Weird skipping/dropping? video question

Channels DVR Server
#1

Can anyone give me some suggestions on trying to identify the source of a weird jerking/skipping video issue I'm having? If it wasn't for the fact that I can pull up the frame details and see that frames are in fact not actually being dropped, I would swear that's what was happening. That's exactly what it looks like anyway, but no frames are reported as dropped. It happens with quite a bit of my imported content (movie library) as well as different sources of recorded content (coming from HDHR, or even some TVE). There's gotta be a common denominator, but damned if I can find it. I've seen it on 1080p, 1080i, 720p.

The kicker is that is only seems to happen using Channels on my Shield Pro. I can jump over to a Firestick and Channels plays everything just fine there. I can jump back to my Shield Pro and use Plex to view the very same content and everything works fine. It seems it's only Channels running on my Shield Pro that has the issue. I've tried the Match Framerate option in the Shield settings too, but it doesn't make any difference.

I swear it seems like it's dropping frames... but why wouldn't it clearly show that?

I use many of the streaming apps with no issues - netflix, hbomax, disney+, amazon prime, etc. I never have any issues with them.

I run Channels in a docker container on an Unraid server that's plenty powerful enough. Everything is hardwired - no wifi. And like I mentioned, if I switch to a firestick, Channels plays everything fine. I would think it was the shield if it wasn't for the fact that I can run the Plex app on the shield and it plays everything fine.

Any recommendations for helping troubleshoot would be appreciated. It's driving me nuts.

#2

Disable the native “live channels” app on the shield. It reaps havoc on the network connection with all its bugs. My wag for the day

#3

Fwiw - I have the exact same issue except on a stream4k with imported library content. Exactly as you describe - Same content viewed on same device with plex or emby no issues, and same content viewed on channels on a fire stick has no issues. Just when viewing on my stream4k through channels app.

#4

You can try changing Settings > Playback > Advanced > Video Decoder

#5

I've tried your recommendation twice now and both times switching from Hardware to Software seems to correct the issue. I'm not quite ready to say it's definitive just yet, but it certainly seems promising. I guess now the question is what does that tell us exactly? Are there any known hardware decoder issues with the Shield Pro? It was purchased new in 2021. It got the Android 11 update recently, but was doing this prior to the update. I guess the only harm in leaving it set to Software would be the Shield might run hotter having to rely more on the CPU?

Thanks!

#6

Just for the benefit of others searching, switching to Software for the Video Decoder does seem to always correct the issue for me. I still don't understand the pros/cons or why Hardware wouldn't always work, but it does seem to consistently fix the issue every time I experience it.