TiVo Stream 4K & Button Mapper for Remote

Channels Android TV
#92

I know this is a long shot but figured I'd ask before going a different route:

Is there any way to map my TV's sleep button/function to somewhere on the TS4K remote? It's a Samsung 1080p over 10 years old, nothing fancy about it. I have two variations of an older Samsung remote: one has a direct sleep button and the other doesn't so you have to use the Tools button to get to the setting.

On the TS4K remote, the TV volume up/down/mute/power all work as they should, but this would just make everything absolutely perfect. I've been looking thru https://elementalx.org/button-mapper/android-key-codes/ trying to find if something could work thru CEC, and will buy the button mapper pro version if need be, but not sure if it's possible with this mini-peanut.

#93

Chances are that key is not sent through HDMI-CEC. That means that Channels cannot intercept the key, because it's not sent.

However, that doesn't mean you can't use it. With a Flirc, you can use your existing remote to send whatever key presses you want, and that device will translate it into something that your device will understand.

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#94

I know this is an old post, but could you provide some guidance on how you were able to pair the Tivo Bolt Vox remote to the Tivo Stream 4K? I have been searching on how and if this could be done.

#95

Bolt Vox remote is Bluetooth. Put Tivo Stream in remote control search mode and Bolt Vox remote in pairing mode. Tivo Stream should see it and prompt for you to add remote.

https://tivoidp.tivo.com/tivoCommunitySupport/s/article/TiVo-Remotes-RF-Pairing-Instructions

#96

The Bolt Vox remote is either IR or RF. I tried putting the Tivo Stream 4K in pairing mode, and initiated pairing on the Bolt Vox remote - but it does not pair. So curious how you got yours to pair?

#97

Bolt remote is most definitely not Bluetooth.

#98

Yes, Bolt Vox remote is bluetooth. You have to use bluetooth dongle on older Tivo’s to get Bolt Vox remote to work. Bolt Vox box has bluetooth.

Uses bluetooth low energy spec

https://support.tivo.com/articles/FAQ/TiVo-VOX-Remote-FAQ

#99
#100

Bluetooth is RF, btw.

#101

OK - I can't stand the Firestick over-the-top UI and have a TIVO Stream 4K coming tomorrow. Studying up on integration with Channels DVR (am running server on a QNAP TS253A with both a HDHomerun Prime and TVE as sources).

Two questions:

  1. can you program the TIVO remote with a record button (that is I am watching something and I want to record it, press button and either record instance or series)?

  2. How does Channels DVR handle a record request in the middle of a program? Like TIVO, if I hit record in the middle of the program it gets the whole program (or as far back as the tuner was on that channel) or only from that time forward?

#102

Yes. The remote for the TS4K does not have a record button, but a different remote can work. Also, the on-screen record button works: while watching live, press Down (to bring up the Quick Guide), Down (to select the Record button), Select/OK (to bring up the Record dialog). Also, you can use a third-party app to reprogram a button to act as a Record button.

The latter. Live TV buffer for already viewed program is local to the client device; but recording is handled on the DVR server. Therefore, the recording will only contain the program from the time the Record button was selected.

#103

Thanks - I was planning on reprogramming a button if that would work so thanks for the confirmation.

I'm trying to migrate us off a TIVO Roamio (for a # of reasons). My wife is comfortable with TIVO after > 15 years so maximizing familiarity will go a long way towards adoption. The Firestick is just way too cluttered and random to do that. I'm hoping the TIVO Stream 4K will be a good transition.

#104

I noticed that people mentioned that they are getting the Guide button, the Live button, and the Tivo button working out of the box after running the de-TiVo your stream process. I'm finding that is not the case for me. I did use the Button Mapper app to map the Tivo button to open up the Channels DVR, but I'd love to get the Guide and Live buttons working. Any suggestions?

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#105

You have to enable the Channels Button Detector under accessibility settings.

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#106

Thanks so much. Sorry for missing that. That solved it for me!

#107

There was previous discussion about pairing a Tivo Bolt Vox remote to the Tivo Stream 4K. I recently did a reset of my Tivo Stream 4K and had to pair my Tivo Bolt Vox remote again. It definitely can be paired to the Tivo Stream 4K. It may take a couple tries but it will pair.

Just go to add bluetooth device and while it's scanning for remote just hold down the silver Tivo button and back button on the Tivo Bolt Vox remote. The light then blinks yellow and blinks faster when pairing is working. Tivo Stream 4K pairing page says pairing then connecting and then paired.

If it doesn't blink yellow you need to either global reset Vox remote with the hold Tivo/Power button 3 thumbs down enter procedure, or do the put in RF mode procedure of holding down Tivo/C livetv clear enter clear 221 clear.

https://www.weaknees.com/tv/

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#108

Just picked up a Tivo Stream 4K for an office tv. REALLY like the remote (coming from a long time Tivo user). And the integration with Channels is great. Wondering now if I should replace my Apple Tv with this on my main tv.
I don't love the Apple Tv remote, but like the polish and speed of ATV. And picture quality seems a bit better on ATV.

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#109

I have both Apple TVs and a Tivo Stream 4K. The Tivo is pretty good considering the price difference and the remote is definitely much more family friendly. I like the out of box Channels integration. The biggest drawbacks are the buffer size and speed on the Apple TV are much better; and for me the show stopper is that the library management features for a large library, kids section, etc. are much better on the Apple TV version of Channels. Whenever they have parity on the two of them, I might consider it again but the family has acclimated to the Apple TV UI and I hate to change it on them. The Tivo is in my office so I'm the main person that ever uses it.

You can achieve a very similar remote experience with an alternative remote like the One for All Streamer. I have set it up with a dedicated button for Guide and Live TV which brings it pretty close to the Tivo remote, although not quite as poilished. That can be done if you can program those functions to your TV remote for Channels and your TV passes them via CEC. The Sony TVs do. Some don't.

#110

spent a lot of time last night and this morning going back and forth between the two. I find the picture quality is better on ATV. Video is smoother. Watching the news crawls this morning, they were somewhat jumpy on the TS4K, but looked fine on ATV (probably a buffer/speed thing).

I'll likely end up with similar set up - ATV on main tv and TS4k in my office (I don't watch a lot of live tv in the office, so will be adequate).

I'll check out that remote. I do have a Harmony Elite I've been using with the Apple Tv, and have the shortcut keys set up, so works pretty well with Channels. If I could have the TS4K remote with ATV, it would be perfect!

#111

Are any of you having issues with the TiVo Stream 4K playback being choppy with the Channels DVR? I'm having to uninstall and reinstall the app pretty much every time I want to use the Channels DVR with the TiVo Stream. I'd love to hear if anyone else is having similar issues.