Random freeze while watching Live TV.

[three6zerocool]

Hello, I recently moved, so did not get my gear set back up for a number of weeks.
After setting stuff back up, I noticed a few things, such as Kodi had updated, and my NAS software had updated.

Whilst watching Live TV from either DVB-T or from my STB, after 20 or so minutes (it varies) the live tv picture freezes for about 20 seconds, and then am back in main Kodi interface.
I first thought it was the Fire TV device I use, which is the Fire TV Cube 3rd gen.
However, it also does this behavior on the NVidia Shield as well.

At first, I thought it was a DVB-T reception issue, but now think otherwise, seeing that it occurs on live tv from my STB too, which is Satellite. (My Sky HDi)
Also, when the freeze occurs, and I am recording the show at the time, I can go back on the recording, and it is seemingly fine, and will play back past where the freeze occurs, so the issue does not seem to be the recording.

From searching the Kodi forums, I found others with similar issues of freezing while watching Live TV with Kodi Omega.
The Ops there suggesting a variety of possible issues form faulty networking switches, thru to helper addons in certain skins, to PVR addons.

I don't recall this behavior occurring before I moved, but at new location I have a different aerial for DVB-T, and a different satellite dish running into the rig.

Things I have tried:
I experimented with the NextPVR addon settings in kodi.  I use time shifting, so tried altering the buffer settings from 0 thru to 3.
(this made no difference to the freeze issue)

I tried altering the Live TV chunk size in the addon's settings, both increasing and decreasing the value.
(this made no difference to the freeze issue)

I tried changing Kodi's SMB chunk size setting from it's default of 128.
(this made no difference to the freeze issue)

I tried changing Kodi's cache settings, and increasing the values)
(this made no difference to the freeze issues)

I tried changing the network switch my PC attaches to, along with the network patch leads.
(this made no difference to the freeze issue)

I tried changing the HDMI cable between my AV receivers output to my TV, and from my PC to the AV Receiver.
(this made no difference to the freeze issue)

I have not changed anything on my PC running NextPVR. (primarily as it was packed up for some weeks)

So, I am kinda stumped, and am hoping the logs might point towards where the issue might be.
I just had the freeze occur while typing this posting, and it happened while watching a show called 'CRC Motorsport' on channel 'Three'.

..Dean..

[mvallevand]

Kodi problems need Kodi debug logs. I don't think it is Omega but I do think it is a signal issue.


I'd be concerned about this which is probably the freeze

Code:

2024-08-25 11:14:49.685    [DEBUG][103]    stream@2 got zero bytes
2024-08-25 11:14:50.920    [DEBUG][103]    stream@2 got zero bytes
2024-08-25 11:14:52.159    [DEBUG][103]    stream@2 got zero bytes
2024-08-25 11:14:53.391    [DEBUG][103]    stream@2 got zero bytes
2024-08-25 11:14:54.624    [DEBUG][103]    stream@2 got zero bytes
2024-08-25 11:14:55.855    [DEBUG][103]    stream@2 got zero bytes

This message in NextPVR is wrong and sub will need to check since it might trigger a stop, but it was probably the end of data in Kodi that triggered it.

Code:

2024-08-25 11:14:59.698    [DEBUG][35]    Range: 1483690360-
2024-08-25 11:14:59.698    [DEBUG][35]    Start location: 1483690360 (file-size: 1512450224)
2024-08-25 11:14:59.714    [ERROR][35]    Received request to seek to 1483690360 which is beyond the end of the file. (current length=1483690360)

Martin

[three6zerocool]

Update: I was just watching live tv using my AppleTV, and the freeze occurred there also using Sub's AppleTV client.

Thats 2 android clients and AppleTV exhibiting the freeze issue.
It could be signal I guess, as am using different aerial for DVB-T and different satellite dish, but have only moved less that a km from previous address, and don't seem to get any interference or picture dropout on either the DVB-T or the Satellite STB.

I tried using the scandvb util, and it said 100% for quality on the 3 frequencies here in Auckland, NZ that DVB-T is broadcast on here.
Also tried signal test on my STB, and the signal seems very strong at around 80-90% for quality, and 10-12 DBv.  (whatever that means)

Am wondering if the NAS share as recording destination is causing the issue?
(been using it now for a long time tho)
I could change my recordings path to a local drive and see what happens.

Beats me!.   Thanks for the insights...   the investigation continues.

..Dean..

[sub]

Am wondering if the NAS share as recording destination is causing the issue?

I'd say it'd be worth trying with your live tv buffer directly being on the local machine rather than a NAS share.

[three6zerocool]

Thanks for the suggestion.
I actually do have my time shift folder set to a local drive.  It is an SSD.

Tho, I did look at the time shift folder settings, and I noticed that it is set to 20 mins.
This happens to be the time at which my live tv freezes.
Kind of a coincidence?

I don't seem to remember what value I normally use for time shift.  I think I used to have 120 mins. (not sure how it changed?)

What is the typical behavior of the time shift?
ie. I thought the value just is the amount one can time shift back, and was dynamic, meaning that it should keep playing live tv past the 20 minute time shift buffer point.

Have a weird feeling that on my system, when the time shift buffer fills up, it is stopping playback completely.
Just changed the buffer value to 240 mins, so will see if I get live tv playback past 20 minutes. (which was the previous value)

Will report back soon.

..Dean..

[mvallevand]

The buffer rollover is time/3 so it rolls much more often than at 20 minutes.

Martin

[sub]

The default value is 20 minutes. This tells the application to switch to the next buffer file about every 7 minutes (since it likes to have at least 3 files covering the buffer period). It sounds like you're making it through at least a couple of these switches fine, so I'm not really sure why the 3rd would have an issue.

[three6zerocool]

So much for that theory.
Live TV still froze after 20 mins.

Should I have to reboot PC after changing the time shift value?

..Dean..

[mvallevand]

I would restart Kodi yes but the issue looks to be elsewhere. Maybe post the NextPVR logs again to see if that exit big is the problem.

Martin

[three6zerocool]

I think it could be something has happened to my SSD I use for time shift.
It found corrupted filesystem entries on disk check, and said they have been resolved.

So, guess if time shift location filesystem is not right, is gonna be problematic.
Testing time shift now with a different drive.

..Dean..