Live TV problem

[sub]

Yeah, could the quartz.dll thing.

2007-03-19 11:55:11.859 VERBOSE Graph contains the following filters:
2007-03-19 11:55:11.859 VERBOSE - Default DirectSound Device
2007-03-19 11:55:11.859 VERBOSE - Video Renderer
2007-03-19 11:55:11.859 VERBOSE - BDA MPEG2 Transport Information Filter
2007-03-19 11:55:11.859 VERBOSE - MPEG-2 Sections and Tables
2007-03-19 11:55:11.859 VERBOSE - GB-PVR PSI Parser
2007-03-19 11:55:11.859 VERBOSE - MPEG Audio Decoder
2007-03-19 11:55:11.859 VERBOSE - Compro Video Decoder
2007-03-19 11:55:11.859 VERBOSE - GB-PVR Flow Status
2007-03-19 11:55:11.859 VERBOSE - MPEG-2 Demultiplexer
2007-03-19 11:55:11.859 VERBOSE - VideoMate BDA Digital Capture
2007-03-19 11:55:11.859 VERBOSE - VideoMate BDA DVBT Tuner
2007-03-19 11:55:11.859 VERBOSE - Microsoft DVBT Network Provider

I'd also try changing video decoders. This is only log I've ever seen which lists the "Compro Video Decoder", so I'm a bit suspicious that it is the cause.

[Knobby]

I've tried the quartz.dll thing, then also installed the Microsoft Hotfix which relates to a similar thing (from the sticky thread). It's a bit better in that when changing channels or altering the volume the picture doesn't break up any more, but just seems to stutter for a few seconds. I changed the video decoder so my log file now looks like this:

2007-03-19 18:49:44.781 VERBOSE getSetting(ListGraphFilters)
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE Graph contains the following filters:
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - Default DirectSound Device
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - Video Renderer
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - BDA MPEG2 Transport Information Filter
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - MPEG-2 Sections and Tables
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - GB-PVR PSI Parser
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - MPEG Audio Decoder
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - CyberLink Video/SP Decoder
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - GB-PVR Flow Status
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - MPEG-2 Demultiplexer
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - VideoMate BDA Digital Capture
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - VideoMate BDA DVBT Tuner
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - Microsoft DVBT Network Provider
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE getSetting(SaveGraphFiles)

But that didn't improve things at all. Any other ideas?

[jim08127]

I've tried the quartz.dll thing, then also installed the Microsoft Hotfix which relates to a similar thing (from the sticky thread). It's a bit better in that when changing channels or altering the volume the picture doesn't break up any more, but just seems to stutter for a few seconds. I changed the video decoder so my log file now looks like this:

2007-03-19 18:49:44.781 VERBOSE getSetting(ListGraphFilters)
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE Graph contains the following filters:
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - Default DirectSound Device
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - Video Renderer
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - BDA MPEG2 Transport Information Filter
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - MPEG-2 Sections and Tables
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - GB-PVR PSI Parser
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - MPEG Audio Decoder
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - CyberLink Video/SP Decoder
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - GB-PVR Flow Status
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - MPEG-2 Demultiplexer
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - VideoMate BDA Digital Capture
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - VideoMate BDA DVBT Tuner
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE - Microsoft DVBT Network Provider
2007-03-19 18:49:44.796 VERBOSE getSetting(SaveGraphFiles)

But that didn't improve things at all. Any other ideas?

I don't have any suggestions on the decoder, I am using the ones that came with my hauppauge card.

You might try a little std system maintenance. For instance, check your harddisks for errors (check auto fix system files and reboot), run the disk cleanup, defrag. I know you are viewing live tv probably without timeshifting, but this still should result in a smoother running system. Once every couple months is probably good. Maybe you do this already?

Also, when I re-created my page file, my system seemed to pep up s bit. Just set the page file size to custom size 0, reboot, then reset it to system managed or your preferred size.

Lastly have you installed the AMD dual core cpu patch and drivers?

Sorry I don't have a more specific suggestion.

[sub]

Have you tried switching video renderers?

Might also be worth trying to disable hardware acceleration in the decoder settings to see if it helps.

[Knobby]

jim08127:

I only built the computer yesterday. But what are the AMD dual core patch & drivers, and where can I get them?

Sub:

I've tried switching to Overlay Manager - the problems stayed the same but the picture quality was worse. I didn't have hardware acceleration enabled, but when I did enable it I lost live tv completely (no picture or sound).

I've been fiddling around again (had to stop know as SWMBO is watching Coronation Street) and found a few other things which may or may not be related, but I'll list them here just in case:

1. I'm using a Microsoft MCE remote. Whenever I run GBPVR the little red light on the receiver "beanbag" lights up permanently. I thought that this was just to show that there was some IR activity. I removed all the batteries from every remote in the room just in case, but still the light stays on. It only goes off when I shutdown GBPVR.

2. When I alter the volume with the above remote, the information for the current tv program pops up on the screen. I don't get any volume level display.

3. When using Live Preview on any screen, the stuttering is worse. If I use the mouse or remote the tv picture in the little box almost comes to a complete halt.

[Knobby]

This is what I'm using to run GBPVR, just in case any of this might be important:

AMDx2 3800+
Asrock LiveNF6G-DVI motherboard (this motherboard comes with a PCI-E DVI video card which, when fitted to the motherboard, allows D-SUB output to one monitor and DVI output to another. Nvidia 6100 chipset powers this and is currently allocated 128Mb of system RAM).
1Gb PC5300 DDR2 RAM (128Mb allocated as above)
500Gb SATA2 HD
Microsoft MCE remote
50" Samsung Plasma screen tv - DVI on motherboard connected to HDMI input on tv

[sub]

Sorry, I dont know.

[Knobby]

Up until now I've been running GBPVR in fullscreen mode, so I changed it to see if it made any difference. It didn't - but what I did notice was that if GBPVR didn't have focus on the PC, the live tv is excellent. Using the remote I can change the volume and it has no effect on picture quality; it even displays the volume bar across the top (obviously, as it doesn't have focus, I can't change channel, etc.). As soon as I give focus back to GBPVR and try anything with the remote or mouse the stuttering returns.

Does this point to anything?

[sub]

Up until now I've been running GBPVR in fullscreen mode, so I changed it to see if it made any difference. It didn't - but what I did notice was that if GBPVR didn't have focus on the PC, the live tv is excellent. Using the remote I can change the volume and it has no effect on picture quality; it even displays the volume bar across the top (obviously, as it doesn't have focus, I can't change channel, etc.). As soon as I give focus back to GBPVR and try anything with the remote or mouse the stuttering returns.

Does this point to anything?

No, not really.

It sounds like the sort of symptoms you get when your PC isnt keeping up, for example those slow EPIA boards really stuggle whenever any OSD graphics are shown over video (moving mouse, channels etc), which sounds like what you're seeing. In theory you machine should be fine though. What percentage of CPU usage is shown when you're doing this?

[Knobby]

When just watching tv CPU usage is around 25%. When I wiggle the mouse a lot/use the scroll button or adjust volume with the remote the usage increases to a maximum of around 55%.