terminal freeze when changing channels

MediaPortal Version: 1.2.3

Description
When changing channels, (using ANY of the various mechanisms, including F7/F8) MP will freeze "terminally". This seems to be related to changing to or from a "blank" channel (i.e. one that is discovered by TV server scan, but is off-air or otherwise empty when you switch to it)... but it seems that once it happens the first time, the problem starts to get worse until you can no longer change channels even on a fresh start-up! This is a fresh install (fourth time, since once the bug strikes once, the only way to resolve the problem is to do a complete wipe and start again!) with no additional plugins or skins. Only default everything.
I have also changed the default codec being used by the TV renderer, and that seemed to help (though I weeded-out all of the blank channels first this time, in the TV Server list, so it isn't a truly duplicate experiment) but it did happen again this morning after about 24 hours of use.

Steps to Reproduce:
Start-up MP, switch TV on, change channels (using any method). After a few channel changes, it freezes. The next time you start MP, it will freeze sooner, until eventually it freezes on the first channel-change. The only way to fix it from there is a complete uninstall/wipe and reinstall.

I have a similar problem to this but it only happens when I go on a channel that has nothing showing at the time e.g. the bbc red button channel (302) in uk. At first i thought it had completely crashed but now realise it just freezes on that channel for a minute before letting you change. but after changing channel it is fine unless you go back onto the channel with nothing showing. I tried disabling EPG grabber but it hasn't fixed it.

Hi there,

The issue you are experiencing is by design. MePo has a configurable timeout setting that it's tries to tune to a channel for.

Most channels in Europe transmit something 24/7, so don't experience this issue.

But in the uk, they actually stop transmitting on some channels.

One way to minimise the issue is to reduce the timeout down.

J.

ok thanks for the quick responce

Edit I thought I should add that i've removed that channel from 2 of my higher priority tuners so it only has to timeout on one tuner instead of three