Defective TS files with displayed zero length

[sub]

Thanks for the information on how to play these files on a modified
version of NextPVR on my own computer. However, I need to be able to
play these files on other computers, on Portable VLC or Windows Media
Player, or send them to friends and family to play on their own
computers.

So please tell me the bottom line: Is this bug going to be fixed?

It depends....

Ultimately, NextPVR just copies the content coming from the broadcast stream. Sometimes broadcasters to odd things with timestamps etc, which can cause some players to report incorrect durations, or no duration. NextPVR has no control over this (since content is straight from broadcaster, and played in software written by a 3rd party).

However, most of what you're reporting above seems to be more to do with the stream starting out with a few packets from the previous channel, before getting to the real content. This is the sort of thing I should be able to fix, if we can narrow it down to the exact scenario it's happening in. Oddly we're not seeing any reports of this issue from other HDHomeRun users though, so not a lot to go on just yet.

[mvallevand]

However, most of what you're reporting above seems to be more to do with the stream starting out with a few packets from the previous channel, before getting to the real content. This is the sort of thing I should be able to fix, if we can narrow it down to the exact scenario it's happening in. Oddly we're not seeing any reports of this issue from other HDHomeRun users though, so not a lot to go on just yet.

All the samples I have seen have the first PAT follwed by PMT packets and program content for that program. These packets are followed another "good" PAT with the real program and PMT packets. The simple fix would be to delay writing until a second PAT is read.

The user uses mostly manual recordings for all tuners at many hours. If it is a NextPVR problem perhaps it rests with manual recordings of CableCard devices.

Martin

[denmermr]

As a fellow HDHomerun user, I'll corroborate problems like this. Alas, I haven't been as meticulous in documenting specific instances.

My setup is a little different. I'm using an OTA antenna, Windows 8.1, and npvr is my primary playback interface.

My issues have been:
- npvr randomly produces ts files of 0KB - the interface says "No errors, but no data delivered." Occasionally this is for programs on channels with marginal reception, and I chalk it up to "maybe the winds were not good that day." But more often this is on channels with rock solid reception, and it strikes me as a recording error. I have not specifically tested it as johnsta has, but his description rings true.

- npvr is generally unable to playback programs recorded on channels with marginal reception. Specifically, it will playback as normal until the reception becomes pixelated. If we let it continue playing without attempting to skip or pause, it will often keep going, but be very choppy and often the audio and video will get out of sync. If we attempt to skip or pause, npvr freezes. <esc> will often get us back to the menu after a pregnant pause. When this happens, if I open the files in VLC or Kodi, they playback fine, skipping around past the corrupt bit of signal, and never have the audio get out of sync.

I'll be installing the patch from this thread to see if that helps the first issue. The second issue has me aggressively looking for a solution. I HATE HATE HATE the Kodi interface (some skins get only 1 hate). VLC is not really operable via remote from the couch. I really love the functionality of NPVR - it's exactly what I need without a ton of extra bloat - but the recording and playback errors are frustrating.

[Bobins]

Denmermr
The only way Sub can look to improve handling of problem file playback is if he's got examples to work on. It helps if you upload one of the dodgy files to the likes of dropbox, share and give him a clue as to what point in the file the playback problem starts.
It's also helpful if he knows about your system config (such as what renderers and codecs you're using).

[Graham]

I'll be installing the patch from this thread to see if that helps the first issue.

The most recent patch is here ... https://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.ph...post520954

[johnsta]

> All the samples I have seen have the first PAT follwed by PMT
> packets and program content for that program. These packets are
> followed another "good" PAT with the real program and PMT packets.
> The simple fix would be to delay writing until a second PAT is
> read.

> The user uses mostly manual recordings for all tuners at many
> hours. If it is a NextPVR problem perhaps it rests with manual
> recordings of CableCard devices.

> Martin

I haven't seen a difference between manual recording versus recurring
recordings of programs. What I have seen is that the problem occurs
with some channels more than others, irrespective of whether it's a
manual recording.

Sub and Martin -- let me know what you need.

For example, if you need lots of files to test, I could run through 50
or so channels and "quick record" the current show on each for about 5
seconds, and then "cancel." That would produce 50 files, each about
1-2 mb in size on 50 different channels. I could zip them up and
upload the zip.

I just mention that as an example. If that, or some variation, would
be helpful, let me know.

[ElihuRozen]

Would it be helpful if I recorded the first five or ten minutes of WBZ News on a Ceton InfiTV CableCard tuner via Verizon FiOS, since I don't have Comcast, to compare? Also, how much pre-padding do you use, so I could match? I would have to do it as a manually since since I don't use recurring recordings and my four QAM tuners are higher priorities than my CableCard tuners.

[sub]

Try this updated NPVRWriter.ax and let me know if it helps. It monitors the few PAT entries before they're written to disk, and throw away the data before them if the contents changes.

[mvallevand]

As a fellow HDHomerun user, I'll corroborate problems like this. Alas, I haven't been as meticulous in documenting specific instances.

Unfortunately your problems is nothing at all like the one being discussed in this thread. Probably better to to open a new thread with samples for sub but if the problem is caused by lost packets because of reception issues sub will likely need many samples as it won't be unique conditions.

I HATE HATE HATE the Kodi interface (some skins get only 1 hate)

If you use the x-newa addon on Kodi in web client mode,. you get the NextPVR GUI with the Kodi player.

Martin

[gEd]

Try this updated NPVRWriter.ax and let me know if it helps. It monitors the few PAT entries before they're written to disk, and throw away the data before them if the contents changes.

Sub, might this have any positive impact on UK Freeview H264 recordings?
I ask as I have been encountering a couple of corrupt TS files myself recently. TS Doctor says PMT invalid or missing and windows explorer hangs for several minutes if you navigate to the folder where the recording resides. I can open a separate thread if you don't think my issue is related to the OPs (I need to see if I can cut a chunk from the beginning of the recording to reduce the file size down from 1.8GB)