Problems tuning to TV channels (1 Viewer)

[sepp776]

MediaPortal Version: 1.2.0 Beta
MediaPortal Skin: Blue3Wide
Windows Version: Win7 64 Bit
CPU Type: AMD
HDD:
Memory: 8 GB
Motherboard:
Video Card: NVIDIA
Video Card Driver:
Sound Card: Onboard
Sound Card AC3: Optical Out
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: KNC One
1. TV Card Type: Cable
1. TV Card Driver: Latest BDA
2. TV Card: KNC One
2. TV Card Type: Cable
2. TV Card Driver: Latest BDA
MPEG2 Video Codec: PowerDVD 9
MPEG2 Audio Codec: AC3Filter
h.264 Video Codec: CoreAVC 2.0
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Unitymedia
HTPC Case: Silverstone
Cooling:
Power Supply:
Remote: MCE
TV: Philips 7603
TV - HTPC Connection: DVI

Hey guys,

since I moved to a new flat that has cable instead of stallite back in February, I keep having random problems tuning to SD TV channels. It seems as HD channels work ok. This happened with 1.1.3 as well as 1.2.0 beta.
I already tried different things like deactivating the second TV card, different audio codecs and some more, but I keep having these problems. Below's a log sniplet from TV Service showing that the PMT can not be found. Trying again it is found really quick though.

An idea what I can check anyone?

Best regards,
Sepp.

[Collapse]
2011-06-04 22:49:11.506684 [(15)]: Controller: find free card for channel ProSieben
2011-06-04 22:49:11.506684 [(15)]: Controller: find card for channel ProSieben
2011-06-04 22:49:11.507684 [(15)]: Controller: got 1 tuning details for ProSieben
2011-06-04 22:49:11.508684 [(15)]: Controller: channel #1 DVBC:tv:UnityDigitalTV ProSieben Freq:442000 ONID:9999 TSID:161 SID:12103 PMT:0x104 FTA:False LCN:105 SymbolRate:6900 Modulation:Mod256Qam
2011-06-04 22:49:11.509684 [(15)]: Controller: card:3 typevbC can tune to channel
2011-06-04 22:49:11.509684 [(15)]: Controller: card:3 typevbC users: 0
2011-06-04 22:49:11.510685 [(15)]: Controller: card:2 typevbC channel not mapped
2011-06-04 22:49:11.510685 [(15)]: Controller: card:4 type:RadioWebStream cannot tune to channel
2011-06-04 22:49:11.511685 [(15)]: Controller: found 1 card(s) for channel
2011-06-04 22:49:11.511685 [(15)]: AdvancedCardAllocation.GetAvailableCardsForChannel took 5 msec
2011-06-04 22:49:11.511685 [(15)]: Controller: card:3 typevbC is available
2011-06-04 22:49:11.512685 [(15)]: Controller: found 1 free card(s)
2011-06-04 22:49:11.512685 [(15)]: AdvancedCardAllocation.GetFreeCardsForChannel took 6 msec
2011-06-04 22:49:11.513685 [(15)]: Controller: try max 1 of 1 cards for timeshifting
2011-06-04 22:49:11.514685 [(15)]: tvcard:FreeSubChannel: subchannels count 1 subch#0 keep graph=True
2011-06-04 22:49:11.514685 [(15)]: tvcard:FreeSubChannel :0 - is timeshifting (skipped)
2011-06-04 22:49:11.515685 [(15)]: card: CardTune 3 ProSieben wohnzimmer:3:0
2011-06-04 22:49:11.516685 [(15)]: card: Tune 3 to ProSieben
2011-06-04 22:49:11.516685 [(15)]: card: user: wohnzimmer:3:0 tune DVBC:tv:UnityDigitalTV ProSieben Freq:442000 ONID:9999 TSID:161 SID:12103 PMT:0x104 FTA:False LCN:105 SymbolRate:6900 Modulation:Mod256Qam
2011-06-04 22:49:11.525685 [(15)]: card: to different transponder
2011-06-04 22:49:11.526685 [(15)]: TimeShifter.OnBeforeTune: resetting audio/video events
2011-06-04 22:49:11.526685 [(15)]: dvbc: TuneVBC:tv:UnityDigitalTV ProSieben Freq:442000 ONID:9999 TSID:161 SID:12103 PMT:0x104 FTA:False LCN:105 SymbolRate:6900 Modulation:Mod256Qam
2011-06-04 22:49:11.526685 [(15)]: dvbubmiting tunerequest ChannelroSieben subChannel:0
2011-06-04 22:49:11.527686 [(15)]: dvb:using existing subchannel:0
2011-06-04 22:49:11.527686 [(15)]: dvbubmit tunerequest size:1 new:0
2011-06-04 22:49:11.527686 [(15)]: subch:0 OnBeforeTune
2011-06-04 22:49:11.528686 [(15)]: dvbubmit tunerequest calling put_TuneRequest
2011-06-04 22:49:12.210725 [(15)]: dvbubmit tunerequest done calling put_TuneRequest
2011-06-04 22:49:12.211725 [(15)]: subch:0 OnAfterTune
2011-06-04 22:49:12.214725 [(15)]: RunGraph
2011-06-04 22:49:12.218725 [(15)]: dvb: LockedInOnSignal ok
2011-06-04 22:49:12.219725 [(15)]: subch:0 OnGraphStart
2011-06-04 22:49:12.220725 [(15)]: subch:0 Graph already running - WaitForPMT
2011-06-04 22:49:12.220725 [(15)]: subch:0 SetupPmtGrabberid 104 sid:2F47
2011-06-04 22:49:12.221725 [(15)]: subch:0 set pmt grabber pmt:104 sid:2F47
2011-06-04 22:49:12.223725 [(15)]: TimeShifter.OnAfterTune: resetting audio/video time
2011-06-04 22:49:12.224725 [(15)]: WaitForPMT: Waiting for PMT 104
2011-06-04 22:49:20.226183 [(15)]: WaitForPMT: Timed out waiting for PMT after 8.0014576 seconds. Increase the PMT timeout value?
2011-06-04 22:49:20.227183 [(15)]: Setting to 0 to search for new PMT.
2011-06-04 22:49:20.228183 [(15)]: subch:0 SetupPmtGrabberid 0 sid:2F47
2011-06-04 22:49:20.229183 [(15)]: subch:0 set pmt grabber pmt:0 sid:2F47
2011-06-04 22:49:20.231183 [(15)]: TimeShifter.OnAfterTune: resetting audio/video time
2011-06-04 22:49:20.232183 [(15)]: WaitForPMT: Waiting for PMT 0
2011-06-04 22:49:28.232641 [(15)]: WaitForPMT: Timed out waiting for PMT after 8.0014576 seconds. Increase the PMT timeout value?
2011-06-04 22:49:28.234641 [(15)]: Setting to 0 to search for new PMT.
2011-06-04 22:49:28.235641 [(15)]: tvcard:FreeSubChannel: subchannels count 1 subch#0 keep graph=False
2011-06-04 22:49:28.236641 [(15)]: tvcard:FreeSubChannel :0 - is timeshifting (skipped)
2011-06-04 22:49:28.238641 [(15)]: card2:wohnzimmer 3 0
2011-06-04 22:49:28.239641 [(15)]: Controller: wohnzimmer 3 0
2011-06-04 22:49:28.244642 [(15)]: Controller: StopTimeShifting 3
2011-06-04 22:49:28.246642 [(15)]: card KNC BDA DVB-C: StopTimeShifting user:wohnzimmer sub:0
2011-06-04 22:49:28.249642 [(15)]: card: StopTimeShifting user:wohnzimmer sub:0
2011-06-04 22:49:28.250642 [(15)]: card not IDLE - removing user: wohnzimmer
2011-06-04 22:49:28.251642 [(15)]: user:wohnzimmer remove
2011-06-04 22:49:28.252642 [(15)]: subch:0-0 tswriter StopTimeshifting...
2011-06-04 22:49:28.260643 [(15)]: tvcard:FreeSubChannel: subchannels count 1 subch#0 keep graph=False
2011-06-04 22:49:28.260643 [(15)]: DVB subch:0 Decompose()
2011-06-04 22:49:28.262643 [(15)]: FreeSubChannel CA: freeing sub channel : 0
2011-06-04 22:49:28.264643 [(15)]: tvcard:FreeSubChannel : no subchannels present, pausing graph
2011-06-04 22:49:28.264643 [(15)]: dvbtopGraph called
2011-06-04 22:49:28.265643 [(15)]: tvcard:FreeAllSubChannels
2011-06-04 22:49:28.265643 [(15)]: dvbtopGraph
2011-06-04 22:49:28.268643 [(15)]: dvbtopGraph called
[/collapse]

 

[sepp776]

does nobody have similar problems switching channels or an idea what I could try out to solve the problem?

 

[mm1352000]

Hi sepp776

Could you please post full logs so that I can take a better look at your settings and get the full context of the issues. Also, I recommend that you change to the "stop graph" mode in case that makes any difference for your tuners (more info here).

mm

 

[sepp776]

Hi mm,

thanks for your answer. I will post full logs tonight when I'm at home.
The stop graph mode I activated already, and it seems as it helped a bit, but it's still every like 3rd or 4th SD to SD channel switch that fails.

Sepp.

 

[sepp776]

all right, here come the logs. This is what I did (hope the timestamps will make it easier to find the relevant positions in the logfiles).


2011-06-06 19:49:39.321639 Start Live TV with ZDF HD OK
2011-06-06 19:49:50.524280 Switch to RTL fails
2011-06-06 19:50:15.998737 Switch to Das Erste HD OK
2011-06-06 19:50:15.998737 Switch to RTL works fine now!
[some channel changes that work ok]
2011-06-06 19:51:04.539513 Switch to Phoenix takes a long time but finally works
[some channel changes that work ok]
2011-06-06 19:51:54.841716 Switch to Viva fails (channel encrypted)
2011-06-06 19:52:09.970582 Switch to Das Erste HD OK
2011-06-06 19:52:17.377005 Tuning to Viva works fine second time

I should mention that only one of the cards has a CAM, and ZDF, Das Erste and Phoenix are FTA, but all others are encrypted.
I already tried to disable the second card that has no CAM, but this didn't solve the problem either.

again for looking into this. I cross fingers you find something

 

[sepp776]

unfortunately I still have the same problems when switching channels, even after a complete reinstall of the HTPC

Does anyone have an idea what I can try? At the moment I have the impression that the PMT handling has problems with my fair signal (~60%):

WaitForPMT: Timed out waiting for PMT after 8.0014577 seconds. Increase the PMT timeout value?

 

[mm1352000]

Hi sepp776

I don't know what happened to cause me not to reply to you - please accept my deepest apologies! :sorry: :sorry: :sorry:

Your analysis is absolutely correct - there seems to be a PMT problem, but it is not consistent which must make it *very* frustrating! Unfortunately I can't see any pattern in the problems. I can suggest only a few things:
1. Ensure that the frequencies for your channels are correct by requesting the latest information from your cable provider (but obviously be careful not to arouse their suspicion if they don't like people using alternative STBs or HTPCs).
2. Make sure your CAM has the latest firmware.
3. Try experimenting to see if there is any difference between using the "generic" or "DVBC" network provider. That setting can be found in the tuner settings - select the tuner from the tuner list and click edit as described in the wiki -->here<--, then change the "preferred network provider" setting.
4. Try older tuner drivers.
5. Try enabling the "always use PAT lookup" debug option. You do that by starting TV Server with the DebugOptions command line switch (see the attached screenshot). Instructions are as follows:

- Open a command line terminal.
- Change directory to the location where TV Server is installed. For example, if TV Server is installed in C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal TV Server then use cd "c:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal TV Server".
- For MP 1.2.0a and earlier, enter SetupTv.exe --DebugOptions. For MP 1.2.0b and later, enter SetupTv.exe /DebugOptions. This should start TV Server configuration with an extra section called "Debug Options".
- Go to the "Debug Options" section and enable "always use PAT lookup".
- Restart the TV Server.

If that doesn't make any difference then I'm not sure what else to suggest, so I *really* hope one of those options helps you. I'd probably try them in this order: 1, 2, 3, 5, 4. Please let us know how you get on.

Once again, please accept my apologies...
mm

 

[sepp776]

Hi mm,

nevermind, I'll tell my girl friend that you're to blame
Just kidding, thanks a lot for these suggestions! I will try them as soon as I can and let you know about the results.

CU,
Sepp.

 

[sepp776]

wow, it seems the PAT lookup dramatically reduced the problem!!!
I'm lazy, so I started with 3, 5 and now I had only two times "channel not found" in more than 30 channel changes. That's an acceptable value at least.

I'm happy

 

[mm1352000]

That's great Sepp!
I guess your provider sometimes changes the PMT PID for some of your channels. Having that option ticked may give you *slightly* slower channel changes, but I guess the most important thing is that the channel changes work!

mm