HD-PVR Experience

[jorton]

Hi All,

I had an experience this past week that I thought I should share. I am no expert on the HDPVR and don't profess to know all about them but some may find this interesting or helpful.

I originally had 3 HD-PVR's running without any hiccups since the start of the Sagetv V7 Beta on the following STB's,

DCT6216
DCT6216
DCT3416

I was able to upgrade some of my some of the Motorola boxes in my house to the newer DCX3400 Mpeg4 models to watch some of the HD sports pacakges (NFL Sunday Ticket, NHL Center Ice) that will only be broadcast in Mpeg4 and will require newer hardward to view.

Basically the DCT6216's were traded in for DCX3400's leaving me with the following boxes attached to my HD-PVR's,

DCX3400 (New)
DCT3416 (New to HD-PVR but not new)
DCT3416 (Original)

Back to the HD-PVR story - So I did the swap but as soon as the first recording happened I started getting HD-PVR errors I hadn't seen for months. I noticed that these were mostly on kids SD channels (480i) and I recalled that the original boxes that were on the HD-PVR's were all set to output 1080i.

As soon as I changed the new STB's attached to the HD-PVR's to a fixed resolution of 1080i I haven't had a problem for over a week.

This definitely gives me the impression that HD-PVR's don't like when there are changes in format/resolution and this seems to back that claim up at least for me.

Hope this helps someone

Jeremy

[PLUCKYHD]

Correct it is recommended to have the settop boxes at a fixed resolution not variable.

[Taddeusz]

I believe the real problem is that the HDPVR doesn't like it when the video changes resolution while recording. Like if you have the recording delay set too short and your HDPVR constantly catches the transition between channels with different resolutions. Previously I had to have my delay set to 7.5 seconds in order for the transition not to be caught. The default 4 seconds is all well and good but if you're catching that transition it needs to be a little longer.

I have my cable STB set to output the native resolution of each channel and I have no problems with HDPVR stability. The only problems I ever have always have to do with the STB itself. Mostly when it occasionally decides to stop outputting Dolby Digital and starts outputting stereo PCM instead. Quite annoying. Seems to be a problem with Scientific Atlanta STB's in general as my parents' cable DVR does the same exact thing. But anyway...

After making sure my HDPVR doesn't catch that resolution change I've had no direct HDPVR problems while recording native channel resolutions.

[jorton]

I'll give the delay a try and see if it allows me to use the native resolutions.

I also think that not all cable boxes are created equally (I had really bad luck with two different Pace STBs on Shaw) and with the different firmwares and the different cable companies we're a little bit at their mercy. For example Shaw Cable was really bad for audio dropouts for awhile and I think that messed with the digital audio recording on the HD-PVR. I have also had issues where the cable co sent a firmware update and settings were changed like your DD to LPCM issue.

Thanks for the info,

Jeremy

[Beefcake550]

I experienced the same as Taddeusz. I have foudn soemtimes that DirecTV likes to switch to 480i sometimes during some commercials. THat sent my HD-PVR for a loop. I've since not allowed that resolution output from the DirecTV box and all is good.

[sic0048]

Just keep in mind that Placeshifter won't play 1080i files from the HD-PVR. So if you are looking at using that (or the Android client, etc), then lock your STB to 720p output.

If you don't plan ion transcoding any of the recordings, then lock the HD-PVR at the native resolution of your TV.

[darcilicious]

I believe the transcoding issues have been fixed ins v7 beta... I think. Lost track of that thread, it's around here somewhere...

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

I believe the transcoding issues have been fixed ins v7 beta... I think. Lost track of that thread, it's around here somewhere...

Good to know. I must have missed that.

[viperdiablo]

Originally Posted by jorton

Hi All,

I had an experience this past week that I thought I should share. I am no expert on the HDPVR and don't profess to know all about them but some may find this interesting or helpful.

I originally had 3 HD-PVR's running without any hiccups since the start of the Sagetv V7 Beta on the following STB's,

DCT6216
DCT6216
DCT3416

I was able to upgrade some of my some of the Motorola boxes in my house to the newer DCX3400 Mpeg4 models to watch some of the HD sports pacakges (NFL Sunday Ticket, NHL Center Ice) that will only be broadcast in Mpeg4 and will require newer hardward to view.

Basically the DCT6216's were traded in for DCX3400's leaving me with the following boxes attached to my HD-PVR's,

DCX3400 (New)
DCT3416 (New to HD-PVR but not new)
DCT3416 (Original)

Back to the HD-PVR story - So I did the swap but as soon as the first recording happened I started getting HD-PVR errors I hadn't seen for months. I noticed that these were mostly on kids SD channels (480i) and I recalled that the original boxes that were on the HD-PVR's were all set to output 1080i.

As soon as I changed the new STB's attached to the HD-PVR's to a fixed resolution of 1080i I haven't had a problem for over a week.

This definitely gives me the impression that HD-PVR's don't like when there are changes in format/resolution and this seems to back that claim up at least for me.

Hope this helps someone

Jeremy

Just curious what method are you using for channel changes? Are you using firewire does it work with the new dcx3400 moto box?