Hauppauge HVR-2250 Stutter

[bishop0369]

I have a stuttering problem when multiple 2250 PCIe tuner cards are installed. Both tuner cards are setup to record ATSC broadcasts only. The ATSC signal strength is strong and the videos are otherwise crisp and clear. First I will explain the stuttering problem and how I determined that it is the recording, not the playback.

Stuttering Problem

When playing back ATSC recorded TP files the video freezes momentarily and skips forward to make up for the freeze. The freeze lasts for a split second to one to two seconds. This seems to happen to all ATSC TP files that were recorded using one of the 2250 PCIe cards. It doesn’t matter if only one 2250 tuner is being utilized or all four 2250 tuners are recording. This stutter will occur many times during the recording.

Recording Error

During playback the stutter is repeated at the same minute/second. This is to say that the video file was played multiple times and the stutters occurred at the same times each time the video was restarted. Several recordings were analyzed with the same result.

2250 PCIe Not TP File

In this system I also have a Model 1212 HD PVR, this tuner records without error. While playing back TP files recorded on this tuner no stuttering occurs.

Dual 2250 Problem

I went into the “Device Manager” and disabled one of the 2250 tuners, recorded several ATSC recordings. I had no stuttering in any of these recordings. I went back to the “Device Manager” and enabled that tuner and disabled the other 2250, recorded several ATSC recordings. After analyzing these videos I found no stuttering in any of these recordings. I went back to the “Device Manager” and enabled both tuners tried several ATSC recordings, analyzed these recordings and found that the stuttering had returned.

Additional information:

DB8 Multidirectional HDTV Antenna
Windows XP Media Center Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600)
Case: Thermaltake Tenor
Board: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. P35-DQ6
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT HDMI w/1 gig ram
[Driver release 181 Version 181.20 January 7, 2009]
Display: Mitsubishi 73"

Hauppauge HD PVR Capture Device
Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 (8880) (2x) driver CD version 4.7
Hauppauge WinTV PVR PCI II (Win-TV-500) (Tuner 1) driver CD version 3.2
Hauppauge WinTV PVR PCI II (Win-TV-500) (Tuner 2) driver CD version 3.2


5501.12 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
3593.00 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

[mayhem70]

Does the video stutter when played back with VLC?
What MPEG2 decoder are you using?

[redlion4]

What signal strengths are reported across the channels in BTV Setup? It may not be consistent with the result of the testing (disabling tuners in hardware config), but it the description sure makes it sound like a possible signal strength issue.

[bishop0369]

mayhem70: Haven’t tried a VLC player, but I will… ArcSoft decoder… and it has no problem when only one tuner is enabled

redlion4: Signal strengths are 90+ 90's and 100's reported from the TV also...

[rothe]

Regardless of your observed signal strengths, I would echo Redlion4's suspicions. As an experiment, disconnect all of your other tuner devices (including TVs) and plug that cable directly into one of your 2250s, then try recording. If it's better, then that would support theories about weak signal strength.

[rothe]

Also, am I to understand that you have a total of NINE devices coming off of this one line?

[bishop0369]

Nine ATSC, no… Three ATSC connections, one to the TV and two to the 2250’s so it’s supporting 5 tuners, all three are coming out of a booster, (I’m getting 95 to 98 and 100 for signal strength). Also I have cable TV, one connection to the Win-TV-500 dual tuner and one cable box connected to the HD-PVR… In my first post I said “I went into the “Device Manager” and disabled one of the 2250 tuners, recorded several ATSC recordings. I had no stuttering in any of these recordings”. When I disabled one of the 2250’s I had no problems recording two ATSC channels. With both 2250 enabled I did. I will disconnect the TV and try a single split to the two 2250’s and see what happens with and without the signal booster. Thanks!

[redlion4]

95 signal strength could have issues, based on experience from my system. Should aim for 98 or higher for best success. Amps sometimes help, but at times can also cause issues (over amplified signal is bad too). Signal strengths reported by the TV are independent and generally not very useful - a PC tuner may or may not see the same strength, even from the same feed (sensitivity differences between tuners).

I understand the results from disabling tuners in the hardware config. Just suspecting that if signal strength is borderline, then deactivating a tuner might act like a coax line terminator improving the resulting signal on the remaining lines. This is especially important on the 2250 as it subsequently splits the signal internally (on top of the physical splits in the upstream coax lines).

Supporting the hardware theory - very early on I started with the NVidia Dual Tuner instead of the Hauppauge PVR 500 for dual analog. Worked great until another PCI tuner card was installed - WHAMMY, conflict central. Ends up that the NVidia card monopolized the PCI Bus, not leaving enough bandwidth for other cards to operate properly. Waited for two months for a driver or other update from NVidia to correct it, but they never delivered. Returned and exchanged the card for the PVR-500 which has been solid.

Now, I have not heard of any such reports from the 2250. There are certainly other users who have more than one of them installed. Might suggest googling it to see if there are others having the same type of issue. Perhaps it is worth trying out the new drivers that were posted here just recently (still beta level, but getting good reviews).

[bishop0369]

Thanks for the suggestions… I really do appreciate all the support… I have the 4.7 release but I will try the beta driver 7.5.25.27007. When I removed my signal booster my signal dropped down to the 75 to 85 range. I’m starting to come around to your way of thinking, signal strength… The booster I have is a 4 output distribution amplifier. Its frequency range covered the range that the CPA-19 does so I though it would help, it’s not really made for digital but it does give me some improvement. I’m looking at the CPA-19 ClearStream Pre-Amplifier Kit coupled with the DA2 2 Output Distribution Amplifier. You can see them here; http://www.antennasdirect.com/antenna_amplifier.html if you want, look them over and let me know what you think. I’ll get a cap and disconnect the split that is going to the TV, don’t use it anyway... I'll post the results tomorrow. Should have done that when I had the beast away from the wall…

[redlion4]

Re-reading the original post makes me think of one more question - On a "bad recording" when the video freezes then skips forward, what happens to the sound? Does it skip in sync with the video, or does it appear to keep going almost normally when the video is frozen?

[bishop0369]

“What happens to the sound?” It’s hard to tell, almost normally, it doesn’t get out of sync so it must skip also.
Now for some surprising results… I did a scan with one tuner with the setup wizard, logged the readings and disconnected the input to the TV. Rescanned for channels and at first I didn’t see any differences. As I was logging the readings scanning restarted and they were different. In all I allowed the scan to repeat 8 cycles and found that my signal is bouncing. I’ll report one channels scan results: 1st scan 97, 2nd scan 81, 3rd scan 76, 4th scan 97, 5th scan 93, 6th scan 97, 7th scan 94 and 8th scan 97. With a bounce down to 76 for signal strength I’d say you’re right.
I installed the beta drivers deleted the four tuners and scanned all four again. All four returned between 89 and 97 for all receivable channels. My antenna is just clearing my roof peak so I’m going to raise it, I can get it up another 5 feet or so without too much trouble. I’m also going to order the pre-amp and the 2 output distribution amp. I’ll post back the results when I get finished, may be a week or so. Unless you can think of anything else…
Again, I really do appreciate the support, I’m hard headed and I would have bet the farm it was a driver or a incompatibility issue. Thanks for staying with me, UDM!

[redlion4]

Intermittent problems like that can be tough. Glad you were able to observe the variation and now can take actions to improve and stabilize the signal. Always seems like the PC tuners are more sensitive to signal than the TVs.

In the past, borderline signals for me would cut-out on the video but the sound would continue while the picture was either pixelated or blank. The signal had to get really bad for the sound to drop / skip too.

[bishop0369]

I installed the DA2, 2 output distribution amp Friday and it seems to have helped. It has adjustable gain and I have it set to about 50%. My numbers are up a little but my signal still has a bounce to it. It hasn’t been fit to work outside, but if it’s nice out next weekend I’ll put the PA-19 Pre-Amp on and raise my antenna and see if that will stabilize my signal. Thanks again for your input… I’ll update you on my progress…