Can not record any program from ION, Channel 33.1 in Seattle. Transcoder Error

[sa2000]

@jebrossard

I think we have narrowed down the issue. With the HDHomeRun Extend set to “Highest Quality” per Live TV & DVR (Set Up and Manage) | Plex Support the 33.1 ION recording fails in seconds. When set to “Original Quality” it appears the recording succeeds.

So now I have to ask, why is Plex transcoding a stream that has already been transcoded by the HDHomeRun Extend? Or is something else going on?

I tested this with Version 1.22.0.4163.

Wondering if the extend is corrupting the stream time stamps - is the system clock on the extend accurate abd synced to a time source ?

[jebrossard]

@sa2000

Wondering if the extend is corrupting the stream time stamps - is the system clock on the extend accurate abd synced to a time source ?

Well, this is only happening on one channel. Looking at the HDHomeRun Extend’s own logs the time stamps look accurate (correct for UTC). I am sending the Plex logs to you via private message.

[jebrossard]

@gwsample

Any updates on this topic? I have the exact same issue recording with Plex and my HD Homerun Extend on ion channel 63.1 in Indianapolis. All other channels work, it is just ion that does not.

We have discovered this may only affect the HDHomeRun when hardware transcoding is enabled. If set to original quality (not recommended BTW) the recordings succeed.

[jebrossard]

@sa2000 This issue is experienced by others around the country recording ION Television with an HDHomeRun Extend:

Ion television failing to play when using HDHomerun Extend Transcoder through Plex

I have a strange issue happening with 1 channel in my market. ion television 61.1 in the Philly market works fine when I use the HDHomerun App to watch it both with the transcoder and without. When I try to watch the same channel on any plex client it will not work if I configure plex to use the Extend’s transcoder., but all my other channels work fine. If I set plex to use original format (not using the extend’s transcoder) then ion works fine. I want to be able to watch this channel, but …

Can not record any program from ION, Channel 33.1 in Seattle. Transcoder Error

Any updates on this topic? I have the exact same issue recording with Plex and my HD Homerun Extend on ion channel 63.1 in Indianapolis. All other channels work, it is just ion that does not.

[gwsample]

Yes, exact issue I am having recording ion on channel 63.1 in Indianapolis using HD home run extend. I am currently using the not recommended work around of setting the DVR to Original quality for recording

[jebrossard]

I received a message from Plex that they have been able to duplicate this issue recording ION Television using an HDHomeRun Extend set to Highest quality. No ETA for a fix.

[jebrossard]

@sa2000 @gwsample @kuggla I have successfully made four “Highest quality” recordings, so far, from ION Television with the HDHomeRun Extend and PMS 1.22.1.4228. Plex Media Server - #411 by Ridley
I’m not sure what fix in the release notes applied to this issue, but so far it is working.
I am looking forward to cancelling Channels DVR. I’m going to make sure this continues to work over a few releases before I cancel.

[D_eight6]

You know… I was wondering if there was ever a fix to this issue. I have absolutely no other recording issues with any other channel or sub channel other than ION 38 in the Chicago market. I ordered and just received today a ClearStream 4Max antenna. I Installed it earlier as a secondary antenna to maximize my channels and ION still gives me an issue. I actually was on the verge of ordering another HDHomeRun or perhaps trying a Tablo model but it’s only one channel, but an important one in the house as Bluebloods and Chicago P.D. reruns are usually on in the background. I do remember iON only working if the transcoder is off in the Plex DVR settings. I prefer the HDHomeRun to transcode because there are other devices running on the network and it speeds up the buffering when everyone’s on the network, but either way… iON is the only culprit. I don’t want to turn the transcoder off as my recordings will then become much larger than I’d like them to be. Very surprised actually to notice this is nation-wide. I originally thought this was a local broadcast issue.

[jebrossard]

I know of four markets so far where recording ION was a problem so I agree it was probably nation wide for HDHomeRun EXTEND owners.
So far ION is recording just fine with the latest version of PMS and the transcoder quality set to “Highest quality” (AKA as “heavy” in the HDHomeRun EXTEND).

I’m using this for an antenna in my attic, so I can aim one side at Cougar Mountain where ION 33.1 is, and the other side at downtown Seattle where the major networks are. It works GREAT. DB8e 8-Element Bowtie Attic/Outdoor HDTV Antenna

[sa2000]

@jebrossard

I have successfully made four “Highest quality” recordings, so far, from ION Television with the HDHomeRun Extend and PMS 1.22.1.4228

That is good news. Thanks for the feedback. Do you know if the issue was in 1.22.1.4200-c073686f2 ?

[jebrossard]

I was only testing on public channel releases and not on beta channel releases like 1.22.1.4200.

[jebrossard]

@sa2000 And it appears this still works with Plex Media Server 1.22.1.4271 and 1.22.1.4275.

It can’t be a coincidence that after trying to get this fixed for over a year it is fixed within two weeks of you finding a developer with the same tuner I have so that developer can reproduce the issue.

Canceling Channels DVR is going to save me $96 a year.

Thank you.

[sa2000]

@jebrossard

It can’t be a coincidence that after trying to get this fixed for over a year it is fixed within two weeks of you finding a developer with the same tuner I have so that developer can reproduce the issue

Unfortunately it was a coincidence
There were many changes between 1.22.0.4163-d8c4875dd and 1.22.1.4228-724c56e62

I am not sure if the developers will find spare time to establish which of the 300+ changes fixed it

Lets hope it stays fixed !
Thanks for all your help

[jebrossard]

@sa2000

Lets hope it stays fixed !

Yes, and thank you for sticking with this. I am now recording “Xploration Awesome Planet” every week on ION so I’ll be checking weekly! I have also canceled my Channels DVR subscription.