Mdapi

[griffy]

Ok this is really annoying. I need NPvr to use MDAPI when decoding SkyTV. Its that simple. The current system doesn't work and hasn't worked for me on 3 PC's since Npvr started. It glitches for no reason. GPVR with MDAPI is perfect all day. So I tried Media Portal with MDAPI Plus and it is perfect all day. MDAPI Plus is meant to be able to work with other programs but I can't get it to start with Npvr. I tried all services.

I love Npvr and do not want to move to Media Portal as it is bloated and slow. Npvr is the best TV software period,

Does anyone know how to get MDAPI implemented before ACAMD, this is all I ask for.

Thank you

[Reddwarf]

That is strange, do you know what type of encryption is used? Are you using a cardserver (like NewCS) or does MDAPI read directly from the smartcard? I'm assuming you use a smartcard for decryption keys?

[griffy]

Thanks for the reply

Have tried NewCS, Oscam, NDscam, Acamd direct with most versions.
If I can get MDAPI involved before Acamd everything is perfect.
The problem is it happens sometime, well maybe 50% and it either happens or it doesn't, if you stop the channel it may be ok next time...but once in the recording all external players will also glitch.
Tried with multiple DVB-S cards, PCi, PCI-E, USB DVB-S with same result. 3 different PC, 4 different Operating systems (Vista,7,8,10). 2 Card readers, 2 Sky Cards.
Problem is GBPVR DVB-S doesn't work well with Windows 10 so can't go back anymore (GBPVR with MDAPI was perfect for years, never glitch even once)
Encryption is Sky NDS, tried an Infinity USB and OMNIKey.
Tried all the same computers with MediaPortal and perfect after 2 weeks of recording and live TV using MDAPI-Plus plugin. I don't want to move to this bloatware though.
MDAPI-Plus can try to start with any application, but won't start with nRecord, it does show the tuner card though.

[Reddwarf]

I really don't know what to suggest, if you have done all this tests correctly and it still don't work stable you have a strange problem. I know that NewCS/Acamd is a very stable combination, I myself and many others have used it for years with no problem. In fact, I had a lot of problems with Mdapi in the past.

Can you set up a system with Acamd and NewCS and capture logs?

Edit: BTW, did you run the NewCS cardserver on a windows computer? It runs much more stable under Linux....

[griffy]

Its not the card server or Acamd as I can use the card reader from Acamd directly, or NewCS (Win), or Oscam. I can also use MediaPortal with all these combinations. I tried I think it was DVB Dream without MDAPI and it also stutters randomly.
Believe me my only solution is to get MDAPI involved and everything is perfect all the time. Can still get GBPVR to work perfect but Win 10 doesn't scan channels consistently anymore with GBPVR.
Npvr does work 100% for me around 60% of the time but if a recording starts with a glitch the whole recording will have them. If you start the channel and don't get glitches it will be fine. Sometimes it might be 1 sports channel and the next day it will be a different one.
I have no errors in any logs for any of the programs. This is my third PC, 2nd DVB-S card, and 2nd type of cards reader...a little frustrated

[Reddwarf]

It is not recommendet to let Acamd read the cardreader directly, it takes too long and you will get glitches. There are lots of users who has managed to get this working without the old outdated Mdapi so really no reason why you should not. Can you post the Acamd.ini and Cardclient.conf you used with NewCS? I's like to take a look at those....

[griffy]

So now have npvr plugin to mediaportal to use their epg. recording into a folder seen by npvr for playback. able to record multiple streams on any mux using mdapi plus.playback perfect. shame npvr recording with same card setup still glitches randomly, file playback with vlc has glitch too.

[sub]

I'm in NZ, but get my Sky channels through Vodafone's cable service, so I don't have any easy way to test your scenario.

Where abouts in NZ are you?

[griffy]

I'm in Christchurch. New sky dish with strong signal. DVB-S Card is a HVR-4400 Pci-e. Sky Card is reading at 0.176 now with a OMNIKEY (down from 0.495 with Infinity USB)
Is their anyway to allow MDAPI plugin to load like we did in GB-PVR? This seems to stop the random glitches.
Its not that nPVR doesn't work it just that if the glitch starts, usually 1 second after the ECM is sent, it continues until you restart the stream...in a recording of course you find out later and its too late. If I record in MediaPortal they always play perfect in nPVR, and everywhere else.

[sub]

Is their anyway to allow MDAPI plugin to load like we did in GB-PVR?

No. Realistically it's a relatively complicated change, and I'd need to be able to test as I make those change, but I have no encrypted channels with smartcard these days, so no way for me to test it.

I'm not sure if it's practical, but we might be able to do something like have you temporarily enable remote access to your card server. ie, I can receive sky signals via Optus D1 and my HVR-5525, just no way to decrypt them.

Its not that nPVR doesn't work it just that if the glitch starts, usually 1 second after the ECM is sent, it continues until you restart the stream...in a recording of course you find out later and its too late. If I record in MediaPortal they always play perfect in nPVR, and everywhere else.

Do you see that glitch in a recording? If so, and you can supply a sample file, I'll take a look at what is wrong with the file.