a very strange (repeatable) occurance (1 Viewer)

[cewillis]

MediaPortal Version: 1.1.0.0
MediaPortal Skin: Blue3
Windows Version: Xp Sp3
CPU Type: Intel Core I3
HDD: WD 1 TB
Memory: 4 GB
Motherboard: Intel DH57DD
Video Card: none -- on chip
Video Card Driver:
Sound Card: on MB
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: Hauppauge HVR 2250
1. TV Card Type: Dual Hybrid
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
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:
MPEG2 Audio Codec:
h.264 Video Codec:
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Western Broadband
HTPC Case: nMedia 1080P
Cooling:
Power Supply: Antec 450 (old spare)
Remote: HAMA clone
TV: Sony 46 LCD
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI

First, I'm almost positive that this is NOT an MP problem, but just in case, I'm posting here. Sorry if inappropriate.

There is a TV program that I have set to record that will not work. Instead, it repeatedly appears to start, but then stops; ie, the red light comes on in Blue Wide for about 15 seconds, then goes back off for about 15 seconds, and the whole process repeats for the 1 hour duration of the set recording time. At no time does any actual recording show up under 'recorded tv', nor does anything show up under 'active recordings'.
Even more mysterious:
1) the same thing happens (for the same tv show) whether I try to record on a QAM channel or an analog channel.
2) I have successfully recorded TV shows immediately before and after the troublesome show on the same channel.
3) I can watch the show live on the HTPC!!!, and use the associated 'pause, rewind' (forget what its called) recording just as if the show had been recorded.
4) the show records fine on an old RCA analog only DVR.
This has been happening for three weeks now.

This is too weird to even venture a guess as to the cause, and I don't even want anyone to waste time looking at logs.
Just wondering if anyone has ever seen this behavior --???
The tv show in question is 'This Old House' on PBS - the U.S. Public Broadcasting System.

Thanks for looking. You can laugh now, but I'm not kidding and this is not a Halloween prank.

 

[mm1352000]

Hi again cewillis

I hope you are well!
This has got to be one of the stranger tuner related issues I've ever come across... but I do entirely believe your description of events. Unfortunately I'm not able to offer any specific clues as to what might be going on. I confess I would like just a quick peek at the logs as I suspect it could be a strange TV Server related issue. No doubt the explanation would be interesting...

mm

 

[cewillis]

Hi mm,

If you're a glutton for punishment, I get you some logs. Won't be until next Sunday morning U.S. time, as that's when the show is on.

Cal

ps, I haven't forgotten about that 'other problem' you were helping me with a while back, but mostly I've just avoided it. Will post an update before long.

 

[cewillis]

Logs attached. Thanks for looking.

Cal

I see TVserver repeatedly starts a recording, and terminates it 15 seconds later for no audio.
I've tried numerous recordings on that channel; many work fine, some are just no good in a variety of ways. Probably something about the channel -- not very important anyway.

 

[mm1352000]

Hi Cal

Sorry, I've been away for a couple of days. A quick glance at your error log suggests the recording file name is simply too long:

2011-11-05 09:59:29.687500 [scheduler thread(14)]: Exception ystem.IO.PathTooLongException: The specified path, file name, or both are too long. The fully qualified file name must be less than 260 characters, and the directory name must be less than 248 characters.

at System.IO.Path.SafeSetStackPointerValue(Char* buffer, Int32 index, Char value)

at System.IO.Path.NormalizePathFast(String path, Boolean fullCheck)

at System.IO.Path.NormalizePath(String path, Boolean fullCheck)

at System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(String path)

at TvService.Recorder.Start(User& user, String& fileName, Boolean contentRecording, Int64 startTime)

Try cutting out some of the parts of the filename and see if it resolves the problem...

mm

 

[rekenaar]

Filename:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal TV Server\recordings\KUATHD\The This Old House Hour 2011-11-05\The This Old House Hour - E1005 - This Old House Bedford Project, Part 5 of 16; Ask This Old House Insulating a Wall; Repointing a Fieldstone Foundation.ts

301 characters.

That is one heck of a long filename!!

But if you just change your recording path to c:\recordings, you will have:

C:\Recordings\KUATHD\The This Old House Hour 2011-11-05\The This Old House Hour - E1005 - This Old House Bedford Project, Part 5 of 16; Ask This Old House Insulating a Wall; Repointing a Fieldstone Foundation.ts

212 characters which according to mm's post would work.

 

[cewillis]

Thanks mm,

'filename too long' sounds like a throw back to DOS days! But it does explain the symptoms observed; same problem analog and qam, no problem with shows before and after.

However, I don't know how to ensure the size of the file name, which in this case is:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal TV Server\recordings\KUATHD\The This Old House Hour 2011-11-05\The This Old House Hour - E1005 - This Old House Bedford Project, Part 5 of 16; Ask This Old House Insulating a Wall; Repointing a Fieldstone Foundation.ts

The base directory (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal TV Server\recordings) is 100 characters, and the rest of it (total >300 characters) seems to be derived from the EPG.

Even if I squeeze down the directory name, what's to prevent to EPG info from exceeding 260 characters?

For instance, next week's show look like it could be over 400 characters!!!!!!!

 

[mm1352000]

Hi again

As per rekenaar's suggestion: change the folder and/or file name structure for your recordings -->here<-- (you could remove the episode name part from the filename). It isn't absolutely necessary to have the full details in the filename since the metadata is stored in the recording database and in the XML file that is created with the recording.

mm

 

[cewillis]

My gross oversight -- sorry. I knew how to set the recording directory, but had never paid any attention to the file naming options.
Will now do so -- and thanks very much.
(I knew this 'problem' had something to do with that particular program!)

 

[cewillis]

Just to confirm, removing the episode name from the filename settings fixed the problem. It should now work in all cases that I can imagine, since the other fields are relatively short.
Thanks very much.