NPVR 2.0.3 stops recording QAM channels for no apparent reason

[DHL]

I have 4 computer all with Win7 Pro 64-bit, running the latest version of NPVR 2.0.3. with the latest patches installed. And, I still occasionally randomly encounter a problem where NPVR stops recording what it is recording, and the service needs to be stopped and started in order for it to respond. However, once the service is restarted, it begins recording again, for a few seconds to sometimes up to 2 or 3 minutes, and then stops again. This usually continues for several hours, where each time I restart NPVR, the same problem occurs. I'll wait an hour and try again. This last occurred last Thursday evening at about 8:00 PM, and no matter how often I restarted NPVR, it did not become stable until after 1:00 PM the following day. This is the longest that this problem has lasted. Usually it will last for a couple of hours, at most. It used to only occur on one computer, this last time it occurred on all 4 computers, simultaneously. I checked the short recording and it looks fine. No issues with quality, video or audio. I have narrowed this down to QAM channels only. THis does not seem to occur with OTA HD, nor does this problem seem to affect Windows Media Center, which I have on a 5th computer, using the same cable feed. I am using an amplifier to split the signal--this does not appear to be the problem. I can also watch these same QAM channels on 2 different TVs without any issues. There is nothing in the log files that indicate a problem. No errors appear in the log file. It doesn't even show that the program being recorded has stopped.

One other note. On 2 of the computers, I am recording both HD (OTA) and SD (QAM) simultaneously, and all recordings stop when this error occurs. On the other 2 computers, I am only recording QAM channels.

How can I help diagnose this problem? :confused:

Cheers,
David

btw, when this error is not occurring, NPVR is awesome! Reliable, simple (not bloated), fast, etc.

[sub]

Does this happen every recording? What capture device are you using?

I guess as a first step you should reproduce the problem and post the logs.

[DHL]

Hey sub, sorry, I am using the Hauppauge HVR-2250 cards. The frustrating part is that this happens randomly, maybe once per month, sometimes twice per month. Most often in the early to late evening hours. Thank you.

On 2011-04-22 at 1646 I noticed that the recordings stopped, so I stopped the service and started it.

These recordings stopped at 1646
WLS-1629-1702_20110422_16291702.ts
WMAQ-1628-1702_20110422_16281702.ts

These recordings started after the restart (this is where the log begins)
WLS-1629-1702_20110422_16291702-0.ts
WMAQ-1628-1702_20110422_16281702-0.ts
Then at 1647 these recordings stopped

I stopped and started it again at 1659 and all recordings occurred as they should have occurred.

I don't have the logs from earlier. (where most of the continuous problems occurred) If these logs are not helpful, I will be sure to save the logs right after it happens next time.

[sub]

I don't have the logs from earlier. (where most of the continuous problems occurred) If these logs are not helpful, I will be sure to save the logs right after it happens next time.

Yeah, you'll need to post the logs again next time it happens.

[DHL]

There are two examples of the problem occurring in these logs, though. And that is generally what they look like when the problem does occur. There is no indication in the log that a problem has occurred. When the problem does occur, it seems like writing log entries ceases.

[sub]

I'm not really sure. I cant see any obvious sign of problems in the logs (which probably means the device just stopped delivering data).

Does it only ever happen when two QAM recordings are happening at the same time?

[DHL]

Hmm... good question. I'm not 100% certain of that. THe most frustrating part is that it works day after day, recording up to 6 simultaneous programs using 3 tuner cards (HVR-2250s) and then out of nowhere, and for no visual reason, the recordings stop and won't restart, until sometimes hours later. I will pay attention to that too, next time.

[Spark]

Hmm... good question. I'm not 100% certain of that. THe most frustrating part is that it works day after day, recording up to 6 simultaneous programs using 3 tuner cards (HVR-2250s) and then out of nowhere, and for no visual reason, the recordings stop and won't restart, until sometimes hours later. I will pay attention to that too, next time.

For what it is worth, I saw the same thing happen to me, but I don't have your tuner. I have a ATI 650HD QAM tuner.
It didn't fix itself when I uninstalled/reinstalled npvr, and today, I fired it up, and it just started to work again.
Very odd, and the logs didn't show anything.

Sub, I was wondering, would it be possible to add a hotkey, so when this kind of thing happens again, we can dump out much more verbose logs on what is going on ?

[DHL]

Thanks, Spark. That would be cool, Sub! (extra logging only when the issue occurs)

[sub]

Sub, I was wondering, would it be possible to add a hotkey, so when this kind of thing happens again, we can dump out much more verbose logs on what is going on ?

The log files already exist for that purpose. I dont see any reason for hotkey, and doing it after an error isnt going to result in useful logging. You need any detailed logging turned on at the time the problem happens.