"Preload Card" greyed out (1 Viewer)

[Steven81]

Hi, I'm using a Mediaportal enabled HTPC for some time now and I'm dissatisfied from the sluggishness of the "switch channel" function. I wish to cut the time (of switching from channel to channel) down to 1-2 seconds. Also, it's important to say that I own a hybrid tuner.

I hear that if I preload my TV card the sluggishness goes away. However even though I can preload the analogue part of my hybrid card, the option in the DVB-T mode remains greyed out. No matter what I've tried I cannot enable "preload card" on my DVBT. I would be happy to know if there is any other way to enable that option (maybe from a "settings file" somewhere).

Thanks.

 

[Steven81]

Anyone?

 

[mm1352000]

Hi Steven81

I know this thread is old but in case anyone is reading it in the future...

...I'm dissatisfied from the sluggishness of the "switch channel" function. I wish to cut the time (of switching from channel to channel) down to 1-2 seconds.

The speed of channel changing depends mostly on the tuner driver. We generally recommend using the latest drivers for your tuner as they are usually the most optimised in this area. Having said that, there are a few things that you can do to improve channel switching speed:
1. Use a dedicated HDD for timeshifting/recording. Having the OS or other software using the same HDD as TV Server can slow channel changing down a little.
2. Try using the new "pause card" option in MP 1.2.0. Details can be found under "when card enters idle state..." -->here<--.
3. Reduce the zap delay in the "GUI" -> "On-Screen Display" section of MediaPortal configuration. This delay is designed to give you time to press multiple remote buttons. If you're quick on your remote or don't need to enter channel numbers higher than 9 then you can probably reduce this.

Also, it's important to say that I own a hybrid tuner.

There is one special consideration with hybrid cards that you should be aware of. The tuner has to be reinitialised when switching between "modes" (for example, DVB-T <==> analog). You should expect longer channel switching times for this reason. Note that is overhead that you don't experience when changing between the same kinds of channels (for example, DVB-T <==> DVB-T or analog <==> analog).

I hear that if I preload my TV card the sluggishness goes away.

That is a pretty much a myth. Preloading only affects the first tune ie. the first channel that you tune to. If the tuner is preloaded then it doesn't have to be initialised and tuning can be performed straight away. Regular channel changes are totally unaffected.

However even though I can preload the analogue part of my hybrid card, the option in the DVB-T mode remains greyed out. No matter what I've tried I cannot enable "preload card" on my DVBT. I would be happy to know if there is any other way to enable that option (maybe from a "settings file" somewhere).

You can't preload more than one part of a hybrid tuner - that simply wouldn't work because of physical limitations. We disable preloading for tuners that are part of hybrid cards to avoid user confusion and code complexity. As I've already said though, preloading won't make much of a difference to channel switching times so it isn't a big deal if you ask me.

mm