NPVR Not Scanning HDHR

[hornfrog]

I've an HDHR installed and finds all channels.
NPVR detects the device's tuners.
All NPVR exe's added to exception list in Windows FireWall
Upon Settings->Devices->Device Setup->Scan, the scanner just shows "Scanning physical channel 2" and nothing else happens. I can exit that with OK/Cancel, but no channels are ever detected.

HDHR is set up to use NPVR. I've also tried Other ATSC/QAM with various service starts and stops. Tried disabling all Windows and router firewalls. No difference. The log indicates a potential SW error: "Unexpected error in scanning form: System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object."

The log is below - any assistance appreciated.


[...startup]
2013-02-26 00:37:51.845 [DEBUG][1] Created mutex. Must be only instance.
2013-02-26 00:37:52.002 [DEBUG][1] Version: 2.5.9
2013-02-26 00:37:52.002 [DEBUG][1] SingleInstance()
2013-02-26 00:37:52.189 [INFO][1] About to connect to remote recording service
2013-02-26 00:37:52.189 [DEBUG][1] RecordingServiceProxy@exit
2013-02-26 00:37:52.220 [DEBUG][1] Using skin: C:\Users\Public\NPVR\skin\Default\
2013-02-26 00:37:52.236 [DEBUG][1] About to look for plugin directories in: C:\Users\Public\NPVR\Plugins\
2013-02-26 00:37:52.236 [DEBUG][1] Skipping non-existant plugin directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\NPVR\Plugins\
2013-02-26 00:37:52.252 [DEBUG][1] Loaded menu item: TV Guide
2013-02-26 00:37:52.283 [DEBUG][1] Loaded menu item: Recordings
2013-02-26 00:37:52.299 [DEBUG][1] Loaded menu item: Live TV
2013-02-26 00:37:52.299 [DEBUG][1] Loaded menu item: Search
2013-02-26 00:37:52.299 [DEBUG][1] Loaded menu item: Music
2013-02-26 00:37:52.299 [DEBUG][1] Loaded menu item: Videos
2013-02-26 00:37:52.299 [DEBUG][1] Loaded menu item: Pictures
2013-02-26 00:37:52.299 [DEBUG][1] Loaded menu item: DVD
2013-02-26 00:37:52.314 [DEBUG][1] Loaded menu item: Exit
2013-02-26 00:37:52.674 [ERROR][1] Error initialising Direct3D: SlimDX.Direct3D9.Direct3DX9NotFoundException: Direct3DX 9 was not found. Please install the latest DirectX end-user redistributable package from Microsoft. ---> System.Runtime.InteropServices.SEHException: External component has thrown an exception.
at D3DXCheckVersion(UInt32 , UInt32 )
at SlimDX.Direct3D9.Direct3D..ctor()
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at SlimDX.Direct3D9.Direct3D..ctor()
at NextPVR.Utility.Direct3DHelper..ctor(IntPtr windowHandle, Int32 width, Int32 height)
at NextPVR.ControllerForm.Form1_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e)
2013-02-26 00:37:52.674 [INFO][1] Continuing with Direct3D disabled
2013-02-26 00:37:52.814 [DEBUG][1] DoCompositeRendering() took 140.625ms
2013-02-26 00:37:53.017 [DEBUG][1] DoCompositeRendering() took 140.625ms
2013-02-26 00:37:53.517 [DEBUG][1] DoCompositeRendering() took 140.625ms
2013-02-26 00:37:53.720 [DEBUG][1] DoCompositeRendering() took 109.375ms
2013-02-26 00:37:53.955 [DEBUG][1] DoCompositeRendering() took 125ms
2013-02-26 00:37:57.049 [INFO][3] Checking online for updated versions...
2013-02-26 00:37:57.049 [INFO][3] Web@1
2013-02-26 00:37:57.502 [DEBUG][1] About to detect digital tuners
2013-02-26 00:37:57.517 [DEBUG][1] - 'Silicondust HDHomeRun Tuner 10300936-0'
2013-02-26 00:37:57.517 [DEBUG][1] - 'Silicondust HDHomeRun Tuner 10300936-1'
2013-02-26 00:37:57.549 [DEBUG][1] About to check standards supported by 'Silicondust HDHomeRun Tuner 10300936-0'
2013-02-26 00:37:57.549 [DEBUG][1] Found IBDA_Topology

2013-02-26 00:37:57.549 [DEBUG][1] - KSNODE_BDA_RF_TUNER

2013-02-26 00:37:57.549 [DEBUG][1] - KSNODE_BDA_8VSB_DEMODULATOR

2013-02-26 00:37:57.549 [DEBUG][1] - KSNODE_BDA_QAM_DEMODULATOR

2013-02-26 00:37:57.549 [DEBUG][1] - KSNODE_BDA_PID_FILTER

2013-02-26 00:37:57.549 [DEBUG][1] Done
2013-02-26 00:37:57.658 [DEBUG][1] About to check standards supported by 'Silicondust HDHomeRun Tuner 10300936-1'
2013-02-26 00:37:57.658 [DEBUG][1] Found IBDA_Topology

2013-02-26 00:37:57.658 [DEBUG][1] - KSNODE_BDA_RF_TUNER

2013-02-26 00:37:57.658 [DEBUG][1] - KSNODE_BDA_8VSB_DEMODULATOR

2013-02-26 00:37:57.658 [DEBUG][1] - KSNODE_BDA_QAM_DEMODULATOR

2013-02-26 00:37:57.658 [DEBUG][1] - KSNODE_BDA_PID_FILTER

2013-02-26 00:37:57.658 [DEBUG][1] Done
2013-02-26 00:37:57.877 [DEBUG][1] About to check for HDPVR/Colossus/Siena tuners.
2013-02-26 00:37:57.892 [DEBUG][1] About to check for analog tuners
2013-02-26 00:37:57.908 [DEBUG][1] FindFilterByName failed to locate filter: MainConcept (HCW) MPEG Multiplexer-Plus
2013-02-26 00:37:57.908 [DEBUG][1] MainConcept mux not present. Disabling analog support.
2013-02-26 00:38:04.220 [INFO][3] Online check reports version info:
<version><component name="NextPVR" version="2.5.9" display="NextPVR 2.5.9"><url>http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?52722-2-5-9-available-(1-October-2012)</url></component></version>
2013-02-26 00:38:04.220 [INFO][3] current online version: 2.5.9
2013-02-26 00:38:04.220 [INFO][3] last notified version: 2.5.9
2013-02-26 00:38:27.611 [INFO][1] DigitalRecorder.StartStream(c:\nowhere\scan.ts)
2013-02-26 00:38:27.611 [INFO][1] Creating BDA graph
2013-02-26 00:38:27.627 [DEBUG][1] FindFilterByName failed to locate filter: Microsoft Network Provider
2013-02-26 00:38:27.627 [DEBUG][1] FindFilterByName failed to locate filter: Microsoft ATSC Network Provider
2013-02-26 00:38:27.642 [DEBUG][1] Using tuner Silicondust HDHomeRun Tuner 10300936-0 (1)
2013-02-26 00:38:27.642 [ERROR][1] Unexpected error in scanning form: System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at DShowHelper.ConnectPins(IGraphBuilder* pGB, IBaseFilter* pSourceFilter, Char* pinNameSource, IBaseFilter* pDestFilter)
at Native.DigitalRecorderBase.BuildGraph(String deviceFilter, Int32 deviceInstance, Int32 commonInterface, Int32 commonInterfaceInstances, String& message)
at NShared.DigitalRecorder.StartStream(ChannelMapping channelMapping, String target, String& reason)
at NShared.DigitalScanningForm.StartScanning()
at NShared.DigitalScanningForm.DigitalScanningForm_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnLoad(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnCreateControl()
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl(Boolean fIgnoreVisible)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl()
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmShowWindow(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ContainerControl.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WmShowWindow(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WndProc(Message& m)
at NShared.DigitalScanningForm.WndProc(Message& m)

[Graham]

Your log has the same message as at ... http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post452592

Info about pre-reqs is at http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post438939
and
http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...requisites

[hornfrog]

So it appears DirextX is required (and was not installed by default with the OS). I remember seeing a message about it, but it sounded like NPVR was going to use a software workaround. It was late - maybe seeing things.

I'll work on installing that, but it might be nice if the SW would catch that exception and report in a conspicuous dialog that the specific requirement is not met and basically disable doing anything until that check passes. Just a suggesstion...

[Graham]

So it appears DirextX is required ...

You are right that DirectX is part of the OS. NextPVR uses part of DirectX that is not included by default in any version of Windows ...

[hornfrog]

Per Graham's first response pointing to the DirectX issue, I followed the requirements link to the DirectX and installed it successfully. Still get the same DirectX initialisation problem, along with the the same "Unexpected error in scanning form" error.

Still searching for a solution...

[johnsonx42]

no, you're barking up the wrong tree. The DX9 error has nothing to do with the problem; yes, you're better off if you fix it, so that the GUI will render faster. And yes, the SW does in fact catch the fact that the DX9 runtime update is not installed, and displays a big red message in Settings to alert you to that, and yes, you did see a message that NPVR was going to continue on without it.

I think your problem is that neither network provider is available:

Code:

2013-02-26 00:38:27.627 [DEBUG][1] FindFilterByName failed to locate filter: Microsoft Network Provider
2013-02-26 00:38:27.627 [DEBUG][1] FindFilterByName failed to locate filter: Microsoft ATSC Network Provider

It's common to see the first one reported as unavailable, so NPVR tries the second one. With both unavailable, the following ConnectPins call fails. Sub would know more about it than I...

I'm not sure what would cause neither network provider to be available, those are core windows media components. I think we see this sometimes when trying to use a windows server os for NPVR, as by default server versions don't have the full set of media bits installed.

[sub]

What version of Windows are you using?

It looks like your machine is missing various Windows BDA components:

2013-02-26 10:55:58.699 [DEBUG][1] FindFilterByName failed to locate filter: Microsoft Network Provider
2013-02-26 10:55:58.699 [DEBUG][1] FindFilterByName failed to locate filter: Microsoft ATSC Network Provider

EDIT: what he said...

[johnsonx42]

haha, too slow sub!

[hornfrog]

What version of Windows are you using?

It looks like your machine is missing various Windows BDA components:


EDIT: what he said...

I'm using Windows Server 2008 R2. As you mentioned, the server OS may be missing something. Any suggestions on what that might be?

Thanks.

[sub]

I've never used Windows Server 2008 myself, but if you google "bda on windows server 2008", you'll find plenty of pages on how to add tv tuner support.