why do some channels freeze on dvb-t ?

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jdt73

21 posts

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#83901 23-May-2011 18:39

I recently installed a hauppage 4400 but I am finding that some channels are prone to freezing.
I am using WinTV v.7 which I prefer to a media center type programe as I can easily flick over to the internet during adbreaks.

FOUR
Prime
C4
Stratos

These seem to be the main culprits.
Am I missing a codec for these broadcasts?
I have tried to search the forums for an answer but the search isn't working for some reason.
Any tips would be appreciated.

Cheers

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Biddle Corp

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#473133 23-May-2011 19:30

Signal strength would be the first thing to look at.

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B1GGLZ

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#473143 23-May-2011 20:03

jdt73: I recently installed a hauppage 4400 but I am finding that some channels are prone to freezing.
I am using WinTV v.7 which I prefer to a media center type programe as I can easily flick over to the internet during adbreaks.

I have exactly the same problem with my Hauppage 2200 and WinTV v7
I tried upgrading to a new PC with Windows 7 Pro and Nvidia GTS450. I also keep upgrading to lastest versions of the software as they are released.
Only change is the program doesn't freeze quite so often.
Prime is the worst offender in my case. The rest are mostly OK.
It's not signal strength as I'm about 10km line of site from the Transmitter with new antenna and coax. It's not too much signal as I've checked that. I can also get a signal on a short piece of wire on the end of a short length of coax so it's not lack of signal strength either. The problem is there all the time and seems completely random.
No problems evident on the Sony TV or set top boxes, just the PC.
I'd very much like to know what is causing the problem too.
There is no problem however with recordings from any channel. They all record fine with no pixellation or signal loss.

Does your EPG work? Mine only shows programs up to about 3 hours before current time. Weird.

sbiddle

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#473149 23-May-2011 20:22

You won't get EPG support with WinTV since it doesn't support MHEG5 or the ability to import XML files.

urban

487 posts

Ultimate Geek

#473157 23-May-2011 20:31

I'm running a Hauppauge WinTV HVR900H with Win7 Home Premium, i get mediocre signal strengths from my bunny ears but no freezing.

What are the specs of your new PC?

B1GGLZ

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#473214 23-May-2011 22:32

sbiddle: You won't get EPG support with WinTV since it doesn't support MHEG5 or the ability to import XML files.

OK, I figured something like that but if I do a clean install of the software I get the EPG for around 24 hours ahead.

mthand

148 posts

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#473257 24-May-2011 06:52

With my set up, it doesn't freeze during playback, but when I'm skipping 30s ahead. I don't have any issues watching it in normal play, but as soon as I start skipping, it will freeze and stutter for about a minute until it all catches up. I only notice it on four and prime (I don't watch the other channels mentioned above).

Setup is hvr 2200 and nova t 500 HD
Msi 8500gt
Win7 home premium
Win7 media centre

I don't know if my signal is the issue, everytime I've run the BDA scan tool, the signal and quality are fine, but occasionally, I'll get a failed recording due to "weak signal", when other tuners are recording or playing fine.

I was thinking the issue when skipping was a graphics card or hdd issue, but the weak signal issue is probably a tuner issue.

Funnily enough, I can live with it, and thought my situation could add to this thread.

waldoverkill

69 posts

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#473424 24-May-2011 13:23

mthand: With my set up, it doesn't freeze during playback, but when I'm skipping 30s ahead. I don't have any issues watching it in normal play, but as soon as I start skipping, it will freeze and stutter for about a minute until it all catches up. I only notice it on four and prime (I don't watch the other channels mentioned above).

Setup is hvr 2200 and nova t 500 HD
Msi 8500gt
Win7 home premium
Win7 media centre

I don't know if my signal is the issue, everytime I've run the BDA scan tool, the signal and quality are fine, but occasionally, I'll get a failed recording due to "weak signal", when other tuners are recording or playing fine.

I was thinking the issue when skipping was a graphics card or hdd issue, but the weak signal issue is probably a tuner issue.

Funnily enough, I can live with it, and thought my situation could add to this thread.

I have this same problem. It shows up mostly on Four (How I met Your Mother). Theer is some talk on other threads http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-1235801.html which may be a similar thing.

jdt73

21 posts

Geek

#473520 24-May-2011 16:41

Its a weird thing (the freezing) because the channels prone to freeze are mostly the TV3 mux yet TV3 itself is perfect. My signal strenghth is C/N 32.7 whatever that means, but the signal bar is full and bright green.

On the EPG issue I only get a few channels and those are only a few hours ahead.
Will have a look at the link to similar discussion.

jdt73

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#473524 24-May-2011 16:49

sbiddle: You won't get EPG support with WinTV since it doesn't support MHEG5 or the ability to import XML files.

Is there a stand alone TV program that I can get that will support MHEG5 etc?

mthand

148 posts

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#473539 24-May-2011 17:19

It's not so much supporting mheg, but you need to capture it, create an XML file and then import it into the application.

The tool EPGCollector will capture and create an XML file.
Media Center needs an import tool like Big Screen EPG, but others can import the file as part of their featureset.

Some of the other free tools for your OS are GBPVR, and MediaPortal.

What are your system specs out of interest?

jdt73

21 posts

Geek

#473632 24-May-2011 20:31

athlon x2 4400+
1 gb ddrram
8800gtx
xp pro sp3

I know this is low spec and the graphics card is relying heavily on the cpu for HD.
But it gets the job done.

I have noticed a marked improvement in freezing channels if I use media portal, but It seems that the other channels that weren't freezing in wintv v7 are prone to freezes and pixelization .

Im starting to believe this is a codec issue.

Another thing I have noticed is that in wintv v7 the channels that dont freeze are running very high CPU usage (this I don't mind as long as it doesn't freeze). Yet the channels that are freezing have very low CPU usage .

So it looks like, the signal for some reason is not being decoded through the CPU.

mthand

148 posts

Master Geek

#473658 24-May-2011 20:58

are your graphics drivers up to date?

Do you have live tv buffered?

The freezing could also be caused by your system doing other things in the background, even grabbing eit data.

Has it always done this?

jdt73

21 posts

Geek

#473680 24-May-2011 21:55

I turned off buffering ages ago.
got latest nvidia drivers.
It has always done this.
But only on specific channels
h.264 hd channels are fine
h.264 sd channels some are good some are bad

sub

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Ultimate Geek

#473774 25-May-2011 06:37

There is an issue that can occur with the ArcSoft video decoder (as used by WinTV), where channels can lockup if hardware acceleration is enabled, which might be what you're seeing. This effects multiple applications.

You could try disabling hardware acceleration, or try a different decoder, or wait for Hauppauge to get a fixed decoder from ArcSoft.

Nety

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#473775 25-May-2011 06:40

That video card is Purevideo V1 which means it is still handing off a ton of stuff to the CPU. Get yourself a low end current card and I think you will find your problems go away. A GF 210 is purevideo V4 so will be enough for HD TV.

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