Broadcaster changing service ID/SID, unable to tune to channel

[axeman]

Hello,

First of all thank you for the great software!  I am a somewhat new user coming from mediaportal/WMC but am very impressed so far.

Here's the problem I'm having - one of the channels in my area is constantly changing the SID back and forth between 5, and 1.  Right now in the NPVR channel list for that channel, I see "Freq:15 SID:5".  However in a few hours or maybe tomorrow, the channel will stop working until I re-scan (and delete duplicates).  The working channel will then say "Freq:15 SID:1".  

I had the same problem with Mediaportal which I why I tried out NPVR (and found it to be far superior aside from this issue).  The strange thing is, Windows Media Center can handle these changes without an issue, so it must be possible to somehow ignore these changes.

Any thoughts?  I'd really rather not go back to running WMC if I can avoid it.  I have contacted the broadcaster but I'm not sure if they will get back to me.

Thanks in advance,

Phil

[sub]

I've never heard of any channel changing the sid ("program number" in North America). That would be unusual. It really needs to be able to rely on that information staying static. Other stuff can change, like the name, or the substreams that make up the channel.

[mvallevand]

There is a bug in NextPVR when the same virtual channel is on multiple physical frequencies and I recently identified that it has the same issue with channels names. That could be the source of the problem.

If this is a Clear QAM device frequent scans can be the norm.

Martin

[axeman]

Wow, thanks for the fast replies!

This channel is CTV in Canada via antenna (not clearQAM from my understanding) using a Hauppauge PCI tuner card on Windows 7.

I'd be surprised if it's a bug in NPVR unless the same bug exists in mediaportal, as I've seen it there as well, but I suppose it's possible!

Would logs help?

Thanks.

[mvallevand]

Logs of a scan wouldn't hurt. I noticed there are a lot of CFCN regional transmitters depending on your location and elevation you could be picking up other frequencies.

I'd post on digitalhome.ca in the Calgary OTA area to see if this is a known issue too.

Martin

[axeman]

Attached are logs from a scan.  The SID has changed again and is now back to 1 where it was 5 earlier in the day. Edit: Please use the most recent logs - I meant to remove an earlier file but can't figure out how.

I'm in the Halifax, NS area actually, and there is only one nearby transmitter for that channel.  The next closest is 51 miles away.

Thanks again!

Phil

[axeman]

Hi,

I thought maybe CTV received my emails and fixed the issue, but unfortunately the service ID just changed again.

Was there anything in the logs that looked suspicious?

Thanks,

Phil

[mvallevand]

I saw the problem was bigger than you described since sometimes the sid is 100000 (for other channels too). I wonder if there is an initial value and NextPVR needs to wait a little longer somehow. Does WinTV have any issue with CTV?

Code:

<tuning>
  <type>ATSC</type>
  <locator>
    <physical_channel>15</physical_channel>
  </locator>
  <service_id>100000</service_id>
  <tsid>16673</tsid>
  <service_type>1</service_type>
  <provider>ATSC</provider>
</tuning>

<tuning>
  <type>ATSC</type>
  <locator>
    <physical_channel>15</physical_channel>
  </locator>
  <service_id>5</service_id>
  <tsid>16673</tsid>
  <service_type>1</service_type>
  <provider>ATSC</provider>
</tuning>

<tuning>
  <type>ATSC</type>
  <locator>
    <physical_channel>15</physical_channel>
  </locator>
  <service_id>1</service_id>
  <tsid>16673</tsid>
  <service_type>1</service_type>
  <provider>ATSC</provider>
</tuning>

Martin

[axeman]

Wow, that's crazy.

In the past 30 minutes I watched the service ID change from 1, to 5, and back to 1 again.

I don't have WinTV installed (I believe it needs an activation code..).  Windows Media Center does not seem to care what the service ID is, but both NPVR and Mediaportal are affected when it changes.  If you think it's worth testing with I'll work on getting it installed.

I wonder if my tuner drivers are corrupted somehow.. but now I'm reaching.

Thanks,

Phil

[mvallevand]

WinTV is free with the disk that came with the software if you didn't buy the WMC edition. I am only suggesting it to see if it is a timing issue.

Do you have a booster on your feed? If so maybe take it off.

Martin