Really slow channel changes. (1 Viewer)

[ProggerPete]

I'm trying to set up my first HTPC and am hitting a couple of issues.

I tried 7MC first and it worked well for watching live tv, but I lose sound &/or video whenever I hit the record button.

So I figured I'd give MediaPortal a go. Recording/pause live tv works well, but it takes 15-20 seconds to change channel.

I'm using a HD HomeRun Network Tuner.

Any ideas?

Cheers,
Peter

 

[mm1352000]

Hi and welcome Peter

20 seconds seems very extreme. Do you think you could post your logs so I can check out what is going on?

Log Files - MediaPortal Wiki

mm

 

[ProggerPete]

Cheers for your response. I've attached some logs.

 

[mm1352000]

Hi again

How good is your signal quality and network speed? It just looks like to me like there is general unreliability in tuning channels. When that happens, MP spends about 15 seconds waiting for audio and video before trying the next tuner. In other words, when it takes 15-20 seconds to tune a channel, MP has tried to tune that channel on the first tuner, waited for video/audio for 15 seconds, given up waiting, tried the second tuner, and succeeded very quickly. You can control the delay that MP waits for (the 15 seconds) using the "wait for timeshift file" setting in the timeshifting section of TV Server configuration (-->here<--).

mm

 

[ProggerPete]

Thanks for taking a look.

Pulling up the HDHomeRun Config I can see that it's toggling between the tuners each time I change channel. It stays on the same tuner for a while, then flicks and I get tv.

It's reporting signal strength, signal quality and symbol quality all at 100%.

Network wise I am running over a wireless N network. I'm not sure what network speed is required or how to tell what my real speed is. Windows reports a 300Mbps connection. My router (A FritzBox 7390) reports 54Mbits.

Apart from the pauses in channel changes things are working well. I can record one channel, watch another and stream internet tv all at the same time with none of them skipping.

I tried dropping the wait time on the timeshifting to 3 seconds but it had no noticeable improvement on channel change time.

Cheers,
Peter

 

[mm1352000]

Hi again

Pulling up the HDHomeRun Config I can see that it's toggling between the tuners each time I change channel. It stays on the same tuner for a while, then flicks and I get tv.

Yep, that's what I meant.

It's reporting signal strength, signal quality and symbol quality all at 100%.

Yes, however in those situations the stream being received from the tuner either (1) does not seem to contain PMT (information about the audio, video and subtitle sub streams) or (2) does not actually seem to contain video and audio data.

I tried dropping the wait time on the timeshifting to 3 seconds but it had no noticeable improvement on channel change time.

You'd have to restart TV Server for the setting change to be applied.

Okay, here's a dumb question: have you configured HDHomeRun setup to use the MediaPortal profile (because that is critical)?

mm

 

[ProggerPete]

Hi again

Pulling up the HDHomeRun Config I can see that it's toggling between the tuners each time I change channel. It stays on the same tuner for a while, then flicks and I get tv.

Yep, that's what I meant.

It's reporting signal strength, signal quality and symbol quality all at 100%.

Yes, however in those situations the stream being received from the tuner either (1) does not seem to contain PMT (information about the audio, video and subtitle sub streams) or (2) does not actually seem to contain video and audio data.

I tried dropping the wait time on the timeshifting to 3 seconds but it had no noticeable improvement on channel change time.

You'd have to restart TV Server for the setting change to be applied.

Okay, here's a dumb question: have you configured HDHomeRun setup to use the MediaPortal profile (because that is critical)?

mm

The question isn't dumb, but it turns out I am. I didn't even know there was a profile to select. Having switched to the mediaportal profile I see a HUGE improvement. I'm no longer bouncing between tuners and channel changes are down to around 2-3 seconds. I'd still prefer them faster but I think I'm into the usable range.

Big thanks for your help!

I'll have a poke around now and see how the rest of the app feels. I'd have to say that 7MC does look slicker, but the fact that media portal actually works means I'll over look that. =)

Cheers,
Pete

 

[mm1352000]

Hi again Peter

The question isn't dumb, but it turns out I am. I didn't even know there was a profile to select.

Don't be so hard on yourself - its your first HTPC and it takes time to learn where all the important settings are. I'm just glad that everything is working properly now.

...channel changes are down to around 2-3 seconds. I'd still prefer them faster but I think I'm into the usable range.

A few things that might improve that:
1. Reduce the zap timeout in the "on screen display" subsection of the "GUI" subsection in MP configuration (-->here<--).
2. Move the timeshifting/recording folder location to a dedicated HDD (folders tab in the "timeshifting" section + the "recording" section in TV Server configuration).

Big thanks for your help!

No worries.

I'll have a poke around now and see how the rest of the app feels. I'd have to say that 7MC does look slicker, but the fact that media portal actually works means I'll over look that. =)

Obviously I'm biased towards MP so I'm going to point you in the direction of our skins page. I'm sure there will be something in there that takes your eye.

MEDIAPORTAL - Skins

At the end of the day though, choose whichever software is right for you!

mm