"Could not tune channel. Please check your tuner or antenna." Error

Live TV & DVR
, ,
62

Some channels do work, most do not. I can’t figure out what determines if it does or doesn’t work…

63

check that you have a valid transcode directory, that turned out to be my problem. Though, since you are getting some channels that is probably not the case. I got the tune error on all channels.

64

Thanks for the idea. Transcode temp dir wasn’t configured. I configured it, but unfortunately it still doesn’t work.

65

Same issue here… Since the last two months or so since Plex changed their DVR-guide (and the Netherlands isn’t available anymore) I had nothing than trouble… And this is the main reason I bought Plex. Thinking of dropping that now, since their service is utterly useless now. For my movies and series I could use Kodi too…

66

Plex Media Server Version 1.16.6.1559-a71394a45

If I try to watch live TV I get the error “Could not tune channel. Please check your tuner or antenna.”
BUT
I can click on record and the show records just fine. W.T.F.

I also found if I click record on a show, and then I quickly choose to watch a channel within about 5-10 seconds, I can watch live TV. If I wait too long or stop the live view, I can’t start it again as I get the same error as mentioned before.

67

I’m on Version 1.16.5.1554 (docker), same issues… with some (most) channels not all. I can watch them fine with hdhomerun app… I also can’t record. I think everything worked fine before the changed menu thing (like on the guide). Might try to figure out how to downgrade.

68

I’m on Shield TV server version 1.16.5.1554 and none of my channels are working. I get the dreaded Playback Error: Could not tune channel. Please check your tuner or antenna.

69

Same problem here. Plex?

70

I am having the same issue - receiving the same error. All channels come through clearly on HDHomeRun, but I cannot record/watch any live TV Please assist.

1 Like
71

I am having the same issue. Granted, I am using an unsupported device (Hauppauge 950q), but it was working perfectly prior to the last update.

Just subscribed to PlexPass lifetime too :cry:

72

Ran in to the same error message. Updating the firmware on the HDHomerun resolved my issue.

73

Updating firmware is not really an option for me.

Plex staff??

What do you need to troubleshoot this? I am happy to provide logs. It’s frustrating because it was 100% reliable a month ago.

74

I have the same exact problems tuning live, same exact logs. Recording mostly works, but i haven’t dug into every single one. I ditched MythTV a few months back for this, and everything worked then. Right now, I’m getting significant pushback from the wife. This has to get fixed.

I have updated all my HDHR Primes (3, with 3 streams each cablecard.).

Everything works perfectly using the HDHomerun app, and all firmware is completely up to date.

I’m running plex 1.17.0.1709 on linux. Clients are web, ios, android and roku. All have the same issues.

The prevalent error in the logs is the “Unable to find title for item of type 5” and seems to occur for specific channels, but not all.

TIA
Dave

1 Like
75

Live TV was fine the first few months I used it back in 2018. After having this same tuning issue for months and seeing no official response from Plex, I must conclude that Live TV just simply doesn’t work for many people. Plex should really stop advertising the feature until they get something more robust in place. Everything else is satisfactory, but Live TV really should not be touted as a working feature.

1 Like
76

When you combine the reliability and feature shortcomings i have come to agree with you. The non existent timeshift has ruined football for me so far this year.

Plex: if you can’t or wont fix this, say it. Right now.

To those seeing this in the future, are these things fixed? If not, i’d steer very clear.

1 Like
77

I had this same problem for months. Especially with MSNBC and NBC Bayarea Sports. Everything has been great for about 8 weeks. I have two HDHome Primes and a HD Connect quatro. Running plex server on windows 10.

What’s happened since then?

  1. Plex made major changes to live viewing and recording.
  2. I had a a tivo - since disconnected - and was able to view signal quality, and on the stations I was having problems with, it wasn’t too good. Both my neighbor and I put pressure on Comcast to fix issues. They sent out a lineman and he found issues in their lines.
  3. Checked all my coax links. One cable was not too good. Moved both HD Homeruns right next to the cable modem and router, shortening cable connections.
  4. Replaced all my myriad of switches and routers to managed units from Mikrotik. I can now see whats happening at every Ethernet port in the house.

Now have a great experience. Typically record a dozen shows a day. No failures. Can even eliminate commercials with no problems.

What was the problem? Not sure, probably a combination of them. I think if you get a good clean signal to Plex, it works great.

Hope this helps.

78

It’s good that it is working for you, and maybe signal strength has something to do with it, but I can now reliably make it work after it fails, making me think that this is just a regression of the “timeout” issue in another thread.

  1. Get the failed to tune error. Subsequent attempts to play any channel fail.
  2. Start a recording on any channel.
  3. Stop the recording. Sometimes it records something, other times it does not.
  4. Try to watch any other channel. Success!

I notice on my tuner that after the tuning fails, the “active” LED stays lit indefinitely. Only after doing the recording steps and stopping the recording does the LED go off after a short delay.

It’s almost like it “locks” the tuner into a certain state and won’t let it go until another process appropriately ends the tuning session.

Anyhow, these are my observations with my hardware, but this seems so variable that it might be different for others.

79

Msnbc is one of my test stations. Live, It tunes once in 10-15 or so tries. Recording it tunes nearly every time. Hdhr software tunes it every single time no issues.

I’m happy it works for you, but it doesn’t work for me.

I’ll be installing emby today to compare. I have a real soft spot for plex. I hope emby fails to impress and plex gets things working … for good.

Dave

80

I’m sure that at their development site, they have a situation like mine - good signal strength, cable connections, network. Therefore it probably works well there also. I had issues like those above. I don’t now.
I tried Emby - it seemed to work better than Plex with my previous poor signal. Perhaps they do a better job with errors in the signal. But I didn’t like the Emby interface.

81

I wish this was something so simple as a wiring issue. Plain fact is that i have tried multiple fixes for the coax. Nothing worked better. I even isolated the hdhr primes on their own switch, with a dedicated port on the server. Worked no better.

But every single time, fire up the hdhr app and everything works right, instantly.

But plex fails at least 90%+ of the time tuning live. Not so much failure when dvr’ing, which points to a deeper software issue.

And when i want to watch tv, i do t want to spend 20 minutes fighting it, and i don’t want to hear the rest of the people in the house complaining it doesn’t work.

Plex, i need a response, and a fix.

Dave

2 Likes