"Starting Device" fails

[Madlec]

Hi,

I have an interesting problem...

I am running NPVR on a Windows Server 2016 Essentials box with a BlackGold BGT3650 tuner with the latest drivers, and using Emby as the primary player. It all works fine to start with, until the server hibernates (Lights Out 3 power management), or as I found out this morning reboots. 

When the server is resumed, for what ever reason, none of the tuners can get a channel lock. The 2 ways I have found which solves the problem is to either start and cancel a channel scan, or restart the NextPVRServer service. What I find most confusing is when I rebooted after a Windows update this morning, I had the same issue until I restarted the service.

As a workaround I have created a scheduled task to restart the service when the server is resumed, but I had 2 failed recordings last night, so I dont think it is working ( I havent checked the Windows logs yet)

It has been working, and Im not sure if this started when I upgraded to the last version of NextPVR. I have attached my logs.

Thanks..

[Graham]

When the server is resumed, for what ever reason, none of the tuners can get a channel lock.

The device-7231 BDA DVBT Tuner-1.log.1 has ...

2021-01-13 21:01:46.247 [DEBUG][4] StartStream(): F:\ServerFolders\Videos\PVR\Tower Bridge Gateway to London\Tower Bridge Gateway to London_20210113_21002200.ts
2021-01-13 21:01:46.274 [DEBUG][4] Using tuner: 7231 BDA DVBT Tuner (1)
2021-01-13 21:01:46.274 [DEBUG][4] About to connect...
2021-01-13 21:01:46.274 [DEBUG][4] has network provider
2021-01-13 21:01:46.274 [DEBUG][4] has tuner
...
2021-01-13 21:01:46.316 [DEBUG][4]       Pin [126a0e4]  'Antenna Out' [O]  Connected to [4e0031c]
2021-01-13 21:01:46.317 [DEBUG][4] Starting graph...
2021-01-13 21:01:46.319 [DEBUG][4] Calling LockChannel()
2021-01-13 21:01:46.322 [DEBUG][4] locked=0, present=0, strength=80, quality=0  (took 16ms to check)
...
2021-01-13 21:01:49.264 [DEBUG][4] DigitalRecorderDVBT::Tune@post
2021-01-13 21:01:49.269 [DEBUG][4] Calling LockChannel()
2021-01-13 21:01:49.315 [DEBUG][4] locked=0, present=0, strength=80, quality=0  (took 47ms to check)
2021-01-13 21:01:49.315 [DEBUG][4] StartStream()@exit handle=1

The ... quality=0 ... values usually indicate a problem with the aerial feed into the tuner ... What happens if you do a test with all splitters and extension coax removed?

What are the names of the shows that failed to record so that we know where to look in the logs?  Thanks.

[Madlec]

Thanks for the reply.

The other failed recording was Skyscraper (device-7231 BDA DVBT Tuner-3.log.3)

There is only the main signal booster between the aerial and the server, I can try connecting it directly, but we live an a poor signal area, so it may not work at all.
When the issue is happening, our main TV doesn't have any signal issues (but that doesn't rule out a problematic cable between the booster and the server)

The confusing thing is that when there is no reception, I do nothing to the hardware, just restart the service, then I get a signal again.

device-7231 BDA DVBT Tuner-4.log.1 Shows me trying to watch Horror Channel,

2021-01-14 09:46:07.498 [DEBUG][4] locked=0, present=0, strength=80, quality=0 (took 0ms to check)

Starting and cancelling a re-tune on the tuner.

2021-01-14 09:47:43.486 [DEBUG][4] locked=1, present=1, strength=58, quality=100 (took 47ms to check)


device-7231 BDA DVBT Tuner-3.log.1 shows me trying to watch BBC1,

2021-01-14 09:53:27.364 [DEBUG][4] locked=0, present=0, strength=80, quality=0 (took 0ms to check)

Then after a restart of the service, device-7231 BDA DVBT Tuner-3.log shows

2021-01-14 09:55:15.679 [DEBUG][4] locked=0, present=0, strength=80, quality=0 (took 0ms to check)
2021-01-14 09:55:15.681 [DEBUG][4] DigitalRecorderDVBT::Tune@1
2021-01-14 09:55:15.681 [DEBUG][4] DigitalRecorderDVBT::Tune@2
2021-01-14 09:55:15.682 [DEBUG][4] DigitalRecorderDVBT::Tune@3
2021-01-14 09:55:15.682 [DEBUG][4] DigitalRecorderDVBT::Tune@4
2021-01-14 09:55:15.691 [DEBUG][4] DigitalRecorderDVBT::Tune@5
2021-01-14 09:55:16.148 [DEBUG][4] DigitalRecorderDVBT::Tune@post
2021-01-14 09:55:16.163 [DEBUG][4] Calling LockChannel()
2021-01-14 09:55:16.283 [DEBUG][4] locked=1, present=1, strength=60, quality=100 (took 125ms to check)


I will check the cables when I next get a chance to go in to the loft where the server is.

[Graham]

The other failed recording was Skyscraper (device-7231 BDA DVBT Tuner-3.log.3)
...
2021-01-14 09:46:07.498 [DEBUG][4] locked=0, present=0, strength=80, quality=0  (took 0ms to check)
...
2021-01-14 09:47:43.486 [DEBUG][4] locked=1, present=1, strength=58, quality=100  (took 47ms to check)
...
2021-01-14 09:53:27.364 [DEBUG][4] locked=0, present=0, strength=80, quality=0  (took 0ms to check)
...
2021-01-14 09:55:15.679 [DEBUG][4] locked=0, present=0, strength=80, quality=0  (took 0ms to check)
...
2021-01-14 09:55:16.283 [DEBUG][4] locked=1, present=1, strength=60, quality=100  (took 125ms to check)

Skyscraper also has values of ... quality=0 ...

2021-01-13 21:02:28.720 [DEBUG][4] locked=0, present=0, strength=80, quality=0  (took 0ms to check)
...
2021-01-13 21:02:30.967 [DEBUG][4] locked=0, present=0, strength=80, quality=0  (took 0ms to check)

The ... strength= ... values in your post are values from the tuner that are being reported by NextPVR ... It is likely that these values vary becuase the tuner is detecting a variation in the input signal ... or because there is a problem with the tuner.

[Madlec]

I changed the aerial lead this evening, and after the 2nd attempt at watching BBC1, it started working. The log says strength = 80 and quality = 0 again.
I am going to have a hunt for different drivers for the tuner card, and a if there are any signal checker tools.

[Madlec]

I found ScanChannelsBDS_UK, https://forum-en.msi.com/faq/article/how...dvb-t-only and although it isn't able to scan HD channels (DVBT2) it is able to scan for all available channels on all 4 of my tuners from "cold". I am now wondering if it is a driver - NextPVR compatibility issue. I have tried ticking the "Keep digital tuners primed" box but that didn't help.
I did e-mail BlackGold support last month about drivers, but they never got back to me.

[Graham]

I found ScanChannelsBDS_UK, https://forum-en.msi.com/faq/article/how...dvb-t-only and although it isn't able to scan HD channels (DVBT2) it is able to scan for all available channels on all 4 of my tuners from "cold". I am now wondering if it is a driver - NextPVR compatibility issue. I have tried ticking the "Keep digital tuners primed" box but that didn't help.
I did e-mail BlackGold support last month about drivers, but they never got back to me.

I used a Blackgold device years ago but gave up on it for reasons that I cannot now remember in detail ... My vague recollection is of symptoms that are similar to yours  ... generally unreliable performance.

Have you tried the device in a different PCI slot?

Have you seen ... "Combined driver for the new BGT36xx series products BGT3602, BGT3635. BGT3602 cold start issue update" ... at ... http://www.blackgold.tv/support/

[Madlec]

I have tried that driver, and I'm currently running the 8.1.1.2 driver to test.

I have scheduled a recording for this evening, and it failed. When I opened the web interface, I could watch that channel with no issues, as soon as I try to record it, the tuner fails to get a lock. I am trying to remember what updates I've installed recently etc because it seemed to be solid just before Christmas.

I am almost tempted to do a clean install of the tuner and NPVR.

[mvallevand]

Live TV and recordings use multiple tuners in reverse order.

Martin

[Madlec]

That would make sense.
I found a thread about using devcon to restart the driver after a resume, so I am going to swap my NextPVR service restart script with a devcon script and see what happens.
I have just managed to get all 4 tuners running simultaneously, so it definitely seems like a cold start issue.