Buffering issues after upgrade to Kodi 21

[Langelus]

Hi!

I run multiple Chromecasts with Kodi and NextPVR, of course they all auto updated to Kodi 21 (sigh) and now the non-4k version seems to have issues playing back HD channels. Looks like they've done some work with general caching in Kodi but whatever I fiddle with the settings I just can not get smooth playback. Anyone else experiencing issues with the latest version? Only way I can get it to work is to use transcode but that gives a big delay when starting the channels (non configurable on the server?)

[Marvi]

Yes I too have noticed an increase in the use of buffering, every time I change the channel it for at least 5/6 seconds.. I thought I had problems with my system..

[mvallevand]

We can look at the debug logs if you want there are way too many variable involved and these two posts tuning time and playback quality. are only vaguely related. Although I don't use Kodi much now, on the platforms I use I haven't noticed any change.

Martin

[Marvi]

Hi Martin. I attach the Kodi .log file, after 5-6 channel changes the problem occurred twice.

[mvallevand]

I'd need to see the corresponding NextPVR logs too (always both for Kodi issues) to tell the tuner type and what is happening on he backend.

However what I see here on startup of on stream is not good.

2024-05-02 15:46:24.049 T:9916 debug <general>: CApplicationPlayerCallback::OnAVChange: CApplication::OnAVChange
2024-05-02 15:46:30.148 T:8864 debug <general>: CApplicationPlayerCallback::OnAVChange: CApplication::OnAVChange
2024-05-02 15:46:30.333 T:9916 debug <general>: CApplicationPlayerCallback::OnAVChange: CApplication::OnAVChange
2024-05-02 15:46:56.427 T:9916 debug <general>: CApplicationPlayerCallback::OnAVChange: CApplication::OnAVChange

Do you have the fps default set in Kodi?
Do you have Kodi set to change resolution?

I'd also try turning off DXVA it seems to be heavily involved in that delay time.

Martin

[Marvi]

Hi. These are the Nextpvr log files

[mvallevand]

Thanks there is a bit more information there. Certainly the HDHR you have is much slower to deliver data

In 2 seconds this isn't enough to play

<stream_length>333844</stream_length>
<stream_duration>2041</stream_duration>

but from your DigitalDevice tuner there is more than enough in 1 second.

<stream_length>1090024</stream_length>
<stream_duration>1125</stream_duration>

So a direct comparison is difficult. Do you find the HDHR channel speed to be different?

You seem to play a lot of DVB-S from the same frequency of the Digital Devicsr tuner too, so you might want to leave the DVB-S tuner primed which will speed up tuning on it.

Martin

[Marvi]

Honestly, I rarely use DVBS, I mainly use DVBT, I bought HD Home Runner hoping to solve the problems, as the DVBT Digital Device receivers were giving me tuning problems (I don't know if you remember about two years ago you tried to help me when I had the first approaches with Nextpvr https://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?tid=64315) I use Digital Device DVBT only to download the EPG.
One question, can it affect the buffering problem if I use the timeshift profile in the "NextPVR client" plugin in Kodi?

[mvallevand]

You can adjust the timeshift settings as you see fit, but most times the shorter (maybe 1 second) is probably best.

You actually used DVB-S twice in your testing today. Anytime you watch Rai 1 it uses it. Not sure if it faster or slower then the HDHR from the Kodi perspective, but DVB-S primed might be fastest. The other problem appeared to be a scanning problem not a signal or tuning problem.

The really slow tuning problem in Kodi isn't buffering though, it look like it is decoder based which is why I offered some thing to try.

Martin

[Marvi]

I'd need to see the corresponding NextPVR logs too (always both for Kodi issues) to tell the tuner type and what is happening on he backend.
However what I see here on startup of on stream is not good.
2024-05-02 15:46:24.049 T:9916    debug <general>: CApplicationPlayerCallback::OnAVChange: CApplication::OnAVChange
2024-05-02 15:46:30.148 T:8864    debug <general>: CApplicationPlayerCallback::OnAVChange: CApplication::OnAVChange
2024-05-02 15:46:30.333 T:9916    debug <general>: CApplicationPlayerCallback::OnAVChange: CApplication::OnAVChange
2024-05-02 15:46:56.427 T:9916    debug <general>: CApplicationPlayerCallback::OnAVChange: CApplication::OnAVChange
Do you have the fps default set in Kodi? 
Do you have Kodi set to change resolution?
I'd also try turning off DXVA it seems to be heavily involved in that delay time.
Martin

Does this relate to the suggestions in this post?
FPS and resolution are as per default settings.
I tried disabling DXVA and things actually seem to improve.
Maybe I'll be more precise in a few days, for now I thank you.