DVB-T problems : tuning and program boundaries

[StephaneM]

Hello all,

I'm currently having two problems with GBPVR.

I'm using a DVICO Fusion HDTV USB device (DVB-T) on a P4 820 D PC with an ATI Radeon X1800XL, on Windows XP SP2 using NVIDIA DVD Decoder.

The DVICO DVB-T tuner is working well with the Fusion HDTV software, Media Portal and DVB WebScheduler. However in GBPVR, all is fine : it tunes correctly and display the right channel.

But after some times, GBPVR will not tune any channels other than those on one frequency (same transponders). If I use Media Portal right after seeing this behavior, it exhibits the same problem : can't tune channels on other transponders. However Fusion HDTV is still able to tune any channels (and maybe DVB Web Scheduler).

It seems to me that the USB device is left in an inconsistent state by GBPVR, and only a reboot will resume the device to normal operation.

I'm using the latest driver found on the DVICO site (3.30.01), and this only happens in GBPVR, I can use the DVB-T tuner in Media Portal and DVB Web Scheduler every day, and changing channels many times without "locking" the tuner to a transponder at all.

The other problems I'm having is with program boundaries. I'm using "Timeshifting always" (DVR-MS as mux) and when GBPVR reach a program boundary, it just stops. I've verified that the recording service does started to record the following program, but for a reason or another GBPVR doesn't play the new file or it does play it but the recording service just stops (the recorded file is 3 to 20 seconds in length).

I'm attaching all log files produced by a fresh setup of the latest version of GBPVR (96.12).

Any help would be appreciated as GBPVR is much more user friendly to use than Media Portal.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[sub]

If I use Media Portal right after seeing this behavior, it exhibits the same problem : can't tune channels on other transponders. However Fusion HDTV is still able to tune any channels (and maybe DVB Web Scheduler).

It seems to me that the USB device is left in an inconsistent state by GBPVR, and only a reboot will resume the device to normal operation.

Sounds like buggy drivers to me. GB-PVR treats all DVB-T devices the same, and its only happen on your Fusion USB device. The fact it also happens after you've left GB-PVR also backs this up.

There is no special device initialization or shutdown I'm supposed to be doing, this all happens behind the scenes in the dvico drivers.

[StephaneM]

Thanks for the fast reply.

Sounds like buggy drivers to me../...There is no special device initialization or shutdown I'm supposed to be doing, this all happens behind the scenes in the dvico drivers.

Agreed, though the device works perfectly well in other app. so I was thinking it was related to the other problem I'm having : stop on program boundary, may be GBPVR does not do what it usually do (that is when it doesn't stop on prog. boundaries).

I have not yet tried to see if the two problems are directly related. The first time I tried GBPVR (in january), I do not notice these problems right away, but as soon as I noticed them : the first thing that happen is the "stop on boundary".

Regards,
Stéphane.

[sub]

I doubt this boundry thing you mention is cause of your other problem.

You could always try downloading and installing the Cyberlink mux, and try that insead of the dvrms mux, to see if it helps.

[StephaneM]

You could always try downloading and installing the Cyberlink mux, and try that insead of the dvrms mux, to see if it helps.

This does resolve the issue for "program boundaries", though when you reach the boundary the transition is not smooth but at least it works.

I doubt this boundry thing you mention is cause of your other problem.

So it seems. And I'v done more testing, as soon as GBPVR use the tuner, the tuner is unable to tune to another transponder even in other BDA applications (only Fusion HDTV application is working as it should).

So maybe the driver is to blame for some of this behavior, but as the two other BDA applications are not making the tuner going crazy, there is definitely something that GBPVR do that the driver doesn't like.

Unfortunately I cannot see a pattern in there, but maybe it could be related to channels that does have AC3 audio (as well as regulare MPEG audio).

And also the GBPVR Recording service is crashing when changing to one channel that use AC3.

I would love to know if other DVICO Fusion HDTV USB DVB-T device (or the DVICO PCI card with two tuner : one is USB) are having some success with GBPVR or if it behave the same.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[sub]

but as the two other BDA applications are not making the tuner going crazy, there is definitely something that GBPVR do that the driver doesn't like.

Maybe. If you can tell me what exactly that is, then I'll fix it.

As far as I know, I'm already doing all the right stuff I'm supposed to do. I treat all BDA devices the same, and we're not having this problem with any other BDA devices, so I'm sticking to my buggy BDA drivers theory.

[StephaneM]

Maybe. If you can tell me what exactly that is, then I'll fix it.

Well, I never wanted to learn programming DirectShow so really even if could look at your source code I will certainly not locate the issue

I was thinking that the fact that the tuner is locked on one transponder should light something (or maybe some AC3 issue)

As far as I know, I'm already doing all the right stuff I'm supposed to do.

No doubt that you do what you have to (Note that I don't say that you are missing something, but rather that you are doing something the tuner don't like even if it is right). I'm willing to help, I can try to contact DVICO an report them this issue.

What is worrying me is that I can't see anything wrong in GBPVR logs. Except that I don't always see this :
INFO SetTuningRequest(T:G5,562166,0,0,8~P:1537~V:120~A:130~L:fra~PMT:100~TXT:140~N:>TF1).
Shouldn't I see this in the log every time there is a channel change ?

Anything you want me to try for debugging or isolate the problem? Like trying to find if there is a channel or transponder that is more prone to result in locking the tuner... (I'm running this tuner from this december and it has never failed with the other apps so I know it can work properly).

Regards,
Stéphane.

[sub]

Reproduce the problem where it doesnt change channels, and post the logs and I'll take a look.

[StephaneM]

Ok I've just run a few test starting a 2h27 local time.

Launched GBPVR, and from the guide choosing channel I>Tele (freq: 474166), viewing Ok.
Exited to guide, then choosing channel France 3 (freq: 586166), viewing Ok.
Exited to guide, choosing channel Direct 8 (freq:474166), viewing Ok.
Exited to guide, choosing channel W9 (freq: 498166), viewing Ok.
Exited to guide, choosing channel BFM TV (freq: 474166) viewing Ok.
Exited GBPVR
Launched GBPVR 2h35
From guide choosing channel I>Tele (freq: 474166), viewing Ok.
Exited to guide, choosing channel France 3 (freq:586166), errory playing file (and in fact the recording service has crashed).

Restarting the recording service and trying to tune to any channel => "Error playing the file" error message displayed, and if I try to tune to "France 3" the recording service is crashing.

If now I use Media Portal, I can view all channels that are in the 586166 frequency but not the other.

Logs zipped and attached.

Note: I've emailed DVICO support, I will see if I get a response.

Thanks for your help,
Stéphane.

[sub]

Sorry, I dont know. It sounds like its dying some where in the graph, most likely in the dvico drivers.

I guess this specific device just isnt compatible with GB-PVR.