Hauppauge HD-PVR support

[carteriii]

For what it's worth I had a conversation w/Hauppauge about power supplies and learned that the earlier Rev C units had a fan and shipped with 3A power supplies. All the rev's since then (D,E,F) have not had that fan and are only supposed to pull 1.4A. They admit they did have some bad power supplies, but say that any newer revisions shouldn't need 3A.

[lsrracer]

Originally Posted by tmar89

Ok reverted back to 1.5.7 and picture quality is much better, all at 50s for the advanced quality settings in the web admin. Thats what I get for toying with HD-PVR drivers!

Could you tell me where you find those advanced quality settings?

I find them easily in the TME Record Video App, but I've looked and looked and can't find the equivalent controls in BTV. All I can find is controls for bitrates and frame rates and the like. I'm looking for the brightness/contrast/saturation etc controls with a center point of 50 like TME has.

Reason I went looking for them is this morning, 6 weeks after updating the driver to 1.6.29277, I woke up to the washed out screen syndrome others reported. In TME on that menu I could hit the "Defaults" and all the numbers moved away from 50 and the video was watchable. But I couldn't find the equivalent controls in BTV.

I went ahead and rolled the driver back to 1.5.7 and the washout problem went away. But still, I'd like to know where those controls are in BTV.

Thanks.

[carteriii]

Originally Posted by lsrracer

Could you tell me where you find those advanced quality settings?

I find them easily in the TME Record Video App, but I've looked and looked and can't find the equivalent controls in BTV. All I can find is controls for bitrates and frame rates and the like. I'm looking for the brightness/contrast/saturation etc controls with a center point of 50 like TME has.

Use the web interface for BTV. Go to Settings -> Basic Settings -> Audio & Video Inputs. Click to "Edit" the settings for the HDPVR, then be sure to choose "Show more options" from the combo box at the top. You'll then see them in the lower section of the screen.

[ZetaVu]

FYI, I just went through a bunch of issues with Directv and my HD PVR, I think they're resolved for now but it might be a sign of problems in the future.

First, I found I get errors recording some shows if the HDMI is connected to my H21 box but the tv set is not tuned to that input. If I tune the tv to that input the recording works (component in to HD PVR) but if I tune away I get an error that a non compliant hdmi is connected (or something like that). Removing the HDMI fixes that, see thread http://forums.snapstream.com/vb/showthread.php?t=52200

Second, I got a new H23 tuner and tried to use that with the HD PVR, but even though the component pass through the HD PVR to my tv worked, the HD PVR would not read the signal. Either my H23 is just flakey or something is screwed up. see thread http://forums.snapstream.com/vb/show...850#post335850

For now I have the H21 for HD PVR and the H23 for HDMI to tv and s-video recordings, but I'm not sure if we're going to be seeing more recording issues caused by Directv, or if my H21 does can I get another working tuner from them.

[lsrracer]

Originally Posted by carteriii

Use the web interface for BTV. Go to Settings -> Basic Settings -> Audio & Video Inputs. Click to "Edit" the settings for the HDPVR, then be sure to choose "Show more options" from the combo box at the top. You'll then see them in the lower section of the screen.

Thanks, found it!

Odd that the new drivers worked for weeks and then one day I woke up, turned it on, and the picture was all washed out & overdriven.

Re: lockups ... It's been a week now since I saw Mits post, verified I have a 3A wall wart, and went ahead and moved it over to the power strip with a noise filter built-in. Still lock-up free. Interesting. A week without a lock-up is unheard of for me. I've even tried to get it to lock, by doing things like power cycling my satellite receiver while watching it through the HDPVR, something that's been known to lock the HDPVR in the past. It just syncs back up and starts playing again.

I'm starting to think the boxes need a real clean 5V source and maybe these wall warts aren't getting it done. But I've been fooled so many times, I'm not quite ready to declare success yet. I'll keep testing.

[lsrracer]

I'm getting closer to declaring success and labeling Mits a genius Still lock-up free since moving my wall wart to a noise filtered power strip.

I've had a couple lock-ups but I don't think they were HD-PVR related, as the HD-PVR wasn't in use at the time. Maybe you guys have seen these, but basically I get the little tray message that BeyondTV detected a hang in the Scheduler service and restarted it. But the restart didn't work correctly. In fact, if I exit BTV completely, and run it again, I get a little window that says it didn't shut down properly and offering to terminate and restart all services. But for whatever reason, it can't shut down and restart the BeyondTV Scheduler service, even though it indicates it did. I can't even shut down the scheduler service from the Task Manager, and when I go to restart the computer, it hangs on shutdown. I literally have to hit the reset button.

Like I said, though, I don't think that has to do with the HD-PVR. The HD-PVR lock-ups that have plagued me since I first bought this thing (when they first came out) would just happen randomly while watching or recording a show. They seemed to be aggravated by interruptions in the source material, and they also seemed to happen more often when starting or stopping a viewing session, and they also happened more often when I was using the computer for other things at the same time, but they could happen anytime the HD-PVR was in use.

I've pulled my hair out and cussed at the box for years, only keeping it because there was no alternative available. Now to apparently learn that it could have been so easily solved is a real shocker. I wonder why the hades Hauppauge hasn't addressed this before now. I always assumed there was something fundamentally wrong with their design that kept them from fixing it, but it sure looks like it could be solved pretty easily by just coming up with a better wall-wart.

[NickHark]

Originally Posted by lsrracer

I've had a couple lock-ups but I don't think they were HD-PVR related, as the HD-PVR wasn't in use at the time. Maybe you guys have seen these. . . it hangs on shutdown. I literally have to hit the reset button.

I had this same problem with the version 1.5.7.0 drivers. So far so good with the 1.6..29333 drivers. I think that problem relates to the HD-PVR drivers.

[lsrracer]

Yabbut the latest drivers also cause this intermittent washed-out picture problem.

I had a lock-up yesterday, but it appeared to be isolated to the Viewscape. It was really odd. I had left the room, and when I came back, the picture was frozen, on the show I had been watching through the HD-PVR. I'm thinking ah-ha! The HD-PVR finally locked! But my tray icon showed a new recording was underway, one that also used the HD-PVR, and BTV would have had to change the channel to record it.

I killed just the Viewscape via the Task Manager, started it again, went into Recorded Shows, and looked at the new recording. It was fine. It was recording the new program off the new channel and the HD-PVR hadn't missed a beat and was still working properly. So the lock-up was isolated to the Viewscape, and everything else, including the HD-PVR, was functioning as normal.

That was a strange one, I had never seen that before.

But I still haven't had a lock-up I can definitively blame on the HD-PVR. They were real obvious in the past as it took a power cycle of the HD-PVR to recover.

Mits is looking smarter every day.

[mits]

isrracer,

I'd keep an eye on the lights on the HDPVR for awhile before declaring a victory. I too thought I had fixed the problem several times before I found the real problem.

1. Configured Directv set top boxes to fixed 1080i out only.
2. Covered IR receivers and buds on set top boxes with electrical tape.
3. Installed a PCI NEC USB card, and used high grade USB cables.
4. Put the wall warts on a surge protector strip.
5. Timer to power cycle HDPVRs daily - Fixed??? - Nope, but close!
6. Replaced wall warts with all 3A (bad caps) - Fixed??? - Yes, 5 months solid now, and that's running four HDPVR boxes!

I think the main problem was flakey (Intermittent) power supplies due to the leaky caps. When power cycled, they would work fine for awhile.

Cycling them every night made them appear to work, but depending on timing between recording and cycling power, I would still see lockups. In every case, cycling power would fix the problem. I also noticed, that the device manager would show that the unit was installed, but not working correctly. If I unplugged the wall wart and back in, the tuner would enumerate correctly, and everything worked again.

I monitored the draw on the wall warts for both 2A and 3A HDPVRs, and yes, they draw well within the ratings that Hauppauge states...Most of the time. However, right at the moment the unit starts recording (this is when the chip begins compressing the video), the units pull right at or slightly over the wall wart ratings before settling down just under those ratings.

Bottom line, is a supply being pushed close to it's rating, coupled with bad caps (caps de-rate over time also), I can see this causing all kinds of intermittent glitches. Something that would cause anyone troubleshooting the problem, to believe from time to time, that they've fixed their problem. Only to have it show up again, exactly as I experienced for a couple of years.

Now I've replaced the power supplies for all four units with new 3A supplies, even though only two of my four units required 3A power, all of my problems have vanished.

I'm not saying this will fix every and all problems that people have had with these units. I just know that I replaced all my supplies with fresh power supplies rated at, or over what the units I'm running need, and I've not had to do a thing with my system for over 4 straight months. Could never have done that before, even power cycling them every night before.

Pretty cheap fix, especially when you factor in frustration and time lost trying all kinds of vodoo to keep them working before.

I hope everyone finally gets their systems running as solid as mine runs now. It feels really good to not be troubleshooting this problem any more.

[bigasssuperstar]

If you could point to an online shop that sells the kind of power supply you're winning with, I'd gladly buy one. I've tried all the regular fixes, too, and am willing to try this one.

[lsrracer]

Originally Posted by mits

isrracer,
I'd keep an eye on the lights on the HDPVR for awhile before declaring a victory. I too thought I had fixed the problem several times before I found the real problem.

I've seen a couple of confirmed lock-ups in the weeks since I made the change. But it's run so much better than it ever has, that I'm ready to declare that you're right, the power source has a huge effect on this problem.

You have to remember, too, that the only change I made was to move my 3A wall wart to a noise filter equipped power strip. It's not like I've hung a well regulated & filtered 5V supply on it or anything, it's still a cheapo wall wart any way you slice it. And yet it definitely improved the situation. That's an incredible revelation to me, after years of cussing at this box for it's constant lock-ups.

It also tells me that I can likely eradicate the last traces of this lock-up problem if I can come up with a clean, well regulated, low impedance 5V source. And that ain't rocket science. Worst case, I can make one.

I think for the short term I'll hang a big cap on the supply line, as well as a bypass cap near the point where it enters the box, and test some more.

In any event, thanks, your suggestion was a big help and has me going down the right path.

[Wolfie351]

Originally Posted by Terminal

Do you still get this error? I just got another one today.

Error Code: 41
1/16/2012 6:02:10 AM
Beyond TV detected a hang in "HD PVR" and could not terminate the process hosting the device when attempting to recover. This is a serious error that is usually caused by malfunctioning hardware or improperly written drivers.

I don't get it very often and the file that is created will show that it is 0 secs in the viewscape. It will not play as is, it will say it is corrupt. However if you look at the file on the disk it is there and will be using about the correct amount of disk space.

Also if I shut down BTV and restart it will delete the 0 sec file. So I have to make sure I don't restart BTV or the file will be lost. Just wondered if this is somethign only I am still seeing. I can't recall anyone posting about it recently

After months and months of stable recordings and not a single lockup, I started getting this a couple weeks ago. Previously, if my HD-PVR locked up, it would be at the start of the recording. Now, it's always at the end when it is trying to shut off and I get the "could not terminate" error. This is happening on about 80% of my recordings. The worst part is, it causes all my other tuners to stop and re-start resulting in multiple files for all my other currently recording programs. Absolutely nothing has changed in my system and I bought a 3a wall wart a couple days ago to no avail and daily power cycling does nothing like it used to help when I had previous issues.

[ZetaVu]

what are you recording from? Directv just upgraded their stb's and I had to make a lot of changes. Biggest issue was my box which also fed my tv through HDMI. The HDMI connection would screw up recordings if the tv was off or tuned to a different input (2way communication) and I'd also get a warning about resolution when the hdmi was plugged in but not active. I switched so that now I record from a stb without HDMI connected. I also tried to hook up to the H23 box and could get no signal, but I'm ok with my H21 box.

[Wolfie351]

Comcast HD box locked to 720p

[NickHark]

Originally Posted by Wolfie351

After months and months of stable recordings and not a single lockup, I started getting this a couple weeks ago. Previously, if my HD-PVR locked up, it would be at the start of the recording. Now, it's always at the end when it is trying to shut off and I get the "could not terminate" error. This is happening on about 80% of my recordings. The worst part is, it causes all my other tuners to stop and re-start resulting in multiple files for all my other currently recording programs. Absolutely nothing has changed in my system and I bought a 3a wall wart a couple days ago to no avail and daily power cycling does nothing like it used to help when I had previous issues.

I also had these problems up until a week ago.

I did two things:

1. I replaced the STB. I think it was getting tired. My errors were always occurring in overnight recordings. I had thought that maybe I was doing too many back to back recordings. But now I think that COMCAST communicates with the STB In the early mornings and mine couldn't deal with it. One thing that I noticed was that it was almost always with the same HD-PVR, (STB).

2. And I bought and ran Winzip's Registry Cleaner. It found 50 bad links in my registry. I had replaced HD-PVRs and had attempted to run media servers on my BTV server, and when I wasn't satisfied with the results. I had deleted all the extra unneeded software. But, obviously stuffs stays in the registry. I think this is the least important of my two mods. As an aside, it found 800 bad links in my production PC after accumulating many programs that have not been fully removed.

I haven not had a lockup or a burp or hiccup in a week. I am going to add a third HD-PVR soon.