New 780G HTPC live-hdtv issues

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294 posts

Ultimate Geek

#206178 9-Apr-2009 13:09

Further investigations report.

Installed MediaPortal 1.0. Can only get TV on 1,2,3. 6,8 etc are green screened. CPU is ~10%, i.e. HW decoding is working in MediaPortal. I still notice occasional picture problems even when the CPU is at 10%, so it doesn't look as though CPU stress is the cause of the stutter I have been seeing.

Installed PowerCinema 6 trial. All channels seem to work fine with hardware decoding acceleration, CPU at ~10% whereas it was 50%+ with Powercinema 5.1. Occasional picture problems occur, even with the very low CPU usage.

I'm starting to think this is a UHF signal issue.

HTPC: Antec Fusion 430, Intel i3, Gigabyte 1050, Corsair 4x1Gb, Hauppauge WinTv, Logitech z-5500, Logitech Harmony 525, Yamaha Rx-v6a, Samsung KS8000 4k, Windows 10, Mediaportal 1.30, BLU-RAY: Panasonic UB820

questforknowledge

31 posts

Geek

#206350 10-Apr-2009 14:06

I've been having the same problems since setting up my system 6 months ago, all linked to onboard ATI. Original problems were significant and not just limited to the green screens (still can't get 6 & 7) but also the HDMI disabling when TV was switched off, requiring a re-boot of the computer to re-enable. Things had been getting better with updates to the driver and the HDMI disabling was resolved. Foolishly (trying to get 6 & 7) to work I still updated the the ATI drivers, one update too many and now MP can not run. Tried to roll back drivers, no good, uninstalled / reinstalled MP no good! A lot of hair being pulled out but I think the moral for all is onboard ATI is a pain.

wally5

29 posts

Geek

#206367 10-Apr-2009 16:24

Dont know if this relates to anyones problem, but i have a HD3850 AGP card in my setup, been using AGP hotfix drivers with no problems at all. http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/GPU-4-CatalystAGPHotfix.aspx

dale77

294 posts

Ultimate Geek

#206378 10-Apr-2009 18:01

I used the signal strength utility ScanChannelsBDA UK from here, based on instructions here and here

Seems my signal is generally high quality (100%) but occasionally it flips down to around 5%, strength is mostly in the negatives, whatever that means.

I see things like this for Christchurch, 682000KHz, bandwidth 8Mbps:

-16, 100%
-16, 100%
-4, 100%
-16, 5%
-16,100%
-16,100%
....

etc. It looks like those big dips in quality could be causing picture issues. Is 8Mbps the correct bandwidth figure?

I am now pretty happy with the combo of Powercinema 6, Powerdvd 7.3, my old cyberlink remote and ATI catalyst 9.4.

questforknowledge

31 posts

Geek

#206637 13-Apr-2009 10:42

This thread got me a bit re-enthused. Started with fresh re-install of VISTA (I've found the system back up to roll back of no use). Updated all divers of MB, including ATI. Installed PowerCinema (it came with the 2200) installed MP, this took around 4 hours but for the first time I have all channels inc 6 & 7. I still need to get my blaster to work to change SKY STB, something that I've also struggled to get working properly but there once again a glimmer of hope.....

dale77

294 posts

Ultimate Geek

#206661 13-Apr-2009 13:04

questforknowledge: This thread got me a bit re-enthused. Started with fresh re-install of VISTA (I've found the system back up to roll back of no use). Updated all divers of MB, including ATI. Installed PowerCinema (it came with the 2200) installed MP, this took around 4 hours but for the first time I have all channels inc 6 & 7. I still need to get my blaster to work to change SKY STB, something that I've also struggled to get working properly but there once again a glimmer of hope.....

Indeed. I started with Vista SP1. Now, using ATI 9.4, directx march 2009 update and PowerCinema 6 trial (so that HW decoding works) everything hi-def seems fine on the ATI HD3200. Powercinema is the only option I have right now where everything just works though, Mediaportal fails on 6/7, and seems still to be a "work in progress". Although interestingly, mediaportal channel "preview" mode is perfect for all channels.

Todo:

Find out what is causing my low signal quality blips. For example, last night TV1/2 was choppy with regular momentary low signal quality, while TV3 was completely smooth. Might have to get on the roof and check out the amplifier on the UHF aerial.

Find out why the IR receiver in my fusion v2 case seems to be dead. Currently using the usb IR receiver that came with my old cyberlink "MCE" remote. Works fine, now that I have finally prevented MCE from popping up over the top of PowerCinema.

Run the lan cable under the floor, its a bit of a hazard right now :-)

Spend some more money on 5.1 sound to go with the visuals :-)

julianz

118 posts

Master Geek

#206776 14-Apr-2009 09:40

I thought some people had it working. Does noone have a working 780G, HD3200, vista, freeview-HD system?

Hi - sorry for the late reply. I do indeed have exactly that setup. GA-MA78GPM-UD2H mobo, an AMD 8650, Hauppauge HVR-2200, Vista Ultimate 32 bit, Catalyst 9.4 package and the most recent MediaPortal SVN drop with the Streamed MP skin. I'm using the demo version of PowerDVD 9 and it works fine, CPU usage is negligible even playing TV3.

In an Antec Veris Fusion case it's using between 65 and 100W at the socket which is perhaps a wee bit more than I wanted but not enough to worry about, it's almost silent and produces no heat that I can detect.

I had initially set this machine up with a couple of different betas of Windows 7, and although it installed nicely and was very well behaved, I couldn't get the analog side of the HVR-2200 to work at all. On Vista it's better although still seems to only run one of the analog tuners, the other one just shows static.

I jotted down all of the install details as I was going so if you need more detail, just let me know.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

dale77

294 posts

Ultimate Geek

#206786 14-Apr-2009 10:04

julianz: I jotted down all of the install details as I was going so if you need more detail, just let me know.

Sure, what settings do you use for codecs in mediaportal for TV? Mediaportal 1.0 does not work so well for me.

Analog TV works fine in Powercinema 6 on my HVR2200. Just as well, given that top gear is on Prime.

dale77

294 posts

Ultimate Geek

#206788 14-Apr-2009 10:09

dale77: Find out what is causing my low signal quality blips. For example, last night TV1/2 was choppy with regular momentary low signal quality, while TV3 was completely smooth. Might have to get on the roof and check out the amplifier on the UHF aerial.

I tried removing the power from the antenna amp, no signal at all in this case. So I guess that amp IS required.

julianz

118 posts

Master Geek

#206832 14-Apr-2009 13:28

dale77: Sure, what settings do you use for codecs in mediaportal for TV? Mediaportal 1.0 does not work so well for me.

It's using EVR and codecs are:

MPEG 2 - MPC MPEG2 (Gabest)
H.264 - Cyberlink PDVD 9
MPEC / AC3 - MPC MPA
AAC - Monogram

Adding Xvid, DivX, the FLV splitter from guliverkli2 and ffdshow-tryouts with only the H.263 codec enabled lets me play everything I've got inside MediaPortal, including downloaded Youtube files.

Now I see that MP 1.0.1 came out the day after I got it all sorted on the SVN version. Yay.

elkano

160 posts

Master Geek

#206857 14-Apr-2009 14:54

Now I see that MP 1.0.1 came out the day after I got it all sorted on the SVN version. Yay.

Loving the new version (so far). Have been waiting weeks for the new build to try out the channel changes update (didn't try the SVN route because I've been busy). Seems much faster for menus and TV channel changes. Stability wise only time will tell..

Codecs I use;

MPEG 2 - MPC MPEG2 (Gabest)
H.264 - Cyberlink PDVD 8
MPEC / AC3 - MPC MPA
AAC - Monogram

So the only codec install I've had to make outside of MediaPortal is PDVD 8, but then I'm not doing as much with mine.
As stated earler I'm using XP with 3200 and ATI CCC 8.12.

dale77

294 posts

Ultimate Geek

#207183 15-Apr-2009 23:33

Installed MP 1.0.1, it had a few issues due to the dual analog tuner in the HVR2200, but after resolving those, I now have good low-cpu playback of all freeview channels with MediaPortal.

Solution was to choose a different h.264 codec.

Signal issue still remains, characterized by mostly 100% quality with occasional drop outs to much lower. Average quality is 96% over around 10 minutes, but the dropouts are very noticeable in pauses and visuals corruption.

Strangely TV3 seems to be the least effected.

elkano

160 posts

Master Geek

#207192 16-Apr-2009 01:04

dale77: Installed MP 1.0.1, it had a few issues due to the dual analog tuner in the HVR2200, but after resolving those, I now have good low-cpu playback of all freeview channels with MediaPortal.

Solution was to choose a different h.264 codec.

Signal issue still remains, characterized by mostly 100% quality with occasional drop outs to much lower. Average quality is 96% over around 10 minutes, but the dropouts are very noticeable in pauses and visuals corruption.

Strangely TV3 seems to be the least effected.

What h.264 codec were and are you using now? I find PowerDVD codec works best for me (currently).

Just bought myself a HVR2200 tonight so hoping it works as well as the HVR4000 I have currently.

As long as the card installs okay I think I've got a nearly finalised box (at least until I decide I need HD audio bitstreaming, better graphics..

).

One thing I have noticed, even though the channel changes more quickly with the new 1.0.1 build, is that when I change the MUX there is a definite slowdown of the tv content that goes for 1-2 seconds before returning to normal speed. Has anyone else experienced this?

Sorry I can;t offer more advice dale, apart from checking the aerial and connections. I take you're in a zone where Freeview is clear and not marginal?

dale77

294 posts

Ultimate Geek

#207210 16-Apr-2009 08:04

elkano: What h.264 codec were and are you using now? I find PowerDVD codec works best for me (currently).

Swapped out one cyberlink codec for another powercinema one. Can't say the exact one right now.

elkano: Just bought myself a HVR2200 tonight so hoping it works as well as the HVR4000 I have currently.

As long as the card installs okay I think I've got a nearly finalised box (at least until I decide I need HD audio bitstreaming, better graphics.. ).

The install for mediaportal 1.0.1 is broken for cards with more than one analog tuner. Fix here http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/1-0-1-final-svn-builds-314/tv-server-1-0-1-no-tv-cards-detected-57793/index2.html#post403808

Also, TVServer setup needs to be run "as administrator" on vista, but if you are on XP you may not need that workaround.

elkano: Sorry I can;t offer more advice dale, apart from checking the aerial and connections. I take you're in a zone where Freeview is clear and not marginal?

The strange thing is that quality varies widely, I would have thought if there was a general signal problem, I would be seeing lower baseline quality. As it is, I see generally 100% quality with sudden precipitous drops and recovery. I joked that perhaps there is an elephant flying in wide circles around my UHF aerial, but I wonder whether some noise on the line issue is more likely.

pmt82

29 posts

Geek

#207507 17-Apr-2009 10:04

I also have the 780G from nearly a year ago now. Running on a BE-2350 2.2Ghz, and a Avermedia Hybrid Duo TV card (although this has been sent back for repair after it kept dissapearing from device manager latley).
Freeview has been fine since I started using Arcsoft Total Media codec (you can continue to use the codec after the trial runs out), with avg 5% cpu usage. Worked on both Media Portal 1.0 and DVB viewer. Using the 8.12 ati driver also.
Vista 32-bit

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