Nova T 500 HD Help

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bloom

38 posts

Geek

Topic # 22146 18-May-2008 11:39

Hi,

Got my HTPC up and running although have 2 issues If anyone can help with,

1. TV2 HD has motion jerking (quite slight), unsure if this is my tuner/settings or everyone has it? Other channels are fine
2. Occassionally when I change channel the picture freezes and tuner doesn't respond. Mediaportal still fully functioning when this happens and CPU usage low so must a tuner/settings issue.

Specs:
E2180
P5K-VM
2gb Corsair
8500GT HDMI (spdif audio)
640gb WD
Nova T 500 HD + remote
Asus DVD-WR
Antec Fusion 430watt

Software:
XP MCE 2005 SP2, rollup2
MediaPortal RC1
PowerDVD 8
Framework 1.1 sp1
Framework 2.0
Happauge 4.4 drivers
Monogram acc
DX9c

Took me ages to get the happauge remote to work because found out installing the drivers 4.4 didn't actually install the IR drivers T_T, these are installed seperately in the folders. Called IR32.exe if anyone having this issue

Cheers for any help/suggestions

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38 posts

Geek

Reply # 131828 19-May-2008 16:59

*bump*

huckster

315 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 44

Reply # 132484 22-May-2008 09:40

Check your signal. Most of my problems have been due to a wobbly coax connection. MP sometimes goes pear shaped when the signal breaks up.

I'm installing a Nova T 500 today/tomorrow having finally got one. I've been using a USB DVB-T stick (Freecom) so far so thanks for the IR tip and I'll try and let you know how I get on.

:-)

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huckster

315 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 44

Reply # 132781 23-May-2008 12:58

Nova T went in. I only used latest drivers off the Hauppage website and the IR32.exe setup file off the CD that it came with.

MP found the card in the TVServer configuration but I had to do a couple of scans and disable the old USB DVB-T stick before it would do anything useful - UnableToStartGraph errors.

On a couple of occasions, I had to kill TV Server configuration as it seemed to hang - especially when I was trying to change the priority of the cards and USB stick.

Anyway, after a while it worked. Enabled the remote and found it "just worked" although I've only used a few buttons.

When I tried to get MP to record two shows and then a little later started watching one of them, I got a blue screen. Yet another "what have I done" moment. But on reboot, it just carried on where it left off and I tried a few more things and all seems ok (fingers crossed).

Hopefully I won't have anything else to report!

FreddyK

84 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 133136 25-May-2008 16:44

bloom: Hi,

Got my HTPC up and running although have 2 issues If anyone can help with,

1. TV2 HD has motion jerking (quite slight), unsure if this is my tuner/settings or everyone has it? Other channels are fine
2. Occassionally when I change channel the picture freezes and tuner doesn't respond. Mediaportal still fully functioning when this happens and CPU usage low so must a tuner/settings issue.

Im experiencing the same problem as bloom. If I didnt know better, I would think frames are getting dropped. It really becomes obvious when a tickertape scrolls along ... looks aweful.

For me, it happens on all channels EXCEPT TV3 so Im thinking its a codec issue, but I have tried changing this and nothing seems to make a difference. I also thought it might be an interlacing issue, but once again changing the settings here prove unsuccessful.

The only other thing I can think of doing is changing over the CPU to a dualcore rather than the single Im currently using. I havent done this already because CPU usage only hovers around the 10% mark currently, but Im at a loss as to what to do next.

As for bloom's 2nd problem, I think that is normal. Mine shows the same symptom when changing channel. Actually I get some pixilation occuring before the new channel displays properly.

Like bloom, any help in this area wouldbe much appreciated.

bloom

38 posts

Geek

Reply # 133167 25-May-2008 19:06

Yea my CPU usage is also very low, 10% while playing HDTV. Also the system is very responsive when this happens so I think its a GPU bottleneck or software issues.

Worried my 8500GT 256mb doesn't have enough ram for the screen size its displaying on. Going to a 32" LCD TV

Will try with GB-PVR and see if that helps

FreddyK

84 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 133170 25-May-2008 19:26

I'm betting on it being a codec issue.

Out of interest, what h.264 codec you using? Im using the Cyberlink one that comes with PowerDVD8.

FreddyK

84 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 133179 25-May-2008 20:08

Oh well, after some trawling through various threads, I stumbled across this one that suggests its an OS issue rather than a codec one.

Seasport:OK guys - so I have installed Vista and enabled EVR. Voila, I'm now getting rock solid 50 fps on both 720p and 1080i! No jitter or frames dropped. CPU is still at 20% or less. So that's good news. It seems that the Vista/EVR/DXVA2 combination is a lot better than XP/VMR9/DXVA.

I really didnt want to have to buy Vista just yet ...

amphibem

138 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 133186 25-May-2008 21:08

bloom: Yea my CPU usage is also very low, 10% while playing HDTV. Also the system is very responsive when this happens so I think its a GPU bottleneck or software issues.

Worried my 8500GT 256mb doesn't have enough ram for the screen size its displaying on. Going to a 32" LCD TV

Will try with GB-PVR and see if that helps

Let us know how you go, I am having quite a few issues with this too. My hardware is as my sig and software is:

Win XP SP3 with .NET 2sp1, PowerCinema5, updated Hauppauge drivers, MediaPortalv1RC and Monogram AAC (v1.1 I think).

I only got this up tonight but so far have issues with stuttering and worst of all, massive audio sync problems (like the video 2sces+ behind). Had some blocking too, can't be sure it isn't the source though.

I have just come from Myth 0.21 (which currently doesn't support AAC audio); I tried GB-PVR and MediaPortal on my desktop and got things to work so went ahead and installed it on my PVR. I didn't test things much but I don't remember major problems, particularly with audio.

I may try GB-PVR at some stage if I don't see otherwise here. Also, MediaPortal says either Vista or .net 3 is required for EVR so I will test this when I have time, other stuff I googled suggeste this doesn't work too well though. I guess I will see.

Really glad I found this forum, I have been struggling with this stuff and found little information out there.

amphibem

138 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 133187 25-May-2008 21:09

Edit: Double post

FreddyK

84 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 133200 25-May-2008 22:00

amphibem, what codec are you using to view the h.264 channels? It sounds like you're not using one with GPU support or maybe havent enabled it because the symptoms you describe are the same as mine when running software decoding.

If you read the thread I pointed to in my last post, you would have seen that its a problem with WindowsXP & VMR9 and the symptoms exist in GB-PVR too. Even though MediaPortal supports EVR with .NET3 for WindowsXP, it appears it does so in software only ie. no GPU support.

Im guessing the reason it worked so well on your desktop is because its running Vista.

amphibem

138 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 133230 26-May-2008 07:59

FreddyK: amphibem, what codec are you using to view the h.264 channels? It sounds like you're not using one with GPU support or maybe havent enabled it because the symptoms you describe are the same as mine when running software decoding.

If you read the thread I pointed to in my last post, you would have seen that its a problem with WindowsXP & VMR9 and the symptoms exist in GB-PVR too. Even though MediaPortal supports EVR with .NET3 for WindowsXP, it appears it does so in software only ie. no GPU support.

Im guessing the reason it worked so well on your desktop is because its running Vista.

I have two options for H.264 codec in MediaPortal, 'Cyberlink H.264/AVC Deoder (PCM45)' and PCM H.264/AVC Decoder'. I don't know if they are actually different, without PowerCinema5 installed (comes with the Nova T 500) I don't have any H.264 codecs avaliable. Last night it was set to the first option, I have changed it and will test out. However I am also very uncertain about MediaPortal, other than manually resetting the frequency of my 'Prime' channel so that I missed most of Top Gear last night

, it hasn't been very stable. This morning it just locks up when I try and play any of the recordings from last night. May give GB-PVR more of a run when I have time to see if its more usable.

FreddyK

84 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 133326 26-May-2008 16:28

I just noticed the videocard spec's for your mediabox. I doubt the onboard 6100 chipset will offer hardware decoding anyway.

If you seriously want to get HDTV on your mediabox, unfortunately you are going to have to spend some $$$ on a videocard and a GPU supported codec. there are some free codec's about as found in this thread, but it looks like Vista & EVR are required to get it functioning properly.

amphibem

138 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 133339 26-May-2008 17:37

I'm pretty sure your right there. I don't really want to spend money on this machine at the moment though, so I will see how it goes. If neccesary I could move my graphics card into the media center, I should be studying rather than playing games anyway!

I have only now got a somewhat stable setup running so I will give it a while, I have so far had problems with random restarts and the TV cards not being avaliable so we will see.

Appreciate your help

aucklander

363 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

Reply # 140430 25-Jun-2008 12:48

I will try here, before starting a new post for everyone regarding my question.
I was unable so far to record two channels using this card. I assume I am doing something wrong, but what??

I can watch TV nad press "record". The screen goes black for 3-4 sec and comes back on the same channel. The recording starts in the background (I can see the recorded clip later). Problem is, I cannot change channel while recording. If I press Ch+ or Ch- I get a window telling me that the action will stop the recording (yes/no). If I press "no" the window dissapears and I continue to watch that channel, THE SAME WITH THE ONE I AM RECORDING ALREADY. Why would I want o do that? When I press "stop" on the remote to stop recording, there is another 4 sec of black screen. Very annoying...

I can schedule a recording (lets say on TV1) and change on TV3 to watch. When the time comes for the scheduled recording to start the channel switches to TV1 by itself (so I can watch the same channel I am recording ??!). If I try to change channel, same window described above shows up. I HAVE TO WATCH THE SAME CHANNEL I AM RECORDING !!!!

I can schedule a recording, lets say on TV1 from 08:00 - 08:30. Now I am trying to set another recording, lets say on TV3 from 08:10 - 08-20, same day; I get a message telling me the new recording interferes with one already scheduled and I have to choose which I keep, the new one or the old one.

It's like there is only one tuner, not two !!!
Could the card be faulty?

I tried to enable/disable the time shifting, which I assumed keeps one tuner busy, but if you think, that tuner is anyway busy (to play the channel you are watching). Recording it in the same time (timeshifting enabled or not) should not use the second tuner, it just saves the same stream into a buffer on the HDD.

I did the scanning for both tuners in Powercinema setup. But if I modify the channel list for one tuner, the list gets modified for the second one as well. I do not mind, as both tuners get the same channels anyway, but could this be a sign there is something wrong with my card?

mobo Intel DH55PJ, RAM: 4GB RAM, Nova-T 500 HD + Avermedia Trinity tuner card, Geforce 520 video, 120GB SSD Sandisk + 640 WD + 1000SG, Win7 Home Prem 64-bit, Media Portal 1.15.0; BTC 9019URF Cordless Keyboard, Panasonic 55" (HDMI cable), HTPC Case Silverstone Grandia GD05B.

amphibem

138 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 140432 25-Jun-2008 13:01

It sounds like PowerCinema (I take it is that what you are using?) is possibly on dectecting or using one tuner. On the initial setup did PowerCinema detect '2x DVB-T devices?' Thats what mine showed when setting up PowerCinema. However I use MediaPortal, and that works fine with both tuners, maybe you should try MP 1.0 out and see if you like it.

Since I never posted back here after I solved my issues, an update: now running Vista Premium SP1, MP1.0 and driving the dsiplay with my 8600GT w/ HW acceleration enabled. CPU usage fairly high (50%+) but video plays smoothly. Generally been fairly stable, although occasionally the remote won't work.

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