Recordings cut-off due to improper use of multiple tuners

[johnsonx42]

Now I realize why I haven't run into this bug before, though I did encounter something similar (http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...vice-versa!). I don't use padding, so this re-allocation of tuners rarely happens on my setup. NPVR schedules shows without considering padding, then attempts to accomodate padding at recording time if it can. It's only when a recording is moved to another tuner that this bug occurs. Without padding, the only time this happens is when someone is watching Live TV using a tuner scheduled for a recording.

[TVHelp]

TVHelp,

I suspect the issue TVHelp posted about is the same as in the thread I started a few months ago:
http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...ers-active

I hinted at it there, but I'll blatently point it out here: in my humble opinion, the in-advance scheduling logic is broken, and NPVR relys on some just-in-time logic to reallocate tuners on the fly just before the recording is about to start. On my 3 XP boxes as I noted in the thread, the just-in-time logic does not work properly and kills one or more of the active recordings several minutes before the end of the show(s). By editing the db manually, I'm removing the conflicts and the just-in-time logic never kicks in and I have perfect recordings with padding fully working. Several folks suggested XP is to blame for the just-in-time logic failing and it may well be, but in my humble opinion NPVR should not be scheduling recordings that are on different RF channels on the same tuner, but it does. It doesn't matter if these are recurring recordings or one time or a mix of both. It screws it up most of the time. Every time I go into the db, I just shake my head at the decisions it made, then fix them manually and go on my way.

I agree that there seems to be different logic with recurring recordings as I never have issues with one time recordings or quick record. In fact these options definitely provide more flexible logic and even multiple channel/frequencies simultaneously on the same tuner (which is awesome if you are setting on the fly), but recurring never allows that and warns you that no tuner is available to add recording .....!!!!!!

But setting recordings each day is not acceptable. But from what you indicated I would have to check this every day for your workaround as well - same kind of result, time I don't have as I can not guarantee when I will be home to do so??? Is there a way to set Guide update to weekly???? Or turn off so I can run it manually on the weekends (I realize I might miss changes in schedule, but that is not that frequent of an issue).

I don't have, never used SQLiteSpy - I will have to investigate that further.

Thanks for the info, it is at least something to pursue.

[TVHelp]

Now I realize why I haven't run into this bug before, though I did encounter something similar (http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...vice-versa!). I don't use padding, so this re-allocation of tuners rarely happens on my setup. NPVR schedules shows without considering padding, then attempts to accomodate padding at recording time if it can. It's only when a recording is moved to another tuner that this bug occurs. Without padding, the only time this happens is when someone is watching Live TV using a tuner scheduled for a recording.

Yes, if only TV stations all functioned the same allowing some time between shows, but alas, not only do some channels start or end on the second (which could be different than my computer's system time - thus the need for padding) but now they are in this awful habit of starting shows 1 min off or over the hour. It is like you can not plan to watch TV live anymore and have to record else you miss a minute here or a minute there!!!!!!!!

[Graham]

Or turn off so I can run it manually on the weekends

Set EPG Update Hour to None

http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...tion.Misc2

[johnsonx42]

sub, I'm bumping this thread as I've noticed you're working through a few bugs and releasing some patches; I think this one is a real bug. The thread went a little off-topic, really only the first and second posts are relevant. I don't think a patch for 2.5.9 is needed here, as long as the logic bug can be squashed for the next release.

[Brad242]

Could the issue be that the tuner allocation logic is not properly taking into account the padding settings? I often see that the allocation would be fine if I were not padding.

[johnsonx42]

Could the issue be that the tuner allocation logic is not properly taking into account the padding settings? I often see that the allocation would be fine if I were not padding.

Tuner allocation at scheduling/epg-update time is done without regard to padding. Padding is accomodated on-the-fly at recording time on an "if possible" basis. That logic all seems fine. It's just that when the recording was moved to another tuner to accomodate the padding, NRecord ended up choosing a tuner that was already in use on another channel; NRecord appeared to think it was doing a multi-record on the same frequency, but in fact it changed channels and ended the prior recording a minute early.

[TVHelp]

Could the issue be that the tuner allocation logic is not properly taking into account the padding settings? I often see that the allocation would be fine if I were not padding.

Actually, now that I can look at the expected tuner usage (regardless of padding) through looking at the db itself, I see that the biggest problem seems to come on nights that I have a half-hour show scheduled and the system always wants to use the first tuner no matter what other show is pending. If it looks at pending shows it would see that there is another recording scheduled for that same channel and should skip over it when choosing a tuner for the half-hour show (allowing the same frequency to stay on the same tuner). This is of course my opinion on the logic. I realize the logic is tricky, but hopefully this helps...

Then, the second problem is that then when the tuner needs to be shifted due to padding, it does not look ahead or look for a tuner that has nothing scheduled on it for use. Causing kind of a domino of bumping tuners in the schedule.

It seems it is very reluctant to utilize my tuners 3 & 4 (i.e. physical second dual tuner). Maybe when searching available tuners it has an issue with that???? Maybe it should search in reverse?

FYI - I have setup a windows schedule to update my EPG Sunday mornings, then I go through the db and change the designated tuners for recurring recordings of the week. That all seems to be going very well and I have not had a problem when adding an additional quick record to the week. But of course would like to be able to just let it update.

Thank you...

[totallhavoc]

I'm seeing the same thing. It has been happening to me every Monday night. Is Sub working on a patch or is there another work around? I thought about limiting what channels are available one each tuner since I have 4 tuners but was worried this could create more issues.

[johnsonx42]

please post your logs so that we can see whether it is due to the same cause.