Stuttering, but only on one channel (BBC1 SW) (1 Viewer)

[RobNorthcott]

TV-Server Version: 1.0 Final
MediaPortal Version: 1.0 Final
MediaPortal Skin: Blue3 Wide
Windows Version: XP Home SP3
CPU Type: AMD Athlon 64 3200+
HDD: Western Digital 750GB SATA
Memory: 2GB DDR2
Motherboard: MSI, nForce chipset
Video Card: Gigabyte ATI HD4550
Video Card Driver:
Sound Card: On-board
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: Hauppauge HVR3000
1. TV Card Type: Hybrid DVB-S, DVB-T, Analogue
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: PowerDVD 7
MPEG2 Audio Codec: MPA
h.264 Video Codec:
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Astra 28.2E + Eurobird 28.5E
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Cooling: 2x120mm case fans, 90mm Noctua on CPU
Power Supply: Antec 430W
Remote: Microsoft remote + keyboard
TV: Samsung 26" LCD
TV - HTPC Connection: VGA Sub-D (1360x768)

In the last couple of days I've had really bad stuttering on one channel (BBC1 SW). It's only the one channel though - others are fine and even other regional BBC1 is fine.

I've had a look at the log and it appears that the signal isn't weak. Could there actually be something "wrong" with BBC1 SW at the moment, or is it something I can fix?

Very odd. Logs attached. At 19:52 ish today I tested it by changing channels a few times for a few minutes, then took the logs. All channels fine except BBC1 SW.

Any ideas?

Rob

 

[tourettes]

08-03-2009 19:55:18.875 [334]vid:set discontinuity
08-03-2009 19:55:21.265 [334]Audio Continuity error... 0 ( prev e )
08-03-2009 19:55:21.578 [fdc]aud:set discontinuity
08-03-2009 19:55:22.328 [334]Video Continuity error... b ( prev 8 )
08-03-2009 19:55:22.515 [334]vid:set discontinuity
08-03-2009 19:55:23.312 [334]Video Continuity error... b ( prev 9 )
08-03-2009 19:55:23.375 [334]vid:set discontinuity
08-03-2009 19:55:24.953 [334]Video Continuity error... 2 ( prev c )
08-03-2009 19:55:24.953 [334]Audio Continuity error... 4 ( prev 0 )
08-03-2009 19:55:25.140 [334]vid:set discontinuity
08-03-2009 19:55:25.203 [fdc]aud:set discontinuity
08-03-2009 19:55:25.437 [fdc]Video Continuity error... a ( prev 8 )
08-03-2009 19:55:25.953 [334]vid:set discontinuity
08-03-2009 19:55:27.765 [334]Video Continuity error... e ( prev e )
08-03-2009 19:55:27.765 [334]Audio Continuity error... 0 ( prev c )
08-03-2009 19:55:28.015 [334]vid:set discontinuity
08-03-2009 19:55:28.078 [fdc]aud:set discontinuity
08-03-2009 19:55:29.703 [334]Video Continuity error... 3 ( prev 1 )

You have a bad signal. Try improving cable etc.

 

[RobNorthcott]

Thanks for the reply. It has been pretty windy here the last few days, so it's possible the dish has moved a bit or something. Cables are the same as always, so shouldn't have changed. Strange that it only affects one channel though (or possibly one transponder - I don't think I tried other channels on the same transponder).

If it's bad signal, does that mean the "Signal Level 100%, Signal Quality 100%" in the log is a bit of a red herring?

I'll check the connectors aren't loose or wet just in case. It's possible a mouse could have bitten the cable (it goes all the way through the house under the floor), but wouldn't that affect all channels? When it's a bit less cold and windy I'll check the dish alignment as well. I've got a little in-line signal amplifier somewhere - wonder if it's worth trying that and see if it helps...

In the meantime I'll just use another BBC1.

BTW - is there a good way to check signal strength and/or quality on DVB-S (bit of software or whatever)? MP always reports it as maximum when doing a scan or in the logs, so I've assumed that meant it was all OK. I've got a cheap signal meter for lining the dish up, but that's only really useful for relative strength, not absolute.

Rob

EDIT: One more thing I forgot to mention is that I'm using djBlu's modified tswriter for epg. I suppose it's possible that could be doing something odd (but only on one channel?), so I'll try putting the normal one back and see if the problem persists.

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

Signal level comes from drivers, and have been known to lie, a signal meter would be much more accurate.

 

[RobNorthcott]

I decided to test other channels on the same transponder to see if they worked. They do. And so does BBC1 SW now! So the problem seems to have gone away on its own after four days

If it happens again I'll try checking the dish alignment, cabling etc, but at the moment it's all working really nicely so I'll leave it alone for now. Could have been weather or some freaky one-off external interference (I hope).

Thanks for your suggestions anyway.

Rob