Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › USB DVB-T TV Stick and HD freeview channels issue


2 posts

Wannabe Geek


Topic # 150563 26-Jul-2014 22:05
Send private message

Hey all,

I've just purchased a DVB-T USB TV stick and am having trouble with playback.
The issue is with the HD channels broadcast. TV1,2,3,4 are all choppy and jerky when playing, but the other non HD channels are fine.

I'm assuming it is due to the higher bitrate and my PCs ability to decode the stream in real time. The codec used to decode is H.264.
Does anyone have any suggestions on tweaking settings to improve the performance?

I'm running Windows 7 with a intel P4 3Ghz, 1.50Gb of RAM and 128Mb NVidia graphics card.
Hopefully it's not just a case of "I need a new PC"

Cheers.

Create new topic
676 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 54


  Reply # 1096371 26-Jul-2014 22:20
Send private message

I'm no expert but I think it might be a case of, you need a new pc, basically unless you are getting hardware decoding of the h.264 stream that CPU will more than likely be struggling, as a test have a look at the CPU usage between the SD and HD channels if its maxing out on HD channels then you know that the CPU is doing all the hard work.

2040 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1137


  Reply # 1096402 26-Jul-2014 23:19
Send private message

Try VLC. If VLC can play it there's hope, if not, you need a better PC.




Location: Dunedin

 
 
 
 


1934 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 130


  Reply # 1096474 27-Jul-2014 08:45
2 people support this post
Send private message

Deznz:

I'm running Windows 7 with a intel P4 3Ghz, 1.50Gb of RAM and 128Mb NVidia graphics card.

Cheers.

With those specs I would say it's struggling just to run Windows 7.

6398 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1132

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  Reply # 1096478 27-Jul-2014 08:51
Send private message

I have to agree that the CPU is too slow for 1080i; I used to get dropped frames on a 2.33 GHz Core 2, so I shudder to think how much strain it's putting on your P4!

27413 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6856

Moderator
Trusted
Biddle Corp
Lifetime subscriber

  Reply # 1096490 27-Jul-2014 09:43
2 people support this post
Send private message

You need a new PC.

There isn't a hope in the world of decoding H.264 with such an old system and GFX card. CPU wise a P4 could cope, but such an old GFX card won't do H.264 hardware acceleration like pretty much GFX card produced in the last 5-6 years.

250 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 30


  Reply # 1096502 27-Jul-2014 10:29
Send private message

I have same issue as OP with my laptop, 1,2,3 are choppy and rest play fine, CPU sits 80% or more for HD and 5-20% for SD, thats with a T8300 CPU, but the X3100 GPU is poor, had a desktop a while ago with a E5200 CPU (pentium dual) and a GS8400 GPU and it played HD fine, the GS8400 did all the work and left CPU free.

So you need to upgrade, a dual core cpu of some kind but most important a GPU that decode H.264 with ease.

I don't use my stick anymore, it's to painful with my laptops onboard low end graphics.




Desktop AMD Ryzen 1600/RX-580/24GB Ram/29" UHD monitor, 1 laptop with Linux Mint, Galaxy S7, Moto G, raspberry PI with Kodi plus other gadgets.

 

 

 

 

 

 



2 posts

Wannabe Geek


  Reply # 1096684 27-Jul-2014 17:30
Send private message

Cheers for the quick replies. Looks like an upgrade might have to be on the cards.

I've been trying to moving away from my Android STB and use a PC running XBMC.
Another question then - How come the Android box can decode the channels fine, with I'm assuming is using lower speced hardware?

27413 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6856

Moderator
Trusted
Biddle Corp
Lifetime subscriber

  Reply # 1096686 27-Jul-2014 17:44
Send private message

Deznz: Cheers for the quick replies. Looks like an upgrade might have to be on the cards.

I've been trying to moving away from my Android STB and use a PC running XBMC.
Another question then - How come the Android box can decode the channels fine, with I'm assuming is using lower speced hardware?


Hardware won't be lower spec - the GPU will be going H.264 hardware decoding.

250 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 30


  Reply # 1096695 27-Jul-2014 18:21
Send private message

Not too much of an expert on the Android thing, but I have a media box (ATV400) and it plays/streams everything fine (I love it and XBMC), has a old Mali400 GPU and cortex A9 CPU, my laptop cant do h.264 in HD  or stream/play 720p has a old x3100 GPU, but good CPU,

so I think it is the GPU that specializes in certain codec's etc?? that does the job as CPU's don't (most) do decoding I think and when they try to it is to much for the CPU to handle.




Desktop AMD Ryzen 1600/RX-580/24GB Ram/29" UHD monitor, 1 laptop with Linux Mint, Galaxy S7, Moto G, raspberry PI with Kodi plus other gadgets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Create new topic



Twitter »

Follow us to receive Twitter updates when new discussions are posted in our forums:



Follow us to receive Twitter updates when news items and blogs are posted in our frontpage:



Follow us to receive Twitter updates when tech item prices are listed in our price comparison site:



Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.


Geekzone Live »

Our community of supporters help make Geekzone possible. Click the button below to join them.

Support Geezone on PressPatron


Updates »

Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.

Alternatively, you can receive a daily email with Geekzone updates.