Pixelation in LiveTV with Technotrend S2-3200 (2 Viewers)

[npi]

Hi all,

I am experiencing temporary pixelation / shuttering playback on LiveTV (HD and PAL) using a TT S2-3200 PCI DVB-S2 card (see attached screenshot). The problem is only on playback of live TV (blurays and movies from HDD work very well) and becomes worth the longer I watch TV (more pixelation, shuttering after some time, then total stops). The most weired is that the problem goes and comes again without any recognizable reason - sometimes there is no pixelation for days, then the next day there is pixelation and the next day it may be gone or stay for some days.

Here is what I already tried to resolve the problem:

1) Checked problem is not related to mediaportal only
I installed an external tuning software (ProgDVB) and as soon as the problem was there in mediaportal quitted the program and started the external tuning software. The problem is either there in both programs or in none which makes me think that the problem is either related to hardware, to codecs/drivers, or to system ressources. TV signal, however, is always very good (above 85% strength) also when pixelation is there.

2) Updated drivers for TV card
Next I installed various drivers version for the TT S2-3200 since some peple reported similar problems (https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/...-7-x64-technotrend-tt-budget-s2-3200-a-75202/) especially under Win7. No changes.

3) Changed from ATI to NVIDIA
Recently some people reported persisting problems similar to mine using only ATI cards (https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/...ng-pixelation-corruption-h264-channels-82941/) - which I was using at this time. So I bought a Geforce 520. However, problem still there.

4) Updated drivers for Graphics card
Installed newest drivers for Geforce card several times. No changes.

5) Used dynamic refresh rate changer
According to this guide (Stuttering Playback - MediaPortal Wiki) pixelation and stuttering playback is often related to frame rates / refresh rate problems. So I activated the dynamic refresh rate changes in mediaportal. Problem persists.

6) Changed HDD for timeshifting
According to the same guide (Stuttering Playback - MediaPortal Wiki) pixelation may also result from HDD not beeing fast enough for recording timeshifting information. So since I have 2HDDs (SATA6) und 1 SDD in my media center I tried using all those disks for timeshifting. No changes.

7) Changed codecs used
According to the same guide (Stuttering Playback - MediaPortal Wiki) pixelation may also result from using wrong codes. I tried all available codes (fddshow, Microsoft DTV, and PowerDVD) for TV and Video playback, no changes.

8) Experimental TV options
I enabled the experimental options in the mediaportal configuration and tried to used TV -> Debug Options -> Do not use slow motions to ... as recommended somewhere in the forum. No changes.

9) Checked system ressources
I monitored system ressources during live tv playback. Only once CPU has approx. 30% usage, all other three are only used frequently. RAM usage is below 50%, HDDs used for timeshifting has left capacity of 40GB (SSD). GPU has only very little usage. So problem seems not to be related to limited system ressources.

10) Clean install
Finally, I reinstalled Windows and MP. Problem there again.

I am running totally out of ideas. It is so annoying and since the problem comes and goes without any reproducable reason, my only left idea is to buy a new TV card (thinking about TechniSat SkyStar HD2). However, the TT S2 3200 is recommended and many people are using it without pixelation, which makes me think the problem has to be elsewhere.

Anyone able to help? Any ideas how to trace the problem? Logs of a short TV session with pixelation in debug mode attached.

Thanks in advance!

 

[mm1352000]

Hi and welcom npi

You've certainly checked a lot of things!
According to the EVR log I can see that 2 frames were dropped at around 11:59:41.934. That may be related to the pixalation, but it is a little difficult to know. I don't see any discontinuities in the logs but I do see a lot of "PMT Pid wasn't found on the PAT. Channel may have moved, try a new channel scan." messages. No serious problem with that.

Please tell us:
- do you see these pixelations in recordings
- have you noticed whether the pixelation is limited to certain channels
- what happens if you skip back 30 seconds in the timeshift buffer - does the pixelation occur again in the same place

Best regards,
mm

 

[Owlsroost]

I'd try what mm has suggested, but given everything you've already tried and eliminated I'd suspect a faulty (or overheating) tuner card.

Tony

 

[npi]

Hi mm, hi Tony,

@ mm: I just tried out what you told me to do. Here are the results:

- do you see these pixelations in recordings

Yes. I start a recording and see pixelation. When I stop the recording and start its playback, pixelation is there at the same frames as when watching while recording was running.

- have you noticed whether the pixelation is limited to certain channels

No, definitely all channels - no matter whether HD or normal PAL.

- what happens if you skip back 30 seconds in the timeshift buffer - does the pixelation occur again in the same place

Yes pixelation is there as well and in the same frames.

tony:

faulty (or overheating) tuner card.

Any chance to figure this out without buying a new tuner card?

Thanks to both of you for your help and a happy new year in advance!

 

[mm1352000]

Hi again

Okay, thanks for checking those things. Perhaps you could upload a short recording that contains pixelation and I can check it on my PC.

mm
PS: I have a TT S2-3200 myself if there is something you want me to check.

 

[npi]

Hi mm,

I have attached a recording from yesterday. It includes pixelation and audio errors when wacthed in MP and in direct playback using Windows Mediaplayer.

So, in case you can see these errors as well, what are my options? Any chance to figure out what this is all about or is my only option to buy a new TV card? In the latter case, would you recommend buying the same card again (assuming mine really has electricity problems - I mean the card in genereal works for many people, for you as well) or should I buy a different one? Recommendations for a new card?

In any case, thank you very much for your help!

Cheers,
Thomas

 

[mm1352000]

Hi again Thomas

I confirm that I also see the pixelation in that file, so it is definitely a problem with the source. It is interesting though because there don't appear to be any corrupt TS packets or dropped frames in any of the players and analysers that I tested it in. That would definitely suggest that it is not a signal problem. I wonder though - could it be a CAM problem. If you use a CAM that might explain why there are only errors in the video and audio payloads - the CAM could be struggling to keep up with decrypting the payload contents. I have a CAM here that gives much more severe pixelation symptoms with my S2-3200. The streams it produces even for FTA channels when that CAM is plugged in are absolutely unwatchable. Remove the CAM or use a different CAM and things are fine...

So, in case you can see these errors as well, what are my options? Any chance to figure out what this is all about or is my only option to buy a new TV card? In the latter case, would you recommend buying the same card again (assuming mine really has electricity problems - I mean the card in genereal works for many people, for you as well) or should I buy a different one? Recommendations for a new card?

Well, I would first want to know the answer to the CAM question. If you don't use a CAM then the only other things I can suggest that might be causing this are heat and interference. If it were possible I would try the tuner in a different PC with a fresh OS and no other PCI cards installed before resorting to buying a new tuner. If there are still problems in that environement then I would buy a new card. Which card? Well it very much depends on your budget and requirements. For example:
- do you need a CI interface?
- do you have space for PCIe cards or do you need PCI or USB?
etc.

Best regards,

mm

 

[npi]

Dear mm,

I am not using the CAM (=CI?) module at all. However, I have the version of the card which is CAM enabled (as far as I know there is also a version without available) - may I have to disable this function?

Regarding interference with other components I will install the card into another PC next weekend and report back asap.

On your questions about a new card: CI is optional for me since I do not have paytv atm. However, would be great to have one for future use. I would prefer an internal card,so either PCI or PCI express, no USB. Budget is up to 100€ max.

Thanks again.
Thomas

 

[mm1352000]

Hello again

I am not using the CAM (=CI?) module at all.

Okay.

However, I have the version of the card which is CAM enabled (as far as I know there is also a version without available) - may I have to disable this function?

No, you shouldn't have to disable the function.

Regarding interference with other components I will install the card into another PC next weekend and report back asap.

I look forward to the report and I hope that the card works flawlessly there.

On your questions about a new card: CI is optional for me since I do not have paytv atm. However, would be great to have one for future use. I would prefer an internal card,so either PCI or PCI express, no USB. Budget is up to 100€ max.

Okay. At that price you may need to decide between a twin S2 tuner without CI support and a single S2 tuner with CI support.

The TBS 6928 would be a good option for a tuner with CI support I think. Their dual tuner model (6981) which quite a few people on these forums are using costs around 100 EURO - slightly more expensive on that website (pehaps you can find a deal - amazon???).

There are also some well priced cards at the DVB Shop - the TeVii S480 and Mystique SaTiX S2. I have an S480 myself and haven't had any problem with it although I don't use it very heavily - other people have reported a few issues with standby/resume. I haven't heard much about the SaTiX model (maybe that is a good thing - it just works???).

If you are considering PCI as well then there are many options on both of those websites that are within your price range.

mm

 

[npi]

AW: Pixelation in LiveTV with Technotrend S2-3200

Hi mm,

sry for the delay.

Meanwhile I have tried the card in another PC. Well, I tried to try but for some reason the card does not work. I will reinstall Windows on this PC asap and hope to get the card functional after this.

However, I have found out something very intereseting I would like to ask you about. I recognized that when I start my PC and experience pixelation I am able to resolve the problem by doing the following: Shutdown the PC and unplug the power cable. Wait for 5 minutes and in most cases the problem is gone afterwards.

Does this maybe point to some electrical problem in my PC or with the card itself?

Cheers,
Thomas