TCL TV w/HDHR app

[AlbumMan]

Thanks for jumping in howardc1243.

I'm surprised nobody else has chimed in about the TCL's using the HDHR app. Surely there must be others that have one and can share their app experience when tuning non-DRM ATSC3's.
Nick got the local FOX and MyNet channel to fix their 120fps issue and has ordered the same TV to test the other issue of the frozen HDR10 channel when tuned in. I wouldn't be surprised if the two stations that got fixed yesterday will now DRM their precious signal(s) especially with football starting. They also own the NBC station and that one has been DRM'd for awhile along with the CBS station. :sigh:

[nickk]

Android TCL TVs work well - we test on TCL TVs as part of our QA release cycle.

The model you purchased is a new model utilizing a new chipset. When the TV arrives today we will run through a full QA sweep.

[AlbumMan]

Thank you again for doing this Nick! Initially I didn't like the TV but as with most, after some tweaks it looks decent (hint: put it in Movie mode to start). I've been holding out for one that had local dimming in that size and lucked up on it on sale.

[nickk]

TV is set up.

The first problem that jumps out - MPEG2 video playback is no being deinterlaced.

[AlbumMan]

The first problem that jumps out - MPEG2 video playback is no being deinterlaced.

That doesn't sound encouraging. Is this something that could be fixed if needed with a TCL firmware update? The previous TCL I bought several months ago (I think it was a 50" Q6) and returned did the same thing on those 4 channels with the app. Thank you Nick.

[AlbumMan]

Nick,
Have you had time for a verdict on the TV?
As a sidenote, the TV plays the UHD demo videos from the YT app.

[nickk]

I blacklisted the MPEG2 decoder but I am seeing an issue - my team is investigating.

[AlbumMan]

I blacklisted the MPEG2 decoder but I am seeing an issue - my team is investigating.

Nick,
Any updates on the investigating?

Since getting the new TCL TV and finding out the two ATSC3 channels instantly freeze, I have not bothered watching the normal ATSC1 stations as I prefer to use the TV tuner instead. Today I decided to scroll around in the app (on the TV) and immediately noticed the audio was out of sync on all watchable channels. I hit pause to see if that would clear it up and the app went bonkers and froze. Tried to change channels but that did not work. Managed to exit out, uninstall / reinstall the app (on the TV), but the sound was still out of sync. First thought was the TCL update it got the other day (9/5/2025) may have caused something but no, the TV plays fine and the external onn Google 4k Pro box plays fine. Backtracking just a bit, I think it was before I uninstalled the app (on the TV) that I tried to rewind 10sec and that made it freeze. FF, pause/play did nothing too but the up/down arrow in the guide worked but when highlighting another channel to change to, it stayed on the frozen channel. I know you and your team are busy but this is baffling me as it is the same Google app. And just to state again from an earlier post, the smaller TCL TV I bought a good while back (and subsequently returned) did the same thing with the HDHR app. Thanks for you and your team's help.

[nickk]

There are 3 MPEG2 codecs presented by the TV.
The first/default does not deinterlace.
The second+third are limited to 30fps and they struggle to keep up with 1080i content.

Solution...
MPEG2 720p60 works fine - use the default codec.
MPEG2 480i60 - hardware codecs have been blacklisted, high quality software decode with deinterlace to 60fps.
MPEG2 1080i60 - hardware codecs have been blacklisted, low quality software decode with deinterlace to 30fps. Anything higher and the CPU in the TV can't keep up.

[AlbumMan]

Thank you again for the extensive investigating. I already had a ticket open with TCL and passed along your findings, not that they will be able to help any further.
It's a few extra steps but at least the onn Google 4k Pro device plays them fine. Am very disappointed about the TV though.

[AlbumMan]

There are 3 MPEG2 codecs presented by the TV.
The first/default does not deinterlace.
The second+third are limited to 30fps and they struggle to keep up with 1080i content.

Solution...
MPEG2 720p60 works fine - use the default codec.
MPEG2 480i60 - hardware codecs have been blacklisted, high quality software decode with deinterlace to 60fps.
MPEG2 1080i60 - hardware codecs have been blacklisted, low quality software decode with deinterlace to 30fps. Anything higher and the CPU in the TV can't keep up.

Hello again Nick. Can you tell me how you blacklisted the MPEG2 codec?
Before I started this thread here, I had already opened a ticket with TCL and have been trading emails with them. Even though I described the freeze issue when tuning to the local HDR10 channel, they wanted a video so I sent them one. Not sure what they can do since you say the CPU can't keep up with anything higher. Perhaps a better codec via firmware?? Will wait and see. Thanks.