NextPVR fails to record some scheduled programs

[MovieBuff]

I'm new to NextPVR and this forum, hoping I can find some help....  I recently tried using NextPVR when support for Win 7 WMC was discontinued.  I am in the US, and am now running on Windows 10 Pro version 1909 on a desktop with AMD Phenom™ II X4 965 processor running at 3.40 GHz, with 8GB RAM on a 64-bit operating system.  I am using an original HD Homerun Dual ATSC tuner, model HDHR-US, and had upgraded my HD Homerun software when I upgraded to Windows 10.  I can watch TV through the HD Homerun with no issues.  I originally installed NextPVR version 4, but upgraded to v 5 couple of weeks or so ago to see if that would help to resolve my issues, but did not see any change.

My problem is that NextPVR does not record about half of my programs, while recording the other half.  There doesn't seem to be any consistent pattern to the recording failures.  I seem to record more recent movies more successfully than other shows and older movies, but  I can't be confident that any show will record.

There are no failure messages in the Recent Recordings file.  The PC seems to wake just fine when it is due to record.  However, no recording takes place.  The HD Homerun tuner light usually does not come on and NextPVR only creates a small file.  Occasionally, it will capture a few seconds of video from the beginning of the scheduled recording time.  If I look in NextPVR while this is happening, NextPVR appears to think that a recording is taking place.  It does not allow me to schedule a recording of the show, only to cancel it.  The XML file appears to be created normally at the end of the scheduled recording time.

To collect some data for review, during the past 36 hours, I restarted my computer and scheduled 10 recordings.  4 recordings were successful, while 6 failed to record, as follows (m/d/yy format):
Date Start Result
4/9/20 7:57 AM Failed
4/9/20 11:27AM Failed
4/9/20 1:57 PM Success (a movie)
4/9/20 2:57 PM Success (same show as 11:27 AM)
4/9/20 3:57 PM Success (a movie)
4/9/20 8:57 PM Success
4/10/20 3:57 AM Failure
4/10/20 5:27 AM Failure
4/10/20 11:27AM Failure
4/10/20 2:57 PM Failure

I have included all of the failed .ts files in my zip file.

I saw some posts discussing whether blocked ports might be contributing to problems.  I used the netstat command to capture some port information and have included reports from the beginning and end of the 36 hour period with the .ts files.

Hope someone can help ... I really want this to work!

[mvallevand]

Could you check your HDHR logs it doesn't look like you are getting a signal on the fails

2020-04-10 03:57:00.200 [DEBUG][4] locked=0, present=0, strength=0, quality=0

Martine

[sub]

As Martin said, in the logs those recordings appear to get no signal.

Maybe the specific tuner was in use by some other application at the time? NextPVR will not look for another available tuner.

If you have on going issues, it may be worth trying the 'HDHR' device type instead of the 'ATSC' device type. The HDHR device type does get extra error information back from the device, and logs it.

[snagglewest]

The HDHR devices, especially the older ones, are notoriously finicky about good signal quality. Check the signal in the device web page, anything under the mid to high 80% or so range will create problems. Had the same problem when I first started with a HDHR-US and had to install a signal amplifier to boost the signal up solve the problem.

[MovieBuff]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. At your suggestion, I replaced the ATSC device types with HDHR device types in the hope of obtaining additional information in the logs for any failures. I have now run over 15 different test records and have not experienced any recording failures since that change. It seems that my setup was not playing well with the ATSC device types, but the HDHR device types are working without any apparent issues. Thank you very much for your help!

[sub]

Glad to hear it's working better for you.

The only known issue with the ATSC type with HDHomeRun vs the HDHR type, is to make sure you've selected Mediaportal as the app in the SiliconDust utility. (so that it doesn't try to do pid filtering, which can lead to some recordings with zero data)

[MovieBuff]

Thanks for the suggestion. I looked for that setting in the HDHomeRun setup app. In the Configuration tab, there is a "BDA Compatibility Mode" drop down box that was set to Default. When I look at the options, I see an option for MediaPortal. I also see an option for NextPVR. Would you recommend one over the other? Thanks!

[Graham]

When I look at the options, I see an option for MediaPortal.  I also see an option for NextPVR.  Would you recommend one over the other?  Thanks!

Use MediaPortal ... do not use NextPVR ... strange but true ... ... I don't know why.
.

[mvallevand]

SD is changing this https://github.com/kodi-pvr/pvr.nextpvr/...bc496c5b47

Martin

[sub]

SD is changing this https://github.com/kodi-pvr/pvr.nextpvr/...bc496c5b47

Yep, but I didn't know what version they're changing it in, and what version of the drivers/firmware he was using.