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I have this app with my hdhomerun and it is pretty buggy. The video stutters and the audio goes in and out. I think it will be good at some point but it has a ways to go yet. I also have a Tablo and the Shield tv app is outstanding. I am hoping the app for the Atv 4 will be the same

Hi. I'm one of the Channels developers. It sounds like you might be at the limits of the bandwidth required to stream a full mpeg2 HD stream. These streams tend to be between 14 and 16 megabits. This might be what's causing it to cut in and out.

Are you streaming over wifi? Have you tried streaming over ethernet if it's possible? If ethernet isn't possible (I understand it's impossible for me too!) because you're in separate rooms, you can try using powerline ethernet adapters. They're not the fastest things in the world (vs say gigabit ethernet), but they do a great job at providing stable streaming of high bitrate video.

I hope this helps!
 
Hi. I'm one of the Channels developers. It sounds like you might be at the limits of the bandwidth required to stream a full mpeg2 HD stream. These streams tend to be between 14 and 16 megabits. This might be what's causing it to cut in and out.

Are you streaming over wifi? Have you tried streaming over ethernet if it's possible? If ethernet isn't possible (I understand it's impossible for me too!) because you're in separate rooms, you can try using powerline ethernet adapters. They're not the fastest things in the world (vs say gigabit ethernet), but they do a great job at providing stable streaming of high bitrate video.

I hope this helps!


I am hard wired with a gigabit connection. To be fair, I installed the Kodi addon on my Shield TV and it does the very same thing. I am hoping for an update from SD since there hasn't been one since August. I really feel like the issue is with the homerun device software.
 
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Do you have to use the HDHomeRun extend or connect? Or will either work? Any real difference for using the Apple TV?
 
Do you have to use the HDHomeRun extend or connect? Or will either work? Any real difference for using the Apple TV?

The advantage of the Extend is that it supports transcoding (to h.264) on the device. This means you'll be able to play streams natively on an iPhone or iPad device.

Currently Channels needs to receive the raw mpeg2 stream from to play correctly from an Extend. We're working on making this easier for the future though.
 
The advantage of the Extend is that it supports transcoding (to h.264) on the device. This means you'll be able to play streams natively on an iPhone or iPad device.

Currently Channels needs to receive the raw mpeg2 stream from to play correctly from an Extend. We're working on making this easier for the future though.
i have comcast cable and in my area you can't see channels without the cable box anymore

can i use the hdhomerun connect or do i need the hdhomerun prime ?
i want to get rid of one cable box and fees
 
The advantage of the Extend is that it supports transcoding (to h.264) on the device. This means you'll be able to play streams natively on an iPhone or iPad device.

Currently Channels needs to receive the raw mpeg2 stream from to play correctly from an Extend. We're working on making this easier for the future though.

Well cheaper is nicer so the Connect is favorable that way. I don't think I'd stream to mobile devices. Plus the Extend seems to be out stock many places. So if the Connect works then great.

If the Apple TV doesn't do mpeg2 though how is it playing the stream? Are you just decoding the mpeg2 stream in software in your app?
 
i have comcast cable and in my area you can't see channels without the cable box anymore

can i use the hdhomerun connect or do i need the hdhomerun prime ?
i want to get rid of one cable box and fees

If you mean that all the channels have been removed from Clear QAM, then the cable card in the Prime will be useful. It will decode your channels so that they are streamable.
 
I am hard wired with a gigabit connection. To be fair, I installed the Kodi addon on my Shield TV and it does the very same thing. I am hoping for an update from SD since there hasn't been one since August. I really feel like the issue is with the homerun device software.
My aTV is wireless and I'm not getting skipping on Channels. Interestingly, when it was hard-wired, it took forever to start playing movies purchased from the iTunes store. When I disconnected it and used an Airport Extreme base station with a 5GHz wireless connection, these same movies start instantly.
 
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Do you have to use the HDHomeRun extend or connect? Or will either work? Any real difference for using the Apple TV?

I have the extend. I have tried every transcode setting in the Kodi addon and it does the same thing. Oddly enough, I connected my MacMini to my tv and installed the homerun view software. It works like a dream - not a hint of a glitch so I don't know why it is so different thriugh Kodi or the Atv
 
The advantage of the Extend is that it supports transcoding (to h.264) on the device. This means you'll be able to play streams natively on an iPhone or iPad device.

Currently Channels needs to receive the raw mpeg2 stream from to play correctly from an Extend. We're working on making this easier for the future though.

I had been looking at the Extend, Connect, and Prime. Sounds like the Extend is the better option to go with since I'm doing OTA.

Does it and Channels handle 5.1 sound? I had've been looking at the HDHomeruns and the Tablos and was really disappointed to find out the latter doesn't. I had been leaning towards it for the PVR functionality. At least it looks like HDHomeruns are going to be getting PVR added before long.
 
If you mean that all the channels have been removed from Clear QAM, then the cable card in the Prime will be useful. It will decode your channels so that they are streamable.
I got the app running

Can I recommend that you change the swiping left and right changing channels to click on the right and left side of the trackpad

Swiping is too sensitive , every time I put the remote down the channel changes

You can click the left and right side edges of the trackpad
Plex uses this but to skip 10 seconds
 
I installed Channels last night and it works perfect for me. However, it does not support channels that are FLAGGED AS COPY ONCE (DRM). I am using a Prime with CABLE CARD from Verizon FIOS over GB Ethernet. In my case I can not see FOX Channels. I really wanted this for the FOX News Channel since I can not get it any other place on the Apple TV. My wife like's to watch Hallmark Channel Live (and others) and it works perfect for her. Of course I expected Premium Channels would be marked but was not expecting FOX. Also, because of this I did some reading about TWC which is also in my area and pretty much ALL of their channels are marked with DRM so I expect you could not use this for TWC. Not sure about COMCAST but you should check it out if you are on COMCAST. But they did make it clear that they do not support DRM Channels. Apparently the DVR Version in Beta is expected to support DRM Channels before it is release (currently does not). Again, with the exception of DRM I like how Connections works and recommend it.
 
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I installed Channels last night and it works perfect for me. However, it does not support channels that are FLAGGED AS COPY ONCE (DRM). I am using a Prime with CABLE CARD from Verizon FIOS over GB Ethernet. In my case I can not see FOX Channels. I really wanted this for the FOX News Channel since I can not get it any other place on the Apple TV. My wife like's to watch Hallmark Channel Live (and others) and it works perfect for her. Of course I expected Premium Channels would be marked but was not expecting FOX. Also, because of this I did some reading about TWC which is also in my area and pretty much ALL of their channels are marked with DRM so I expect you could not use this for TWC. Not sure about COMCAST but you should check it out if you are on COMCAST. But they did make it clear that they do not support DRM Channels. Apparently the DVR Version in Beta is expected to support DRM Channels before it is release (currently does not). Again, with the exception of DRM I like how Connections works and recommend it.
I have Hdhomerun cable card with Comcast and I get HBO and Fox News



Channels is great I have the beta they keep updating the app every week it seems making it better

build 1.2(7) TestFlight.

- Click to switch channels: swiping left/right in the video player will no longer change channels automatically.
- Double-click to jump back to the previous channel.
- Fix nasty bug causing app to freeze after exiting the video player.
- Fix overscan issue on some TVs causing video overlay content to appear off-screen.
 
I have Hdhomerun cable card with Comcast and I get HBO and Fox News



Channels is great I have the beta they keep updating the app every week it seems making it better

build 1.2(7) TestFlight.

- Click to switch channels: swiping left/right in the video player will no longer change channels automatically.
- Double-click to jump back to the previous channel.
- Fix nasty bug causing app to freeze after exiting the video player.
- Fix overscan issue on some TVs causing video overlay content to appear off-screen.
Sounds great. Like I said it has been working good for me except for the DRM Channels. Has there been any thoughts of providing a pause (and then FF/REW)? Nice for bathroom break. I ask because if you watch a movie from iTunes and then pause it will download the entire movie. So they do have a streaming buffer for that. And it has to be at least 4gb. Worked the same on the 8gb ATV 3. Thanks.
 
Sounds great. Like I said it has been working good for me except for the DRM Channels. Has there been any thoughts of providing a pause (and then FF/REW)? Nice for bathroom break. I ask because if you watch a movie from iTunes and then pause it will download the entire movie. So they do have a streaming buffer for that. And it has to be at least 4gb. Worked the same on the 8gb ATV 3. Thanks.
There is a pause and play in the beta but no rewind and fast
 
I installed Channels last night and it works perfect for me.

So glad you like it!

However, it does not support channels that are FLAGGED AS COPY ONCE (DRM).

Yeah, DRM is not supported right now. The process of getting and implementing support for DRM is very very lengthy and involved. We're looking at it right now and have plans for the future to support it, if it is financially viable. It's very complicated.

Of course I expected Premium Channels would be marked but was not expecting FOX.

Right? I'm on FIOS myself and was surprised to see this happen. A few months ago FOX mandated that all of their channels get set to the copy once bit. This was a bummer since a lot of sports have ended up on their FS1 network.

Also, because of this I did some reading about TWC which is also in my area and pretty much ALL of their channels are marked with DRM so I expect you could not use this for TWC.

Yes, TWC is regarded very low in the world of CableCards because of this. This effects TiVos as well since it means you can't stream between your TiVo devices. This is just another reason we'd like to support DRM so that TWC customers have the ability to use Channels as well and have everything on a single box.


Apparently the DVR Version in Beta is expected to support DRM Channels before it is release

This is not true. While we're exploring it, it is not currently in beta and will not be supported in a release version any time soon.
 
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