Running multiple clients has very jerky video despite very powerful PCs

[LehighBri]

UPDATE: The saga continues... I submitted this issue to Hauppauge support and they had me record two SD shows at once using Windows Vista Media Center. I did that, and the resulting SD dvr-ms files both played back smooth as silk... so the same scenario works fine in Media Center but still has issues in Sage which means there must be an issue in Sage. I've reopened this with Sage support so we'll see.

If any of you can help, see attached for a log which had mediaserver debugging turned on as well... support previously said they may have seen some I/O issues there which pointed them to say it's an issue with Hauppauge. In the log, I watched 1 live SD channel, then waited ~10 seconds, then went to the program guide while still in playback of the 1st recording and set another SD channel to record which caused the jerky recording/playback issue. It should be noted that this same scenario but with QAM HD channels works just fine. CPU and memory usage is very low as well

[LehighBri]

Got so frustrated with this issue that I decided to reformat my PC. I installed fresh Vista w/ SP1, Java 6 u12, HVR-2250 27023 drivers, and SageTV 6.5.9, and STILL the SD jerky playback issue exists! I just don't understand how that can be given a fresh install. Sage support did the same with an HVR-2250 and theirs plays back just fine. Would could possibly be wrong that is causing recordings to record with jerky video with a fresh install?

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by LehighBri

Got so frustrated with this issue that I decided to reformat my PC. I installed fresh Vista w/ SP1, Java 6 u12, HVR-2250 27023 drivers, and SageTV 6.5.9, and STILL the SD jerky playback issue exists! I just don't understand how that can be given a fresh install. Sage support did the same with an HVR-2250 and theirs plays back just fine. Would could possibly be wrong that is causing recordings to record with jerky video with a fresh install?

Ya know, I just started using my HVR2250 and noticed if I try to record two SD shows at the same time, they both become extremely jerky. Its almost like it is trying to record both channes thru the same encoder and therefore is only encoding every other frame....

Is that what you are seeing?

Edit: This is in Windows XP PRO SP2 (I don't think it is running SP3).

[LehighBri]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

Ya know, I just started using my HVR2250 and noticed if I try to record two SD shows at the same time, they both become extremely jerky. Its almost like it is trying to record both channes thru the same encoder and therefore is only encoding every other frame....

Is that what you are seeing?

Edit: This is in Windows XP PRO SP2 (I don't think it is running SP3).

Yes, this is exactly what I'm seeing. Try this. Records two SD channels simultaneously. Then when they are both done recording, play the files through Windows Media Player... do you see jerky playback there as well? The issue for me is that the recordings themselves have issues and thus playback jerky no matter what playback player you use (e.g. WMP, VLC, Sage, etc).

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by LehighBri

Yes, this is exactly what I'm seeing. Try this. Records two SD channels simultaneously. Then when they are both done recording, play the files through Windows Media Player... do you see jerky playback there as well? The issue for me is that the recordings themselves have issues and thus playback jerky no matter what playback player you use (e.g. WMP, VLC, Sage, etc).

I'll give it a try tonight (not near my server right now to try it). Funny thing is that I have my HVR2250 setup to do both QAM tuning and SD capture via composite connections (obviously it can only do 2 at a time), and I ONLY have problems if I am trying to record 2 SD shows. If I record two HD via QAM or 1 via QAM and 1 via composite I have no problems (I may have to try this again to verify though).

[LehighBri]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

I'll give it a try tonight (not near my server right now to try it). Funny thing is that I have my HVR2250 setup to do both QAM tuning and SD capture via composite connections (obviously it can only do 2 at a time), and I ONLY have problems if I am trying to record 2 SD shows. If I record two HD via QAM or 1 via QAM and 1 via composite I have no problems (I may have to try this again to verify though).

Same with me. Once I record 1 HD or 2 HD shows, they playback great. It's only with 2 SD.

[SHS]

LehighBri do want try out 7.6.1.27055?

[LehighBri]

Originally Posted by SHS

LehighBri do want try out 7.6.1.27055?

Would love to (Hauppauge sent me 27050 but no luck there). Can you post link here and/or PM to me?

[SHS]

Here you go LehighBri
ftp://ftp.shspvr.com/download/hvr_22...prerelease.zip

[paulbeers]

Didn't do anything for me.....Recorded one show and tried to watch the other and it just studdered...

[LehighBri]

Originally Posted by SHS

Here you go LehighBri
ftp://ftp.shspvr.com/download/hvr_22...prerelease.zip

These new drivers didn't do anything for me either. Paul - what video card and/or codecs are you using? I literally reinstalled Vista SP1 with just java and sage do I'm using the standard MS decoders. Same studdering issue though.

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by LehighBri

These new drivers didn't do anything for me either. Paul - what video card and/or codecs are you using? I literally reinstalled Vista SP1 with just java and sage do I'm using the standard MS decoders. Same studdering issue though.

I do all my viewing via extenders so it definately is not video card/driver related. It is definately at the recording level. Also, based on your signature, we have completely different servers so we know it isn't some kind of incompatibility with a certain chipset (like back in the old VIA KT133 days)

Edit: I did file a bug with Sage so that they are aware this is affecting more than just one person.

[LehighBri]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

I do all my viewing via extenders so it definately is not video card/driver related. It is definately at the recording level. Also, based on your signature, we have completely different servers so we know it isn't some kind of incompatibility with a certain chipset (like back in the old VIA KT133 days)

Edit: I did file a bug with Sage so that they are aware this is affecting more than just one person.

Yes, use my extenders in addition to my PC clients and same story there. Keep me posted on how your bug report goes with Sage and if they come up with any creative solutions/reasons why this is happening.

Also, note that I upgraded to 6.5.11 and the latest HD200 firmware last night and same story... jerky playback when recording 2 SD shows simultaneously.

[LehighBri]

paul - just got an email from hauppauge support. Try the new 27056 drivers. I will try these tonight and see if that helps.

ftp://www.hauppauge.com/Support/HVR2...prerelease.zip

UPDATE: I installed the new 27056 drivers above and no luck... issue still occurs.

[paulbeers]

Thanks for trying the new drivers (saves me the hassle).

I sent a 3 minute clip to Sage and the log files to Sage tonight. Hopefully they can figure something out...

[LehighBri]

Just received the following response from Sage... will let you know as soon as I hear anything re: updated drivers:

Our contact in Hauppauge reply it's their problem, they are going to give an update driver soon.

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by LehighBri

Just received the following response from Sage... will let you know as soon as I hear anything re: updated drivers:

Our contact in Hauppauge reply it's their problem, they are going to give an update driver soon.

Yep. I got the same update you did. For now I threw an old AverTV PVR150+ in my server so that I can record one SD from the HVR2250 and one from my PVR150+. The WAF factor was dropping fast, so I had to do something....grrrrrr....

[LehighBri]

WORKAROUND: I uninstalled the latest betas I've been using and reverted back to the original 4.7 official CD drivers on the hauppauge site and the issue is not present! Looks like the issue was introduced in subsequent release of the driver. I've let hauppauge support know this and I suggest you do the same. (thanks for the advice paulbeers)

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by LehighBri

WORKAROUND: I uninstalled the latest betas I've been using and reverted back to the original 4.7 official CD drivers on the hauppauge site and the issue is not present! Looks like the issue was introduced in subsequent release of the driver. I've let hauppauge support know this and I suggest you do the same. (thanks for the advice paulbeers)

Thank you for the credit, but I must give Heffe2001 the credit on this. I am sooooo happy to have a fully working 2250.

[Stuntman]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

Thank you for the credit, but I must give Heffe2001 the credit on this. I am sooooo happy to have a fully working 2250.

Please upate this thread if any of the 'new' drivers correct this problem.. Thanks!