Watching TV via OpenWebif changes channel on the STB

[angusj]

When viewing TV on my android device or PC (via OpenWebif), the STB changes to this channel too. This is obviously annoying for whoever is watching TV with the STB. How do I avoid this? I'm sure there's a setting somewhere as this used not to happen.

[Paul_oz53]

Sorry, I can't help with a setting. I don't recall a setting for this function. It is not normal, as you say.

I just tried this with my phone and OpenWebif and I don't have your problem. The T4 stayed on channel while I streamed a variety of other services to the phone using OpenWebif. Was OK either with the transcode or full screen option selected.

You don't mention the device (T2/T3/T4/U4) or the firmware version / revision (Menu>Information >About). I'm using 17.5 20180108032709 firmware with the latest online update.

If your not using the latest firmware, I recommend you update if not on 17.5. It does require a full setup - do not restore settings.

Cheers, Paul

[exitguy]

When viewing TV on my android device or PC (via OpenWebif), the STB changes to this channel too. This is obviously annoying for whoever is watching TV with the STB. How do I avoid this? I'm sure there's a setting somewhere as this used not to happen.

Just to clarify - are you streaming Live TV or Recorded ??

[angusj]

T4 (17.5.20171230 firmware)
Streaming live TV

[simoncasey]

It depends on the app as to what the setting is called but there is normally a “zap” setting. You need to make sure that “zap before stream” is off or the zap setting is set to multituner.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

Yes, OpenWebif has a setting 'zap before Stream' (defaulted to off I think).

I think a zap would still happen though if the only free tuner was the one that was currently being used for live TV.

[prl]

...
I think a zap would still happen though if the only free tuner was the one that was currently being used for live TV.

Necessarily the case if the channel being streamed isn't one included in the frequencies being recieved by the active tuners.

[dRdoS7]

Hi,

...
I think a zap would still happen though if the only free tuner was the one that was currently being used for live TV.

Necessarily the case if the channel being streamed isn't one included in the frequencies being recieved by the active tuners.

I don't use this feature, but I would imagine, for household harmony, that there should be a warning prompt on OWI that it "may interrupt" the viewing of a person watching LiveTV. To which the "interrupter" could think :"FU, I'm watching America's Top Model X Singing Star". An alternative could be a warning for the person watching LiveTV, which would "Allow/Deny" OWI from taking over the tuner. Sort of like: "FU, I'm watch Pawn Stars".

A U5 is required!!

dRdoS7

[Paul_oz53]

Yes, OpenWebif has a setting 'zap before Stream' (defaulted to off I think).

I think a zap would still happen though if the only free tuner was the one that was currently being used for live TV.

Not easy to find on the phone but I see it now on the PC. Mine is not ticked, hence it is likely the case that it is set on angusj's setup.

My problem now is that the phone (a Samsung Note3) has gone flaky opening the .m3u8 file. Sometimes VLC opens and plays, sometimes the browser (Chrome) appears to open an inbuilt player that sits with a blank screen. Clicking on the blank screen reveals stream.m3u8. Clicking on that comes up with "no apps can open the file". Not a biggie since I rarely use the function but I do get annoyed when things don't work as they should. I did find Mozilla doesn't have the problem but I generally prefer Chrome these days. Any suggestions?

[netmask]

Firefox v57 is much improved and way faster.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

http://beyonwizt4/mobile but that may not be much better.
I thought the WizOs app was using OpenWebif behind the scenes - I may have that wrong.

I can grab the URL from the 'blank' screen and open/paste in another video app (e.g MX player) to play the stream.
Easier just to use an exploring app (e.g. ES File Explorer) to navigate to the "Movie" share and its sub-folders and open the file from there using your selected player.

I find all this 'mobile' stuff hit and miss though - sometimes HD streams won't play, sometimes the audio is out of synchronisation, sometimes mpeg2 stuff won't play, and sometimes 'it just works'

[Paul_oz53]

Firefox v57 is much improved and way faster.

Yep, it works alright. When I said Mozilla I meant Firefox. Freudian slip - shows how old I am...

[Paul_oz53]

http://beyonwizt4/mobile but that may not be much better.

Had the same problem with either the mobile or full version.

I can grab the URL from the 'blank' screen and open/paste in another video app (e.g MX player) to play the stream.
Easier just to use an exploring app (e.g. ES File Explorer) to navigate to the "Movie" share and its sub-folders and open the file from there using your selected player.

I'll check that out.

I find all this 'mobile' stuff hit and miss though - sometimes HD streams won't play, sometimes the audio is out of synchronisation, sometimes mpeg2 stuff won't play, and sometimes 'it just works'

Couldn't agree more.

[simoncasey]

Blackbox Pro for the iPhone works really well. An it supports recordings in subdirectories unlike the Beyonwiz app or the mobile interface.

[angusj]

Yes, OpenWebif has a setting 'zap before Stream' (defaulted to off I think).

I think a zap would still happen though if the only free tuner was the one that was currently being used for live TV.

'zap before Stream' is unchecked. This issue happens even when nothing is being recorded.

[MrQuade]

'zap before Stream' is unchecked. This issue happens even when nothing is being recorded.

What exactly are you clicking on to watch TV from the Web Interface? You might be doing something different to everyone else.

What program are you using on your Android device? Or are you using the web interface there too?

[angusj]

What program are you using on your Android device? Or are you using the web interface there too?

Ah, I think you're onto something ... I've been using the Android app Dream Player which has a Decoder setting "Always zap when streaming", and this was checked. I've unchecked it now and I'm very hopeful that this will fix the problem. I'll confirm in the morning since it's past bedtime now .

[angusj]

Yes, just confirming it was a setting in the Android app Dream Player that was causing this. Thanks everyone (especially MrQuade) for the suggestions and help.