Trying to figure out what "Channels" is

#1

This is similar to a post Sleepy just created - I am having a hard time wrapping my head around what this product actually IS and how it would work (for me).

So, let me lay out where I am at now:

  • I have a ~25mps network connection to the 'net. Yeah, I know - it's not great. But it's the best I have.
  • Internally within my house I have Cat6 running on a gig switch. I also have wireless for those devices that do not have a ethernet port.
    --> This means devices WITHIN my house, everything can talk to everything else at either gig speeds, or whatever speed I'm getting from the 5G wireless. All of those devices talk to the outside world at the somewhat sucky 25mps network feed.

I DO have an older PC laying around not being used. I think it'll even run Win10.

As for TV service -

  • We discontinued our DirecTV contract about 6 months ago. Never going back.
  • OTA antenna coverage sucks.
  • I have a Firestick directly plugged into HDMI2 port of my TV - all streaming is through that.
  • For the channels I want to watch, I figured out that having a combination of either Hulu + Philo or Youtube.TV + Philo covers everything we want (thank you https://www.suppose.tv/tv)

CURRENTLY I am using Youtube.TV+Philo because YTTV's guide is 100x better (it lets me hide channels I don't want to see and rearrange those I do into an order that makes sense to me). TTTV gets 1 channel I want that Hulu doesn't (MLBnetwork). Hulu doesn't offer anything I want over TYYV, but is $5 cheaper/mo.

Things I do not like about my current situation:

  1. I'm not happy with the DVR abilities of either YTTV or Philo
  2. It is extremely annoying to have to switch from TTV back to Philo. I would REALLY like a combined guide...

So.... What can Channels do for me?

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#2

Channels can offer you a DVR with local storage for recordings that will present some/most of the cable channels you receive to clients on iOS, tvOS, Android/FireTV as well as via its own web interface. (There is also an alpha quality Roku channel that hasn't been updated in quite some time.)

In addition, you can also access your DVR (including both live streams and recordings) remotely.

Note: local broadcast channels are not supported, and not all channels available in your OTT subscription are available to Channels. Channels does offer a one month free trial, so you are encouraged to try it for yourself to see if it meets your needs.

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#3

First off, if you want to use your old PC, I would suggest running a linux distro if it's single purpose will be Channels DVR.

You can use your YTTV and/or Philo with Channels DVR to watch and record the channels that are supported (read the TVE post). This will combine channels from both services in one easy to use interface, the Channels DVR client allows you to hide/disable channels as well as make channels favorites.

For recordings you have complete control, you can set up passes, do one time recordings, and record as much as you would like (depending on how much HDD space you have). You can also automatically skip commercials on recorded content.

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#4

This sounds promising.

Do I NEED to setup a computer as a Channels DVR? Or is that what those other devices are (HDHomeRun)?

Let's say I setup that computer and/or purchase a Channels HDHomeRun. How do I connect that to my TV and my Amazon Firestick? Or does that computer/device replace the Firestick for getting the streaming services?

#5

All three communicate over the LAN (local area network). If you only want to use YTTV/Philo you will not need an HDHomerun device. The HDHR is only for tuning to an OTA channel or a Cable channel.

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#6

Jmcguire525" Then where does it record the shows?
I guess what I want to see is a step by step Installation Guide... I did not see one on the website.

See above where I am using YTTV BECAUSE I do not get any channels OTA.... Recall that the 2 things I am looking to solve are:
Things I do not like about my current situation:

  1. I'm not happy with the DVR abilities of either YTTV or Philo
  2. It is extremely annoying to have to switch from TTV back to Philo. I would REALLY like a combined guide...

Will Channels solve either or both of THOSE?

#7

Yes, Channels will fix the two guides/two apps issue, and combine them into a single DVR. But, the caveat is that not all of the channels that you receive as part of your OTT subscriptions are available to channels, including specifically local network affiliates.

As far as where recordings are stored, they are on a hard drive attached to the computer you are running the Channels DVR server on. Run out of recording space? Add a second or larger drive.

While there presently isn't a step-by-step tutorial for the completely green, there are instructions for installation on the DVR software download page.

#8

[racameron]
Yes, Channels will fix the two guides/two apps issue, and combine them into
a single DVR. But, the caveat is that not all of the channels that you receive
as part of your OTT subscriptions are available to channels, including
specifically local network affiliates.

As far as where recordings are stored, they are on a hard drive attached to
the computer you are running the Channels DVR server on. Run out of
recording space? Add a second or larger drive.

While there presently isn't a step-by-step tutorial for the completely green,
there are instructions for installation on the DVR software download page.

I am STILL lost. What do I install Channels on?

And are you saying that the CBS, NBC, ABC, & Fox stations I get from YouTube.tv cannot be recorded by Channels?

#9

Local Network Channels CBS, NBC, ABC & FOX are not supported by Channels DVR coming from TVE. They would only work coming from a HDHomeRun Network Tuner. Like a DUO or Quattro for OTA Antenna. The HDHomeRun Prime is only supported if you kept your Cable TV Service and used a Cable Card. I used that years ago but dropped it in favor of OTA and Streaming Options like this NEW TVE.

You will need to install the Channels DVR on either a NAS (I recommend this) or maybe a Windows PC or a MAC or a Linux Box. Then you use any of the available Channels DVR Apps on a box connected to your TV. I personally use the Synology NAS 918+ for the DVR and I have 8x Apple TV 4 or 4K for each of my TV's. I also use a HDHomerun Quattro for my OTA Antenna and I subscribe to multiple TVE Sources like Hulu Live and PS Vue. I have also used Directv Now and Philo and PS Vue has the most Channels from TVE. So it really depends on your favorite channels and where to get them.

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#10

@TxFig I think it will help you understand what Channels IS if you step back and look at what it WAS. TVE integration is very new, and I think this is what is causing your confusion.

Previously, Channels really only worked with an HDHomeRun box (made by SiliconDust, not by Channels). You could get an HDHomeRun Prime which uses a cable card, which essentially makes it the same as a traditional cable box. Or you could get an HDHomeRun over-the-air tuner which of course is only local channels. The Channels app would then see your HDHomeRun tuner(s) - one or several - and combine them all into one great interface.

Recently, they added in TVE integration. So now on top of your HDHomeRun tuners, you also are able to add in all of your TVE channels.

In your scenario, you could use the TVE integration along with your YTTV/Philo subscription. But you would only be able to pull in the YTTV/Philo channels that have a TVE login. So your locals would not come through. You could get around this by picking up an HDHomeRun OTA box.

And as for your other question, which others have answered as well - Channels DVR is installed locally on a NAS or computer. You can then view it using the Channels mobile app, Firestick app, or in a browser.

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#11

Ok, I THINK I am starting to understand this. And looking at things closer, it looks like if I get a better antenna (an omni-directional such as the Channel Master CM-3011HD) and mount it on the peak of my roof, I should be able to pull in all of the broadcast channels.

So let's see if I have this right. Let's say I

  1. install that antenna and get a HDHomeRun
  2. Subscribe to SlingTV Orange+Blue+Sports
  3. Get a NAS and install Channels on it

Then I can

a. Get both my OTA and SlingTV in a single guide
b. Record both OTA and SlingTV to the NAS

Is that right?

Note 1: The reason I am looking for a 3rd party DVR with Sling is that moronic "you can't record any of the ESPN channels" non-sense. I mean - come on - recording sports is what DVR's are for in the first place!

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#12

Beware of Marketing Hype.
There is no such thing as an HDTV antenna, or a 4k antenna.
In fact the mileage claim is also Marketing Hype.
What matters is the quality and gain of the antenna, where you mount it, where the transmitter towers are that you're trying to receive signals from and what radio frequencies they broadcast.

Best to ask over at the SiliconDust Forumn
https://forum.silicondust.com/forum/index.php

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#13

Yep, that’s the general deal.

You can check out tvfool’s signal locator to see where your signals are and what stations you should get
https://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29

Btw, what devices are you hooking to your TVs for viewing, appleTV, AndroidTV, FireTV? Other?

#14

[chDVRuser]

Beware of Marketing Hype.
There is no such thing as an HDTV antenna, or a 4k antenna.
In fact the mileage claim is also Marketing Hype.
What matters is the quality and gain of the antenna, where you mount it, where the transmitter towers are that you're trying to receive signals from and what radio frequencies they broadcast

The recommendation came from cordcutters.com (unbiased). It's not so much the range as the direction - specifically the part about the omni directional antenna since the towers I need to hit are litterally 180 degrees apart.

ImNotSerious - I currently have an older Amazon Firestick (I got it for free). But I'm not married to it if I need to go with something else.

But back to my original problem - it looks like NOTHING can do "b" (record streaming services such as Sling, TTTV, Hulu, etc.). Which sucks big time.

#15

Correct my closest tower is 46 miles. I pick up half my channels with a small flat rated at 25 miles. The others I use a 50 mile flat.

#16

tvfool is using outated databases
rabbitears is more up to date and includes repack info
https://www.rabbitears.info

https://www.rabbitears.info/searchmap.php

#17

Channels cannot record directly from these services, but it can record many (probably most) of the channels you receive from these services using TVE. Have you read through the TVE announcement post yet?

#18

Ug - acronyms that aren't explained.

What is "TVE"?

#19

Start here
https://community.getchannels.com/c/channels-dvr/tv-everywhere

Read the top 3 pinned posts

#20

From that post:

Requirements:

  1. A major U.S. cable provider like Xfinity, Cox, Spectrum, DirectTV, Dish Network, etc.

Um - If I had one of those, I wouldn't be needing a DVR to record stuff to begin with....