h.264 channel starts looping a corrupted 1/2 second of video.

[shacknasty]

since this started affecting me, I have also had my DSE FreeviewHD decoder crash at least 3 times. Possibly something going on from broadcasters end??

[mcraenz]

-=UPDATE=-

I went all out with my UHF setup this weekend. Installed a brand new 91 element high gain antenna, quad shield coax and a masthead amp!

I first tried without the amp because I didn't want to add it unless I really needed it but I was still getting breakup / looping at every channel change but things otherwise were much improved.

After installing the amp pretty much all breakup at channel change was gone and looping was completely gone!

In all other viewing the picture is perfect except the very occasional breakup which again seems to cause occasional lockup/loop. So all in all much better but I still think that the lockups / looping shouldn't happen even if the signal does go bad for a few milliseconds, couldn't this be handled by TsWriter so that bad packets are dropped?

[askelon]

I'd agree with that. I replaced my aerial (using an indoor) this weekend and had no breakups at all.

[DrMopar]

Originally Posted by mcraenz

-=UPDATE=-

I went all out with my UHF setup this weekend. Installed a brand new 91 element high gain antenna, quad shield coax and a masthead amp!

I first tried without the amp because I didn't want to add it unless I really needed it but I was still getting breakup / looping at every channel change but things otherwise were much improved.

After installing the amp pretty much all breakup at channel change was gone and looping was completely gone!

In all other viewing the picture is perfect except the very occasional breakup which again seems to cause occasional lockup/loop. So all in all much better but I still think that the lockups / looping shouldn't happen even if the signal does go bad for a few milliseconds, couldn't this be handled by TsWriter so that bad packets are dropped?

Hi, I'm just starting to setup UHF and am in a weak signal area. After your aerial equipment upgrades, what sort of signal strength are you showing on the bar graph in TV server? (Mine is currently zero )

[mcraenz]

bar graph in TV server

I never pay any attention to this, drivers all report signal strength/quality in different ways. Eg 1 driver might report between -100 and 120 another might report between 5000 and 10000, Ok that might be a bit extream but you get what I mean! The way I did my setup was to tune my analog PVR-150 (or just a normal TV) to prime, then aligned my antenna to get the best possible picture without the amp then added the masthead amp into the loop afterwards. This should get you the best possible UHF signal.

I have to say though, even though I'm in Auckland city and the DTT reception map shows I'm in the best possible zone the amp makes a really big difference, actually DVB-T isn't usable without it. I guess it's the hill behind the house!

[Spooky]

@mcraenz: which Audio Codec and Audio Renderer are you using?

[1gkar]

TV-Server Version: RC1 no SVNs
MediaPortal Version: RC1 no SVNs
MediaPortal Skin: Default Blue
Windows Version: MCE2005 w Rollup2 & all updates
CPU Type: Intel E4600
HDD: Seagate 500GB SATA -3xpartitions: 2 other SATA HDDs
Memory: 1GB DDR2800
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3
Video Card: Asus EN8500GT 512mb Silent Magic
Video Card Driver: 175.16
Sound Card: Onboard Realtek ALC888
Sound Card AC3: co-ax SPDif
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: Hauppauge HVR-2200
1. TV Card Type: Dual DVB-T/analogue
1. TV Card Driver: 7.1.22.26025
2. TV Card: Hauppauge 150MCE
2. TV Card Type: analogue
2. TV Card Driver: 2.0.43.24103 (4/13/2006)
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: Purevideo ver.223
MPEG2 Audio Codec: Purevideo ver.223
h.264 Video Codec:
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case: Silverstone
Cooling: Standard
Power Supply: Silverstone NF400W
Remote: MCE European model w Teletext coloured buttons
TV: Sony 4:3 CRT/X1 projector
TV - HTPC Connection: Composite

It also appears the cl264dec.ax codec has a part to play in the stability of broadcast DVB-T. I tried PowerDVD7 after an OS reinstall. It supplies a lot more stable video signal than the version 8 codec supplied with the trial programme. Instead of the image hangs/looping it has the occasional blocking artifacts but still continues to play.

However, it has channel changing issues. Changing from a TVNZ channel to TV3 the image will hang on the previous channel, whilst the audio continues. But you can change to an analogue channel, then to TV3. On the whole, this is far more acceptable than the ver. 8 codec issues.

If you want a link to the torrent page I downloaded the app from, PM me as it also comes with an illegal version which is of no use to me. I may not reply straight way, so be patient.

[Spooky]

I experienced similar issues with the PowerDVD 8 codec on my HTPC (but with all channels, not only h.264 content). Sometimes the video hangs while the audio runs in the background. After 30 to 120 seconds, the video resumes. Sometimes the video is displayed, but no audio is played. Again, after 30 to 120 seconds, the audio resumes, but the video hangs... and further 30 to 120 seconds later, everything is fine again .

Further weird stuff: when installing PowerDVD 8, I get 3 different Audio Codecs: Cyberlink Audio Decoder (PDVD8), Cyberlink Audio Decode (PDVD8) and Cyberlink Audio Decoder (PDVD8) Plug & Play (or something). I always used Cyberlink Audio Decoder (PDVD8)... but after switching to the audio codec with the missing "r", those issues don't seem to happen anymore.


On a side note: I configured "Default Direct Sound Device" as Audio Renderer, other wise MP will frequently hang up on a channel switch.

[mcraenz]

@mcraenz: which Audio Codec and Audio Renderer are you using?

He in NZ we have LATM AAC audio which means we can only use the monogram LATM AAC audio decoder.

[Phatbloke]

Hi
Has anyone solved this. My TV Server has been running perfectly for the last month or so but recently I am getting more and more pixelation and freezing is occuring nightly now. Nothing in the house has changed so I'm not sure what it could be besides the weather.