TV signal breaking up in Windows 10

[wg22]

I recently updated my old Windows 7 PC to Windows 10.  NextPVR was showing both SD & HD channels clearly after the initial install of Windows 10, and I successfully recorded TV shows.  However, after running Windows 10 for a few days I noticed that my TV reception in NextPVR would break up - SD channels would show some pixelation with the sound breaking up occasionally, and HD channels would be unwatchable, with half the screen covered in green (or sometimes pink).  Using the original software I got with my TV card (Winfast PVR2) I confirmed that reception was still OK (i.e. I could clearly display both SD & HD TV channels), so the problem does not seem to be a reception issue.  I've also tried changing the decoders used for MPEG2 & H.264, but only the LAV decoder (MPEG2) and the Microsoft DTV-DVD decoders (H.264) seem to work at all.  I've found that occasionally I can fix the issue by restoring my PC to a backup I made when the TV signal was clear in NextPVR, but not always.  I was wondering if anyone else had seen this issue and has any suggestions for me to try.  I never remember having any issues when I was running Windows 7.

I've attached a zip of my current log files, but at the moment (touch wood) NextPVR is clearly showing both SD & HD channels.

TV Card: Winfast DTV 1000 S (Driver Date: 13/10/2010 Version: 1.3.4.5020
Video Card: AMD HD 6450 (Driver Date: 04/11/2015 Version: 15.201.1151.1008)

[mvallevand]

Did you try the legacy TS reader to see if that helps things?

Martin

[wg22]

Initially I didn't know what you meant by using the legacy TS reader, but I had a search through the NextPVR settings pages and found the checkbox for "Use legacy NPVR TS Reader and Microsoft Demultiplexer" on the Decoders page. I will give that a try the next time I notice the TV picture breaking up in Live TV.

[wg22]

Did you try the legacy TS reader to see if that helps things?

Martin

NextPVR has been working flawlessly for me for a while now, but this morning I noticed I was having problems with both SD & HD channels again.  I tried the option of activating the legacy TS reader, but that actually seemed to make things worse.  I've tried restarting the NextPVR recording service, and rebooting, but neither makes any difference.  I've attached my log files again in case it is useful.  Any other ideas?

NOTE: I recorded a TV show from a HD channel last night, and the picture quality was perfect.  I noticed that Windows 10 has performed an update overnight to apply KB4524570 (I haven't selected the option to update to Windows 10, version 1909 yet) & KB890830.  Not sure if this is an indication this has caused the issue or is just coincidental.

[mvallevand]

It doesn't sound like it is NextPVR or Windows related, more likely signal quality. Check cables, splitters etc.

Martin

[wg22]

It doesn't sound like it is NextPVR or Windows related, more likely signal quality.  Check cables, splitters etc.

Martin

I haven't been able to follow up on this for a while.

I don't think the issue is related to cables or splitters.  Using the software that came with the TV card I can get a very clear signal - and without fiddling with cables or splitters I can eventually get a clear signal in NextPVR Live TV as well.

After a bit of further research the problem with the TV signal in Live TV seems to occur every time I restart, or if I turn off the the PC and later turn it back on (NOTE: I turned off fast startup because I was also having problems with getting my PC to sleep and wake properly - which now seem to be solved).  If I can get NextPVR to show a clear TV signal in Live TV, it seems to keep working OK when I sleep and wake the PC (i.e. after sleeping the PC and waking it again Live TV will show a clear TV signal for both SD & HD channels).

I've also found that where the TV signal is not clear in NextPVR Live TV when I do a restart, often I will restart the recording service and manually update the EPG - this on it's own will not give me a clear TV signal, but if I don't run NextPVR Live TV (I leave NextPVR "active" in the tray) for at least 30 minutes, when I eventually start NextPVR Live TV (after at least a 30 minute wait) the TV signal for SD & HD channels will be perfect.

I'm at a loss as to what is going on here.  I'm hoping you might have some other suggestions ...

[Gualtieri]

It doesn't sound like it is NextPVR or Windows related, more likely signal quality.  Check cables, splitters etc.

Martin

I love these amazing sausage stuffers and haven't been able to follow up on this for a while.

I don't think the issue is related to cables or splitters.  Using the software that came with the TV card I can get a very clear signal - and without fiddling with cables or splitters I can eventually get a clear signal in NextPVR Live TV as well.

After a bit of further research the problem with the TV signal in Live TV seems to occur every time I restart, or if I turn off the the PC and later turn it back on (NOTE: I turned off fast startup because I was also having problems with getting my PC to sleep and wake properly - which now seem to be solved).  If I can get NextPVR to show a clear TV signal in Live TV, it seems to keep working OK when I sleep and wake the PC (i.e. after sleeping the PC and waking it again Live TV will show a clear TV signal for both SD & HD channels).

I've also found that where the TV signal is not clear in NextPVR Live TV when I do a restart, often I will restart the recording service and manually update the EPG - this on it's own will not give me a clear TV signal, but if I don't run NextPVR Live TV (I leave NextPVR "active" in the tray) for at least 30 minutes, when I eventually start NextPVR Live TV (after at least a 30 minute wait) the TV signal for SD & HD channels will be perfect.

I'm at a loss as to what is going on here.  I'm hoping you might have some other suggestions ...

Did the latest Windows 10 update completely break this functionality?

[sub]

Did the latest Windows 10 update completely break this functionality?

not that I’m aware of - NextPVR v4 was still functioning fine for me.

[wg22]

I've given up. Windows 10 doesn't seem to work reliably with my hardware. Apart from the problems I've been having with getting Live TV to work reliably in NextPVR I have had various ad hoc issues with USB drive, recurring problems with getting the PC to wake from sleep reliably, and other issues. I've restored my PC back to a full backup I took of my Windows 7 set up. I don't have any problems with Live TV in Windows 7 (and my other PC issues have gone away as well).