[Bug]: Channels for HDHomeRun

[JunaidDawood]

Describe the bug

The HDHomeRun Integration is not working with the standalone app for https://getchannels.com/for-hdhomerun/. It does not detect the emulated/virtual HDHomeRun output.

The app only allows sources in the IP format and not the link that Dispatcharr currently generates (http://192.168.##.###:9191/hdhr).

How can we recreate this bug?

The standalone app is free on iPhone/iPad: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/channels-for-hdhomerun/id1117689474 but is $25 for other platforms to test on.

Dispatcharr Version

0.5.2

Docker Version

28.1.1.r52

What's in your Docker Compose file?

docker pull ghcr.io/dispatcharr/dispatcharr:latest
docker run -d
-p 9191:9191
--name dispatcharr
-v dispatcharr_data:/data
ghcr.io/dispatcharr/dispatcharr:latest

Client Information

https://getchannels.com/for-hdhomerun/

[SergeantPanda]

Dispatcharr generates urls based on the url you use to connect to Dispatcharr. If you need the ip for a certain app then you'll either need to connect to Dispatcharr via IP or (easier) manually modify the url.
unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying this is not a bug.

[JunaidDawood]

The bug is that the URL that Dispatcharr generates cannot be used with the standalone app I have linked above. It limits it to the IP address only, it does not allow for the /hdhr part of it which causes it to not detect the emulated/virtual HDHR.

[SergeantPanda]

Ok I see what you're saying. You can only enter an ip address.
I'd argue this isn't a bug but either way, I see the issue.
do you know what that app is trying to hit for a url?

[JunaidDawood]

This is the info their support team gave me: https://getchannels.com/docs/articles/troubleshooting/cant-find-my-server/

[SergeantPanda]

Yeah, that doesn't tell us unfortunately. If it's trying to scan for an hdhr that won't work. If it's trying to hit a specific endpoint that we currently don't have we can probably fix it.

[JunaidDawood]

Do you have a spare iPhone or iPad to download the free standalone app to test with as the Android app is $25? I don't have more details on if it scanning or hitting the endpoint you mentioned.

[dekzter]

@JunaidDawood Dispatcharr is not designed to work like this. While true HDHR devices only have one purpose their root URI (/) responds with the HDHR JSON response expected. It sounds like the app you're using has not taken into account virtual HDHR devices and expects the address / IP to only respond with HDHR responses. This is a bit out of scope for Dispatcharr.

One option I can suggest to resolve this for you is for you to create a custom reverse proxy that listens on an address that will respond only with HDHR responses and proxy those requests to the proper Dispatcharr URL. The below nginx example is not tested, but gives you an idea of what I mean:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name my-hdhr.com;

    location = / {
        proxy_pass https://my-dispatcharr.com/hdhr;
        proxy_set_header Host my-dispatcharr.com;
    }

    location / {
        proxy_pass https://my-dispatcharr.com$request_uri;
        proxy_set_header Host my-dispatcharr.com;
    }
}

Something similar could be done with Traefik or other reverse proxies.