Media portal won't show TV3 and some other channels.

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dinther

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 95477 5-Jan-2012 15:42

I am running Media portal 1.2.1.0 on a Windows XP box. I have a problem with TV3 on my system. Below I try to be as elaborate as possible with what I know so far...

I have recently moved from one address in West Auckland to another. At the old location everything was running just fine. However at the new location the TV server gets in trouble when I tune to TV3.

TV3 at the best of times plays a slideshow with intermittent sound or just shows black. After selection of TV3, other channels start to stutter somewhat as well. The TV server needs to be restarted before the other channels play properly.

I have the problem also when trying to playback old TV3 recordings recorded at the old address I lived. The hardware is the exact same box and same software.

So, I thought that maybe a problem with the new antenna but when I plugin the Freeview TV directly I get a perfect reception on all channels using the Waiatarua tower (I tried the others but I must use Waiatarua)

So it seems the antenna is fine. I read an old thread that TV3 is interlaced at 1080i as well as a few other channels. That may be so but unless TV3 changed something early December I can not see why I suddenly have this problem.

Can someone please suggest some things I can try and please be specific with links and details so I don't have to keep asking. I'm tearing my hair out on this as I have been trying for almost a month to get this to work again. It is bound to be something stupid.

Thanks

dan

959 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 87

Reply # 564982 5-Jan-2012 20:38

if you cant play the recordings from your old address, then its highly likely you have a codec issue. Whats your tv codec setup in MP? it uses the same codecs for playback of recordings.

dinther

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 564989 5-Jan-2012 20:52

I have taken screenshots to show you the settings + available options. That interface is totally meaningless to me.

http://dinther.dnsalias.com/download/scrn0330.jpg
http://dinther.dnsalias.com/download/scrn0331.jpg
http://dinther.dnsalias.com/download/scrn0332.jpg

On my other computers Media portal clients used to connect to the same tv server and they all worked just fine. Not anymore. However, the available codec options are different.

I have the feeling it has something to do with the TV server but I am happy to explore all the options.

dan

959 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 87

Reply # 565000 5-Jan-2012 21:11

Try the divx h264 codec in that screenshot and ffdshow see if it solves your issue

if not.

I suggest you install this SAF Codec pack from the mediaportal forum since you said you dont know about this stuff.

http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/codecs-331/saf-v6-based-lavf-95635/

You will need the unlocked version of saf codec pack, you have to PM hoborg to get the details for that.

edit: im not clear if your saying the other machines work fine or no longer work fine.

dinther

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 565006 5-Jan-2012 21:19

I tried the codes you suggested which did not make a difference.
Those screenshots were from the machine that holds both TV server and client.

All my other computers used to playback TV3 fine but not anymore. The available codecs are different on those machines.

I will try the pack you suggest but I still suspect the issue is with the TV server. I think that because when I run the TV server configuration program I can preview TV1 and TV2 ok but not TV3

dinther

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 565092 5-Jan-2012 23:38

Fixed it.

I kept thinking about the antenna being the only different element in my new location.

I discovered in teh TV server configuration program the "Manual control" page.

On that page I was able to test each channel individually and I found that TV1 and TV2 had a 100% signal quality and 0 discontinuities.

TV3 however had a 20% signal level and a lot of discontinuities.

My TV with build in freeview tuner is connected to another jack point in the wall and I assumed they were the same. But on the other antenna connection I get a 60% signal level and only a very few discontinuities.

TV3 works now as per normal.

Thank you for your offer to help. It gave me the energy to really look harder and I am happy to have this solved. If I have more issues I will need to look closer at my antenna setup.

(Beats me why you get a decent wiring diagram with a washing machine but not with a house)

PSlover14

132 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 11

Reply # 569951 17-Jan-2012 15:04

Hey it maybe your pc is slowed down a bit.
My HTPC with a kaiser baas tvstick USB tuner and mediaportal can't play the HD channels like TV1,TV2 and TV3. FOUR Works fine