Hauppauge Colossus HD-PVR

[Even]

Originally Posted by SHS

Have you try disable the Firewire port

Thanks SHS,

No luck with disabling the firewire. I finally got an error message in the in the diagnostic log and it looks like the card itsefl. Am going to return it. I picked up another HD-PVR, installed the drivers and it records past 20 minutes with no problems.

I'll restore my system image and on to reinstalling Sage.

Thanks again

Even

[korben_dallas]

Originally Posted by w4rh4wk

Hey jptheripper,
component + spdif worked for me as well.... curse you HDMI lol. i guess that is close as im going to get for a stable system for now. and no sync issues either.

You have all 3 Colossi on component + optical audio?

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

You have all 3 Colossi on component + optical audio?

and is that optical audio 5.1?

[w4rh4wk]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

You have all 3 Colossi on component + optical audio?

correct 3 all with the 29111 drivers and 1 HVR-1600. Im going to try the latest driver with this setup to see if it crashes on Sunday.

Originally Posted by panteragstk

and is that optical audio 5.1?

Dolby digital was set to "Off" on all 3 Directv STBs. i can test that as well this sunday pan.

[SHS]

Originally Posted by Even

Thanks SHS,

No luck with disabling the firewire. I finally got an error message in the in the diagnostic log and it looks like the card itsefl. Am going to return it. I picked up another HD-PVR, installed the drivers and it records past 20 minutes with no problems.

I'll restore my system image and on to reinstalling Sage.

Thanks again

Even

Ok then that case the problem has be bad card or something about your system that it dosen't like after all you said it also crash in WinTV and MCE, If you have any time you should try a diff system just besure how ever if it still crashing it must likely a bad card it self that the root problem.

[rcrang]

I've been watching this thread with interest since buying a Colossus a couple of weeks ago. I was hoping to be one of the very few that didn't have problems with it (ok, I'm stupid). After about a week of reading, changing settings and generally pulling my hair out, I wanted to report that I have everything working smoothly. Perhaps some of my info can help others with their setups.

I first installed the Colossus with the 29.168 drivers. I use component video and optical audio connections. I have the Colossus connected to a Motorola DCT6200 STB and the 2250 connected to another Motorola DCT6200 STB. A USB-UIRT is controlling the channels on both boxes. I have the outputs from the STB's locked to 1080i. My main TV is connected to my HD300 in my living room. I have another TV connected to the SageTV server's video and sound card outputs.

The initial problems I had were similar on both TV's and similar to what others have reported in this thread. Both TV's worked fine for viewing LiveTV on the first and second channel changes. After that, each channel change produced more and more video and audio glitches/stutters until after 5 or 6 changes they were basically locked up (not the server, just the viewability of the channels). As most others have figured out, stopping and starting the SageTV service corrected the stuttering. If the service was freshly started, I had no problems with recordings and no audio/video lag. Summarizing, I could no longer watch LiveTV, but I could record - with frequent service restarts to ensure that channel changes wouldn't cause any glitches. The one additional problem I had on the TV hooked directly to the SageTV server was that once the glitches started, my remote control (MCE) started behaving erratically also. I would push a button and the computer would think the button was being held down.

I then started trying various things to see if I could correct the problem with LiveTV. I tried using RCA audio instead of optical. I tried locking the STB outputs to 720p. I increased my JAVA heap to 1024. I made various settings changes to sage.properties (like delay_to_wait_after_tuning). NOTHING worked.

Finally today I uninstalled the drivers for both Hauppauge cards. I then installed the 29.111 drivers for the Colossus and the newest drivers for the 2250 (same as I had previously installed). Everything now works! The Colossus is a little slow at changing channels (it might take 3 seconds instead of 2 for the 2250) but with the 29.168 drivers it took about 8 seconds.

I realize I've probably jinxed my success by reporting on it but what the hell. Hopefully what I've written here along with my computer specs will help some of you have some success with your Colossus. The sound and picture are incredible. I have it set on Best for recording (didn't add any custom qualities) and it appears to be recording with VBR because some of the SD channel recordings are even smaller than the Great setting on the 2250 - and with better picture.

I'm certainly no expert, but my guess is that the problems people are having are between the Hauppauge drivers and the type of STB you are using. The real question here is, "why does changing channels cause more and more stuttering?" If anybody wants to throw any questions at me or shed any light, feel free.

Rob

[mistergq]

With the 6200 box, are you having any issues with audio getting out of sync after each commercial break. With the 29.111 drivers, you won't notice it until about the 4th commercial break.

I discovered that my boxes are locked at 720p, but I am still getting the problem. I am getting to the point I am debating about buy 2 new HD PVR - I wish I did not sell mine already.

Thanks

Tim

[w4rh4wk]

update: i was only able to test component + optical audio+ Dolby digital turned on (within the Directv STBs) with the 29111 drivers this weekend. My machine usually crashes within the first 20 mins with all 3 Colossi recording and trying to change channels...... they been going strong for 1 hour without any issues. If that changes, ill let you know.

[rcrang]

Originally Posted by mistergq

With the 6200 box, are you having any issues with audio getting out of sync after each commercial break. With the 29.111 drivers, you won't notice it until about the 4th commercial break.

I discovered that my boxes are locked at 720p, but I am still getting the problem. I am getting to the point I am debating about buy 2 new HD PVR - I wish I did not sell mine already.

Thanks

Tim

Actually, I've only been recording movies, so no commercials. I will check tomorrow though. I'll record Letterman because a friend is in the audience and let you know. I will say though that I haven't had any sync issues with either driver so far.

Rob

[w4rh4wk]

update 2: With Dolby digital turned on, occasionally when i would change the channel the audio would come in as jumbled static. Not every time, but every once in a while. I've turned it off for now.

[rcrang]

I also noticed the jumbled static once so far. Also, unfortunately I have had some video glitches since I reported everything was working well - but only after about 20 or more channel changes. So, for me, 29.111 is still far better than the newest driver.

[spacecadet]

Originally Posted by w4rh4wk

update 2: With Dolby digital turned on, occasionally when i would change the channel the audio would come in as jumbled static. Not every time, but every once in a while. I've turned it off for now.

This sounds similar to a problem I've had in the past (haven't tried SPDIF recently). If the broadcast was shown in true DD 5.1, then everything worked great. However, if the broadcast was shown in 2.0 (like what you might get from an oddball sporting event being shown on ESPN2), then the audio was wonky.

I'd be interested to know if your symptoms are the same (that is, 2.0 broadcast = jumbled static).

FWIW, my provider is Verizon Fios and I use a QIP-72xx STB.

[rcrang]

Originally Posted by spacecadet

This sounds similar to a problem I've had in the past (haven't tried SPDIF recently). If the broadcast was shown in true DD 5.1, then everything worked great. However, if the broadcast was shown in 2.0 (like what you might get from an oddball sporting event being shown on ESPN2), then the audio was wonky.

I'd be interested to know if your symptoms are the same (that is, 2.0 broadcast = jumbled static).

FWIW, my provider is Verizon Fios and I use a QIP-72xx STB.

I don't think the static was related to stereo (2.0) audio in my case. I don't remember the channel that caused it but as soon as I flipped away from that channel and then returned to it the static was gone. Also, I do know that I record stereo audio frequently with no audio problems.

Rob

[metzz71]

any luck with the new driver?

[KeithAbbott]

Originally Posted by metzz71

any luck with the new driver?

Are you talking about the 29192 driver that was released on Monday?

[rcrang]

Originally Posted by KeithAbbott

Are you talking about the 29192 driver that was released on Monday?

If you are, the new driver appears to be working perfectly. At least that calms my fears that the Colossus problems were related to Sage and would never be fixed.

I wonder why this thread has died. Maybe the last driver fixed everybody's problems?

[metzz71]

Yes, the 29192... i missed it until now. I installed it, seems to be a little better for my audio sync problem, but sometimes I lose sound until after commercial break. Keep you posted after a couple more days of using it.

[sleonard]

I didn't notice that. I had tried going from the 29.111 which were pretty stable to the 29.168 but had to revert back. I guess I'll give these latest 29.192 drivers a go.

On another note, I wish Sage could release another update to allow the full 20Mb bitrate allowed by these drivers. I guess I'll have to track down the instructions for adding a custom rate :|

S

Scott

[KeithAbbott]

Originally Posted by sleonard

On another note, I wish Sage could release another update to allow the full 20Mb bitrate allowed by these drivers. I guess I'll have to track down the instructions for adding a custom rate :|

Maybe this post: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...&postcount=601

[uberpixel]

Anyone else notice the latest drivers make the images look really bright and contrasty?

All the whites are really blown out. Is there a way to adjust this?

I'm still noticing audio sync issues with Component + SPDIF as well.



-uberpixel