[siennamediatest]

I have a variety of channels on an m3u8 list in IPTV simple client. Some of the channels work fine, but the PlutoTV channels all start off okay, and eventually freeze. I've tested the same m3u8 list in VLC and they're fine, and I also have the list running perfectly in an IPTV player on an android box. I really need PlutoTV channels working in Kodi though.

[petediscrete]

https://kodi.tv/addons/matrix/pvr.plutotv/

[siennamediatest]

same thing happens with plutoTV PVR plugin. And I need to use multiple types of sources so IPTV simple is easier. I've tried things like increasing cache but haven't noticed an effect

[phunkyfish]

If you put a Pluto tv URL in a “.strm” file and play it like a regular video does it work?

[siennamediatest]

I will try that. I have also tried "VLC" and "Windows" as useragents though it hasn't made a difference. I wonder if I should still try a different useragent in the m3u file itself.

[phunkyfish]

I wouldn’t think it’s the user agent. But PVR does treat live streams differently to VODs. Let me know what happens with the strm file.

[siennamediatest]

I reinstalled, and started with pluto.tv PVR and iptv merge. I added some non-pluto channels in the IPTV merge m3u, and so far that and the Pluto PVR channels seem to be working smoothly. I'm going to try all the other stuff on a different pi4 with a fresh install.

[siennamediatest]

so I have 2 systems running side by side: libreelec, and kodi running over regular pios. Can't explain how but the pios system is working better with iptv, and libreelec is still losing the image. some weird issues with libreelec and rpi 4 who knows. But iptv seems to work now

[emveepee]

PlutoTV streams are designed to be viewed with their custom player showing advertisements and are not always typical raw HLS streams.  They vary by channel, stream and by program so what you are seeing is normal and experienced by many users.  Perhaps the Kodi Pluto specific add could be modified to use some of the features streamlink uses to "fix" the stream but it will be a continuing issue to maintain.

[siennamediatest]

I get it. However, I also have some very cheap android boxes running a free iptv player application, and it works perfectly with every stream I can throw at it. I've been using android box + boot options app + iptv app and with a simplified remote have a really simple tv experience for residents in the retirement home where I work. However, there are some people who can't figure out even a simplified setup which is why I'm using kodi rpi. That way I can build custom controller hardware, and have greater timers and automation. Rpi lets me have gpio buttons and programmed functions. Streaming channels really work for some people, but others, especially who prefer music, benefit from youtube playlists, which work better on kodi than on android boxes. 
Using pi os kodi which has been more stable for me than libreelec (unless I'm imagining things) I am very close to a system that uses youtube playlists and iptv channels interchangably

[heysoundude]

I've also been having these issues for a while now, and have finally decided to roll up my sleeves and dig into it a little. 

The IPTV Simple github readme has been a little help pointing me in the right direction, I believe:
Advanced settings - multicast relays might bear looking at. I had to make a change on my router as well as in the addon settings, but in the short time I've tested it, it seems to have made a positive difference.
I still think the IPTV Simple cache/buffer needs to be made smaller though - it takes a bit too long to buffer when it does. 
There may also be some rate limiting in kodi that could be playing a part in this as well that it wouldn't hurt to consider as well.

UPDATE - I've fallen a bit farther down the rabbit hole than I expected tonight.
It's all there in the first 3 bullet points under advanced in the IPTV Simple GitHub ReadMe but it's not clearly explained, and most of us don't have the networking knowledge/understanding

Long story short, You need to tell kodi/IPTV Simple How to look for/where to find incoming streams on your LAN, what to do with them, and it probably helps to open the door at your router for them to come in easily

RTSP is something we need to be familiar with, it seems, and it's a foundational/reserved port on the internet specifically for streaming.  It relies on port 554.  
this page should check if that's open on your router, and if not, you need to forward it.
I would expect UDP would need to be taken into consideration (especially if you've IPv6 available/enabled on your network - and you really should if you can), given the nature of what Pluto is providing Why?