About to GIVE UP on HDPVR!

[myoung84]

I am constantly getting lockups and the halt in recording messages on all my recordings. I have the latest version of sage and the latest HDPVR drivers running XP. Would it be any more stable if I do a clean install of sage or maybe run Vista? I have a copy of Vista that I am thinking about using if it would help.

What could the problem be?

[Clift]

Quick thought would be two things:

1) heat
2) USB bus

Few questions:
What revision of the HD PVR do you have (Can be found under the unit)?
Does the bottom of the unit feel hot when recording or after a lock-up?
Where are the HD PVRs located (i.e. in a cabinet, on top of the AV receiver, out in the open)?
Do you have problems with one or both HD PVRs?
Are you using a USB hub?
Do you use optical cables or stereo for sound?

[myoung84]

Originally Posted by Clift

Quick thought would be two things:

1) heat
2) USB bus

Few questions:
What revision of the HD PVR do you have (Can be found under the unit)?
Both of my units are REV D2.

Does the bottom of the unit feel hot when recording or after a lock-up?
They do not feel hot at all. They never record long enough to get hot

Where are the HD PVRs located (i.e. in a cabinet, on top of the AV receiver, out in the open)?
Both my receivers and HDPVRs are on top of the hutch on my desk. They do not get hot at all and I keep the ceiling fan on so they are getting good airflow.

Do you have problems with one or both HD PVRs?
I believe it's both of them.

Are you using a USB hub?
I have tried this 2 ways. One with a USB hub and the other with 15' USB cables. Does not seem to matter.

Do you use optical cables or stereo for sound?
I have optical cables that I want to use but for now I am using stereo

If I were to do a complete format on my PC and install Vista, would that make anything worse?

[Clift]

In my experience the HD OVRs are equally stable under XP and Vista.
Now you said you tried a hub and 15' cables? Which are you using now? Have you tried to cables that came with the HD PVR?

[myoung84]

Originally Posted by Clift

In my experience the HD OVRs are equally stable under XP and Vista.
Now you said you tried a hub and 15' cables? Which are you using now? Have you tried to cables that came with the HD PVR?

Right now I am using the cables that came with the PVRs going to a hub and then a 10' cable from the hub to the PC. If everyone thinks it's a USB cable problem, I will have to get some longer component cables and move the PVRs closer to the PC.

[Clift]

Originally Posted by myoung84

Right now I am using the cables that came with the PVRs going to a hub and then a 10' cable from the hub to the PC. If everyone thinks it's a USB cable problem, I will have to get some longer component cables and move the PVRs closer to the PC.

I would absolutely blame the cables. And using a USB Hub is a big No-No for the HD PVR, especially if you have both devices on the same hub. Alternately, I would also avoid plugging them into the front USB panel. I think there is a lot of information on the forums about this but I don't really know where it is. It has been brought up on multiple cases in various threads.

[stanger89]

Yeah, the HD PVRs seem to be really sensitive to two things, input signals, and USB signal.

[myoung84]

OK, I have already started the Vista reinstall. I want a clean version of Sage and my OS since it has been a couple years since I have had a clean install.

I am also off to see if I can find some 12' component cables locally so I can move the PVRs closer to my PC.

[Dave62]

Try some tape over the IR receiver on the HDPVR receiver itself. That plus locking the STB to 720p made my system much more reliable.

[Beefcake550]

Originally Posted by Dave62

Try some tape over the IR receiver on the HDPVR receiver itself. That plus locking the STB to 720p made my system much more reliable.

yeah... I second the locking out the output of the STB to 720p.

Either that, or throw in "delay_to_wait* = 4000" in your .properties file. That would introduce a 4sec delay between tuning a channel and the HD-PV starting the encoding process. This is what I do since I like native resolution.

[Clift]

Originally Posted by myoung84

OK, I have already started the Vista reinstall. I want a clean version of Sage and my OS since it has been a couple years since I have had a clean install.

I am also off to see if I can find some 12' component cables locally so I can move the PVRs closer to my PC.

Honestly I would rather increase the length of coax so you can relocate the cable boxes to be closer to the HD PVR so you don't start monkeying around with *more* HD PVR variables.

Doing it this way you're probably fine, but just more 2 cents from me.

[bhyman1]

Use the cable that came with the HD-PVRs and plug them into USB board physically mounted on the motherboard. Thats what I do, all six HD-PVR I've installed work without issue.

Also, lock your STB to one output res, like 720p or 1080i.

[myoung84]

OK, I did not find any long component cables for less than $80 so for now I will move the receivers under my desk on the floor and use the provided component cables. My Vista install is almost done and then I will start installing sage.

I already had my receivers locked on 1080i but I will do 720p and see what happens.

[bhyman1]

Originally Posted by myoung84

OK, I did not find any long component cables for less than $80 so for now I will move the receivers under my desk on the floor and use the provided component cables. My Vista install is almost done and then I will start installing sage.

I already had my receivers locked on 1080i but I will do 720p and see what happens.

Get some cables from monoprice.com

[myoung84]

Originally Posted by bhyman1

Get some cables from monoprice.com

That's where I get all my cables, I was just checking to see if anyone had them locally. If I get this running stable, I will order some 15' component cables and move just the receivers up on top my desk. I like them there so they are out of sight, and not on the floor being kicked around.

I can definately understand the extended length USB cables and hubs being a problem, but I don't think longer component cables will be an issue. Does everyone agree with that?

[Peter_h]

As long as they are quality component cables. The first round of cables sent with the HD-PVR's were actually really bad.

Monoprice.com has always been good to me with the cabling.

By chance are the HD-PVR's sitting on top of the STB's?

[myoung84]

I have a small shelf under my desk that my old STBs sat on. The new HD STBs are much larger and will not fit on the shelf so I had the idea of installing all this new equipment on top of the hutch on my desk. Currently I have the the 2 PVRs sitting on the shelf under the desk and the STBs sitting on the floor below them. I am not using the supplied component and USB cables. I am about to install sage on my fresh copy of vista.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by myoung84

That's where I get all my cables, I was just checking to see if anyone had them locally. If I get this running stable, I will order some 15' component cables and move just the receivers up on top my desk. I like them there so they are out of sight, and not on the floor being kicked around.

I can definately understand the extended length USB cables and hubs being a problem, but I don't think longer component cables will be an issue. Does everyone agree with that?

Out of curiosity, where's your PC/server that a standard USB cable won't reach to the top of your desk?

[myoung84]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Out of curiosity, where's your PC/server that a standard USB cable won't reach to the top of your desk?

I have a large L shaped desk. The left side is where my keyboard and monitor is and it has a hutch on top of that about 6' off the floor. The right side is where the cabinet for my pc's is located. If I have equipment on the top of the hutch where I want it, I am looking at about 12' of cable to get it all hidden. The small shelf where my PVRs are is right next to the PC cabinet. I can take a couple pics if you want.

[stanger89]

Ah, I see, I've got a similar shaped desk, but nothing above it. You should be able to get some high quality USB cables from monoprice that are 15' long.

Or, I've got my PC off to the side of the keyboard, which would make the run shorter if you did that. Mines there because it's more convenient than on the other side, and it won't fit under the desk the way my desk is designed.