Colossus slight stutter with Composite SPDIF and does a splitter fix HDMI HDCP?

[jksmurf]

Code:

If you don't have fixed rate from you STB, by default you could end up with HD recorded to SD spec if the channels goes from sd to hd.

Martin

On another thread Martin wrote the above. With a recently installed Colossus I still get a discernible stutter. My Cable Box produces (I think) an SD signal, bit the multiple posts I read show the Colossus to record an H264 one. So, is it that (a) I am underpowered on playback (b) its decoders or © do I need to modify config.xml like I saw on some 2011//2012 posts IIRC to amend the bitrate? [on a separate note, I bought an HDMI splitter with HDCP as my cable box said HDCP protection when I connected directly HDMI Cable Box to HDMI Colossus, but when I connected HDMI Cable Box =>Splitter=> in the Device Setup, and setup the device as HDMO HDMI (Video / Audio) all I got was a black screen - does using a splitter do the HDCP handshake and should I this expect video? I really would like to get rid of the massively clunky composite cables. cheers k.

[mvallevand]

If your box is only capable of outputting SD I wouldn't bother setting it fixed 1080i output. If you have 576p that would probably be best. Definitely update the SD settings in config.xml they are much too low. Given you are only getting SD, I'm surprised you rushed for a change the PVR 150, 4GB is a lot of RAM.

If you do change input types in NextPVR you can't just change the one setting you have to right click the previously saved channels in the list and set them to default.

Some splitters do strip HDCP some don't

Martin

[jksmurf]

If your box is only capable of outputting SD I wouldn't bother setting it fixed 1080i output. If you have 576p that would probably be best. Definitely update the SD settings in config.xml they are much too low.

Thanks Martin, is this is the section and what settings would you recommend?

Code:

<ModeSD>
      <Bitrate>3000000</Bitrate>
      <BitratePeak>5000000</BitratePeak>
      <BitrateMode>VBR</BitrateMode>
    </ModeSD>

Re the 1080i vs 576p thingy, I must have missed that output setting is it in the colossus section?

Given you are only getting SD, I'm surprised you rushed for a change the PVR 150, 4GB is a lot of RAM. Martin

Let's just say I got caught up in WinX64 is better, more RAM is better, why should I shortchange myself for 2GB of 6GB of RAM etc etc :-)

If you do change input types in NextPVR you can't just change the one setting you have to right click the previously saved channels in the list and set them to default. Some splitters do strip HDCP some don't

Martin

Gotcha, cheers.

[mvallevand]

Thanks Martin, is this is the section and what settings would you recommend?

Yes

Re the 1080i vs 576p thingy, I must have missed that output setting is it in the colossus section?

All the output that I saw was 1080i I assumed you told your box to output SD at 1080i.

Martin

[Zeb]

The 1920x1080 was all via HDMI (input 3). The only other video source in those NRecord logs was input 0, which I believe is component rather than composite. (You wouldn't be the first to confuse those terms, jksmurf). Looks like no signal on that input, so probably the cables really are composite and the video is probably SD.

Stuttering again, but no stuttering with DVB-T right? I don't have AMD hardware, but possibly some setting in Catalyst Control Centre isn't the same as it was before your Windows upgrade (maybe deinterlacing). Perhaps you need a newer version of Catalyst for the HD3400 on Win7x64, or perhaps you already installed a newer version and it's buggy.

[jksmurf]

The 1920x1080 was all via HDMI (input 3). The only other video source in those NRecord logs was input 0, which I believe is component rather than composite. (You wouldn't be the first to confuse those terms, jksmurf). Looks like no signal on that input, so probably the cables really are composite and the video is probably SD.

I actually ran a number of trials; one with component + Optical SPDIF (which works), a separate one with HDMI, which does not (you're correct, I mixed the terminology sorry!). As I got a black screen with HDMI (due to the HDCP thingy) even through a new splitter box, I went with component instead, for now, until can find a splitter that works. I just prefer one single cable, I'm not looking to bypass HDCP for any sinister reason - just simplicity.

Stuttering again, but no stuttering with DVB-T right? I don't have AMD hardware, but possibly some setting in Catalyst Control Centre isn't the same as it was before your Windows upgrade (maybe deinterlacing). Perhaps you need a newer version of Catalyst for the HD3400 on Win7x64, or perhaps you already installed a newer version and it's buggy.

DMB-TH (as they have here) is perfect, really good, but I do that through the Hauppauge USB DMB-TH HD MiniSticks, so I agree the HD3400 should be fine. The Colossus is for the cable box primarily.

All the output that I saw was 1080i I assumed you told your box to output SD at 1080i. Martin

Hmm. I am not really sure what comes out of the box, I don't think it is possible to change it, although I have never tried, need to look at the menu! It's never been anywhere near the quality of FTA HD though, which is why I thought it must be SD, and I'm pretty sure the codec it is ENcoded in is mpeg2). I changed the ModeSD to 9000000 (9E6) to 13500000 913.5E6) from 3E6 to 5E6 as I read that in another post.