Comcast switch to MPEG-4 - How to change config with least impact/hassle?

[HarryH3]

A few of the channels in our area switched to MPEG-4 last night. Can't watch any of them so far. Here are the steps that I've taken so far:

Updated the firmware on my HDHR3-CC HDHomeRun Prime to version 20161019beta1, to be sure it provides MPEG-4 support.
Changed NPVR Device Settings on the channels that show to now be "AVC" in the HD HomeRun Prime Channel Lineup web page to Service Type: H.264 HD (Did this for all 3 tuners).
I have tried the Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder, LAV and Cyberlink (PDVD 13).

No joy with any of these settings. I'm getting a black screen and no audio.

I can watch the MPEG-4 channels using the HD HomeRun View app.

Can any of the other Comcast users post up what worked for you?

Thanks!

Logs attached.

[ga_mueller]

Comcast did the same thing recently here. I'm running 3.8.3, and changed channel type to H264 HD. I only lost video on the affected channels. They also renamed/moved channels continuously during the conversion. Sounds like you need to rescan and see what's changed with those channels you can't tune.

[mvallevand]

Not a Comcast user but Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder with LAV audio should be fine. Not sure if all the changes were made because on one of your files I say normal video

<Stream>
<PID>337</PID>
<StreamType>2</StreamType>

I did see an indication that shows encryption

2016-10-27 10:26:33.421 [DEBUG][1] EC_STILL_GOT_VIDEO (3)

To see if that is bogus check to make sure your setting for <AlternateOSDForMissingVideo>false</AlternateOSDForMissingVideo> is false.

Martin

[HarryH3]

I did rescan the channels via the HD HomRun configuration app. Only a few have changed to MPEG-4, but the channel names of those 4 channels didn't change. I saw in another thread where sub told someone that they might have to make some changes in the device section that would require setting up recurring recordings again. I'm really hoping to avoid that because my wife has 61 recurring recordings setup now. Setting them all up again would be extremely tedious and some of them are for shows that are in their off-season now. Since they aren't currently listed in the EPG I can't even select them for setting up a new recording.

Martin, my <AlternateOSDForMissingVideo>false</AlternateOSDForMissingVideo> is set to false. The channel lineup isn't showing the channels as DRM'd. Also, I can open those channels and view them via the HD HomeRun View program. So I'm not sure what that error was about. Is there a way that I can backtrack PID 337 to a channel number? That way I could test the same thing again.

Thanks!

[sub]

With this type of device, to change the channels to H.264:

Go into the Settings->Devices screen, double click on a device, right click on a channel and selected 'edit', it should let you change the channel type to H.264. You'd need to do that on each channel that has been changed for each device.

Alternatively, you delete your channels, rescan, and resetup your recurring recordings.

[mvallevand]

That was 604 KTXHD Because of your client streaming and server restrarts the NRecord logs don't tell a lot of information, certainly during some of your testing it looks like the recording service was off

Martin

[HarryH3]

With this type of device, to change the channels to H.264:

Go into the Settings->Devices screen, double click on a device, right click on a channel and selected 'edit', it should let you change the channel type to H.264. You'd need to do that on each channel that has been changed for each device.

Thanks sub. That's exactly what I did. Does it matter if I select H.264 SD or H.264 HD? I selected the HD option since I only have HiDef channels.

The file is getting created. I can watch it via Media Player Classic, but with no audio.

[HarryH3]

That was 604 KTXHD Because of your client streaming and server restrarts the NRecord logs don't tell a lot of information, certainly during some of your testing it looks like the recording service was off

Martin

Thanks Martin, that must have just been something that happened as I was changing things. Channel 604 KTXHD is still MPEG-2 with no DRM.

[sub]

Does it matter if I select H.264 SD or H.264 HD? I selected the HD option since I only have HiDef channels.

It doesn't matter which of those two you choose.

The file is getting created. I can watch it via Media Player Classic, but with no audio.

I assume you can watch it in NextPVR? If not, which H.264 decoder do you have selected in NextPVR?

[HarryH3]

I assume you can watch it in NextPVR? If not, which H.264 decoder do you have selected in NextPVR?

No, I get no playback or Live TV on the H.264 channels in NextPVR. I just get a black screen with no audio. Right now I have the Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder selected for H.264 playback.

Another data point that might be helpful: When I open the file in Media Player Classic I can view the video, but if I right-click on the screen, the "Audio" setting is grayed out.