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Troubleshooting communication errors

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Are you are receiving a “Communication error” message in the HDHomeRun app? This would indicate an issue on the network between the HDHomeRun tuner and the playback client running the HDHomeRun app. This page will help troubleshoot and correct common networking issues that can cause such communication errors.

Guided support

Most customers will want to open a support ticket with one of Silicondust's technical support specialists. We can help troubleshoot your specific set up and find solutions to fix the communication errors, and/or any other issues you might be having involving the HDHomeRun.

First, let's get some important diagnostic data that will help our technicians troubleshoot the issue:

  1. In a web browser go to http://hdhomerun.local
    NOTE: That address will go do the first HDHomeRun device found on your network. If you have more than one HDHomeRun device, use the “device ID” printed on the bottom of the unit instead of “hdhomerun” in the address. For example, if your device ID was 104FFFFF then you would go to http://104fffff.local
  2. If it tells you that a firmware update is available, please install it
  3. Click “System Menu”
  4. Check the “Send diagnostic information” box (if this box is already checked, please un-check then re-check it)
  5. Go back one page
  6. Click “Channel Lineup”
  7. Click on “Detect Channels”
  8. After the scan finishes, open the HDHomeRun app
  9. Go into the app settings: the gear icon in the top right corner of the “Live/Recorded/Discover/Tasks” page
  10. Enable the option to “Send diagnostic information”
  11. Watch a problem channel for at least 10 minutes or until you receive the error message
  12. Open a support ticket here: https://www.silicondust.com/support/trouble-ticket/
  13. In your trouble ticket provide us the device ID of your HDHomeRun and we will check the logs. You can find the device ID on a label on the bottom of the HDHomeRun itself or on the http://hdhomerun.local page.

Self-service troubleshooting

TV signals are demanding

You might be asking why “only the HDHomeRun app isn't working”, when your other internet streaming video apps appear to be fine. Over-the-air TV signals tend to be a lot more demanding for network bandwidth, and sensitive to network connection issues, compared to internet streaming services. Internet streaming services fully control their video streams, and can adapt them to drops in connections, different speeds, and can use more efficient video compression. Broadcast TV uses standards that were designed for over-the-air transmissions, with many transmissions still using older standards made back in the 1990s.

This doesn't make broadcast video impossible, and most customers won't even notice a difference, but it is important to note that broadcast video is very different from internet streaming services.

Try a different network cable

Sometimes the issue is as simple as trying a different ethernet cable between the HDHomeRun and your router (or network switch). You will also want to try using a different ethernet port on the router, as it is possible for specific ports on a router to develop issues.

Older routers and slow wifi

Notes about slow wifi

Mesh networks

Notes about mesh networks

HDMI sticks

Notes about HDMI sticks and using an HDMI extender to get past the metal in the TV

Power line adapter issues

Notes about powerline adapter issues

DVR storage

Notes about DVR storage issues. Could be NAS/PC network connection, or USB drive is causing FLEX to reboot, etc.

Checking for packet loss

Describe the HDHomeRun packet loss tool network packet loss

  • Last modified: 2023/11/13 01:44