Okay, so, I wanted to mess around with Channels DVR, specifically getting it working with my Samsung TV Plus channels. I like to tinker with tech stuff, and I thought it would be cool to have all my channels in one place, managed by Channels DVR. Here’s how it went down.
Get Things Ready
First, I had to make sure I had Channels DVR up and running. I already use it, so that part was easy. Then, I needed to figure out how to get my Samsung TV Plus channels into a format that Channels DVR could understand, which is an M3U playlist.
Find the Channels
The next thing I did was find a way to get a list of my Samsung TV Plus channels. There is some stuff out there, like public playlists and some tools on the web, that helped me get an idea of what channels are available and their usual stream links. It was kinda like putting together pieces of a puzzle.
Make the M3U
Once I had an idea of the channels and links, I started putting together my own M3U file. I used a simple text editor for this. Each channel needed two lines: one with the channel name and info, starting with #EXTINF, and the next line with the actual stream link. I also added the logo image. This part took some time, and I had to make sure I got the format right.
Here’s an example of what one channel entry looks like in the M3U file:
- #EXTINF:-1 tvg-id=”some_id” tvg-logo=”some_picture_url” group-title=”Entertainment”, The First Channel
- The First Channel URL
- #EXTINF:-1 tvg-id=”some_id_1″ tvg-logo=”some_picture_url_1″ group-title=”Entertainment”, The Second Channel
- The Second Channel URL
Test the Playlist
After making the M3U file, I needed to test it. I used a media player to check if the links worked. Some did, some didn’t. I went back and forth, fixing links and testing again until most of the channels were working.
Add to Channels DVR
With a working M3U file, I went to my Channels DVR server settings. I added a new source and picked the option for an M3U playlist. I pointed it to my file and let it import the channels. Channels DVR started doing its thing, downloading guide data and matching channels.
Enjoy the Setup
After Channels DVR finished setting up, I could see my Samsung TV Plus channels right there in the guide, mixed in with my other sources. It felt pretty good to see it all working. Now I can record shows, watch live, and do all the usual Channels DVR stuff with these channels.
Sharing the Results
I thought it would be cool to share what I did with others, so I made my M3U playlist available. I also wrote down some steps, kinda like what I’m doing now, to help anyone else who wants to try this. From news and movies to sports and music.
This was a fun little project. It took some effort, but I learned a lot along the way. Plus, now I have a more customized TV setup, which is always a win. If you’re into this kind of thing, give it a shot. It’s pretty satisfying to get it all working.