DigitalDevices Dual DVB-S2 Testing (CAM/DiSEqC) (1 Viewer)

[glenn 1990]

Re: AW: DigitalDevices Dual DVB-S2 Testing (CAM/DiSEqC)

Many thanks, Morpheus. I'll consider this as well!

In the meantime I did some more testing - with interesting results. The "stress-test-SetupTV" from MP 1.2a actually works with MP 1.1.3 as well (at least the channel test, I didn't touch anything else). Thanks for the hint Vasilich!

The first time I tried the channel test, it actually froze my system after about 750 channel changes (about 20 minutes). My usual "heavy-zapping-behaviour" doesn't seem to be heavy enough. I tried to get the logs, but due to the freeze, all the logs were empty.

I then had the idea that it may have something to do with the "Allow this card to be preloaded"-settings. I changed it to unchecked and did another channel test. This time it worked for 1.656 channel changes (about 45 minutes) and I already thought I've found the solution. But then again: complete system freeze. This time the logs were readable (see attached). But I can't find anyting special in them besides the fact that the freeze occured in the middle of writing a line into the tv.log. Maby someone else can find something in the logs...

In the end, it boils down to not being a problem with the EPG-grabber itself, but with the fact that the EPG grabber, obviously, triggers a lot of "channel changes" when it grabs and that either the DD-driver or the DD-hardware can't cope with so many tunes.

For the time being, swiching to clickfinder seems to solve my problems, because with my "normal" zapping, it works. However, I just can't believe that I can't get my system 100% stable... Has anyone already tried the stress test with older DD-drivers? If not, this is gonna be my next task... If this doesn't help, I read about an instability of DD-cards with some H55-Gigabyte Mainboards with USB3. I don't have a Gigabyte Mainboard, it's an Asus, but nevertheless it is based on H55 and has USB3 (P7H55-M/USB3). Does anyone have experience with these "timing issues" (see here: http://shop.digital-devices.de/epag.../62357162/Categories/Downloads/TV_Karten_DD)?

Thanks again for all your help,
Michael

I'm still on the .34 driver because I had similar issues as you with the newer drivers.
I stresstested the .34 drivers some time ago, check post 17 in this tread https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/mediaportal-1-2-0-alpha-536/stress-test-your-tvserver-88947/index2.html

 

[Vasilich]

MJGraf, i am on 1.47.60 (latest from 1.xx series DD Driver) - it definitely doesn't freeze. (Though i have another issue with DD card, but that another issue with no signal can be reproduced both on 1.xx and 2.xx series ). So you can consider to use 1.xx driver if you don't need these special features from 2.xx

 

[MJGraf]

Thanks glenn 1990 and Vasilich!

The problem is that I have a DD Duoflex CT (using DVB-C) and support for this card was only introduced in driver version 2.0.0.23 and later :-(
(I suppose with ".34" you, glenn 1990, also mean a 1.4.x.33 driver, which doesn't work for me...)

Just wanted to report back my findings from my test-marathon so far:

What I did first was trying to eliminate possible problems from the hardware / bios side. I therefore cleared the cmos of my bios and let all the settings in the bios to their default values. Since I read somewhere that one should leave "PCIe spread spectrum" on "disabled" for DD cards, I checked this as well: disabled is the default setting in my bios. I furthermore let the case of my htpc open because it's a relatively small case with a passively cooled HD 5450 to make sure there is no heat problem, either.

Test 1:
Still driver 2.1.1.33
Same settings in TVServer as described in my last post. DD config: only 2 DVB-C tuners enabled; CAM assigned to both tuners (alphacrypt classic)
I ran the stress test with default settings (i.e. 2 concurrent users for my 2 tuners)
SetupTV.exe ran for about an hour (about 2.000 tunes) then crashed - but no freeze.
I immediately ran it again and the system froze after only some minutes (about 200 tunes)

Test 2:
installed driver 2.1.0.30
Stress test: system freeze after about 1.500 tunes

Test 3:
installed driver 2.0.0.23
Stress test: system freeze after about 1.000 tunes (including about 200 errors caused by scrambled channels not working anymore after about 650 tunes ("channel scrambled"), which wasn't the case with newer drivers.

Test 4:
reverted back to driver 2.1.1.33
switched off "use this card for EPG grabbing" for both cards in SetupTV.
realized that stress test still shows "timeshifting (grabbing EPG)" ==> switched off "grabbing while idle" and "grabbing while timeshifting" in SetupTV
stress test (this time only showing "timeshifting"): system freeze after about 1.200 tunes

Test 5:
settings as in Test 4
stress test with only one concurrent user (the idea was that maybe the problem results from using both tuners at the same time)
==> system freeze after about 1.200 tunes

Test 6:
settings as in Test 4
stress test with two concurrent users; set "tune delay" to 5.000ms instead of 1.000ms (the idea was that maybe the hickups result from too fast channel changes - not too many)
==> system freeze after about 800 tunes

Test 7:
settings as in Test 4
changed the PCIe-bridge card to the second (of two) PCIex1 slot of my motherboard (someone mentioned that DD cards are picky with PCIe timings)
stress test with standard settings: system freeze after about 1.000 tunes

Conclusion: It indeed doesn't seem to have anything to do with EPG grabbing, just with the fact that EPG grabbing has to tune to a lot of channels; the system freeze is reproduceable with just tuning to too many channels. I will revert back to the old PCIe slot as well, since this didn't make a difference, either. Giving the card more time between the tunes ("tune delay") was also not helpful.

I'm slowly running out of ideas. If anyone has any kind of suggestion, it is more than welcome. What I still could do is make a group of only fta channels and try only these (maybe even with CI-module disconnected) or disable the second tuner completely. Anything else?!?

Thanks again for your help and patience. I'll keep on testing. I really want to nail this down...
Michael

 

[Vasilich]

MJGraf, i would suggest you make a ticket in DD support ( Digital Devices Support - Ein Ticket übermitteln ) with problem description, so they will try to reproduce it again (they said that they cannot reproduce freeze, but i have only one PCIe slot, and coudln't test slot change for them). And hopefully they will find a reason if they succeed in reproduction of it, if not only me report this issue. (If you speak german - this is my ticket Digital Devices Support )

P.S. I have no CAM module, and use only one tuner atm.

 

[MJGraf]

Hi Vasilich,

thanks for the link to your ticket. Somehow it looks similar to my problem what you describe there.
In the meantime I can add another (negative)

Test 8:
setup as in Test 7
changed SetupTV-Setting "cam limit" for both cards from "0" to "1" (the idea was: sometimes while stress testing a third DVB-C "card" appears. I suppose this happens when both tuners are still streaming and another streaming request comes in before one of the two active streams are terminated. If the channel from the third request is on one of the two transponders, which are currently tuned, MP would probably create a "third tuner" which is actually the same as the tuner currently streaming the channel on the same transponder. I read somewhere that DD cards can decode only one channel per tuner and so I thought in case the two channels on the same transponder are both scrambled, this may be the problem. Could someone please give me a hint whether I got this concept of TVServer right?!? Thanks!)

Unfortunately: system freeze after 1:05h (about 2.500 tunes).

Will first make some further tests and try to find at least a hint what could be the reason before I open a ticket at DD. But if I don't find anything, I'll definitely do so..

cheers,
Michael

Another try with error: Test 9:
settings as in Test 8,
but reverted to the first PCIex1 Slot
and SetupTV-Setting "Network Provider" for both tuners to "DVBC" instead of "Generic"
stress test: system freeze after about 500 tunes (0:15h)

Test 10:
settings as in Test 9,
but reverted to Network Provider "Generic"
stress test with a group of only fta channels: system freeze after about 500 tunes (0:20h)

Think it's enough frustration for today, will continue tomorrow or saturday... ;-)

 

[MJGraf]

Mabe there's hope....

Test 11:
same setup as in Test 10
Assigned the CAM only to Tuner 1 in DD Setup Tool
In SetupTV unchecked CAM for Tuner 2
stress test with a group of scrambled and unscrambled channels (2 concurrent users)
running for over 1:10h now without problems (about 2.800 tunes; unfortunately forgot to assign only unscrambled channels to tuner 2 in SetupTV, so about 200 of the tunes failed due to channel scrambled - but anyway: no freeze so far)

I have to stop the test for now - want to watch some tv But will start the test again before going to bed. If it still runs tomorrow morning, I'll try to reproduce the freeze by again assigning the CAM to both tuners.

Let's just assume I can get it stable that way. Why did it freeze with a stress test of only one concurrent user? In this case not more than one channel can be sent to the CAM?!?

Morpheus (if you're still following my lonely test marathon here...): Could this have something to do with the second post here from Lord_Maul: CAM Module die kein MTD knnen im DD CI aktivieren - MCE-Community.de It says that the DD drivers - as of version 2.x - automatically switch from MTD to STD when CAM is assigned only to one tuner?!?

cheers,
Michael

PS: Just remembered your last post, Vasilich, stating that you don't even use a cam. Strange...

Well, SetupTV crashed after 800 tunes (no freeze). Starting over again...

 

[morpheus_xx]

AW: Re: DigitalDevices Dual DVB-S2 Testing (CAM/DiSEqC)

Morpheus (if you're still following my lonely test marathon here...): Could this have something to do with the second post here from Lord_Maul: CAM Module die kein MTD knnen im DD CI aktivieren - MCE-Community.de It says that the DD drivers - as of version 2.x - automatically switch from MTD to STD when CAM is assigned only to one tuner?!?

oh yes, I follow your test, very appreciated

I have no idea yet, if this could change anything, that SDT is enabled in single tuner mode, because the command we send to CI allows only 1 service to be decrypted per tuner. there could be driver internal changes, I can asks the devs...

 

[MJGraf]

Hi Morpheus,
thanks for following this but hold on with asking the developers. It took about 1:30h and then it froze... hope is gone (just kidding...). But I should have been suspicious when reading that Vasilich has exactly the same problem but doesn't use a cam at all...

Just running Test 12:
Disabled CAM for both tuners in DD config tool. Uncecked cam for both tuners in SetupTV. Rebooted and plugged off the ribbon cable of the CI-Module completely.
stress test running with only fta channels for 20 minutes now. about 500 tunes, 15 of which are errors (no video/audio detected - also very similar to what Vasilich reported).
But no freeze so far. Will report back...
/progress report
Running for about 1:40h now. 1.750 tunes, 50 of which failed (not video/audio detected). Average tune time is about 3.600ms, about twice the time as with my "favourite channels group", which includes scrambled channels as well. The long tune time seems to result from the 50 errors, for which it takes like 15 seconds or so until it goes on with the next channel. But I'm still suspicious because Vasilich said he doesn't even own a CI-Module or CAM.
Vasilich, is this correct? You say that you "have no CAM module". Do you mean that you have a CI-Module which is connected but you don't have a CAM to put into it? Or do you mean you don't even have a CI-Module?

 

[MJGraf]

Ok, it seems like we're getting there:

Result of Test 12:
Hardware: Two ribbon cables connected to PCIe-Bridge. One of the connected with CT-tuner-card. The other one NOT connected to the CI.
DD-Software: Both DVT-T tuners disabled. Both DVB-C tuners enabled. Both DVB-C WMC tuners disabled. Obvously CI-Module not assigned to any tuner, since disconnected.

SetupTV / TVServers:
Two DVB-C cards activated.
CAM enabled and present for this cards: unchecked for both cards.
Allow this ccard to be used for EPG grabbing: checked for both cards.
Allow this card to be preloaded: unchecked for both cards.
Preferred Network Provider: Generic for both cards.

SetupTV / DVB EPG:
Always try to fill holes: checked
Alway try to update existing entries: checked
Enable CRC check: checked
Enable grabbing while timeshifting/recording: checked, timeout: 2 mins
EPG grabbing while idle: checked, timeout: 10 mins, Refresh every 240 mins
Store data only for selected channels: unchecked
Only four tv channels checked for EPG grabbing, 3 fta (Das Erste HD, ZDF HD and ARTE HD), 1 scrambled (SAT.1)

Stress-Test:
Number of concurrent virtual users (tunes): 2
Tune delay (mSec): 1.000
Each tune should last between (mSec) 500 - 1000
Users share channels: unchecked
Repeat test: checked
Group of only fta channels (SD and HD)
Result so far: running for 3:10h now. Succeeded 3102, Failed 88, Total 3190, Avg mSec: 3336, 1st fail: 51
For the time being, I'll consider anything with more than 3 hours AND more than 3.000 tunes without freeze as stable. Unfortunately a day only has 24 hours ;-)
The 88 errors were all "no video/audio detected". This is happening with completely different channels, for which the tune works before the specific error tune and after. So it has nothing to do with specific channels not working. Logs for an error tune follow in the next post.

Vasilich: Just to find out whether we have indeed the same problem:

If you have a CI-Module connected, but no CAM: Could you please disconnect the ribbon cable from the CI-Module and make a stress test?

If you don't even have a CI-Module: Things are more complicated. But there have been problems reported with too long ribbon cables. Both of mine are 25cm, which is supposed to be ok. There have been some 35cm cables, which were too long. Could you measure the length of your ribbon cable(s)?

In the meantime, I'll try to reconnect my CI-Module with the ribbon cable, but won't assign it to any tuner in DD tools or SetupTV.

So far so good...
Michael

PS: If someone from DD is reading this, please don't hesitate to contact me for any test I should make - thanks Vasilich for the link to this thread in your DD support ticket thread ;-)

This is the TV.log from one error tune from Test 12

2011-04-09 10:49:55.641970 [(18)]: Controller: StartTimeShifting EinsExtra 143
2011-04-09 10:49:55.641970 [(12)]: TestChannels: Avg mSec=3454
2011-04-09 10:49:55.641970 [(18)]: Controller: find free card for channel EinsExtra
2011-04-09 10:49:55.641970 [(12)]: TestChannels: First Fail=51
2011-04-09 10:49:55.641970 [(18)]: Controller: got 1 tuning details for EinsExtra
2011-04-09 10:49:55.641970 [(18)]: Controller: channel #1 DVBC:tv:ARD EinsExtra Freq:418000 ONID:41985 TSID:1051 SID:28721 PMT:0x64 FTA:True LCN:216 SymbolRate:6900 Modulation:Mod256Qam
2011-04-09 10:49:55.641970 [(18)]: Controller: card:1 typevbIP is disabled
2011-04-09 10:49:55.641970 [(18)]: Controller: card:2 typevbC is available priority:3 #users:0 same transponder:True
2011-04-09 10:49:55.641970 [(18)]: Controller: card:3 typevbC is tuned to different transponder
2011-04-09 10:49:55.641970 [(18)]: Controller: card:4 type:RadioWebStream is disabled
2011-04-09 10:49:55.641970 [(18)]: Controller: found 1 available
2011-04-09 10:49:55.641970 [(18)]: AdvancedCardAllocation.GetAvailableCardsForChannel took 12 msec
2011-04-09 10:49:55.657570 [(18)]: tvcard:FreeSubChannel: subchannels count 1 subch#0 keep graph=True
2011-04-09 10:49:55.657570 [(18)]: tvcard:FreeSubChannel :0 - is timeshifting (skipped)
2011-04-09 10:49:55.657570 [(18)]: card: CardTune 2 EinsExtra setuptv-26:2:-1
2011-04-09 10:49:55.657570 [(18)]: card: Tune 2 to EinsExtra
2011-04-09 10:49:55.657570 [(18)]: card: user: setuptv-26:2:0 tune DVBC:tv:ARD EinsExtra Freq:418000 ONID:41985 TSID:1051 SID:28721 PMT:0x64 FTA:True LCN:216 SymbolRate:6900 Modulation:Mod256Qam
2011-04-09 10:49:55.657570 [(18)]: card: to different transponder
2011-04-09 10:49:55.657570 [(18)]: dvbc: TuneVBC:tv:ARD EinsExtra Freq:418000 ONID:41985 TSID:1051 SID:28721 PMT:0x64 FTA:True LCN:216 SymbolRate:6900 Modulation:Mod256Qam
2011-04-09 10:49:55.657570 [(18)]: dvbubmiting tunerequest Channel:EinsExtra subChannel:0
2011-04-09 10:49:55.657570 [(18)]: dvb:using existing subchannel:0
2011-04-09 10:49:55.657570 [(18)]: dvbubmit tunerequest size:1 new:0
2011-04-09 10:49:55.657570 [(18)]: subch:0 OnBeforeTune
2011-04-09 10:49:55.657570 [(18)]: dvbubmit tunerequest calling put_TuneRequest
2011-04-09 10:49:55.657570 [(18)]: dvbubmit tunerequest done calling put_TuneRequest
2011-04-09 10:49:55.657570 [(18)]: subch:0 OnAfterTune
2011-04-09 10:49:55.907171 [Channel state thread(7)]: ChannelStates.DoSetChannelStates took 295 msec
2011-04-09 10:49:56.203571 [(18)]: dvb: LockedInOnSignal ok
2011-04-09 10:49:56.203571 [(18)]: subch:0 OnGraphStart
2011-04-09 10:49:56.203571 [(18)]: subch:0 Graph already running - WaitForPMT
2011-04-09 10:49:56.203571 [(18)]: subch:0 SetupPmtGrabberid 64 sid:7031
2011-04-09 10:49:56.203571 [(18)]: subch:0 set pmt grabber pmt:64 sid:7031
2011-04-09 10:49:56.203571 [(18)]: WaitForPMT: Waiting for PMT 64
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(12)]: subch:0 OnPMTReceived() pmt:64 ran:True dynamic:False
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: WaitForPMT: Found PMT after 0,4212007 seconds.
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: subch:0 SendPmt:7031 7031 FFFFFFFF 16
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: Decode pmt
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: Set descriptor data with length 3
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: Set descriptor data with length 3
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: PROBLEM : descriptor lengths dont match 6 9
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: Set descriptor data with length 3
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: subch:0 SendPMT: Channel is FTA, nothing to do.
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: subch:0 SetMpegPidMapping
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: subch:0 pid:65 pcr
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: subch:0 pid:64 pmt
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: subch:0 pid:65 video type:MPEG-2
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: subch:0 map pid:65 video type:MPEG-2
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: subch:0 pid:66 audio lang:deu type:MPEG-1
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: subch:0 map pid:66 audio lang:deu type:MPEG-1
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: subch:0 pid:AA type:5
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: subch:0 pid:87B type:B
2011-04-09 10:49:56.624772 [(18)]: subch:0 stop tif
2011-04-09 10:49:56.640372 [(18)]: WaitForPmt: PMT handling took 0 seconds.
2011-04-09 10:49:56.640372 [(18)]: card: Tuner locked: True
2011-04-09 10:49:56.640372 [(18)]: **************************************************
2011-04-09 10:49:56.640372 [(18)]: ***** SIGNAL LEVEL: 100, SIGNAL QUALITY: 100 *****
2011-04-09 10:49:56.640372 [(18)]: **************************************************
2011-04-09 10:49:56.640372 [(18)]: card: tuned user: setuptv-26 subchannel: 0
2011-04-09 10:49:56.640372 [(18)]: user:setuptv-26 add
2011-04-09 10:49:56.640372 [(18)]: card2:setuptv-26 2 0
2011-04-09 10:49:56.640372 [(18)]: Controller: setuptv-26 2 0
2011-04-09 10:49:56.640372 [(18)]: control2:setuptv-26 2 0
2011-04-09 10:49:56.640372 [(12)]: PID seen - type = Audio
2011-04-09 10:49:56.640372 [(12)]: audioVideoEventHandler Audio
2011-04-09 10:49:56.655972 [(18)]: card: StartTimeShifting 2 D:\Media\Video\_Fernsehaufnahmen\_Timeshift\live2-0.ts
2011-04-09 10:49:56.655972 [(18)]: card: CAM enabled : False
2011-04-09 10:49:56.655972 [(18)]: card: WaitForTimeShiftFile - waiting _eventAudio & _eventVideo
2011-04-09 10:49:56.687172 [(12)]: PID seen - type = Video
2011-04-09 10:49:56.687172 [(12)]: audioVideoEventHandler Video
2011-04-09 10:50:11.663198 [(18)]: card: WaitForTimeShiftFile - no audio was found after 15,0072263 seconds
2011-04-09 10:50:11.663198 [(18)]: card Digital Devices DVB-C Tuner 1: StopTimeShifting user:setuptv-26 sub:0
2011-04-09 10:50:11.663198 [(18)]: card: StopTimeShifting user:setuptv-26 sub:0
2011-04-09 10:50:11.663198 [(18)]: card not IDLE - removing user: setuptv-26
2011-04-09 10:50:11.663198 [(18)]: user:setuptv-26 remove
2011-04-09 10:50:11.663198 [(18)]: subch:0-0 tswriter StopTimeshifting...
2011-04-09 10:50:11.663198 [(18)]: tvcard:FreeSubChannel: subchannels count 1 subch#0 keep graph=False
2011-04-09 10:50:11.663198 [(18)]: DVB subch:0 Decompose()
2011-04-09 10:50:11.663198 [(18)]: FreeSubChannel CA: freeing sub channel : 0
2011-04-09 10:50:11.663198 [(18)]: tvcard:FreeSubChannel : no subchannels present, stopping graph
2011-04-09 10:50:11.663198 [(18)]: dvbtopGraph called
2011-04-09 10:50:11.663198 [(18)]: tvcard:FreeAllSubChannels
2011-04-09 10:50:11.663198 [(18)]: dvbtopGraph
2011-04-09 10:50:11.678798 [(18)]: dvbtopGraph called
2011-04-09 10:50:11.678798 [(18)]: tvcard:FreeAllSubChannels
2011-04-09 10:50:11.678798 [(18)]: dvbtopGraph filterstate already stopped, returning.
2011-04-09 10:50:11.694398 [(18)]: user:setuptv-26 remove
2011-04-09 10:50:11.694398 [TS_File_Cleanup(21)]: card: delete timeshift files D:\Media\Video\_Fernsehaufnahmen\_Timeshift\live2-0.ts

Vasilich: Is this the second problem you describe in your support ticket thread?

 

[MJGraf]

Test 13:
config same as in Test 12, but
1. Plugged the second ribbon cable into CI-module again (in DD tools still CI-Module assigned to NONE of the two tuners, hence no CAM enabled for both tuners in SetupTV)
2. For the "only-fta-channels-tests" above, I used a channel group containing some fta channels of a certain provider (ARD-group). For tests including scrambled channels, I used my "favourite channels group". In the ARD-group there were channels not included in the favourite group. To make this more comparable, I created a "favourite-fta-group" containing (only) all the fta channels from my favourite channel group. For Test 13, the favourite-fta-group was used.

result:
Unfortunately, SetupTV crashed. But there was no freeze. And the crash came so late that I would consider this test as "stable" for the purposes of finding the freeze problem (hope this is not a mis-assumption...). Details are: running for about 2:20h (then crashed). Succeeded 2.641, Failed 72, Total 2.713, Avg mSec: 2.442, 1st fail: 54. The errors only "no video/audio detected" as described above.

Next is Test 14: Assign the CI-moduel to tuner 1 in DD tools, but still let "SetupTV/CAM enabled and present for this cards" unchecked for both cards. I'm slowly approaching Test 11 from the other side - I'm already hoping that the freeze in Test 11 will be reproduceable when in get there in Test 15. If not, I'll be really out of ideas...

Michael