Video Stutter/Freezing

Channels Apple TV Troubleshooting
#1

Hi y’all - in Canada trying to tune in local Toronto/Buffalo channels…

Video is unwatchable even on channels with perfect antenna reception. Change channel, video/audio stutters for 1-2 secs, then freezes completely. Happens on every new channel I tune in.

Haven’t used my Channels app in a while (used to be perfect). Trying it out again now to watch NFL playoffs.

Using:

HDHomerun HDHR4-2US - Firmware 20161117,
Apple TV 4 - tvOS 10.1,
Channels App - Version 2.1.7

Searched topics before posting but didn’t see this issue reported by anyone else… Help.

#2

Can you try the free “instatv pro” app, or hdhomerun VIEW on a computer to compare?

#3

OK - tried instatv pro on my ipad and getting error message “unsupported audio codec. purchase is required”.

Nonetheless - video does start and then freezes also after 1-2 secs.

#4

Please try instatv on your ATV, so you can compare the same setup. There is no purchase required for the ATV version.

If other apps and devices are also freezing, then the issue is with the HDHR setup.

Either the antenna signal is bad, or your home network is too slow to support the stream. If you can plug in the ATV to the router directly via ethernet to compare, that will rule out the home network.

What kind of router are you using? Presumably the ATV is on wifi right now? Does the router support 802.11ac?

#5

Same problem on Apple TV App. I also have a Tablo which is working flawlessly. Internet speed is 100/10.

#6

Tablo isn’t s great comparison since they trancode their video to way smaller sizes. It sounds like your network isn’t fast enough for the large mpeg2 video that comes from the HDHomeRun.

Try to get your Apple TV wired to your router if possible or replace the router with a model that supports 802.11ac.

If you can’t wire your Apple TV, there are other options like powerline Ethernet.

#7

I live in a suburb of Buffalo and use Channels to watch Buffalo and Canadian television so it can be done. I use an attic mounted long range UHF antenna and the Canadian Channels come in very well. Our location is great for OTA as the Canadian and US stations have very different programming so you get a nice mix of content. Only problem I have is that some of the Canadian stations aren’t being included in the guide data. The guide data covered more stations when it was the 4 hour data and I lost data for several stations when the DVR came along and it went to 2 weeks of data.

#8

The HDHomerun is on a Powerline to the Apple TV. The Router is an ASUS AC-68. The internet speeds are 100MBps. I mean seriously how much more firepower does the Channels App need? It used to work flawlessly on this very same network.

#9

I swapped out the Powerline that the HDHomerun is connected to with another one in case it was the problem – no change. Connected the Apple TV directly to a Powerline instead of wireless - no change. Seriously - I did a speedtest on the Apple TV and getting 70 Mbps to it via wireless. I don’t think the network is the problem.

Any other ideas.

#10

Rescan for channels?

Check out the web interface for your hdhomerun while streaming. Click into the tuners and see what the signal quality and strength are.

#11

Ok - I’ll try it after the Seahawks-Falcons game. I’m using the Tablo right now :wink: I’m pulling in the Buffalo FOX station perfectly.

#12

I used Tablo for DVR until the Channels DVR came out. I didn’t notice a significant difference between the two as far as stations picked up. One feature I did like about Tablo was display of signal strength in bars. It let you know what channels were fringe channels and assisted a bit with antenna tuning. Otherwise Tablo didn’t match up to Channels as far as HD display quality, stability and was just awful for live TV.

1 Like
#13

I apologize - I’m not trying to turn this into a debate about Channels/HDHomerun vs Tablo.

I’m just trying to get Channels to work. I’ve tested my network speeds, my antenna signal strength and they are all excellent. I think I’ve got the latest firmware and software versions and yet my video stream on Channels is unwatchable. I’d like it to work and just looking for any ideas on how to fix it.

Thanks.

#14

Signal strength readings will help narrow things down to the antenna vs the network.

Have there been any changes to the network or antenna setup since it was working before?

A reboot of the hdhomerun wouldn’t hurt either if you haven’t tried that yet.

#15

I rebooted hdhomerun (assume you mean unplug, wait, plug back in and tuned in local Toronto station showing Patriots game. Readings off of tuner 2:

signal strength 100%,
signal quality 98%

streaming rate 8.517 Mbps

Picture started up, played for a 1-2 secs and then froze.

#16

Thanks. Looks like the signal is pretty solid.

Can you try the VLC app on your iOS or tvOS device?

I sent you a beta invite. At the bottom of the Settings tab there’s a “Submit Diagnostics” button. Click it after trying to watch tv.

#17

Ok - done! I’ve submitted the log based on the channel I reference before with signal strength =100% and signal quality = 98%.

Let me know if there’s anything you see that I’m doing wrong.

Thanks so much.

#18

Thanks. I see a possible issue in the logs you submitted. Related to a change in 2.1.5 so that would explain why it wasn’t happening before.

Can you try VLC on the ATV (using DLNA under network) and let me know if that works?

#19

Ok tried VLC – very poor playback. Lots of artifacts, occasional freezes and distortions - pretty unwatchable again.

#20

I sent out a TestFlight update with a fix. Let me know if works.