Lots of discontinuities with quad DVB-T (1 Viewer)

[scidoner]

I wish there was a multiquote feature! (Or is there?)

Anyway.
Yeah the RAID 0 array is local to the server indeed.

I have done the manual test for each tuner individually, yeah - at first I thought it was only tuners 2, 3 and 4 playing up but turns out that only on certain channels the first tuner also has the discon issue. Some channels on the other tuners are fine, some have the issue, but most do seem to be better on the first tuner. (I think you could see that in the spreadsheet).

I do need to test in another PC too.. this is running Server 08 R2 with BDA support. I doubt that is the problem though because other tuners have worked fine in the past (though they've only been single tuners).

I guess I should have included the OS in the OP.. sorry!

 

[mm1352000]

I wish there was a multiquote feature! (Or is there?)

Just hit quote on each post you want to quote.

Anyway.
Yeah the RAID 0 array is local to the server indeed.

Right, okay. It wouldn't hurt to try a standard HDD if you could, but I think that about rules anything other than signal out.

I have done the manual test for each tuner individually, yeah - at first I thought it was only tuners 2, 3 and 4 playing up but turns out that only on certain channels the first tuner also has the discon issue. Some channels on the other tuners are fine, some have the issue, but most do seem to be better on the first tuner. (I think you could see that in the spreadsheet).

At first glance one would think tuner 2 (id = 7) is the worst, but that can be deceptive. When tuners are used simultaneously there can be interactions during tuning and when they're tuned to different frequencies.

I do need to test in another PC too.. this is running Server 08 R2 with BDA support. I doubt that is the problem though because other tuners have worked fine in the past (though they've only been single tuners).

I guess I should have included the OS in the OP.. sorry!

No problem. I think the OS is unlikely to be the problem in this case.

 

[scidoner]

I wish there was a multiquote feature! (Or is there?)

Just hit quote on each post you want to quote.

Ah, was used to other systems with a dedicated button, thanks for heads up

Anyway.
Yeah the RAID 0 array is local to the server indeed.

Right, okay. It wouldn't hurt to try a standard HDD if you could, but I think that about rules anything other than signal out.

I will try this too.

I have done the manual test for each tuner individually, yeah - at first I thought it was only tuners 2, 3 and 4 playing up but turns out that only on certain channels the first tuner also has the discon issue. Some channels on the other tuners are fine, some have the issue, but most do seem to be better on the first tuner. (I think you could see that in the spreadsheet).

At first glance one would think tuner 2 (id = 7) is the worst, but that can be deceptive. When tuners are used simultaneously there can be interactions during tuning and when they're tuned to different frequencies.

Ah okay

I do need to test in another PC too.. this is running Server 08 R2 with BDA support. I doubt that is the problem though because other tuners have worked fine in the past (though they've only been single tuners).

I guess I should have included the OS in the OP.. sorry!

No problem. I think the OS is unlikely to be the problem in this case.

Good to know
Another thing - this server runs Hyper-V ... when VMs are running DPC latency is quite high. Could this be having a negative effect? I've shutdown the VMs and DPC latency drops very low and the issue still occurs, so perhaps not?

Will be running the other tests as soon as I can.

 

[scidoner]

quick update: On a whim I installed an older driver and the situation has changed. The second tuner (id 7) is now working better than the others.
This is really quite weird!

All virtual machines disabled, DPC latency VERY low.

I don't mind getting a signal amp even if its not the problem, I just need to know that it won't break or damage anything?

 

[polarie]

i don't think that a signal amp will damage something ...

i often add a DVB-T stick/ PCI card to systems
- and use active antennas for those tuners...
they also have a signal amp inside ...
nothing bad happens.

maybe while a channel scan - some channel will not be found
couse the signal is too strong (and also inteferences are blown up)
but a test will show if or if not

regards

 

[robbo100]

quick update: On a whim I installed an older driver and the situation has changed. The second tuner (id 7) is now working better than the others.
This is really quite weird!

All virtual machines disabled, DPC latency VERY low.

I don't mind getting a signal amp even if its not the problem, I just need to know that it won't break or damage anything?

Make sure you put the amplifier at the aerial end, not the HTPC end. That way you minimise the amount of noise you are amplifying and concentrate on amplifying the signal.

 

[scidoner]

Update: Got a signal amp.
This one specifically: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Axing-BV...79?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item4848875feb

I went against robbo and put it at the HTPC end... it worked! Not a single discontinuity (channel stress test). So far anyway It could change...

Only problem now is that SBS doesn't work, but then it never did and then it doesn't work on an analog TV anyway.

MediaPortal says "No PMT found". What does that even mean??

 

[SciDoctor]

I had a similar problem with a TBS Quad tuner pci-e card.
The motherboard that had the problem had only one pci-e X1 slot.
I knew the card was fine though as it ran perfectly in a pci-e X16 slot in my server board.
When very bad the OS could BSOD for no reason, i was baffled for a while.

Checking the MB manual I found what resources shared this pci-e lane, this was infact the on board sata. I dissabled this and used an old Highpoint SATA RAID card I had in one of the unused legacy pci slot.

This solved the problem completly. Infact the Highpoint is so much better than the standard OB sata.

Longwinded I know but the problem you have may be more to do with your Motherboard resources mapping than the tuner card or drivers and software.

I know TBS recommend NOT using a pci-e X1 slot if you have other slots available ie. a pci-e X4 slot or higher and have problems.

Another simpler option to try is to raise the pci latency in your MB bios, this may help as it allows longer for data transfers on the bus. Try 96 or higher.

 

[scidoner]

I had a similar problem with a TBS Quad tuner pci-e card.
The motherboard that had the problem had only one pci-e X1 slot.
I knew the card was fine though as it ran perfectly in a pci-e X16 slot in my server board.
When very bad the OS could BSOD for no reason, i was baffled for a while.

Checking the MB manual I found what resources shared this pci-e lane, this was infact the on board sata. I dissabled this and used an old Highpoint SATA RAID card I had in one of the unused legacy pci slot.

This solved the problem completly. Infact the Highpoint is so much better than the standard OB sata.

Longwinded I know but the problem you have may be more to do with your Motherboard resources mapping than the tuner card or drivers and software.

I know TBS recommend NOT using a pci-e X1 slot if you have other slots available ie. a pci-e X4 slot or higher and have problems.

Another simpler option to try is to raise the pci latency in your MB bios, this may help as it allows longer for data transfers on the bus. Try 96 or higher.

Everything works OK now after installing the signal amp
Thanks for your input though!

 

[robbo100]

Update: Got a signal amp.
This one specifically: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Axing-BV...79?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item4848875feb

I went against robbo and put it at the HTPC end... it worked! Not a single discontinuity (channel stress test). So far anyway It could change...

Only problem now is that SBS doesn't work, but then it never did and then it doesn't work on an analog TV anyway.

MediaPortal says "No PMT found". What does that even mean??

Good work.

If the positioning of the Amp works the I would leave it and not worry about it.