Problems with Video, DVD and TV pictures (1 Viewer)

[Rien59]

Area: Media Portal Program
MediaPortal Version: 0.2.0.0 RC4 (2006-04-18)
MediaPortal Skin: MCE
Windows Version: Windows XP (SP2)
.NET CLR Version: 2.0.50727
DirectX Version: 4.09.00.0904 (9.0c)
Audio Codec: ffdshow Audio Decoder
Video Codec: Mpeg2Dec Filter
CPU Type: AMD Sempron 2400+
Memory: 767 MB DDR 400
Motherboard: Asrock K7S41
TV Card Model: ZAP-TV1001MCE
TV Card Type: Hardware encoding
TV Card Driver: -Newest from website Club 3D
Video Card Model: Club 3D Volari V3 XT: CGX-V38TVD 128 MB
Video Card Driver: -New Version Reatordriver R1.09.68
Video Card Resolution: 800x600
Video Render Type: -
Audio Card Model: Creative Audigy 4 Audio Processor (WDM)
Audio Card Driver: -
Synopsis:: 40 + 200 MB harddisk, DVD-rom 16 x, Marmitek PC control, Logitech Z5400 speakers and amplifier, Sony KV-29FX20B TV, TV cabinet with my HTPC inside.

Problems with TV, DVD and video. In Windows Media Player, PowerDVD and ZAP TV program all is fine, I have exellent picture and sound, but when I switch to Media Portal I only have sound. Only when I am playing Trailers I have an exellent picture and sound.

Before I used Media Portal 0.1.3. and .net 1.1 and had no problems with video and DVD. That time I did not have a TV-card at all, so I cannot say if this problem did not occure under 0.1.3.
Extra information: My ZAP TV1001 is recognised by Media Portal as a ZAP TV 1100, but as far as I know both use the same connexant chips

More info: I installed the latest drivers from the websides of the both manufacturers. Changed to decoding for DVD, Video and TV to DScaler Mpeg2 Video Decoder, because all my video's are in Mpeg2 too.
Tried to skip in the configurationscreen by General: Use exclusive Direct X mode for fullscreen tv/video but the next time I started up Media Portal it was connected again.

This morning I could see a complete video, but at the moment I tried to change de volume the screen turned black. Going back to the main screen and starting for example music and a song and then going back to the videopart, I could start up a video again and see the whole video if I did not touch any button of my remote. The same happens when I play Internetradio first. Going back to the mainscreen and not starting up a audiofile and again to video only resulted in a black tv-screen.
I even rarely had TV with the same results, if not touching any button.
Only when I was viewing MovieTrailers, I had no problems and the program functioned stable.

I realise now that when I installed 0.2.0RC4 I have forgotten to deinstall 0.1.3. Is it possible that a part of the former relaese makes Media Portal instable? It 's only a guess.

Rien

 

[FlipGer]

Hi,

I think your problem ist issued by the Xgi Volari Family. MP 0.2 uses VMR9 instead of Overlay as renderer. I think this is not properly supported by this card.

The LOGs may help:
- start MP
- try playing a video
- stop the video
- stop MP
=> /Team Media Portal/MediaPortal/logs/

You can post them to http://mediaportal.pastebin.com/

Flip.

 

[Rien59]

Hi Flip,

Thank you for helping me thinking in the right direction to solve my problem. As you asked me I posted the logs in the pastebin, hpoe that they can tell you anything. I donot see anything, it's abrakadabra for me.

As I added to the description of my problem, in fact I can see a whole video in MP, but if I tough one button of my remote the screen turns black. I also disconnected ffdshow for video, DVD and TV, but as so far nothing changed.

Did you hear more problems with this graphics cart? And why MP 0.2 RC4 doesn't support overlay anymore? Is there a possibility to overcome this situation?

You see, more questions than a wise man can answer. But I am very glad that you will help me doing the right things.

 

[Rien59]

Problems with DVD, TV and Video

Flip

There are some things I don't understand and I am going to change:

1- Why can I start up a video and see it completely in excellent quality (S-video) if I first startup and stop an audiosession. Is there any conflict with the software of my Creative Audigy 4? Or do I have a conflict with my Marmitek PC control remote?

2- XGI says that this graphicscard is "True Hardware DirectX9" (The Club 3D Volari V3XT is DirectX 9 compliant for running modern applications using dual RAMDAC technoligy for powerful dual monitor operation, displaying up to 1080i and 720p in HDTV format) Does it than only work without problems directly under Windows?

3- Under system requirements Club 3D says also: 350 Watt or greater Power Supply. My HTPC uses a 300 Watt power supply. Can this be the bottleneck? Today I orderd for a new 350 Watt Nexus Ultra Silent Powersupply, because I also installed an extra 200GB harddisk for data (the first one is 40 GB and contains the software), the ZapTV1001 and the Creative Audigy 4. Let us see what happens when I install that.

May be this information can help you too.

Many thanks in advance for all the help you can provide me. If I find the solution myself I let you know.

Rien

 

[Callifo]

Do you have another video card you can perhaps borrow to test with?

Just want to confirm as I did some googling on the card and most reviews werent exactly impressive to say the least. Few claims it cant do VMR9 rendering properly.

 

[Rien59]

Hi Callifo

Thank you very much for doing all of this to help me solving my problem.

I do have an other graphicscard, a Point of View NVIDIA Geforce 4 MX 4000 128 MB DDR, that's in the PC I am working on now. You think that it will do the job better?

My first theory is that I think that the XGI Volari is very sensitive on the exact voltage. When it is decoding a video, what it is doing very well on that moment, and I give a command by the Marmitek RF USB remote, there is a little drop in voltage and the decoder stops working.(I could not measure this of course, it's a theory)

My second theory is that the Creative Audigy 4 is using a lot of resources because I installed all the software that was on the CD. In the startup process I saw a lot of Creative programs starting up with Windows. May be it's a better thing to deinstall all this stuff and only install the naked driver.

The powersupply of my HTPC is an old 300 Watt brandless one and I think that it can't do its job very well anymore. I modified it a little by changing the 80 mm fan for an 120 mm and I positioned this one in the bottomplate of the powersupply casing.
But as I wrote I ordered for a new powersupply that I expect within a few days.

Because my HTPC is a very special one, I made a special TV cabinet with the PC inside and the powersupply and DVDplayer outside of the actual PC-housing, it is more work to change the graphicscard than in an ordinairy PC. (If you like to see photographs of it, send me your e-mailadress)

When the powersupply arrives I first will exchange the old one and look what happens. If there is no difference I will deinstall all the Creative stuff and see what this will do. If this isn't of any influence I will exchange the graphicscards.

I 'll keep you informed

Rien.

 

[Callifo]

Hi Callifo
I do have an other graphicscard, a Point of View NVIDIA Geforce 4 MX 4000 128 MB DDR, that's in the PC I am working on now. You think that it will do the job better?

Sorry to say but no. You will need a DX8.1 card minimum (eg. GF4 Ti not GF4MX).

 

[Rien59]

Hi Flip and Callifo,

I made it!!!! The problem was, just as you two supposed, the Volari garphicscard, more specific the driver.

Looking in my folders I discouverd an other driver for the Volari and installed it. Immmediatly after installing I tried to play a movie and all I got was garbidge on the screen. I had sound but that was all. But it was late last night and I went to bed disappointed.

This morning I woke up, looked after all the CD's with the original drivers and started up my HTPC. I wanted to make a fresh installation of all the MB, TV-card and Volari drivers.

Let's give it an ultimate try I thought and I could not believe my eyes. I had video, TV and DVD, all fine. I think that after the installation of the new driver I had to start up again my computer to let Media Portal initiate the newe driver. But last night I was sleepy and did forget that.

So don't let us doubt anymore about the Volari family, just like with NVIDIA-cards, you have to suffle a little bit with other drivers.
The one that gave me the ultimate solution was number:6.14.10.1090 May be other folks can use this information, because I don't think I am the only one on this globe that uses the Volari.

All I have to do now is a little bit fine tuning with the codecs, TV and timeshift- and screenadjustments, but the program works stable.
Media Portal is a very great program, I love it. Thanks to all the guys doing the great job.

When the powersupply arrives I will put it in, because I am sure that the old one is not anymore in its best days.
I also ordered for a Logitech Harmony 525 to get rid of all that remotes on my loungetable. But that is the next step.

Many thanks folks for the help you provided me. That was great.

Rien

 

[FlipGer]

Hi,

thanks for your feedback with the drivers!

Much fun with MP,
Flip.