Black screen from Guide until channel change

[dennit]

GBPVR 1.2.13 Windows XP-MCE 2005 new user with new installation HVR-1600.

When I'm at the guide and select a program, then select "Watch," it goes to live TV and all I see is a black screen. I have to tune up or down a channel to get a Live TV signal.

Logs are attached (now removed as I found answer) from a session that includes three times going from guide to live TV back to guide on three different channels without issuing a change channel request, followed by a fourth time going from guide to live TV (at this point no signal yet) then changing channel up once to fifth channel (signal appears) then down once (signal remains and shows original fourth channel).
Here is a relevant part of the logs, showing the last two tuning requests. The logs have no other tuning request. The first "old tuning request" is for the fourth channel, which was not displaying.

I see:
2008-06-29 10:43:45.176 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/BDASubmitTuningRequestTwiceOnLivePreview : false

AHA!!! That looks useful - tried changing to "true" in config.xml - that solves it!

I can now get live TV to display directly from the guide.

(This post changed from a query to just posting the answer as I wrote it - might as well leave the answer for others).

Here is a part of the log showing the tuning request for 4 to 5 then back to 4 - it's not as interesting as the BDASubmitTuningRequestTwiceOnLivePreview true/false log entry above.

2008-06-29 10:45:15.317 VERBOSE [1] old tuning request: T:86,24,1~P:17~V:1984~A:1986~PMT:48~PCR:1984~N:>24.1 WEDH HD* (000(AC3))
2008-06-29 10:45:15.317 VERBOSE [1] new tuning request: T:59,30,2~P:19~V:2112~A:2113~PMT:50~PCR:2112~N:>30.2 WVIT We* (000(AC3))
2008-06-29 10:45:15.317 VERBOSE [1] Switching to channel: 10 (242 WNBCDT2 (WNBC-DT2))
2008-06-29 10:45:16.410 VERBOSE [1] disableSubtitles()
2008-06-29 10:45:16.410 VERBOSE [1] SwitchInsetToFullscreen
2008-06-29 10:45:29.239 VERBOSE [1] original location: {X=896,Y=744} translated to: {X=46.66667, Y=70.38789}
2008-06-29 10:45:29.239 VERBOSE [1] old tuning request: T:59,30,2~P:19~V:2112~A:2113~PMT:50~PCR:2112~N:>30.2 WVIT We* (000(AC3))
2008-06-29 10:45:29.239 VERBOSE [1] new tuning request: T:86,24,1~P:17~V:1984~A:1986~PMT:48~PCR:1984~N:>24.1 WEDH HD* (000(AC3))
2008-06-29 10:45:29.239 VERBOSE [1] Switching to channel: 9 (240 WEDWDT (WEDW-DT))

[donschjr]

I've had the same problem since upgrading over the weekend and this solved it.

[soccerdad]

I have been trying to get my new HVR1800 running and had the same problem. Switched to true and it now works! Still have some other issues but this post was a big help. Thanks for the good information.

[dennit]

Thanks for the good information.

I'm glad this helped others. Did any of you find a parameter that sets the delay time for the BDASubmitTuningRequestTwiceOnLivePreview parameter, or perhaps a timing parameter for the first request that might eliminate the necessity for a dual request? Right now the time delay for going from guide to live TV is a bit longer than I'd like. I'm going to look for one tonight, but if anyone already knows the answer, it would save some time.

[sub]

I'm glad this helped others. Did any of you find a parameter that sets the delay time for the BDASubmitTuningRequestTwiceOnLivePreview parameter, or perhaps a timing parameter for the first request that might eliminate the necessity for a dual request? Right now the time delay for going from guide to live TV is a bit longer than I'd like. I'm going to look for one tonight, but if anyone already knows the answer, it would save some time.

This extra tuning is probably only add 100ms or so to your live tv start time.

The usually cause of slow startup of video is a badly behaved decoder installed, or too many decoders. Also make sure you explicity specify the decoders, rather than relying on 'system default'.

[dennit]

This extra tuning is probably only add 100ms or so to your live tv start time.

The usually cause of slow startup of video is a badly behaved decoder installed, or too many decoders. Also make sure you explicity specify the decoders, rather than relying on 'system default'.

AHA! Thanks. I was on system default, but changed to the PDVD mpeg decoder due to stuttering issues. The change fixed the stutters, and perhaps it fixed the need for two tuning requests. I haven't tried again since the change. Do multiple decoders, even if not used, hurt performance? Is it worth it to try to identify unused decoders and eliminate them?

[sub]

Do multiple decoders, even if not used, hurt performance?

Often no, but occassion users have a bad unused decoder installed which can add several seconds to the startup of video playback.

Is it worth it to try to identify unused decoders and eliminate them?

Only if there is a big delay that is bothering you.