After 1.3.7 & 1.3.11 HDHR only records on single channel

[YoMoose]

Several weeks ago I updated my long running OTA ATSC GBPVR installation to 1.3.7, new comskip and the latest HDHR drivers and firmware. Around that time some programs would show as recorded, but when I'd go to watch one GBPVR would act as if it was going to play it, but instead would immediately return.

I've since updated to 1.3.11, including the patch, and still have this issue.

Here's what I'm observing;
- All channels work correctly with live TV on either HDHR tuner and the TV's tuner.
- If I record on only a single channel it records correctly and can be watched during recording.
- If I'm recording on one channel and try to watch live TV on another I always get a "No signal detected" message. If I cancel the recording I can immediately watch live TV on that channel.
- If I start a second recording it appears to work, but if I try and watch it while recording I get a "No signal detected" message. If I let the recording complete the dvr-ms file is always 6KB long and of course can't be played.
- If several overlapping recordings are scheduled the second one to start always fails, independent of the tuner (0 or 1) being used.

At this point I'm guessing it's some new config option I'm missing, but I'm stumped. I've attached my log files. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[whurlston]

Make sure that you have disabled the dynamic tuner allocation feature in the HDHR setup.

Also, try switching to the "TS Mux" instead of "DVR-MS". There is an issue playing some HDHR recordings from a DVR-MS container. I haven't nailed down the issue but I didn't spend much time on it or bother sub with it because the TS Mux worked. I also didn't see much reason to stick with the DVR-MS container.

[YoMoose]

I've run the HDHR setup (hdsetup_setup.exe) and under the "tuners" tab unchecked the "dynamic tuner allocation..." item at the bottom of that screen.

With that single change the issue of recording on multiple tuners appears to have gone away. I can now simultaneously record on both tuners, watch either or record on one and watch Live TV on the other. Great!

I next went to GBPVR config and on the misc2 tab BDA Multiplexer item changed "Microsoft DVR-MS" to "TS Mux". I also checked "Enable multi-record support".

With these two changes the recordings are now .ts files instead of .dvr-ms. Recording and comskip completes as expected.

During playback the .ts files have issues with fast forward and commercial skipping. FF skips ahead as expected, but the image doesn't change until you let up on the FF button. This wasn't the case with DVR-MS files.

When it hits a comskip break point and attempts auto skip the commercial things start to get strange. The screen sometimes freezes, audio sometimes skips the commercial, but video stays frozen, sometimes the commercial is skipped, but then playback is frozen after the commercial, hitting FF or sometimes play in this case will then restart playback from that point...and finally at other times it starts doing a fast foward, by itself for 20 seconds or so then starts playing correctly.

I'm going to go back to DVR-MS and see what happens.

[whurlston]

I can't help with the comskip problem, sorry.

[sub]

FF skips ahead as expected, but the image doesn't change until you let up on the FF button. This wasn't the case with DVR-MS files.

I think you're were just lucky if it was working with DVR-MS. In general skipping might take a second or so to complete, and if you're sending another skip or ff before that second or so might not get a chance to complete, so you get no new frame until you take your finger off for a couple of sends. I doubt you'll find anything that'll change that behaviour.

When it hits a comskip break point and attempts auto skip the commercial things start to get strange. The screen sometimes freezes, audio sometimes skips the commercial, but video stays frozen, sometimes the commercial is skipped, but then playback is frozen after the commercial...

This sounds like the sort of thing related to decoders, so you might need to try a different decoder combination.

[YoMoose]

Moving back to DVR-MS files restores the previous (good) FF and commercial skipping behavior.

I don't think the issue with FF and commercial skipping with .ts files has to do with comskip itself. GBPVR shows all the commercial breaks in the right places. It's when GBPVR uses that info to advance in the playing file that the problems begin.

I'm not familiar with decoders and their impact on HA and playback. I'll have to educate myself in that area. For now I'll stick with disabled dynamic tuner allocation and BDA Multiplexer set to DVR-MS. Thanks.