2.5.9 reusing capture card.

[kcmcdona]

I recently upgraded a nextpvr system from 2.4.3 to 2.5.9. It has two Hauppauge analog capture cards which utilize IR blasters to tune cable boxes to the proper channel. With 2.4.3, each request for livetv would utilize a different tuner card. I would have two different instances of VLC, requesting a livetv session with http://localhost:8866/live?channel=xxx. Each session would access a new tuner, and if both were busy, the VLC request would receive an error indicating that a 'tuner' was not available.

With 2.5.9, the first request works fine. However, the second request grabs the same tuner, changes the channel, and freezes the first session. I have attached an nrecord log file that shows the two connection requests, under 2.5.9.

I recall a recent post, about making nextpvr able to more easily change channels for livetv. Perhaps this change may be inadvertantly causing this behavior?

I note also that both tuners are tuned to channel 4, because they are receiving output from the cable boxes on channel 4, so it would seem that perhaps a new request would appear to be utilizing the same channel, even though the cable boxes are tuned to different cable channels?

Thanks for your help.

Kelly M.

[sub]

If you're going to be using multiple clients simultaneously, try adding a "client" identifier to the calls made by each client

http://localhost:8866/live?channel=xxx&client=client1
http://localhost:8866/live?channel=xxx&client=client2

The identifier string can be anything, but you should use the same string on subsequent requests from the same client. Otherwise it assumes all the requests are coming from the same client.

[kcmcdona]

That did indeed solve that problem. Thank you. However, I also observed, that if a channel has been opened by your recent XBMC PVR addon, a new session opens successfully with VLC, but it switches the PVR addon channel from the original channel that it was tuned to, to the channel that the VLC session tuned. However, on the status screen, it shows both channels still active on their original channels. It seems like it changed the tuner that the PVR addon was pointing to, to the second tuner. If you want me to, I will try and capture an nrecord.log during that scenario. Kelly M.

[kcmcdona]

Here is the log of the scenario I just mentioned.

1. I start an XBMC livetv session using your XBMC addon. (different machine than nextpvr)
2. I start a VLC session from a third machine, using the client= parameter.

the nextpvr status screen shows both sessions open, and the VLC session is running correctly. However, the addon session has changed channels to the new session.

attached is the nrecord.log

Kelly M.

[sub]

It shouldn't steal a tuner from another client. I had a quick try and wasn't able to reproduce this. I also haven't seen other reports of this.

If you're able to reproduce the problem, zip and attach the nrecord.log and web.log and I'll check it out.

If they're digital tuners, multiple clients can be using the same tuner at the same time, and potentially on different channels on the same frequency.

[kcmcdona]

Here is the corresponding web log.

Kelly M.

[kcmcdona]

These aren't digital tuners. They are analog tuners, using the Hauppauge softpvr recording function. Kelly M.

[kcmcdona]

The thought occurred to me overnight, that perhaps the IR blasters are occasionally bleeding over from one tuner to another. I'll verify that tonight. Kelly M.

[sub]

Yep - that could cause the effect you're describing.

[kcmcdona]

The IR bleed was indeed the problem with occasional channel changing. I covered the IR blasters completely with black electrical tape, and the problem has magically gone away. Thank you very much for the assistance. You have provided a great product. Kelly M.