HD-PVR Stops Responding ~Once/Day

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by d2globalinc

I think I read this in the forums, but putting some tape over the HD-PVR's IR port has helped some? I don't use the IR port on the HD-PVR's and have a separate blaster.. so is it that they are still receiving commands and just freeze up once in awhile from that added signal?

I'm 95% sure that what started mine messing up. I had an add on NEC USB, and it had been fine. Then I started using the IR wireless keyboard for my recorder (normally used VNC) and then the HDPVR was 100% unstable! Rebuilt the system (wanted to for other reasons), covered the IR port with 2 layers of black tape, and it's not had a single problem since.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by davephan

Thanks. I've give the USB PCI card a try. I have an extra one laying around and a free PCI slot in the SageTV computer. If I still have lockups, I will order the same USB PCI card and try that one.

Since we have the same motherboard, though I'm sure we have different hardware attached to it: I believe I used the driver CD from SHS's forum with the v1.5.6.0 drivers when I built the PC. My 2 HD-PVRs are just connected to the motherboard's USB connectors.

If I remember correctly, that is the same driver version I used on my old PC when I finally stopped having lockups. My only other change at that time was covering the IR port w/electrical tape -- I've heard covering the IR port referred to as voodoo of equal merit to dancing with a banana on your head, but there is at least a possible theory about stray IR signals messing with the HD-PVR's circuitry, whereas the banana, no matter how fresh or rotten, doesn't seem to have a defensible theory of operation.

I'm also simply using stereo audio, so that may not match your setup either.

Finally, my lack of lockups may have had nothing to do with the HD-PVR driver or IR cover, but perhaps my cable company (Cablevision) finally updated the firmware on my SA-4250HD STBs so they stopped sending signals that locked the HD-PVR. I've heard the HD-PVR can be locked by hooking up a VCR to it, then pressing FF on the VCR while the HD-PVR is recording. Oh, and I have my STBs set to always output 1080i.

- Andy

[Skirge01]

Originally Posted by Opus4

My only other change at that time was covering the IR port w/electrical tape -- I've heard covering the IR port referred to as voodoo of equal merit to dancing with a banana on your head, but there is at least a possible theory about stray IR signals messing with the HD-PVR's circuitry, whereas the banana, no matter how fresh or rotten, doesn't seem to have a defensible theory of operation.

I can say without question that the IR receiver on my HD-PVR was causing issues since I was able to make it stop recording on command by pressing a button on my Harmony 880 (no, not the stop button, either ). I was not using the built-in IR receiver, so covering it should not have made a difference, yet it did. Once the tape was on, I could no longer reproduce that issue.

[ijourneaux]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

Question: did you make a channel map of any kind for the PVR-150, or does the HD-PVR cover ALL your channels with regards to recordings? I too installed my old PVR-150, and noticed the same thing: a speedier IR experience. I also mapped all my SD channels to the PVR-150, mainly to save disc space (mpg) and have Placeshifter reliability.

If you DIDN'T use the PVR-150 with regards to Setup/Setup Video Sources, was there anything you had to do to make that work? I just imagined you had to map at least some channels to the PVR-150 for the remote to work.

I just installed the drivers for the PVR-150. I did not setup a video source. It appears that the IRBlaster will attach to what ever card (that has IRBlaster capabilities) that is installed last. Regardless of if you are using it or not.

Before this, I had tried many of the items (Tape over the IR, older drivers, etc). I have an expansion PCI USB/firewire card in hand that I will try out if I have problems but, since it is working now, I hate to break it.

[Chriscic]

Originally Posted by Opus4

...dancing with a banana on your head.

- Andy

Hey, not sure if my past HD-PVR complaining here actually achieved anything, but if nothing else at least I'm being quoted by Opus. That's an accomplishment in itself.

By the way my two HD-PVRs have been mostly stable since I went back to the older drivers. Maybe one lock-up every couple of weeks.

[davephan]

That's a cheap, if it fixes those occasional annoying HD-PVR lockup problems. I'm not sure if my USB PCI card has a NEC chipset. So, I already placed the order. Thanks for the tip on the discount code and free shipping.

Dave

[joe123]

For those of you with the HD PVR magically develpoing problems when it was working fine before, please check your drive(s) on which it is recording and let me know if they are Seagate Drives?

[davephan]

I haven't been able to correlate HD-PVR lockup problems to Seagate drives. I do have 4 Segate drives which I used to use as recording drives. The Seagate drives are now video library drives. Several months ago I added 6 WD drives which are each are used for recordings. All 10 drives are in RAID 1 pairs, except for the 11th video storage drive and the 12th drive, which is a boot drive.

The lockups are fairly infrequent, but they do happen sometimes. The biggest improvement in HD-PVR reliability was to quit using the built-in HD-PVR IR blaster and use the USB-UIRT instead.

Dave

[joe123]

I was asking becasue for me, each and every time the HD-PVR starts acting up, one of my Seagate drives is about to fail.

As soon as I replace the drive or stop recording on it, HD-PVR behaves.

I am using the HD PVR IR blaster from day one and it is the only thing that works 100% of the time with no errors.

[aaronb]

Adding my data point:

I had my HDPVR plugged into a USB port on my mobo for over a year, and was getting lockups every 1-4 days requiring a hard reboot. Going back to the 1.0.5.301 drivers helped a bit, but I was still getting lockups maybe once a week. I installed this USB card, and have not had a single lockup for the last 2 months. I've had a couple issues where the crappy cable box needed a reset, but the HDPVR has been rock solid. The rest of my system specs are in my sig.

[joe123]

Originally Posted by aaronb

I installed this USB card, and have not had a single lockup for the last 2 months..

Queston: Have you noticed if you are getting skips here and there? Not lock ups, but where the recording skips for a second or fraction of a second?

I have not gotten any locks up since I moved to the 1.0.5.301 driver, but if I do anything intensive on my PVR while it is recording, the HD-PVR blue Bing (top) light goes out and back on for about 1 second - the skips.

[vipul19]

I have had the same issue that everyone on this thread has been having. My hd pvr was locking up about once a day or so and I would 30x messages stating that a halt was detected, etc...it was always the same channel and it seemed to be approximately around the same time each day.

I installed the 1.5.301 drivers (I had the 1.5.1 drivers at the time) and everything seems to be fine. It has been a few days of no lock ups. I am still using the usb port from the motherboard. I am using component +spdif and the ir blaster to my cable box.

Seems that the driver is the key.

[aaronb]

Originally Posted by joe123

Queston: Have you noticed if you are getting skips here and there? Not lock ups, but where the recording skips for a second or fraction of a second?

I have not gotten any locks up since I moved to the 1.0.5.301 driver, but if I do anything intensive on my PVR while it is recording, the HD-PVR blue Bing (top) light goes out and back on for about 1 second - the skips.

Not that I've noticed. My server is in the basement usually not doing much, I'll try transcoding some video while it's recording to see if I get any skips.

[davenlr]

I built my server using an Asus MB, with Sata drives (WD). I am using the onboard USB port for the HDPVR, Win7 32 bit, latest driver from Hauppauge, and USB-UIRT. I watch live TV, as well as record all night on a HD100. I also have a HDHomerun and a DVB sat tuner card in it. I want to add a second HDPVR, but reading this thread has me scared to try.

Other than adding a NEC USB card for the second HDPVR, and running the driver install program again (which I assume will see the second HDPVR and add a driver for it), and configuring the USB-UIRT for the codeset for the second DirecTv receiver, will any of this affect the original HDPVR? Or will just doing a System Restore point first safeguard the original install in case it doesnt work right when I add the second one? I really dont want to reinstall Sage and all the customizations I finally figured out how to get to work.

[joe123]

Originally Posted by aaronb

Not that I've noticed. My server is in the basement usually not doing much, I'll try transcoding some video while it's recording to see if I get any skips.

What about skip while watching a recording? They are very obvious for me - around ~1 second freezes / skips. Sometimes the voice keeps recording while the video freezes.

It's not the STB as I was able to verify that. I should add that I get no to very few freezes if the PVR is mostly idle when recording.

[davephan]

The last lockups for me were three on March 12, 2010 and one lockup on March 13, 2010. After I removed the top silver colored plastic cover, I haven't had any more lockups. I think I've been able to go 2 - 3 months without a lockup before, so it will take quite awhile to determine the long term reliability. The open cover allows heat to escape. Although when I've checked at different times, there didn't seem to be much heat being generated. I was planning on replacing the cover with a grill and a fan. I have the fan, but I am still looking for plastic or metal grill that would fit, or could be cut to fit.

I am using the version 1.0.5.301 driver. From what I've read, the consensus seems to point to the 1.0.5.301 driver being the most reliable. The Hauppauge web site has a version 1.5.6.1 driver dated November 24, 2009. I don't know if anyone might have a reason to think that driver or something different from the 1.0.5.301 version might be a better choice.

I will try changing one more variable. I just received a USB PCI card today.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815104216

I will install the USB PCI card and hook up the HD-PVR to the USB PCI card, and continue to monitor the server for lockups.


Dave

[ijourneaux]

Since I stopped using the IR Blaster on the HD PVR my reliability has gone up but still not good enough. Interestingly, the failure mode is different now.

Before the failures were always when new recordings were starting. The STB would not change channel and the HD-PVR would not start recording.

Now the failure are more random where the recording starts (i.e. blue vanity light comes on) but the light never goes out. THe recording that start is nt watchable and future recording don't start until the HD PVR is power cycled.

A couple of days ago, I moved my HD PVR to a separate USB interface. Haven't had it installed to get an idea on impact.

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by ijourneaux

Since I stopped using the IR Blaster on the HD PVR my reliability has gone up but still not good enough. Interestingly, the failure mode is different now.

Before the failures were always when new recordings were starting. The STB would not change channel and the HD-PVR would not start recording.

Since you have only posted a couple of times, I'll ask if you have seem the "How To" article in my signature. The proceedures that I lay out are not "intuitive" (meaning most people would not have installed the parts as I suggest the first time). For some reason, I've found that many issues are fixed when you follow the installation steps as layed out in my instructions - especially when you use the built in blaster.

So if you installed the items in a different sequence, I would recommend that you try my method. It should only take a few minutes to do and could make a big improvement. Please give feedback if it does or does not work for you.

Thanks,

[ijourneaux]

I found you set of instructions earlier and tried to follow them. That got me to the point I am now. But I agree, it is certainly worth trying again.

On the next hang, I will try to replicate the installation steps you proposed.

Take Care

PS I jsut reviewed the steps again to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything. The there were two differences to the sequence. I was unable to get stable performance with the 1.0.5.6 drivers so ended up using the 1.5.6.1 drivers. I will try going back the next time I try. I also installed the PVR-150 drivers after the HD-PVR so that the systme would use the IR Blaster from the PVR-150. Of all of the things I have tried, that is the only one that seemed to make a step change in reliability. Still not good enough but significantly better than when I was trying to use th IR Blaster on the HD PVR.

Regardless, I will give this another shot the next time my system hangs.

[sic0048]

As long as you installed SageTV after the Hauppauge software, you should be OK. That generally means uninstalling and reinstalling SageTV. But if you did this and are still experiencing issues, then I really don't know what to suggest other than all the things already mentioned....

Use the 1.0.5.301 drivers (definitely do this if you haven't tried it)
Try putting the HD-PVR on its own USB card
RMA it back to Hauppauge if it still doesn't work consistantly
etc
etc
etc