hey @tmm1
Is there anything specific I need to do to get it to switch?
For testing, I currently have 2 m3u playlists with a single channel in each and in the one playlist(m3u_02) the channel is offline but Channels never switches to the next m3u playlist(m3u_01) with the same channel.
I've also tried this with tuners vs m3u playlists with the same result.
Here is screenshot of how I have it set up.
Can you try from the Channels app?
Just tried it in the iOS app and I get a "500 Internal Server Error" but nothing else happens.
Attached you can see the section of the log from the connection attempt to stream m3u02, failing and stopping.
@tmm1
Any ideas? Is it a setting on my side?
Here are the 2 different m3u's in case that helps,
m3u_01
#EXTINF:0 channelID="x-ID.9" tvg-chno="100" tvg-name="US abc7 (KABC) Los Angeles (HD) (SP)" tvg-id="100" group-title="United States",US abc7 (KABC) Los Angeles (HD) (SP)
m3u_02
#EXTINF:0 channelID="x-ID.8" tvg-chno="100" tvg-name="US abc7 (KABC) Los Angeles (HD) (SP)" tvg-id="100" group-title="United States",US abc7 (KABC) Los Angeles (HD) (SP)
they need channel-id I think and they should match so it knows they're the same channel
Thanks for helping @tmm1
Do you mean they need the same channel-id?
While I can try that, Channels does see it as the same channel as it's mapped to the same channel number and I only see 1 channel(ABC) under guide.
Thanks @chDVRuser @tmm1
As per your replies and documentation I edited the m3u's and replaced channelID with channel-id but still no luck.
m3u_01
#EXTINF:0 channel-id="abc7" tvg-chno="100" tvg-name="US abc7 (KABC) Los Angeles (HD) (SP)" tvg-id="100" group-title="United States",US abc7 (KABC) Los Angeles (HD) (SP)
m3u_02
#EXTINF:0 channel-id="abc7-2" tvg-chno="100" tvg-name="US abc7 (KABC) Los Angeles (HD) (SP)" tvg-id="100" group-title="United States",US abc7 (KABC) Los Angeles (HD) (SP)
I also tried a version when the channel-id was identical and still channels would not switch tuners. I tried this on the webui and the iOS app.
I understand that channels requires the channel-id to be unique, according to the documents, but doesnt it map "duplicate" channels based on their guide data or channel name?
I'm not sure why this isn't working. We have tested it with multiple HDHR and multiple TVE sources. There must be some other issue when M3U is involved. It will require more investigation.
I'm thinking the issue is Channels DVR lumps all M3U source devices into one X-M3U lineup.
If you try to view Live TV Guide and select a M3U Source device, you see all M3U devices.
Except those with an XMLTV source.
Ok, I found out what the issue is.
This seems like a bug but I'll let you decide. In the m3u, the channels numbers were identical so when loading the m3u files using "prefer channel numbers from m3u", Channels would stack them in the webui, (I would only see 1 channel #100, using 2 m3u's). When trying to play the channel it would never cycle.
When I imported the m3u using "ignore channel numbers from m3u" I got 2 channels in the webui(9000, 9001) and on the iOS app I had it set to stack by guide info and it started cycling the channels.
@tmm1
Would it be possible to have 2 channels, with same channel number, cycle between feeds?
What I'm trying to do, is use the .m3u Channels creates with a single channel(e.g. /channels/100/stream.mpg), which has fallback streams on the backend(tuner1/tuner2).
I think there's a setting in the app to combine by guide or number? Not sure.
There is but currently when using m3u's with the same channel numbers in each, Channels Admin - Guide doesn't show them as separate channels and combines them but also doesn't switch channels as I mentioned earlier on.
My question was if this is a bug?
If it is a bug, would it be possible to have a single channel listed in Channels Admin - Guide(as it currently is BUT actually cycle the streams) so when using http://x.x.x.x:8089/devices/ANY/channels.m3u you'd have that single channel(which contains backups).
So as same channel #'s in m3u's don't seem to trigger channel swaps I have it setup to use different channel #'s with same guide data so that it cycles stream if one is offline.
@tmm1 is there a way for Channels to cycle to a backup stream if it is consistently buffering the current stream playing?
Conversely, is there a way to select which stream to watch when channels are stacked in the apps?
no.
it's based on the priorities of the tuners, so you can re-order them if you want
Thanks @tmm1.
Since the system currently works for when a channel is offline to try the next, could it be extended to do the same thing should a streams' "Buffering Pauses" exceed a certain number and a backup stream exists?
If not, could we at least get the option to select a stream with a long press or something for channels that have backups?
Hello,
Was hoping for an update regarding a fix for the m3u's with same channel numbers not working.
This issue is occuring both on the apps as well as on the webui.
It will take some time to investigate and figure out what's going on. Issues which affect internet-based M3U only are not high priority for us. The M3U feature is designed and tested primarily with in-home tuners like Vbox, Tablo, etc.
