Satellite cards for PC's

[martint123]

You have to realise I don't use the server for viewing (too slow and graphics card is a bit naff). Most viewing is done on a PCH and my main client.
It does work on the server though, even if it can be a little stuttery at times.

Video Renderer:- VMR9 Custom
BDA MUX:- Cyberlink Video Renderer 5.0.1307
H.264 Decoder:- CoreAVC (due to run out in a day or two)
MPeg2 Decoder:- System default (MPV ??)
Internal TS reader? Yes
LivePreview mode? Yes


So far, filesize is up to 20gb of BBC HD of the Olympics Opening.

[martint123]

These things are a bit meaningless to me....

[Pob]

Satellite viewing can be as smooth as DVB-T, but there is nothing to say that there isnt something in your particular broadcaster's streams that PVRX2 doesnt like. There can be a lot of variability in the stream the various broadcasters produce.

Its worth trying to determine if its a recording or playback problem. ie, ignore live tv initially - can you reliably record? Can you playback those recordings?

If its looking like a recording problem, the best thing to do is try to spot if its specific transponders that are causing problems, or all those from a specific broadcaster. Once thats established, if someone can supply a 200MB or so full transport stream file, that I can use to try to reproduce the problem here.

Sub I am not singling out GBPVR by any means - all the software for satellite viewing I have tried just seems very hit-and-miss compared to the more established terrestial TV viewing software. It comes as a shock when an otherwise reliable PC starts crashing!
Lets see, I have tried PowerCinema theatre edition with the Hauppage - scan did not find many of the channels, HD TV jerky and stuttering, crashing when changing channels (intermittent). Comro DTV software with the S350 card, only found 300 or so channels on Astra 2 and Eurobird 1 (many missing and no HD channels). Had to twiddle with loads of settings to get it to find the channels on some transponders - like changing modulation type from QPSK to BPSK(?). The Comro software had some kind of adverse affect on other software like WintV - picture started to freeze, inerlacing all over the shop! Uninstalling Compro fixed WInTV. The problem with software like these two is that they use their own decoders, and you have little control on the results.
I will look into recording transport stream, as it would be great to get things working more reliably.

[Dava]

These things are a bit meaningless to me....

Thanks, they are very helpful for me!

Does the MVP play the TS output from the S350 OK or did you have to do something extra for that with FFMPEG ?

I have built all of the games back into the gbpvr menus now and they all work well with VMR9 Custom. ISTR that when I tried EVR or FSE that broke this functionality.

As you said Pob it is very much a balancing act and I know that I have had everything working in isolation at one point or another. The trick is to find out what you are prepared to compromise most on, but the trial and error for all of these variables is painful, especially when you have already done it all once before and have half memories of what worked before the crash.

I think I will try AVC when the kids have stopped using it!

[martint123]

Does the MVP play the TS output from the S350 OK or did you have to do something extra for that with FFMPEG ?

You may have misread my post - PCH/NMT used for main viewing on the goggle box. I've retired the MVP and it is currently just a spare. The PCH plays the BBC HD channel without a problem, "live" or recorded.

[Dava]

You may have misread my post - PCH/NMT used for main viewing on the goggle box. I've retired the MVP and it is currently just a spare. The PCH plays the BBC HD channel without a problem, "live" or recorded.

I was looking at your sig when I wrote that as I thought you may use the MVP in a bedroom or something (which is what mine is for).

I do not expect or require HD to work on the MVP but I cannot seem to get SD output from the S350 to it despite the other 2 sources working fine, however this is way down on my list of things to fix at the mo.

[martint123]

Ah, right. The MVP does play SD recordings from the s350, but they are mpg files anyway with the cyberlink mux. I think .ts files are automagically generated by gbpvr no matter what mux is selected.

[Dava]

Thanks Martin,

It looks like CoreAVC is the answer for me, it looks stunning on BBC and ITV HD and although it uses around 60% of both cores and costs money, I think I will cut my tinkering time and just buy it.

The strange thing is that it only works in LivePreview mode, if I record from HD and try to play the resultant .ts in gbpvr it hangs horribly. The same file plays in MPC and WMP though. I will have a go with a Cyberlink mux and see if that helps with this and the MVP issue. < I presume you got it with a version of powerDVD, if so which one? > No Problem, just found wannabepvrs mux thread.

[martint123]

I only use the cyberlink mux for SD, it is version 1307 ........... http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...light=1307
(Ah, just see you found it + edit

[tm12]

Hope you guys get this working...
Is the Hauppauge S2 card you tried the HVR-4000?