MP newbie : 2 x Twinhan DVB-S CI -> stuttering picture (1 Viewer)

[gerne]

Area: Media Portal Program
MP Version: 0.2.0.0 RC3 / CVS 03-22-06 01-02
Skin: mce skin
Windows Version: Windows XP MCE2005 inkl. SP2
CPU Type: Intel P4 / 530 HT
Memory: 1GB DDR
Motherboard Chipset: Intel 915 P
Video Card: ATI X300SE 64 PCIe
Video Card Driver: ATI Catalyst
Video Card Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Video Render Type: VMR9
Video Codec Type & Version: Power DVD 6
Audio Codec Type & Version: Power DVD 6
TV Card: 2 x Twinhan DVB-S CI (PCI)
TV Card Type: DVB
TV Card Driver: BDA Driver V1.2.3.5 (WHQL)

Hi to all!

First of all I would like to thank the developers of MP who do really a amaizing work! I have been using MCE2005 for over 2 years and now that I wanted to switch to DVB-S I tried out MP and I'm really surprised.
The Installation is really simple and the channel sorting is just a dream!!!! And both DVB-S cards worked at the first try, also with the encrypted channels! I'll never go back to MCE!! You definitly have a new member...

But I'm still want to improve some things and here's my actual problem :
When watching TV (no matter which of the two cards) the picture stutters a little bit. It is not in equal periods but looks quite random..

Of course I read some posts here already and this is what I have done so far :
- installed this MS update with the DVB tuner fix
- checked if the two cards use different irqs
- set the cards to different priorities
- tried to watch without timeshift
- tried the nvidia codec (although I think with my ATI card not optimal) with all settings
- tried the Power DVD 6 codec with all settings
- tried to use other BDA drivers

now I don't know anything more, which could eventually solve my problem. My graphic card is DirectX 9.0 compatible and also all other things which have been mentioned in some other threads should be ok.

So please! Don't let me down ;-)


nice greetings,

Gernot

 

[dman_lfc]

Sounds like a general signal issue to me...

Try MyTheatre as a test for a while and see if it happens there also.

DMAN

 

[gerne]

I already tried this option, and there the same thing occurs.

The question is, if it is a codec related problem or a hardware related problem or even a problem with the bda drivers.

I haven't read of anyone using the twinhan with the same bda drivers than me (but I can't get older ones , as they are not listed on the twinhan homepage).

The thing which seems to be a little strange is, that the hd is always in use during watching tv... could it be, that the virus scanner makes problems? As the stuttering increases also the hd activity increases....

 

[ziphnor]

The question is, if it is a codec related problem or a hardware related problem or even a problem with the bda drivers.

I haven't read of anyone using the twinhan with the same bda drivers than me (but I can't get older ones , as they are not listed on the twinhan homepage).

I have 2 Twinhan Cab CI, nearly same card just for DVB-S instead of DVB-S. Using 2 cards shouldnt be an issue. But i have had a similar problem. What you should do is this:

1. Upgrade to the 1.2.3.6 driver(its not WHQL but who cares), just in case.

2. Try removing one card and see if it helps(doubtful).

3. Record something, convert it to mpeg-2(in compress menu) and then try to play it back on another computer(copy it, dont play it over the network .
If the recording also stutters played back on another PC, you need to look into signal quality/strength , CPU power management or HD issues(see below). If the recording is fine the problem is isolated as being playback related, in which case you should look into mepg-2 decoders or CPU usage(see below).

Signal/strength quality:
Use either the Capture program from Twinhans homepage or another program like MyTheatre trial (www.dvbcore.com) to check this. You might also want to try to remove any splitters you are using(if any).

CPU Power management:
With just one or more twinhans installed, i get similar stuttering if i enable Cool&Quiet such that the CPU changes speed depending on the load. If your CPU supports something like this, try disabling it.

Harddrive:
Ensure that you harddrive is using DMA transfer mode if its an IDE harddrive. Check that CPU load is low when the harddrive is working.

CPU usage:
Run MediaPortal in windowed mode, and check the CPU usage when watching something, it shouldnt be too high, watch for 100% cpu usage spikes. If it is too high, you have a problem
Try to install the DXVA patch if you havent already and check that MPEG-2/DXVA acceleration is enabled in you graphics card driver.

Decoders:
Try a different MPEG-2 decoder and see if it helps and as mentioned under CPU usage check up on MPEG-2 acceleration from your graphics card.

 

[Spif]

You could also try setting the PCI latency. Use the PCI latency tool to check your latency and make sure that no card has a latency higher than 64. You could also try a max latency of 32.

I personally like to use the Omega drivers for my Radeon card. That driver package offers a lot more tweakability.

Also, make sure you harddisk is in DMA mode (it probably is).

If you also have a problem with studdering when watching DVDs and such, it could be that you need to set you display to a refresh rate that is a multiple of the framerate of the video you are playing. Enabling vertical sync on your graphics card also helps.

 

[gerne]

first of all, thank you very much! this is really a great forum here with fast reply!

ziphnor
I will try out the things you posted as soon as I'm at home from work! The option with one card I tried and it makes no difference. Also the signal strenght and quality is ok.
This DXVA patch you mentioned, what is it for? Is that a patch reffering to ATI GPUs ?

Spif
The thing with the latency... I somewhere read, that this is only possible with PCI cards, not with PCIe cards? Is that right?

I will download the Omega drivers. Do you have a link?


Thank you once again.
I'll post as soon there is some progress.... but don't stop giving me tips in the meantime ;-)

 

[ziphnor]

ziphnor
I will try out the things you posted as soon as I'm at home from work! The option with one card I tried and it makes no difference. Also the signal strenght and quality is ok.
This DXVA patch you mentioned, what is it for? Is that a patch reffering to ATI GPUs ?

The DXVA patch is a windows fix to enable DXVA, its one of the standard recommended fixes, which is listed in some thread on these forums which i cant find right now

Anyway, check into the CPU power management issue, as i mentioned earlier, on my AMD64 the cause of the stutter was Cool&Quiet begin enabled.

 

[Spif]

Yes, it is true that the PCI latecy setting only works for PCI and AGP and not PCIe. But it does work for other things than graphics cards even though they are known to set a very high latency and thus cause the biggest problem. In your case you might not have more PCI cards than the TV-cards and the onboard stuff and even though they are probably ok it still worth checking their values.

Here is the link for the drivers: http://www.omegadrivers.net/

 

[ziphnor]

Anyway, check into the CPU power management issue, as i mentioned earlier, on my AMD64 the cause of the stutter was Cool&Quiet begin enabled.

Long time since i had an intel CPU. According to Wikipedia the Intel equivalent of Cool&Quiet is SpeedStep, in case you want to try to disable it.

 

[ziphnor]

Did you manage to solve the problem? I am curious as to whether it is related to my Cool&Quiet -> Stutter problem.