DVBViewer Recorder: Network encoder

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by SyrA

Now i have tried to use your networkencoder program, but i cant get any recordings to start. Everything looks good in the logs except for the fact that dvbviewer never starts the recording. Its at 0 mb all the time.

If the logs says that the recording was started, this is really because DVBViewer has at least created the recording file. So we know that the recorder has successfully told to DVBViewer to start the recording.

Now, you'll have to check the "run DVBViewer in debug mode" check box and take a look at the dvbviewer logs (C:\Documents And Setting\All Users\Application Data\CMUV\DVBViewer\debug.log)

Regards,
Stéphane.

[Whitey]

Got it working, well sort of. Took your advise and set-up a recording of a FTA channel and that worked! Now live TV works perfect with FTA but encrypted channels take about 2 minutes to clear. This is not the case with DVBViewer.

Is there anything I can do to fix this?

Thanks

Whitey

[bjkiller]

Originally Posted by Whitey

Got it working, well sort of. Took your advise and set-up a recording of a FTA channel and that worked! Now live TV works perfect with FTA but encrypted channels take about 2 minutes to clear. This is not the case with DVBViewer.

Is there anything I can do to fix this?

Thanks

Whitey

What do you mean 2min? What time you takes to chnage one encrypted channel to other ?

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by Whitey

Now live TV works perfect with FTA but encrypted channels take about 2 minutes to clear. This is not the case with DVBViewer. Is there anything I can do to fix this?

This can be the case with DVBViewer but you'll only see the delay the first time you tune to a channel (encrypted). After that DVBViewer keep the CAM/CI open, so that's quicker. Unfortunately, with recordings DVBViewer open / close the CAM/CI every time.

If you run DVBViewer in debug log, you should get approximately the time needed for the CAM/CI to do its job (for me it > 6 sec when it works). I would expect it to be under 30s (when all goes wrong for me it is 20s to properly stop and restart the recording).

Also make sure that this is not SageTV that is delaying the playback. Basically if you see the SageTV "wait" animation, that is SageTV that is delaying the playback because it can't find what it search until the recording is bigger.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by bjkiller

What do you mean 2min? What time you take to change one encrypted channel to another ?

For me it can takes from 6s to 20s. It depends if the CAM is working or not. My CAM takes 6s to decrypt. If it doesn't work the recorder will see it after 15s, then 6s is needed for the CAM to work again, so 15+6 = 21s... I could lower the restart delay to say 10s but I prefer to be on the safe side and not having to restart a recording that will finally start.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[bjkiller]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

For me it can takes from 6s to 20s. It depends if the CAM is working or not. My CAM takes 6s to decrypt. If it doesn't work the recorder will see it after 15s, then 6s is needed for the CAM to work again, so 15+6 = 21s... I could lower the restart delay to say 10s but I prefer to be on the safe side and not having to restart a recording that will finally start.

Regards,
Stéphane.

Stéphane,

did you tried to use dvbviewer with ndscam ?

[Whitey]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

This can be the case with DVBViewer but you'll only see the delay the first time you tune to a channel (encrypted). After that DVBViewer keep the CAM/CI open, so that's quicker. Unfortunately, with recordings DVBViewer open / close the CAM/CI every time.

If you run DVBViewer in debug log, you should get approximately the time needed for the CAM/CI to do its job (for me it > 6 sec when it works). I would expect it to be under 30s (when all goes wrong for me it is 20s to properly stop and restart the recording).

Also make sure that this is not SageTV that is delaying the playback. Basically if you see the SageTV "wait" animation, that is SageTV that is delaying the playback because it can't find what it search until the recording is bigger.

Regards,
Stéphane.

I get the delay everytime I tune to a encrypted channel, not just the first time. FTA changes instantly. I do get the delay on the first encrypted channel when using DVBViewer on it's own, then after that a channel change takes about a second. I will take alook at the logs

Whitey

[SyrA]

below is my log...seems like dvbv is misbehaving.. `?

08.02.08 18:11:10 Hardware.InitDevice Load settings for: WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 18:11:11 LoadWindowDefs   Loading WindowDefFile: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\CMUV\DVBViewer\windowdef.xml
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU ID           Intel
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU Supports     FPU
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU Supports     TSC
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU Supports     CX8
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU Supports     SEP
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU Supports     CMOV
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU Supports     MMX
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU Supports     FXSR
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU Supports     SSE
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU Supports     SSE2
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU Supports     SSE3
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU Supports     MONITOR
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU Supports     CX16
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU Supports     X64
08.02.08 20:52:21 CPU Target       SSE2
08.02.08 20:52:21 Start App        -----------------------------------
08.02.08 20:52:24 Hardware.InitDevice Load settings for: WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:52:32 LoadWindowDefs   Loading WindowDefFile: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\CMUV\DVBViewer\windowdef.xml
08.02.08 20:58:55 VCR-Internal     Starting recording process.
08.02.08 20:58:55 Allocate Hardware WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:58:55 VCR-Internal     Found fitting Hardware: WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:58:55 TDVBHardware.SetTuner PMT: 1090 - SID: 1090
08.02.08 20:58:57 VCR-Internal     Recording did start.
08.02.08 20:59:12 Release Hardware WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:59:12 Destroy Hardware WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:59:14 VCR-Internal     Starting recording process.
08.02.08 20:59:15 Allocate Hardware WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:59:15 VCR-Internal     Found fitting Hardware: WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:59:15 TDVBHardware.SetTuner PMT: 1090 - SID: 1090
08.02.08 20:59:17 VCR-Internal     Recording did start.
08.02.08 20:59:32 Release Hardware WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:59:32 Destroy Hardware WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:59:33 VCR-Internal     Starting recording process.
08.02.08 20:59:34 Allocate Hardware WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:59:34 VCR-Internal     Found fitting Hardware: WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:59:34 TDVBHardware.SetTuner PMT: 1090 - SID: 1090
08.02.08 20:59:36 VCR-Internal     Recording did start.
08.02.08 20:59:51 Release Hardware WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:59:51 Destroy Hardware WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:59:52 VCR-Internal     Starting recording process.
08.02.08 20:59:53 Allocate Hardware WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:59:53 VCR-Internal     Found fitting Hardware: WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 20:59:53 TDVBHardware.SetTuner PMT: 1090 - SID: 1090
08.02.08 20:59:55 VCR-Internal     Recording did start.
08.02.08 21:00:00 Release Hardware WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)
08.02.08 21:00:00 Destroy Hardware WinTV Nova-T DVB-T Tuner (Dev1 Path1)  (3)

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by bjkiller

did you tried to use dvbviewer with ndscam ?

No, I'm using DVBViewer with a PowerCam CAM with the Technotrend TT-Connect S3650 CI (also tried with an AstonCrypt CAM, but found the PowerCam works better and faster).

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by Whitey

I do get the delay on the first encrypted channel when using DVBViewer on it's own, then after that a channel change takes about a second.

So you'll get this delay for every recording made by SageTV. As I said DVBViewer release all hardward when recording is done. Whereas when you use DVBViewer it doesn't release the hardware when you simply switch from a channel to another one.

Your logs seems fine. However, they don't show any sign of the CAM hardware or plugin, so we cannot tell how long exactly it takes for the decryption to take place.

For instance here are my logs:

29.12.07 17:09:27 VCR-Internal     Starting recording process.
29.12.07 17:09:28 Found TT Device  DeviceType: 3
29.12.07 17:09:28 Open BDA Device  Got Valid handle for TT Device
29.12.07 17:09:28 TBDACITTModuleSingle:Create OpenCI - HResult: The operation completed successfully
29.12.07 17:09:28 Allocate Hardware USB 2.0 BDA DVB-S Tuner (3)
29.12.07 17:09:28 VCR-Internal     Found fitting Hardware: USB 2.0 BDA DVB-S Tuner (3)
29.12.07 17:09:28 TDVBHardware.SetTuner PMT: 1287 - SID: 8208
29.12.07 17:09:28 TBDACITTModuleSingle CI Base SetTuner Entering
29.12.07 17:09:28 TBDACITTModuleSingle CI Base SetTuner Leaving
29.12.07 17:09:28 VCR-Internal     Recording did start.
29.12.07 17:09:29 TBDACITTModule Received OnSlotStatus Status: 1
29.12.07 17:09:29 TBDACITTModuleSingle WinProc Received PMT ready
29.12.07 17:09:36 TBDACITTModuleSingle evalPMT -1
29.12.07 17:09:36 TBDACITTModule Received OnSlotStatus Status: 2
29.12.07 17:09:36 TBDACITTModule:OnSlotStatus ModuleType: Aston Module 2.1700
29.12.07 17:10:32 Release Hardware USB 2.0 BDA DVB-S Tuner (3)
29.12.07 17:10:32 Destroy Hardware USB 2.0 BDA DVB-S Tuner (3)

The decryption takes place at 17:09:36, so 9 seconds after SageTV told DVBViewer to start the recording.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by krikkit

Unexpected error : Some or all identity references could not be translated

I just uploaded version 1.2 that fix this error as well as the error for channel names with a quote.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[krikkit]

thx... i will test the new version as soon as possible...

[krikkit]

so i tested the new version 1.2 and both errors are fixed, and it seems to work... i can tune channels, but the playback not very smooth and on some channels it completely stops after a few seconds, but this seems to be a sage problem, cause if i play the recorded .ts file in VLC it plays smooth...

what audio/video decoders do you use for sage?

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by krikkit

the playback not very smooth and on some channels it completely stops after a few seconds, but this seems to be a sage problem, cause if i play the recorded .ts file in VLC it plays smooth...what audio/video decoders do you use for sage?

I'm using PowerDVD 7 (not ultra) Video and Audio decoders (latest version for the video decoder, but version 1815 for the audio decoder)

You can submit a bug report to SageTV about this, the more samples they have, the best chances we get a very good demuxer.

Also does this happen with LiveTV or with a completed recordings. I'm not sure but with LiveTV, it may help to make a pause (1 or 2s) and then resume playback.

If you have PlaceShifter, try to play the same recording with PlaceShifter. PlaceShift use a completely different playback engine and it should playback all TS recordings very well.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[krikkit]

so played around a bit more with your dvbviewer encoder... it plays smoothly in placeshifter and also on local sage after pausing a bit...

...but one "special" dvbviewer plugin (vp**g) does not work... and this plugin would be the only reason for me to run this dvbviewer setup in sage, because otherwise running dvb-s directly in sage is my prefered setup, because it's simplier do setup and i get EPG data directly via dvb-s.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by krikkit

so played around a bit more with your dvbviewer encoder... it plays smoothly in placeshifter and also on local sage after pausing a bit...

The you can try to change the network_encoding_to_playback_delay values in the SageClient.properties or Sage.properties file. This property tells SageTV to wait for this delay (in ms) to begin the playback of a network encoder live recording.

...but one "special" dvbviewer plugin (vp**g) does not work... and this plugin would be the only reason for me to run this dvbviewer setup in sage, because otherwise running dvb-s directly in sage is my prefered setup, because it's simplier do setup and i get EPG data directly via dvb-s.

Do you think this is because DVBViewer is "hidden" that this plugin is not working? Have your tried to run DVBViewer in debug mode to see if we can get any clues about the reasons of the plugin failure.

Note: Currently my recoder plugin is set up as a service. But I also have a dumb application (for my internal testing) that does the same thing. So it's not a service and as such DVBViewer is not "hidden".

Also, if the network encoder has some success, I will probably include EPG parsing to be able to import this data (XMLTV) into SageTV.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[Mark SS]

I had a quick attempt at getting this working with an MDAPI plugin in DVBViewer. File was created but it stayed at zero bytes. Will have another try tomorrow and get some logs together.

How do I start DVBViewer in debug mode? I can then get logs to compare when running it interactively and from timed recordings.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by Mark SS

How do I start DVBViewer in debug mode? I can then get logs to compare when running it interactively and from timed recordings.

Check the checkbox in the configuration utility (the one you used to create the recorders) and restart the service (this checkbox is available on version 1.1 and newer)

Regards,
Stéphane.

[Mark SS]

Spotted the option on your app but how do you get logs when running DVBViewer normally?

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by Mark SS

Spotted the option on your app but how do you get logs when running DVBViewer normally?

You add the -debug argument when you launch DVBViewer.