Terratec H7 DVB-C random freeze (1 Viewer)

[hassegubben]

I am in desperate need of help. I have a brand new Terratec H7 (installed as DVB-C),with a Dilog Conax 5.0 CAM and an access card from COMHEM. On all channels I watch live, the picture freees for a second, every 10-30 seconds or so, at random intervals. When I watch recordings the freezes are present while watching the recordings.
Things I have tried: Set max simultaneous CAM decoding to 0 and 1. No difference. I don't know how to set the value - the CAM does not have a manual. I have also de-selected "allow card to grab DVB EPG". No difference. Sometimes the TV-server has lost connection to Mediaportal during my testing, but I did not manage to get that case in the attached Debug logs. Furthermore I have not configured a Hybrid Card setup. The card seems to be recognized by MP as a DVB-C card only. I hope that suffice. All my other cards work perfectly.

Attached are the Mediaportal Debug logs while watching a couple of freezes.







MediaPortal Version: MP 1.0.2
MediaPortal Skin: Blue3 wide
Windows Version: Win XP pro SP3
CPU Type: Intel Q9450 2,66GHz
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 500 GB IDE, Samsung T166 500GB SataII
Memory: Corsair XMS2 DHX 4GB
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 3870 Ultimate
Video Card Driver: Catalyst 8.11
Sound Card: Realtek ALC889
Sound Card AC3: MB inbuilt optical out
Sound Card Driver: Realtek HD Audio v2.01
1. TV Card: Hauppauge PVRUSB2 MCE
1. TV Card Type: Analog
1. TV Card Driver: WinTV 4.6b
2. TV Card: Hauppauge HVR-2200
2. TV Card Type: Analog, dual tuner
2. TV Card Driver: WinTV 4.6b
3. TV Card: Hauppauge NOVA-T-500 HD
3. TV Card Type: DVB-T
3. TV Card Driver: WinTV 4.6b
4. TV Card: Terratec H7
4. TV Card Type: DVB-C
4. TV Card Driver: 1.00.05.101
MPEG2 Video Codec: ATI avivo
MPEG2 Audio Codec: MPA
h.264 Video Codec: ATI avivo
Satelite/CableTV Provider: cable/COMHEM
HTPC Case: Antec P182B
Cooling: Noctua NH-U12P
Power Supply: Corsair HX620
Remote: Microsoft Remote Keyboard & Remote
TV: Panasonic 42PV60 plasma
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI

 

[riksmith]

Could you try with MP 1.1.0 RC? Many fixes to TV in that version.

 

[hassegubben]

I am planning to go to 1.1.0 final as soon as I can. I have a "production"-system that cannot be used for testing. I am aware of the enhancements to your suggested solution, though. I was hoping a developer could see something in the logs.

 

[riksmith]

I am planning to go to 1.1.0 final as soon as I can. I have a "production"-system that cannot be used for testing. I am aware of the enhancements to your suggested solution, though. I was hoping a developer could see something in the logs.

No problem, just a suggestion .

This is probably the error:

13-05-2010 16:34:39.468 [a94]Aud/Ref : 6.136, Late              Compensated = 6.104 ( 0.557 A/V buffers=01/08), Clk : 5.547000, State 2
13-05-2010 16:34:47.515 [a94]Video Continuity error... 1 ( prev f )
13-05-2010 16:34:48.140 [fac]vid:set discontinuity
13-05-2010 16:34:50.843 [a94]Audio Continuity error... 5 ( prev 3 )
13-05-2010 16:34:50.843 [a94]aud:set discontinuity
13-05-2010 16:34:57.484 [a94]Video Continuity error... e ( prev c )
13-05-2010 16:34:58.218 [fac]vid:set discontinuity
13-05-2010 16:35:01.109 [a94]Video Continuity error... 4 ( prev 2 )

 

[hassegubben]

Continuity error - that was a new way to say Picture freeze! LOL
I guess you are correct in your conclusion. How can I remedy the cause?

 

[riksmith]

Continuity error - that was a new way to say Picture freeze! LOL
I guess you are correct in your conclusion. How can I remedy the cause?

Could have added to my comment that i don't know, was just to make it easy for others to see what the technical error is.

 

[hassegubben]

The problem must be my configuration. I have been reading extensively in the MP forums and others have got the Terratec H7 to work with my current driver, as recommended to Kossu by Morpheus.

 

[hassegubben]

Did some more research: Boosted signal amplification in small steps up to maximum. Switched to a high quality antenna cable. Still freezes. Tested HD channel as well: the freezes manifests as sudden blockiness which disappears after less than a second. Same random interval for the freezes as for SD channels. I also pressed F9 while watching the channels: Signal quality 98. Signal level 0! That certainly is disappointing. MP obviously doesn't handle the Terratec H7 in a correct manner. The PC is a standalone, so I guess changing streaming/network settings will not do any good(as discussed in another thread). It's sad - the picture quality is great when the tuner works, for a minute or so. Since the firedtv-c is not an option any more, this tuner is one of few that can replace it. I really need it to work!!!

 

[hassegubben]

Update: uninstalled AVG free antivirus-no effect. Switched from back to front USB outlet on PC-no effect. Switched Timeshift HDD-no effect. Discovered that the Terratec H7 reports a DVB-T tuner to MP(the DVB-C tuner is named Terratec, but the DVB-T tuner is not. Strange). Created two hybrid groups and added the DVB-T tuner to one group and the DVB-C tuner to the other group. De-selected the DVB-T tuner. Still random freezes and discontinuities in the TSreader log file. But why???
Checked that ATI mpeg and CoreAVC is used for SD and HD live TV using GraphEdit. Looked good.
What else could cause the discontinuities??? I´m running out of options here...

 

[riksmith]

Update: uninstalled AVG free antivirus-no effect. Switched from back to front USB outlet on PC-no effect. Switched Timeshift HDD-no effect. Discovered that the Terratec H7 reports a DVB-T tuner to MP(the DVB-C tuner is named Terratec, but the DVB-T tuner is not. Strange). Created two hybrid groups and added the DVB-T tuner to one group and the DVB-C tuner to the other group. De-selected the DVB-T tuner. Still random freezes and discontinuities in the TSreader log file. But why???
Checked that ATI mpeg and CoreAVC is used for SD and HD live TV using GraphEdit. Looked good.
What else could cause the discontinuities??? I´m running out of options here...

I would advise to somehow test RC2 (or wait for RC3 if you like). Just to rule out MP 1.0.2