HDPVR2 Pixelization and Tearing

[jcole998]

I'm afraid I need to resurrect this troubling issue with Hauppauge HDPVR2 and V5 live TV. I use this device to gain access to those channels that are not marked copy freely.

Pixelization and tearing are severe after only a few seconds of live TV. I spent considerable time trying to characterize this issue and is exactly like the video submitted by SilverTiger at this post: https://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.ph...#pid531845

Logs are included at the conclusion of these tests.

VLC HDPVR2 startup sequence:
- From HDPVR2 re-power - status is blue
- Select HDPVR2 channel
- Channel changes on STB
- Status light goes green briefly
- Status light goes steady green
- Live TV appears and plays without error
- Stop live TV and HDPVR2 status goes yellow then white for 30 seconds then blue
- Starting channel while status is not blue results in still frame followed by live tv after about 2 seconds

Desktop app HDPVR2 startup sequence:
- From HDPVR2 re-power - status is blue
- Select HDPVR2 channel
- Channel changes on STB
- Status light goes green briefly
- Status light goes steady green
- Live TV initially appears normal but quickly deteriorates to severe pixelization and tearing.
- Stop live TV and HDPVR2 status goes yellow then white for 30 seconds then blue
- Starting channel while status is not blue results in immediate pixelization and tearing.

Playback of recorded programs is flawless using either application.
Live TV using VLC on a Debian RPi4 other than the V5 server plays flawlessly.

No issues at all using Hauppauge DCR-3250 Triple tuner with cable card.

Could this have something to do with leaving certain devices "powered up" even though not in use? I seem to remember reading someting about this in the forum.

Hope you can help.

[sub]

If you do a recording, and play the recording, does it also have the issue?

SilverTiger seems to be working ok now. Sounds like you're playing from NextPVR in VLC on an RPi4 though, so probably not related to the same issue.

If you play try playing the stream in VLC on the same machine as the device, do you still have the problem?

[jcole998]

If you do a recording, and play the recording, does it also have the issue

There no issues playing back a recording. 

If you play try playing the stream in VLC on the same machine as the device, do you still have the problem?

VLC  plays live TV flawlessly.

I should also add that V4 played HDPVR2 live TV with no issues.

JohnC

[mvallevand]

Have you tried using LAV as the AC3 decoder?

Martin

[jcole998]

Thanks, Martin. I gave it try but no joy. Picture quickly degraded AND lost the sound. BTW, I didn't mention that the sound IS chopped suey when pic is degraded.

JohnC

[mvallevand]

Did you install the 32 bit decoder? You should still have sound.

Martin

[jcole998]

OK. I installed LAV 32-bit decoders from https://github.com/Nevcairiel/LAVFilters....1-x86.zip. Three pieces: 1) install_audio.bat, 2) install_splitter.bat, and 3) install_video.bat, all of which completed successfully.

I immediately tried them with V4 with complete success. Audio and video played nicely regardless of device used.

But not with V5 desktop. While the audio is now playing, the video is still terrible but only from the HDPVR2 tuned to a DRM channel.

JohnC

(Logs now attached.)

[jcole998]

What else can I provide that will help solve this problem? The LAV decoders fixed audio missing but not tearing video.

[mvallevand]

I can't help but when you write "HDPVR2 tuned to a DRM channel" do you mean it works on non-DRM channels or that you only test DRM channels.

Martin

[jcole998]

OK. I use the HDPVR2 to get to DRM channels on the STB. I can also use it to tune non-DRM channels if I need to. The poor picture occurs on any STB channel, DRM or not, that uses the HDPVR2 HDMI input. Remember, issues happen with live TV only. Anything recorded from the HDPVR2 plays with no problem.

The attached logs show:
- tuning channel 502 using the DCR-3250 cable card tuner. Perfect picture & sound.
- tuning channel 502.2 using the HDPVR2. Terrible picture & sound. "502.2" is simply my of getting access to STB channels using the HDPVR2.

Hope this helps.