software keeps exiting to main menu

[toasterman]

I've just reinstalled GBPVR on a completely new system built just for running it.
A few niggles on the way but I've finally got it working, so it changes channels, the usb-uirt is working, xmltv has pulled down listings, etc, when I now have a strange intermittent fault.

It seems when I pause/rewind live tv, pausing is fine, but instead of rewinding, it exits back to the main menu. This is my first proper test of the new system. It has been rebooted several times.

I'm also getting a problem when using the mini tv guide. I've posted the end of the GBPVR.exe.log below.
You can see what I was doing - watching a channel, browsing the mini-guide on screen and using gbpvr to change to another channel. After doing this 2-3 times, it exits back to the menu at the "stoplive tv" point. I can't browse the mini guide without it constantly exiting back to the main menu.

The pc is a sempron 2400 with 512mb ram, 40gb hard drive (8.5gb free), win xp, using a Hauppauge PVR 350 card. The only things running on the system are gbpvr, the hauppauge ir remote software, and the other various gbpvr services. I have a few additional plugins installed:
the system status one,
weather,
rss feeds,
web browser,
cinema listings
and
shutdown.
I had all of these apart from the web browser running on my old pc, (that I was using to test gbpvr before I committed to a whole new system for it) and no such issues with only 256mb ram.

Any help on this would be much appreciated

Thanks

-Ben-


==end of GBPVR.exe.log==

30/12/2005 00:54:44.250 VERBOSE [2] getValue cached value: /settings/RememberProcAmpSettings : true
30/12/2005 00:54:44.281 VERBOSE [2] getValue cached value: /settings/DefaultSkipSecondsForward : 60
30/12/2005 00:54:44.281 VERBOSE [2] getValue cached value: /settings/DefaultSkipSecondsBack : 30
30/12/2005 00:54:44.281 VERBOSE [2] getValue cached value: /settings/ManualSkipTimebase : Minutes
30/12/2005 00:54:44.343 VERBOSE [2] Received event code: 14
30/12/2005 00:54:52.140 VERBOSE [2] flushDatabaseConnections()
30/12/2005 00:54:52.171 VERBOSE [2] RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
30/12/2005 00:54:52.171 VERBOSE [2] getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
30/12/2005 00:54:52.171 VERBOSE [2] getDatabaseConnection() creating new connection
30/12/2005 00:54:52.171 VERBOSE [2] Video popup task has been activated
30/12/2005 00:55:11.031 VERBOSE [2] RecordLiveTV: 8
30/12/2005 00:55:16.515 VERBOSE [2] About to play LiveTV File: C:\WR 8_1_20051230_00300100.mpg Channel:

BBC News 24
30/12/2005 00:55:16.515 VERBOSE [2] Before LiveTV Play
30/12/2005 00:55:18.468 VERBOSE [2] After LiveTV Play
30/12/2005 00:55:18.468 VERBOSE [2] getValue cached value: /settings/RememberProcAmpSettings : true
30/12/2005 00:55:18.468 VERBOSE [2] RenewLease: 1
30/12/2005 00:55:20.609 VERBOSE [2] getValue cached value: /settings/DefaultSkipSecondsForward : 60
30/12/2005 00:55:20.609 VERBOSE [2] getValue cached value: /settings/DefaultSkipSecondsBack : 30
30/12/2005 00:55:20.609 VERBOSE [2] getValue cached value: /settings/ManualSkipTimebase : Minutes
30/12/2005 00:55:20.687 VERBOSE [2] Received event code: 14
30/12/2005 00:55:22.625 VERBOSE [2] flushDatabaseConnections()
30/12/2005 00:55:22.671 VERBOSE [2] RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
30/12/2005 00:55:22.671 VERBOSE [2] getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
30/12/2005 00:55:22.671 VERBOSE [2] getDatabaseConnection() creating new connection
30/12/2005 00:55:22.671 VERBOSE [2] Video popup task has been activated
30/12/2005 00:55:24.640 VERBOSE [2] Received event code: 1
30/12/2005 00:55:26.296 VERBOSE [2] StopLiveTV()
30/12/2005 00:55:26.546 VERBOSE [2] at xae10db17d26ba033.xbe83d16b02243330.x9d0357308a26468a(Boolean

x34c7e6ccfb82bbba)
30/12/2005 00:55:27.281 VERBOSE [2] MDB updated, forcing refresh of next recording panel
30/12/2005 00:55:27.281 VERBOSE [2] Loading recording list for next recording panel
30/12/2005 00:55:27.281 VERBOSE [2] RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
30/12/2005 00:55:27.281 VERBOSE [2] getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
30/12/2005 00:55:29.859 VERBOSE [2] ShowMouse ref=0
30/12/2005 00:55:37.359 VERBOSE [2] HideMouse ref=-1

[sub]

Are you using the tv out on the PVR350?

[toasterman]

Are you using the tv out on the PVR350?

Yes. It's much clearer than any graphics card tv-out.

[sub]

The tv out on this device is no longer actively supported. That said, you could try increasing the 'live tv pre play delay' in the config app (lower left on playback tab). Try a big number first like 2 seconds to see if it helps. If that doesnt work, you might need to look at using a regular video card instead of the PVR350's tv out.

[toasterman]

The tv out on this device is no longer actively supported. That said, you could try increasing the 'live tv pre play delay' in the config app (lower left on playback tab). Try a big number first like 2 seconds to see if it helps. If that doesnt work, you might need to look at using a regular video card instead of the PVR350's tv out.

Damn. Weird thing is I had the same card set up the same way running the same on my other pc..athlon xp 1800, 256mb ram, windows xp, all of a week or two ago and it was fine.
This time round I'm using a different programme listing, I've put more channels that I watch in..and I think thats about it. Different motherboard, but faster cpu, more ram, more hard disk, etc.

I've never seen the tv out from any regular video card do any good at very large mpeg2 files. I spent months trying on my laptop, on my nvidia card on my own pc, a friend's ati, and another friend with some fancy expensive ati card that is meant to be amazing at everything - mpeg2 playback sucks on all of them. Hauppauge made some vague recommendations but no-one will tell me what I want to hear..that the clarity is as good as a standard dvd recorder, 99% as clear as satellite/cable original source.

Through graphics cards and tv out, the clarity isn't there, the colour isn't there, its obviously being run through a computer, and most worst, there are major blur lines on edges of anything moving.

So after months of trying, I gave up with a PVR150 and bought the 350 for more than double the 150 cost, just for the tv out cause I thought hardware encoding AND decoding.. has to be better. My new way, theres very marginal difference between the original source and the output when its gone through the computer.

If you don't support it, you don't support it though. Thanks for your help. I'll see about adjusting that pre-delay thing.

-Ben-

[sub]

I've never seen the tv out from any regular video card do any good at very large mpeg2 files. I spent months trying on my laptop, on my nvidia card on my own pc, a friend's ati, and another friend with some fancy expensive ati card that is meant to be amazing at everything - mpeg2 playback sucks on all of them. Hauppauge made some vague recommendations but no-one will tell me what I want to hear..that the clarity is as good as a standard dvd recorder, 99% as clear as satellite/cable original source.

I agree, the PVR350 produces a great picture. The main reasons I've dropped support for this feature are:

1) The device is too limited - no DVD support, no AVI support etc.
2) The device drivers would cause hard lockups (requiring reboot) for a significant percentage of users. The only work around was changing motherboards, which just isnt really acceptable.
3) The device is too different. It required its own specific implementation for many features, which consumes a lot of development time, all for a small percentage of users.

Through graphics cards and tv out, the clarity isn't there, the colour isn't there, its obviously being run through a computer, and most worst, there are major blur lines on edges of anything moving.

I'm lucky enough to have a TV that has a DVI connector. It gives me a picture on par with the PVR350's tv out.

So after months of trying, I gave up with a PVR150 and bought the 350 for more than double the 150 cost, just for the tv out cause I thought hardware encoding AND decoding.. has to be better. My new way, theres very marginal difference between the original source and the output when its gone through the computer.

If you don't support it, you don't support it though.

I have been saying it's no longer actively supported for over six months now, so it should come as no surprised to anyone that has been around for a while. I probably end up mentioning twice a week or so. If people have been asking for PVR350 hardware recommendations, I've been telling them its a good capture device, but dont buy it for the hardware decoder.

[toasterman]

I agree, the PVR350 produces a great picture. The main reasons I've dropped support for this feature are:
<snip>

I can't argue with those reasons. If it was me, I'd have done the same. The PVR350 driver motherboard issue - is this also a problem on the 150 and 250, do you know?

I'm not fixed on Hauppauge cards, but tv cards with hardware encoders seem to be few and far between, and I've tried capturing before with software based cards - kills the entire machine and I couldn't get over about 15fps without dropping frames.
I think I had it down to either a Leadtek something or other, a Dazzle external box, the pvr150 or the 350. The 350 seemed the easier route at the time. Given that nothing I have plays mpeg2 files very well, it would be very hard to compare even if I could find realistic sample files available for each.
Hauppauge, despite their own software being rubbish and Hauppauge support not being very good - seem to have surprisingly good underground support from enthusiasts, hackers, geeks, etc

I'm lucky enough to have a TV that has a DVI connector. It gives me a picture on par with the PVR350's tv out.

Thats a nice sounding HD-ready tv. I'd need a new job to afford one though methinks.

I have been saying it's no longer actively supported for over six months now, so it should come as no surprised to anyone that has been around for a while. I probably end up mentioning twice a week or so. If people have been asking for PVR350 hardware recommendations, I've been telling them its a good capture device, but dont buy it for the hardware decoder.

Ah. I've been lurking for a while on and off but it took me ages to work out what the problem I was experiencing, was. I'd convinced myself the blur was caused by the old tv card at one point, after reading somewhere online there is a fault with the pvr150 pal tuners. It turns out this may have been the case at some point, but wasn't anything to do with my problem.

Burning the recording to a dvd and playing in a dvd player would have told me this months ago but I didn't have a working cd/dvd writer, nor did this cross my mind for some reason.....I mean after all - surely 2 nvidia cards and an ati couldn't all be that bad at just playing back some mpeg2 files? How wrong I was.

I have been out to PC World to see if I can work out how the tv-output is set up on one of these £1000 media pcs they're peddling on all their adverts, but the idiots only hook it up to a monitor and show dvds in-store, so its impossible to see what its really like when using a tv as the screen.

[sub]

The PVR350 driver motherboard issue - is this also a problem on the 150 and 250, do you know?

No, its not an issue with the PVR150/250/500. Its also not an issue for the hardware encoder part of the PVR350. As far as I can tell, its something to do with DMA transfers of data for the PVR350's hardware decoder. Its probably a bug in the part of the drivers that is responsible for this activity.

I'm not fixed on Hauppauge cards, but tv cards with hardware encoders seem to be few and far between, and I've tried capturing before with software based cards - kills the entire machine and I couldn't get over about 15fps without dropping frames.

The Hauppauge cards are the most common ones (and they are good cards), but there are also a few clones based on the same Conexant reference design and reference drivers. Out of these cards I'd probably only buy the Hauppauge ones, since you'll get much better third party software support. I wouldnt recommend the leadtek or others.

Another popular set of cards are the ATI 550 Pro cards.

[toasterman]

The Hauppauge cards are the most common ones (and they are good cards), but there are also a few clones based on the same Conexant reference design and reference drivers. Out of these cards I'd probably only buy the Hauppauge ones, since you'll get much better third party software support. I wouldnt recommend the leadtek or others.

Another popular set of cards are the ATI 550 Pro cards.

Thanks for your continued advice.
I think I've been through enough with Hauppauge cards now to know where the faults lie..sound levels, video sync, etc, and how to fix these faults with the tweak tools and stuff, so I'll probably return the 350 and get another pvr150 as this seems to be supported well by all manner of pvr and capturing software, and its not worth the £40-80 extra (depending where you buy it) for a card that skips, exits randomly, crashes via motherboards and with no support for the hardware decoder.

If theres any chance of me getting what I think is a half decent tv output, am I right in thinking (from other reviews online, on here..etc) that the Matrox G550 is about as good as tv-output gets? Is there anything else that rivals it (or is better than it..even) in terms of quality of tv-outputted mpeg2?
I read somewhere that this card doesn't let you overlay so therefore would that render the mini-guide useless and make pause/rewind a lot harder to do? If there are any big downsides to the G550, please let me know.. as it is probably the favourite at the moment on the basis of other peoples' reviews.

I have a friend who has just bought a new Nvidia card of some sort with tv-out he reckons is quite good, so I'll burn a dvd of some fast-moving stuff I've recorded and try and play it back from his computer.

Having built a pc for watching tv on now, I might as well go and complete it before I decide if its unwatchable or not, especially as there isn't any other way of doing what I'm trying to do really.

Thanks again for your help thus far

P.S. Any idea why my current setup, which is using onboard video ('Unichrome', with no more details from the motherboard manual - it's an Abit Via VA10) at the moment to playback non-mpeg2 files, will play a dvd flawlessly, but is much flakier at playing back mpeg2 files I've recorded with the pvr350 if I turn off the hardware decoder?
Surely on that basis it must be to do with the software decoder it is using for playing back both, rather than the files or hardware?

[sub]

If theres any chance of me getting what I think is a half decent tv output, am I right in thinking (from other reviews online, on here..etc) that the Matrox G550 is about as good as tv-output gets? Is there anything else that rivals it (or is better than it..even) in terms of quality of tv-outputted mpeg2?
I read somewhere that this card doesn't let you overlay so therefore would that render the mini-guide useless and make pause/rewind a lot harder to do? If there are any big downsides to the G550, please let me know.. as it is probably the favourite at the moment on the basis of other peoples' reviews.

Sorry, I dont know anything about these Matrox cards.

P.S. Any idea why my current setup, which is using onboard video ('Unichrome', with no more details from the motherboard manual - it's an Abit Via VA10) at the moment to playback non-mpeg2 files, will play a dvd flawlessly, but is much flakier at playing back mpeg2 files I've recorded with the pvr350 if I turn off the hardware decoder?

Maybe try switching GB-PVR from VMR to Overlay, since thats what most DVD player software uses (no semi-transparent OSD, but produces slightly better picture for some video chipsets). Other than that, just try some other decoders.