Trying EVR in XP -> No widescreen (1 Viewer)

[RobNorthcott]

TV-Server Version: 1.0 RC3
MediaPortal Version: 1.0 RC3
MediaPortal Skin: BlueTwo Wide
Windows Version: XP SP3
CPU Type: Athlon 64 3200
HDD: 750GB SATA
Memory: 2GB
Motherboard: MSI, nVidia chipset
Video Card: GeForce FX5200 (PCI)
Video Card Driver:
Sound Card: Onboard
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: PureVideo
MPEG2 Audio Codec:
h.264 Video Codec:
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case: Antec Fusion
Cooling:
Power Supply: Antec 400W
Remote: MS
TV: Samsung LCD 26"
TV - HTPC Connection: VGA

I've been having a few stability problems with live TV and have been triyng various changes to see if anything helps. I wanted to try EVR instead of VMR9, so installed .net 3 and it allows me to use EVR, but it seems to force all live TV to 4:3 even if it should be a widescreen picture. Is this a known problem with EVR on XP (I realise it's "experimental")? Any ideas?

Rob

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

I've been having a few stability problems with live TV and have been triyng various changes to see if anything helps.

Is the instability happening if Previewing a channel in TVServer config or in any recordings done, if it is, then its TVServer related, if it's fine and just the viewability especially live TV within mediaportal thats the problem, then its codec\graphics related.

Have tried EVR with XP and it worked fine with aspect ratio's using PowerDVD mpeg2 codec.

Not sure whether the aspect ratio problem could be down to the 5200\nvidia purevision not liking the newer format renderer, you do not say which Nvidia driver your using, even using latest may help, as the Purevision codec is tied to the updated drivers.

 

[RobNorthcott]

Thanks Ray. I'm using an oldish nVidia driver (sorry - can't remember which version at the moment) because last time I updated it it caused all sorts of problems - I could try again now (that was some time ago). It's good to know that EVR and XP should be OK, so it's not a waste of time messing about with it.

Since I changed the mpeg codec from Purevideo to one of the others it hasn't actually hung during watching live TV, but I sometimes get a bit of jerking/stuttering for a second or two. I'm starting to wonder if it's actually signal problems and the Purevideo codec can't handle that. Interestingly, when it stutters badly there seems to be a lot of hard drive accessing going on (not timeshift file - I've got that on an external flash drive).

Even though it doesn't completely hang, when I close MP there is often a Microsoft "MediaPortal has caused an error and has to close" message on the screen, although MP seemed to carry on fine.

Anyway, I'll keep fiddling - perhaps try another codec (Purevideo gives a nicer picture but definitely seems less stable than others). Thanks for the hints. I'll try watching something on the TV server preview like you suggested and see if it's better.

If I'm recording something, TV server carries on happily recording in the background even after MP appears to have completely hung. In fact, it's never failed to record anything and is extremely reliable in this respect.

Rob

EDIT: Spoke too soon - my wife's watching the Simpsons and it just completely lost the picture, then became utterly unresponsive and had to be rebooted. Bummer. Hasn't done it for a long time though.

EDIT Again: Graphics card driver is version 91.31

 

[RobNorthcott]

Another update:

Nobody's watching telly at the moment so I've had another chance to test stuff. I'm now using EVR, Purevideo and MPA and it works fine with widescreen pictures.

It's not cured the occasional stuttering, and there's a bit of picture tearing, but I'll leave it like that for a bit and see how it goes.

So, my original query on this thread seems to have gone away - widescreen pictures are now working using EVR on XP

But I haven't cured the occasional stuttering or MS errors yet.

Rob