Plex DVR not allowing the same channel twice

[hundred17]

Server Version#: 1.21.1.3876
Player Version#: 4.49.2
Tuner Make/Model: HD HomeRun Connect 4k
Guide/Lineup name: Local Broadcast Listings (for zip code 27519)
Using XMLTV?: No
Channel number/Name: n/a

Because ATSC 3.0 channels broadcast audio in AC4 format, and AC4 is not generally supported at this time, the latest HD HomeRun software will make available both the ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 channels simultaneously. The 3.0 channels are numbered in the 100s (so 5.1 becomes 105.X, and 11.1 becomes 111.X).

When setting up the DVR in Plex, it does not allow you to map 5.1 and 105.10 to the same channel listing.

Would be nice if Plex would simply allow mapping different broadcast channels to the same EPG.

[ChuckPa]

I just chatted with Engineering.

It looks like the EPG provider doesn’t have ATSC 3.0 guide channels yet.

They asked me to write it up and submit to them so they can further take to the provider and get it resolved.

[hundred17]

FWIW, It’s not that the ATSC 3.0 channels need their own channel guide (although I suppose that duplicating channel EPG data would work around the fact that Plex doesn’t allow associating different channels to the same EPG data).

It is literally the same channel content just one is ATSC 1.0 content and one is ATSC 3.0 content. The duplication of channel 11.1 broadcast over ATSC 1.0 to 111.1 (for the ATSC 3.0 broadcast) is completely arbitrary and the HD HomeRun could have just as easily made it channel 211.1 (if I understand what’s going on correctly).

Maybe this is all common knowledge, but I just wanted to clarify what the HD HomeRun was doing when it sees the same “channel” provided over ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0.

[ChuckPa]

Please read again what I wrote.

The EPG does not contain guide channel info.

That’s different than a “Channel Guide” which you see.

Guide Channel info tells consuming devices (like Plex) how the channels map.
In this case, they aren’t asserting the difference. If the EPG states:

1. Channel X.1 = ATSC 1.0
2. Channel X.2 = ATSC 3.0

then Plex would be OK and allow it.

What’s wrong here isn’t on your side. It’s upstream and the lack of sufficient info from the EPG.

Your TV provider is doing it right.
Plex sees all the channels.
But there isn’t anything to say “Yep, this is a legitimate secondary/tertiary stream”

That’s what Engineering is going to figure out and resolve.