured it out - have to press "Add settings" and then it showed up under "Global Client Settings" and I had to enable it from there. Is that the right thing?

[Edwin_Perez]

@rakgupta

On the "Clients" page, correct? That's the one I turned on, but there appears to be no way to "save" it? I went back to the page and it was off again

Did you add the setting towards the bottom after you checked it ... That will give you the option to toggle on and off.

[racameron]

@rakgupta

I'm not sure I understand this - the DVR server and HDHR are plugged into the same switch. The clients are connected to different switches (the only way to get a "wired" connection across the house). If this is the problem, then the solution is definitely not going to work for me☹️

By default the Channels client will reach out directly to the tuners for live streams (bypassing the DVR server). The "tuner sharing" setting sets the DVR as the delegate for live streams, so the client requests the live feed from the DVR server, and the server then sends the feed to the client.

[rakgupta]

@racameron

By default the Channels client will reach out directly to the tuners for live streams (bypassing the DVR server). The "tuner sharing" setting sets the DVR as the delegate for live streams, so the client requests the live feed from the DVR server, and the server then sends the feed to the client.

OK - this makes sense. Thanks for the explanation.

On a separate note, I changed the time on my NAS but Channels DVR did not pick it up. Do I need to force a restart of the NAS or is there another way to update the time zone on the server (or it doesn't matter)?

[rakgupta]

@tmm1

If you can make it one hop between the dvr and HDHR, then enable tuner sharing, it should work better

Thanks - this appears to fix it. I let the app stream most of the evening and the connection was stable.

@racameron @Edwin_Perez - thanks for your help and support