Major recording issues with 1.0Final (1 Viewer)

[moviebuff03]

TV-Server Version: 1.0.0 Final
MediaPortal Version: 1.0.0 Final
MediaPortal Skin: blue3wide
Windows Version: XP SP2 MCE 2005
CPU Type: Duo Core 2 1.8GHz
HDD: Seagate 300GB
Memory: Corsair 1GB DDR2
Motherboard: Asus P5w DH
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD2600PRO
Video Card Driver: Catalyst 9.1
Sound Card: M-Audio Revolution 7.1
Sound Card AC3: AC3/SPDIF
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: Cinergy 2400i Dual
1. TV Card Type: DVB-T
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card: Cinergy 1400
2. TV Card Type: DVB-T
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card: Compro T300
3. TV Card Type: DVB-T
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: MPV
MPEG2 Audio Codec: MPA
h.264 Video Codec: Core AVC
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case: Silverstone LC10
Cooling: Q-TEC
Power Supply: 500W
Remote: Microsoft
TV: 32" Sony HD Bravia
TV - HTPC Connection: DVI/HDMI

Really in need of support with major problems I've had since installing 1.0 Final.

I can't get Cinergy 1400 card to find a signal, even if mapping frequencies from another card scan. Cinergy Dual 2400 scans all channels except MUX 2 & MUX C. Videomate appeared to be the only card that scanned correctly. Now previous two versions of MP had all cards working successfully.

I've reinstalled everything from a clean OS install. All card drivers are up to date and I am very frustrated and at a loss as where to take this next.

I have attached just part of the TV log, where it seems to be looking for a PMT, when tuning...
2009-02-22 22:15:03.660182 [12]: subch:0 Graph already running - skip WaitForPMT
2009-02-22 22:15:03.660182 [12]: dvb: RunGraph
2009-02-22 22:15:04.230985 [12]: dvb: LockedInOnSignal ok
2009-02-22 22:15:04.230985 [12]: subch:0 OnGraphStarted
2009-02-22 22:15:04.230985 [12]: subch:0 SetupPmtGrabberid 1044 sid:1044
2009-02-22 22:15:04.230985 [12]: subch:0 set pmt grabber pmt:1044 sid:1044
2009-02-22 22:15:04.230985 [12]: WaitForPMT: Waiting for PMT.
2009-02-22 22:15:07.315328 [Powerscheduler Timer]: PowerScheduler: lastUserTime: 22:07:28.1300 , False
2009-02-22 22:15:07.315328 [Powerscheduler Timer]: PowerScheduler.DisAllowShutdown: handler ControllerActiveHandler wants to prevent standby
2009-02-22 22:15:14.235071 [12]: WaitForPMT: Timed out waiting for PMT after 10.0040859 seconds. Increase the PMT timeout value?
2009-02-22 22:15:14.235071 [12]: dvbt: tune: Graph running. Returning TvLibrary.Implementations.DVB.TvDvbChannel
2009-02-22 22:15:14.235071 [12]: card: Tuner locked: True
2009-02-22 22:15:14.235071 [12]: **************************************************
2009-02-22 22:15:14.235071 [12]: ***** SIGNAL LEVEL: 0, SIGNAL QUALITY: 100 *****
2009-02-22 22:15:14.235071 [12]: **************************************************

This log entry is weird as it has previously recorded channels, but now decides to post what I see as an error. I can't attach an error.log as TVS doesn't seem to be generating anything inside the file!

While trying to view the channels through MyTV, they can be viewed, even though while recording MP says there is no signal. Secondly I am experiencing many error msgs with 'unable to start timeshifiting' 'cannot create greaph'

If I reboot the PVR the cards seem to work better. I've stopped using powerscheduler as it was failing completely. So I am now using MPStandbyHandler, which appears to work better, but I am still getting failed recordings, although not sure they are related as problems occur before standby/resume.

Many thanks for looking at my post!
Darren

 

[Taipan]

Hi Darren,

Your problems sound like they are caused by marginal signal level reaching the DVB-T tuners.

Are you sure that you have a good strong RF signal to all tuners?
Are you using an RF signal splitter to split the antenna signal to the three tuners?
Do these tuners work fine with their own TV applications (outside of MediaPortal)?

 

[moviebuff03]

Taipan,
I am surprised that upgrading MP (card drivers remain unchanged) causes signal weakness, but I will sure take a look into the RFs. In answer to your question, yes I do have a signal splitter to each card, although on scanning some cards and my DTT Freeview TV show a 100% signal.

I have never loaded the applications, so I can't say, but thanks for the pointer and I will investigate.

One question where the log states Signal Level = 0; Signal Quality = 100, is this not TVS showing a tv signal at full strength??

Cheers
Darren

 

[Taipan]

I am surprised that upgrading MP (card drivers remain unchanged) causes signal weakness, but I will sure take a look into the RFs.

I am not suggesting that the upgrade is the cause, but if you have always had marginal signal, then by coincidence, the signal may have deteriorated a little to cause the issues you have now?

One question where the log states Signal Level = 0; Signal Quality = 100, is this not TVS showing a tv signal at full strength??

No, just the opposite - a good signal would be "Signal level >80", however, the numbers reported by some of the BDA drivers are unreliable and can indicate a problem where none exists.

Can you try using just one TV card with no antenna splitter, to see if it is possibly a signal level issue?

You really need to be sure that you have excellent RF signal level, before chasing any software of MediaPortal issues

 

[moviebuff03]

I still haven't really got the bottom of this problem. However, I removed all the DVB cards and as you suggested started reinstalling one by one (first checking that the RF connection from the roof aerial was secure). I installed a NEW Peak Dual DVB Tuner, which windows and MP recognised straight away and scanned all radio/tv channels correctly.

I have discarded the Cinergy 1400 as it still not recognising any signal, even if I map the channels from the Peak card. Whether this is in anyway related to upgrading from RC2 for 1.0.0Final I wouldn't like to unfairly blame MP, although it is a coincidence. I am now working at seeing whether I can successfully install the cinergy 2400 & Compro cards.

Also by upgrading to 1.0.0 I appeared to have lost control of powerscheduler. I have switched to mpstandbyhandler and this has resolved my issue of missed recordings or not correctly reinitialising the cards.

Thanks

 

[Taipan]

Whether this is in anyway related to upgrading from RC2 for 1.0.0Final I wouldn't like to unfairly blame MP, although it is a coincidence.

It sounds like a coincidence to me - there is nothing in v1.0final that would cause your Cinergy 1400 to fail?

Also by upgrading to 1.0.0, I appeared to have lost control of powerscheduler.

Powerscheduler works perfectly here - do you want to start another thread on this issue to get it resolved, or are you happy with your current workaround?