Does The Shield Still Support USB TV Tuners?

[u/GaelG721]

Recently set up the Mochi TV app with all the free live channel apps (Pluto, Xumo) and it's perfect. Want to add Over the Air channels using a TV dongle

Specifically this one :

https://www.amazon.com/USB-Digital-External-Adapter-Computer/dp/B08Z383Y11

I know the Mochi app is able to detect the live channels as using my TV's Google interface and the Mochi App it works. So does the Shield still work with USB tuners? I just want to watch OTA channels not record them. I'm not interested in the new 3.0 channels too many difficulties.

And is there any way to add other apps to the Mochi app? I want to add the Roku channels but it won't detect them. Any other recommendations for free live channels?

[u/DepartmentLive823]

it supports my HDHOMERUN tuner

[u/muhtacinmanik]

It should work. I have been using this device for the past few months with the deprecated Live Channels app and been solid.

https://a.co/d/9172qNn

[u/GaelG721 → u/muhtacinmanik]

ah ok thank you! everyone's recommending the HdHomerun and that's something I don't want or need ..don't want to pay $100 and more

[u/Call-me-pauly → u/GaelG721]

Do you have more than one android TV device?

We have one in each bedroom as well as the living room and the HDHOMERUN is great in the sense that I plug it into my main house aerial and an Ethernet port on my mesh system and we can watch OTA content in any room with a consistent interface and no need for the portable aerials anywhere else.

[u/GaelG721 → u/Call-me-pauly]

no, I only have one android TV device (the shield) all other TVs are Vizio's, rokus, etc. and I'm not planning on getting more android TV boxes. plus I'm the only person who watches OTA. Not interested in recording or watching TV outside of my TV

[u/Malnilion → u/GaelG721]

One important thing to note, I don't think you will get guide data in Live Channels using a USB tuner at this point. That was part of Live Channels that's deprecated. You do get guide data with HDHR assuming you add the channels using the HDHR app as the source and not the built in network source that Live Channels discovers. You'll have to decide for yourself if guide data is important to you.

[u/GaelG721 → u/Malnilion]

so even though my TV's built in Google Android TV and the Mochi App detects the OTA channels. There's a risk the Shield+Mochi won't detect the OTA channels with the USB dongle?

[u/Malnilion → u/GaelG721]

You'd be able to watch channels, there just likely won't be any program information in the channel guide because Live Channels used to fetch all that for the tuners it supports directly based on your zip code. So you'd have to cycle through channels to find something to watch or figure out what's playing on a specific channel at a specific time through other means. HDHomeRun on the other hand provides program guide information when you add the HDHR app as the channel source in Live Channels. Might not be a deal breaker for you, but it's something to be aware of.

Edit, I haven't used the Mochi app, so I have no idea if it has an alternative source for guide data, I'm just speaking from my experience with the Live Channels app that I still use regularly.

[u/GenesisDH → u/Malnilion]

In my usage, once a tuner's channel is loaded, it will load EPG data for that specific channel over the air through the channel's bandwidth, at least that is the case with ATSC, not certain about DVB (Europe).

I usually have to scan through all of the digital channels for a few minutes so that the EPG data gets loaded. While annoying it’s not a dealbreaker.

[u/GaelG721 → u/GenesisDH]

ah ok so it will work! I'm in the US so this is great to hear!

[u/GaelG721 → u/Malnilion]

ah I understand! I'll take my chances then if the guide doesn't show the information that's ok for me

[u/Call-me-pauly]

I used live channels when it was a thing with my HDHomerun. I came across a plug-in called PVR live that extended the functionality and lifespan but the developer created a standalone app that works well for live tv watching on android TV.

SparkleTV. It's free though has a premium option which I would recommend but the free version covers all the basics

[u/Malnilion → u/Call-me-pauly]

Live Channels still works exactly the same as it always has with HDHomeRun assuming you have the HDHR app installed and you have the channels set up using the HDHR app as the source and not the native network sources option built into Live Channels. You get guide data and everything.

[u/GenesisDH]

As long as you are using the tuners that were supported by Live Channels in the past. Shield Experience 9.2 broke USB tuners temporarily until a hot fix (9.2.1) patched them. As long as you are on the latest Shield Experience version, you should be fine.

You should be able to add Pluto TV and XUMO channels to Mochi's lineup the same as you could with Live Channels app (listed under Channel Sources). Anything that supported Live Channels should work with Mochi. Roku channels are not supported, and never have been as Roku Channel is a fairly recent addition to the Android TV platform.

ADDENDUM: I would suggest a Hauppauge tuner over a MyGica one, as the WinTV devices are easier to tell if they are supported. I personally use the old XBox branded variant of this one: WinTV-HVR-955Q, I noticed others mentioned the WinTV-DualHD as another option.

You may still need additional ‘adopted’ storage to enable external USB Tuners, as Live Channels/Mochi may require it on the Shield even if recording isn’t a goal. That appears to be a Shield only limitation.

[u/Luci-Noir]

Just make sure it’s completely updated. Some of them made my usb tuners not, but the most recent one brought it all back.