SPDIF In -> analog audio out

[Beefcake550]

Ok all, question time...

I have a sage server with an HD-PVR using the SPDIF in from my DirecTV box. I assume it does AC-3 when the show has it and PCM 2.0 otherwise. Now, my shiny new extender is connected to an older Sony SDTV. I'm using the svideo and analog audio out (go ahead, moan and groan). Problem is when I tune in a channel, I get no sound. I've configured the extender to use analog audio out, but that doesn't help.

I've also got a HDHR tuner and when I tune into one of those channels, I have been getting sound.

What settings to I have to change and where? I assume I should be able to do what I am trying to do.

-Brian

[HelenWeathers]

My HD200 is playing audio thru it's L/R rca jacks for shows I have recorded from Directv thru the HD PVR. SageTV reports all of my recordings as AC3 audio. My video is connected to my old Olevia TV via YPbPr. These recordings play back on my client in 5.1. Make sure your HD200 firmware is updated. I will check and see if I have any recordings before I hooked up the S/PDIF into the HD PVR and report if I have an issue.

EDIT: found an old recording of The Lake House recorded in stereo, and it plays fine.

[Beefcake550]

hrmm.. ok.

I am alsonoticing that HD-PVR file playback is fine (so far) on my 1080p set, but on the lowly 480i set, it is herky-jerky. I've done the firmware update to the 20081201 one. Is there some beta firmware I should be trying? THe first thing I did was the firmware update.

Pewrhaps it's the herky-jerky-ness that is not allowing any audio.

-Brian

[Beefcake550]

ok, forget it. I found the beta bios dated Dec-03. I'l lgive that a shot now.

-Brian

[Beefcake550]

ok, so no love there. all of my HD-PVR recordings now look herky-jerky even on my 1080p set. I'm going to try going back to the released firmware to see if I can at least get my 1080p set viewing things perfectly again.

Question...should I be setting my audio out to "digital bitstream" or "digital PCM"?

-B

[HelenWeathers]

Originally Posted by Beefcake550

I have a sage server with an HD-PVR using the SPDIF in from my DirecTV box. I assume it does AC-3 when the show has it and PCM 2.0 otherwise. Now, my shiny new extender is connected to an older Sony SDTV. I'm using the svideo and analog audio out (go ahead, moan and groan). Problem is when I tune in a channel, I get no sound. I've configured the extender to use analog audio out, but that doesn't help.
-Brian

I thought you were using analog out from the HD200 to the TV. Digital Bitstream or PCM is for the S/PDIF or HDMI output to the old Sony TV.

[HelenWeathers]

On your 1080 TV you should be using the HDMI or Optical with Digital Bitstream, I believe.

[Beefcake550]

looks like released firmware is no go for me either. the first show I watch from the hd-PVR is fine, but then after that, it's about 1/2 second of good smooth video followed by 1/2 second pause...rinse lather repeat.

-B

[HelenWeathers]

Restart your HD200. Goto Online services, Google Video, Go to movie trailers and try to watch something. Video quality isn't great but do you get smooth playback from Online Services, Google.

[Beefcake550]

i'll give that a shot.

Also, I realize I should have been clearer. I have two TVs and two HD200s. One TV is a Sony 480i 27" while the other is a Samsung 1080p 46A650. Neither is properly displaying content from the HD-PVR. Content from the HDHR i have is perfect on both sets.

-B

[CollinR]

How old is your system and how is your storage?

Garbage in garbage out remember.

[Beefcake550]

i hear you....

server is brand new. Q9450 + 4GB DDR2800 RAM + (2) 1.5TB drives + (2) 1TB drives.

I found the problem and I've seen it documented elsewhere. The HD200 is currently having some issues around AC3.

I break it down into 4 combinations:
a) Live TV from HDHR
b) Live TV from HD-PVR
c) Recordings from HDHR
d) Recordings from HD-PVR

a, c, and d work flawlessly with AC3 5.1 sources. It's watching LiveTV from the HD-PVR as a source that kills it. The first channel I watch is prefect, but if I change the channel, all hell breaks loose and a power cycle is required in order to get HD-PVR livetv to work again.

I am running the WHQL drivers for the HD-PVR and it doesn't matter if I just try to change the channel or if I hit "stop" twice and then select a new channel from the HD-PVR to watch.

I've switched the audio input on the HD-PVR to use the analog inputs for now so I have a functioning HD200. Please fix the AC-3 problem with the HD200!

[swats]

I am having this exact problem, except with an HD-100. If I use the 1.0.47 driver for the HD-PVR (the shipping version on cd) I get sound from my extender via the analog L+R out. If I use the 1.0.53 latest version, no sound from my Analog outs on my HD-100

[Beefcake550]

swats...soudns like you have a different problem.

I ahve no issues when using the analog inputs of the HDPVR. These are the only inputs that work with the 1.0.47 driver. When I updated to 1.0.53, I wanted to use the SPDIF input instead and that is the problem. Using the analog inputs to the HDPVR works great with either driver.

-Brian

[jasmithvr6]

Originally Posted by Beefcake550

i'll give that a shot.

Also, I realize I should have been clearer. I have two TVs and two HD200s. One TV is a Sony 480i 27" while the other is a Samsung 1080p 46A650. Neither is properly displaying content from the HD-PVR. Content from the HDHR i have is perfect on both sets.

-B

I'm a fellow 46A650 owner as well...great set. Have you tried taking the HD-PVR out of setup to test straight HD content through the STB? Sounds a little too simple, but it would eliminate any possible issues with the STB.

[Beefcake550]

jasmithvr6 -

I've done that in the past and the STB works fine. I did find a "solution" that involves putting a "wait" in the tuner section of sage.properties and that seems to solve the problem. I will post the exact fix later on.

-Brian

[jasmithvr6]

Originally Posted by Beefcake550

jasmithvr6 -

I've done that in the past and the STB works fine. I did find a "solution" that involves putting a "wait" in the tuner section of sage.properties and that seems to solve the problem. I will post the exact fix later on.

-Brian

Glad to hear you got the problem solved. Hopefully the "fix" will help others with the same issue.

Cheers

[Beefcake550]

delay_to_wait_after_tuning=4000

Add this to the *.properties file(s) in the specific tuner section for the HD-PVR.

Shut down sage and the extenders, modify the file(s), start up sagetv server and then the clients.

I did notice on one occasion I had to do this twice for it to take effect. Simply hit the channel up/down button and count to 4. It should at least take that long to change channels. Actually, it should probably just take 4 more seconds to change channels, but perhaps not.

-B