Setup Question Regarding Transcoding

[kevine]

SageTV v 6.2.8 RC2

I am having an issue with my media extenders. When I watch an HD program and fast forward the program freezes and it does not come back. I can go to a different program and watch it but not back to the same 1. As you can see by my config, I should have enough CPU power to do this. Aren't the files automatically trancoded on the fly?

This may be a codec issue. Right now I am using the SageTV default codec. However, I do not know what the setting should be. I have PowerDVD 5 that came with my video camera but I am unsure if this has what I need either. Maybe it is not a codec and there is a setting I am missing. Help.

I am also having an issue with a TV. After changing the Overscan Settings, the top of my TV screen distorts (moves to the right). Sometimes the entire screen distorts. I have it set to 4x3.

I am also having a problem with the low volume but it looks like everyone is having that problem. My guess is this is a Hauppauge problem.

Thank you.

[kevine]

Anyone? Please.

[Opus4]

Since no one has had a suggestion so far, I would enable debug logging and contact support.

Don't forget that v6.2.10 is the release version now, so you could try that one too.

- Andy

[zoso]

Just installed 6.2.10, upgraded my HDHomerun software and firmware to most current and started using the BDA drivers. I am experiencing the exact same thing, so if you get a resolution, please post it here.

[zoso]

Solved my problem with this. in the Sage.properties file each of the tuners had encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream=true set to true individually, but there was also a setting the was general (not tuner specific) labeled:
mmc/encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream

which was set to false. As soon as I switched that to true, I was able to ff and rw even when watching live.

[kevine]

Originally Posted by zoso

Solved my problem with this. in the Sage.properties file each of the tuners had encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream=true set to true individually, but there was also a setting the was general (not tuner specific) labeled:
mmc/encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream

which was set to false. As soon as I switched that to true, I was able to ff and rw even when watching live.

Coincidence. I resolved with the same thing today. This should be a sticky. Also, the way you can tell is in the recording details. If it is MPEG-TS I cannot play on a MVP but a MPEG-PS I can.

[BFisher]

I can not FF or Rwd a HD show playing on any of my MVPs. It will skip, but not FF... Also, my wife told me that some shows have had issues where the audio will disappear or get jerky sounding. She pauses, rewinds some (jumps backwards) and starts playing again and it starts working fine. She said sometimes it will happen 5 times in an hour, other times she'll watch for hours without it happening.

I checked the encode_digital settings above and all of mine are set to True. Any other ideas? I've been searching and found 2 possible ideas... wondering if either could help (before I try and screw something up). The 2 ideas were to upgrade to java 1.5 (confirmed mine is 1.4.2); and to not run Sage as a service (my server is headless, everything is watched through MVPs (5 of them)).

Should I try these ideas? Any other ideas? (sorry if this is addressed somewhere else - still a newbie here... but I've been searching like crazy on this problem)

[sainswor99]

You may want to upgrade java all the way to the latest release (1.6.2, I believe). Since I've done that, I can run Sage as a service with little or no problem.

Is your MVP wired or wireless (including connected to a bridge)? I recently rearranged my wireless network, and started really getting some stutter with my MVP (connected via a wireless bridge). Turns out my neighbor has a wireless-N network and they were overwhelming my access points. I simply set the channel to be as far away from theirs as possible (luckily they left it wide open for me to see what it is).

HTH,
Stu

[BFisher]

Thanks Stu - I'll upgrade my java version and see if that changes anything.

All of my MVPs are wired. Thanks!

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by BFisher

I can not FF or Rwd a HD show playing on any of my MVPs. It will skip, but not FF...

If this is what you mean: smooth FF/REW is not available for anything that needs to be transcoded for playback on the MVP, so it reverts to using skip FF/REW.

- Andy

[BFisher]

yes, that's what I meant. However, I read the above post ("As soon as I switched that to true, I was able to ff and rw even when watching live.") and assumed I was doing something wrong.

The bigger issue is the audio stutter/drop-out issue. I haven't been able to reliable recreate the issue yet - it just happens when it wants to (it appears).