Corrupted recordings

[sub]

The recordings don't appear to show any signs of signal loss. It looks like the HDHomeRun just stopped delivering data for the bulk of the recording time.

If I were you, I'd be setting up some test recordings on the HDHR on that CBS channels, to see how reproducible it was, and monitor the recordings with the HDHR utilities (which report data rate it's sending etc)

[bigsur]

Thanks for the feedback and for examining them! I'll do what you suggest. Unless you know of a better utility I'll use "HDHomeRun Config GUI" and manually watch the data rate there since it updates in real time. I've done that before but never caught an issue. Typically a very long segment of the show is lost, so if it's going to be evident in the data stream I'm expecting the drop in data rate will be for a very long period of time.

I didn't get a chance to test HDHR mode instead of BDA(ATSC) yet, but sounds like that is now a high priority item as well.

[mvallevand]

I only checked on file, for me the timing file shows a gap in them timeline that can indicate a problem starting around 3 mintues in. I see a lot of pixelization at this point near the bridge collapse image

frame,74458.644744,160183144,
frame,76259.577211,167953560,

It seems like you are using an unsupported version of Kodi as your client. I am not sure how well it deals with bad recordings. NextPVR clients might be better but nothing can play a bad file perfectly. Maybe HDHR mode would be more reliable if you have network issues.

Martin

[Offroad]

Had something similar happen with a IPTV source. Thinking it's the source not delivering and no recovery attempt by NEXTPVR to ensure could continued valid stream video. Can play the TS file with other apps to test and all file tests fail as no video is there.

[mvallevand]

I doubt IPTV issues are related to this broadcast issue. There are many reasons why IPTV will fail, typically it is multiple servers getting involved and there are some workarounds to only use one server, but there are many reasons too when the source doesn't deliver. If you want to open a new thread with logs we might be able to see an http error when this occurs.

Also playback and recording are not related, NextPVR server does assume a stream link is valid thoug so it is not really NextPVR's responsibility to manage source quality on tuners or from IPTV. Once a ts file is corrupt it it often impossible for the player to handle it. Best to focus on getting a solid source.

Martin

[bigsur]

Thanks for the great help and insight, sub and Martin!  Just wanted to share an update.

On BDA (ATSC) mode I'd estimate 50-80% of recordings were missing the majority of the show.  After switching to HDHR mode, I've experienced no instances of that  (so far about 15 recordings over multiple days).

I have seen occasional pixelation like Martin found.

Watching the HDHR Config GUI tool, the only thing I've ever caught is an occasional moment where signal and symbol quality drop drastically and then instantly recover. 

I'm thinking maybe this brief signal drop causes the tuner to stumble briefly but hard, perhaps approaching the point of zero decoded data, and BDA mode isn't handling this well, resulting in an extended duration loss of data transmission but an eventual recovery.   (And perhaps HDHR mode just handles the drop more gracefully, resuming data transmission immediately.)

I've not yet reached out to SiliconDust to have them dig into the deeper logging they can do, but I did check through the user accessible log on the tuner.  They are very minimal but cover both the older BDA rtp streams and the newer HDHR http streams.  Didn't see anything noteworthy.

Thanks for the heads up on the unsupported Kodi client.  My main client is 20.5 (latest and supported I assume).  I've restricted my testing to that one until I get 18.5 client updated.  When there was missing data, NextPVR couldn't play the files any better.

[mvallevand]

Check your recordings by playing the TS file via MX PLAYER. Am finding the file is created but the playback is messed up for timing in the TS file.

As a new user why are you offering such unnecessary information with Android solutions.   That is chatbot behaviour and will get you banned.

Besides this has nothing to do with your IPTV situation

Martin