Why is scanning an IPTV list so problematic?

Mark de Leon

If scanning an IPTV list is so problematic then why not just assume the list is valid?

I am having a hell of a time getting through all of this scanning. I have now tried Kodi addon server 4.3 and the Raspberry Pi debian installer 4.2. BOTH have different issues scanning and do not work.

Now when I scan I get only 20 or so working channels from a 250 channel list (Plex). Scanning again seems to add other channels but some that were working before seem to show "unsubscribed" in the logs now.

I'm beginning to think that most of the "extras" are broken and it works for nothing more than over the air TV. I really think i need to be able to add the entire list without the need to scan AT ALL.

THen there is this poorly written document that seems to contradict itself. https://tvheadend.org/projects/tvheadend/wiki/Automatic_IPTV_Network it says"...you must set a Service ID (usually this value is 1)"
Later that same document says "...Create a new (temporary) IPTV network (not a IPTV Automatic Network)..."
There is no option for a "(temporary) IPTV Network", it is "automatic IPTV Network" or just "IPTV Network". If I select IPTV add details then try to enter a new Mux, where am I supposed to enter this URL that I was supposed to have copied (earlier from some undefined place) .
This "documentation" is HORRIBLE.

Hiro Protagonist

Mark de Leon wrote:

> Now when I scan I get only 20 or so working channels from a 250 channel list (Plex). Scanning again seems to add other channels but some that were working before seem to show "unsubscribed" in the logs now.

Most IPTV providers will limit the number of simultaneous connections you can make, so scanning a large number of channels at once will fail. Network limitations may also play into that. Scanning a few at a time is likely to work better.

To do this got to Configuration > DVB Inputs > Muxes, change the 'scan status' of a few channels to Active, then press save. Wait for the scan status of those channels to return to Idle, then repeat with another batch of channels.

> This "documentation" is HORRIBLE.

Please feel free to contribute better documentation. Getting grumpy about it here is counterproductive.

Adrian Smith

Hiro Protagonist wrote:
> Mark de Leon wrote:
>
> > Now when I scan I get only 20 or so working channels from a 250 channel list (Plex). Scanning again seems to add other channels but some that were working before seem to show "unsubscribed" in the logs now.
>
> Most IPTV providers will limit the number of simultaneous connections you can make, so scanning a large number of channels at once will fail. Network limitations may also play into that. Scanning a few at a time is likely to work better.
>
> To do this got to Configuration > DVB Inputs > Muxes, change the 'scan status' of a few channels to Active, then press save. Wait for the scan status of those channels to return to Idle, then repeat with another batch of channels.
>
Or set "Maximum # input streams" on the IPTV network to the maximum number of concurrent channels your IPTV provider will let you subscribe to. You should then be able to scan "Force Scan" the network and it should scan all of the channels without failing. Although, if you have 250 channels and the maximum number of connections to your IPTV provider is 1 then this will take quite a while.