Tethered remote viewing issue

Channels DVR Server
#1

iPad Mini 3 tethered to iPhone 6s keeps pausing every 3-5 seconds during playback. Using Plex to watch the same channel plays perfectly at the same 720p 4Mbps transcode preset.

2017/10/04 00:08:17 [TNR] Opened connection to 131F8367 for ch1127
2017/10/04 00:08:17 [HLS] Starting transcoder for channel 1127 (encoder=h264_nvenc, resolution=720, deinterlacer=blend, bitrate=4000)
2017/10/04 00:08:58 [HLS] Stopping transcoder session ANY-ch1127 @ 39.68s
2017/10/04 00:08:58 [TNR] Closed connection to 131F8367 for ch1127
[mpegts @ 000000000061b640] Dropped corrupted packet (stream = 2)
[mpeg2video @ 0000000000622cc0] ac-tex damaged at 101 28
[mpeg2video @ 0000000000622cc0] Warning MVs not available
#2

Compare the load time as well, both Plex and Channels have HW transcoding enabled.

#3

Still having this issue on the newest beta release, using SW decoding for now on Channels (disabled integrated graphics for some reason its no longer using my nvidia card for nvenc). Plex comparison to show there are no issues with tethering and its the only platform I have to compare remote streaming of live tv.

#4

Hmm that’s strange. Can you run a speedtest just to verify bandwidth available? I’m not sure if Plex automatically reduces quality if there’s not enough bandwidth. The behavior you’re seeing definitely seems like classic buffering.

#5

Bandwidth doesn’t seem to be an issue, and it only happens when tethered not when using wifi remotely. Jailbroken using MyWi, but again I don’t believe MyWi is causing the issue entirely because Plex preforms well as do other streaming services. I’ll try Emby live tv and see what results I get to compare…

#6

Emby live tv is working fine at the same bitrate. The audio was fine during recording but the screen cap messed it up…

#7

Can you try the web player and see if it has the same issue?

In the app if you pause for a bit does it buffer and improve playback?

When you use my.channelsdvr.net is it using http or https?

Please submit diagnostics after attempting playback and then post here so I can check the logs.

#8

Did you just update the DVR server in the last 15mins? I was doing testing and had the same results and couldn’t get video to play in the browser and then the server restarted on its own and browser playback is working, HW transcoding enabled itself again, and pausing in the app is much less frequent.

Using Https, pausing didn’t help a little while ago but did the last few times i tired, after the server updated?

This is all I could get, the web view deleted my logs when the server restarted, mayeb I can get those through powershell?

2017/10/06 21:40:04 [HLS] Starting transcoder for channel 1129 (encoder=h264_nvenc, resolution=720, deinterlacer=blend, bitrate=4000)
2017/10/06 21:40:46 [HLS] Stopping transcoder session ANY-ch1129 @ 41.341845s
2017/10/06 21:40:46 [TNR] Closed connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
[mpegts @ 00000000025ab720] Dropped corrupted packet (stream = 2)
[mpeg2video @ 0000000002eb0b80] invalid cbp -1 at 95 30
[mpeg2video @ 0000000002eb0b80] Warning MVs not available
2017/10/06 21:40:54 [sessions] ERROR! securecookie: the value is not valid
2017/10/06 21:41:07 [sessions] ERROR! securecookie: the value is not valid
2017/10/06 21:41:28 [sessions] ERROR! securecookie: the value is not valid
2017/10/06 21:41:50 [TNR] Opened connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
2017/10/06 21:41:50 [HLS] Starting transcoder for channel 1129 (encoder=h264_nvenc, resolution=720, deinterlacer=blend, bitrate=4000)
2017/10/06 21:42:28 [HLS] Stopping transcoder session ANY-ch1129 @ 36.557277s
2017/10/06 21:42:28 [TNR] Closed connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
[mpegts @ 00000000025cb720] Dropped corrupted packet (stream = 2)
[mpeg2video @ 00000000025dd220] Invalid mb type in B-frame at 66 23
[mpeg2video @ 00000000025dd220] Warning MVs not available
2017/10/06 21:43:00 [TNR] Opened connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
2017/10/06 21:43:00 [HLS] Starting transcoder for channel 1129 (encoder=h264_nvenc, resolution=720, deinterlacer=blend, bitrate=4000)
2017/10/06 21:44:51 [HLS] Stopping transcoder session ANY-ch1129 @ 1m48.736s
2017/10/06 21:44:51 [TNR] Closed connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
[mpegts @ 000000000251b720] Dropped corrupted packet (stream = 2)
[mpeg2video @ 000000000307fb40] ac-tex damaged at 29 0
[mpeg2video @ 000000000307fb40] Warning MVs not available
#9

DVR was updated this morning. The Log should show what time it downloaded the new version and why it restarted.

#10

To access more logs, use http://127.0.0.1:8089/log?n=5000 or open c:\ProgramData\ChannelsDVR\data\channels-dvr.log

#11 
Downloading new version v2017.10.06.1807
2017/10/06 15:34:28 [SYS] Update downloaded and verified successfully.
2017/10/06 15:34:28 [SYS] Shutting down for upgrade from v2017.10.05.2234 to v2017.10.06.1807
2017/10/06 15:34:28 [SYS] Bonjour service stopped.
2017/10/06 15:34:28 [DVR] Recording engine stopped.
2017/10/06 15:34:30 [SYS] Starting Channels DVR v2017.10.06.1807 (windows-x86_64) in C:\ProgramData\ChannelsDVR\data
2017/10/06 15:34:32 [HDR] Found 1 devices
2017/10/06 15:34:32 [SYS] Started HTTP Server
2017/10/06 15:34:34 [DVR] Recording engine started in C:\Users\Jonathan\Documents\DVR
2017/10/06 15:34:34 [SYS] Bonjour service running for dvr-ncase.local. [192.168.7.59]
2017/10/06 15:34:34 [SYS] Removing old update 2017.10.02.0617
2017/10/06 15:34:34 [SYS] Created database snapshot: backup-20171006.153434
2017/10/06 15:34:34 [SYS] Removing old backup backup-20170927.235750
2017/10/06 15:34:44 [IDX] Pruned 723 expired airings from USA-SC39411-X in 500.5049ms.
2017/10/06 15:36:45 [NAT] Failed to discover upnp: write udp4 0.0.0.0:54908->239.255.255.250:1900: i/o timeout
2017/10/06 15:36:45 [NAT] Failed to discover router using natpmp and upnp.
2017/10/06 21:39:20 [sessions] ERROR! securecookie: the value is not valid
2017/10/06 21:39:23 [sessions] ERROR! securecookie: the value is not valid
2017/10/06 21:39:25 [sessions] ERROR! securecookie: the value is not valid
2017/10/06 21:39:28 [sessions] ERROR! securecookie: the value is not valid
2017/10/06 21:39:36 [sessions] ERROR! securecookie: the value is not valid
2017/10/06 21:39:44 [sessions] ERROR! securecookie: the value is not valid
2017/10/06 21:39:45 [sessions] ERROR! securecookie: the value is not valid
2017/10/06 21:40:04 [TNR] Opened connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
2017/10/06 21:40:04 [HLS] Starting transcoder for channel 1129 (encoder=h264_nvenc, resolution=720, deinterlacer=blend, bitrate=4000)
2017/10/06 21:40:46 [HLS] Stopping transcoder session ANY-ch1129 @ 41.341845s
2017/10/06 21:40:46 [TNR] Closed connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
[mpegts @ 00000000025ab720] Dropped corrupted packet (stream = 2)
[mpeg2video @ 0000000002eb0b80] invalid cbp -1 at 95 30
[mpeg2video @ 0000000002eb0b80] Warning MVs not available
2017/10/06 21:40:54 [sessions] ERROR! securecookie: the value is not valid
2017/10/06 21:41:07 [sessions] ERROR! securecookie: the value is not valid
2017/10/06 21:41:28 [sessions] ERROR! securecookie: the value is not valid
2017/10/06 21:41:50 [TNR] Opened connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
2017/10/06 21:41:50 [HLS] Starting transcoder for channel 1129 (encoder=h264_nvenc, resolution=720, deinterlacer=blend, bitrate=4000)
2017/10/06 21:42:28 [HLS] Stopping transcoder session ANY-ch1129 @ 36.557277s
2017/10/06 21:42:28 [TNR] Closed connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
[mpegts @ 00000000025cb720] Dropped corrupted packet (stream = 2)
[mpeg2video @ 00000000025dd220] Invalid mb type in B-frame at 66 23
[mpeg2video @ 00000000025dd220] Warning MVs not available
2017/10/06 21:43:00 [TNR] Opened connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
2017/10/06 21:43:00 [HLS] Starting transcoder for channel 1129 (encoder=h264_nvenc, resolution=720, deinterlacer=blend, bitrate=4000)
2017/10/06 21:44:51 [HLS] Stopping transcoder session ANY-ch1129 @ 1m48.736s
2017/10/06 21:44:51 [TNR] Closed connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
[mpegts @ 000000000251b720] Dropped corrupted packet (stream = 2)
[mpeg2video @ 000000000307fb40] ac-tex damaged at 29 0
[mpeg2video @ 000000000307fb40] Warning MVs not available
#12

Looks like it restarted much earlier.

The session errors can be fixed by clearing cookies.

#13

Did a little more testing and this was a bit odd, it was still giving me the same issues and I noticed even though it streaming in the app the HDHR web view and status lights on the device weren’t showing any activity and the DVR wasn’t logging anything. After restarting the DVR service performance improved, video played through web access and HDHR status was accurate along with DVR logging.

#14

audio issues are still being caused by the screen recording

This is after restarting the DVR, improved but still having noticeable issues and long start times…

2017/10/07 03:41:05 [TNR] Opened connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
2017/10/07 03:41:05 [HLS] Starting transcoder for channel 1129 (encoder=h264_nvenc, resolution=720, deinterlacer=blend, bitrate=4000)
2017/10/07 03:42:26 [HLS] Stopping transcoder session ANY-ch1129 @ 1m20.146733s
2017/10/07 03:42:26 [TNR] Closed connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
[mpegts @ 0000000000bdb720] Dropped corrupted packet (stream = 2)
overread 8
[mpeg2video @ 0000000002f40ea0] Warning MVs not available
2017/10/07 03:42:38 [TNR] Opened connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
2017/10/07 03:42:38 [HLS] Starting transcoder for channel 1129 (encoder=h264_nvenc, resolution=720, deinterlacer=blend, bitrate=4000)
2017/10/07 03:44:06 [HLS] Stopping transcoder session ANY-ch1129 @ 1m27.220466s
2017/10/07 03:44:06 [TNR] Closed connection to 131F8367 for ch1129
[mpegts @ 0000000000edb720] Dropped corrupted packet (stream = 2)
[mpeg2video @ 0000000003155ba0] ac-tex damaged at 69 13
[mpeg2video @ 0000000003155ba0] Warning MVs not available
#15

So just to confirm, you don’t see any of these issues when using wi-fi? Only when tethered?

Is it any better if you switch from https to http? (You might need to use direct IP instead of hostname to access).

#16

I haven’t gotten to test much on a remote wifi connection but I will, the one time I did I didn’t notice it doing this at all (had issues with some channels not playing and giving the error -17 but the ones that did play were fine). I just set up my new server and started testing out though and I have the same issue with “ghost” buffering. I have a reliable 5Mbps upload at home and my tethered connection stays between 25-50Mpbs. Plex on the other hand still starts faster and plays smoothly, I haven’t tried Emby yet on the new server but I expect it will be the same as my windows Emby server and play fine. I don’t doubt that it could be something with the tethered connection causing issues but it just seems odd that the other live streams aren’t affected.

#17

Can you run this in Powershell while Plex is streaming. It will show the actual transcoding rate being used, so we can verify it’s not reducing it automatically.

Get-WmiObject Win32_Process | select commandline | Select-String -Pattern “Transcoder”

#18 
PS C:\Users\Jonathan> Get-WmiObject Win32_Process | select commandline | Select-String -Pattern "Transcoder"

@{commandline="C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server\PlexTranscoder.exe" -noaccurate_seek -ignore_unknown
-scan_all_pmts -1 -i http://192.168.7.10:5004/auto/v1133 -map 0:V? -codec:V copy -map 0:a? -codec:a copy
-copypriorss:a 0 -map 0:s? -codec:s copy -segment_format mpegts -f ssegment -individual_header_trailer 0 -segment_time
1 -segment_start_number 0 -segment_copyts 1 -segment_time_delta 0.0625 -segment_list http://127.0.0.1:32400/video/:/tra
nscode/session/f75cf3d5-9651-40f9-984c-f166b3835cfa/d4cb3734-9476-4500-bbfd-d6a9c7bca49d/seglist -segment_list_type
csv -segment_list_size 2147483647 -segment_list_separate_stream_times 1 -max_delay 5000000 -avoid_negative_ts disabled
-map_metadata -1 -map_chapters -1 media-%05d.ts -start_at_zero -copyts -vsync cfr -y -nostats -loglevel quiet
-loglevel_plex error -progressurl http://127.0.0.1:32400/video/:/transcode/session/f75cf3d5-9651-40f9-984c-f166b3835cfa
/d4cb3734-9476-4500-bbfd-d6a9c7bca49d/progress }
@{commandline="C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server\PlexTranscoder.exe" -codec:0 mpeg2video -codec:1 ac3 -i ht
tp://127.0.0.1:32400/livetv/sessions/f75cf3d5-9651-40f9-984c-f166b3835cfa/64A9B573-3CDA-43A8-A19C-DC644F52E4B8/index.m3
u8?X-Plex-Token=aGHs8fJj5sGsZGAJxpyX -filter_complex
[0:0]yadif[0];[0]scale=w=1280:h=720[1];[1]format=pix_fmts=yuv420p|nv12[2] -map [2] -codec:0 libx264 -crf:0 23
-maxrate:0 3676k -bufsize:0 7352k -r:0 59.939999999999998 -preset:0 veryfast -x264opts:0
subme=1:me_range=4:rc_lookahead=10:me=hex:8x8dct=0:partitions=none -force_key_frames:0 expr:gte(t,0+n_forced*1) -map
0:1 -metadata:s:1 language=eng -codec:1 aac_mf -ar:1 48000 -channel_layout:1 stereo -b:1 119k -segment_format mpegts
-f ssegment -individual_header_trailer 0 -segment_time 1 -segment_start_number 0 -segment_copyts 1 -segment_time_delta
0.0625 -segment_list http://127.0.0.1:32400/video/:/transcode/session/72E58673-FB01-41FD-8B37-2F606A149FA4/c181a520-18f
7-48bf-afcb-8d341c42abff/seglist -segment_list_type csv -segment_list_size 2147483647
-segment_list_separate_stream_times 1 -max_delay 5000000 -avoid_negative_ts disabled -map_metadata -1 -map_chapters -1
media-%05d.ts -start_at_zero -copyts -vsync cfr -y -nostats -loglevel quiet -loglevel_plex error -progressurl http://12
7.0.0.1:32400/video/:/transcode/session/72E58673-FB01-41FD-8B37-2F606A149FA4/c181a520-18f7-48bf-afcb-8d341c42abff/progr
ess }
#19

Here is a video with my Freenas server testing the same issue, so it doesn't seem to be related to windows or HW transcoding but the behavior is the same across both platforms.

https://youtu.be/shRZg4-OTDA

#20

Hmm this is a real head scratcher.

Does it play fine at lower bandwidth rates, like 720@2mbps?