OpenDCT: An open source digital cable tuner.

[KryptoNyte]

I just checked the laptop that had the tuner working and the scn files all have only this;

# Generated by HDHomeRun Setup

[thomaszoo]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

I just checked the laptop that had the tuner working and the scn files all have only this;

# Generated by HDHomeRun Setup

Thanks. At least I know that isn't the problem. I'm not sure what my next steps are. I do agree with you comment about it being something global. But I can't think of any changes I've made since I first had it working.

[KryptoNyte]

Just as a shot in the dark, have you tried disabling all User Access Control restrictions (disabling UAC), then complete reinstalls? I wonder if there might be an administrator issue.

[thomaszoo]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

Just as a shot in the dark, have you tried disabling all User Access Control restrictions (disabling UAC), then complete reinstalls? I wonder if there might be an administrator issue.

So I disabled UAC, firewall off, uninstall OpenDCT including removing old directories, remove all tuners from SageTV properties (service off), restart, reinstall OpenDCT, run as console, start service, start SageTV, add tuner (no channel scan).

While running as console, I noticed some error messages (fatal errors). I copied the text (before hitting CTRL-C) and saved it as install.txt (attached).

Attached are the logs. Also, could someone check their qam_hdhomerun_XXXX.properties file locate in C:\ProgramData\OpenDCT\config\lineup. Mine has a lot of "unknown"s in it.

I wish I had a better understanding of how this is supposed to work. I greatly appreciate the help I'm getting here; thank you.

Wayne

[KarylFStein]

My properties files have none of the channel entries.

#atsc_hdhomerun_10750060 Configuration File
#Wed Oct 31 09:58:11 EDT 2018
lineup.address=10750060
lineup.friendly_name=HDHomeRun HDHR5-4US 10750060
lineup.offline_update_interval=604800000
lineup.source=HDHOMERUN
lineup.update_interval=28800000
sagetv.available_channels_ref=
sagetv.unavailable_channels_ref=

[EnterNoEscape]

I'm a little confused about why the server is running on wireless, but that's probably not the root cause. Everything is being found.

What's likely happening is that you're using QAM and QAM usually only works if you have a DCT that OpenDCT also knows how to work with. If you want to use QAM, you'll need to set the tuner up with SageTV natively and not through OpenDCT. Part of the benefits you get from OpenDCT is that it can automatically map your QAM devices by using your CableCARD tuner, but since you don't have one, there isn't any real advantage to using OpenDCT.

[thomaszoo]

Originally Posted by EnterNoEscape

I'm a little confused about why the server is running on wireless, but that's probably not the root cause. Everything is being found.

I assume you are referring to KryptoNyte. I did a test setup on a laptop, but it used an Ethernet cable.

What's likely happening is that you're using QAM and QAM usually only works if you have a DCT that OpenDCT also knows how to work with. If you want to use QAM, you'll need to set the tuner up with SageTV natively and not through OpenDCT. Part of the benefits you get from OpenDCT is that it can automatically map your QAM devices by using your CableCARD tuner, but since you don't have one, there isn't any real advantage to using OpenDCT.

My turn to be confused (even more). The choices are digital cable or digital antenna in the HDHomeRun Setup. In Sage it is Cable or Antenna. So should I be using antenna for these? Of am I completely missing something here?

Wayne

[KarylFStein]

You're trying to use Premium TV right? I have mine set to Digital TV Tuner / Cable.

[thomaszoo]

Originally Posted by KarylFStein

You're trying to use Premium TV right? I have mine set to Digital TV Tuner / Cable.

Yes I am. That is what mine is set to. It probably is something that simple, but unfortunately that isn't it. Until I can figure it out I'm using Plex to record and then importing the recording into Sage. Not the best solution, but it works.

[EnterNoEscape]

This is enough of an issue that I bought a subscription for the month just to get an understanding of what people are running into. After looking at what changes about the device, I think I can see what would help us most.

Basically, the http tuning feature of the modern HDHomeRuns was supposed to eliminate the software tuning the device from needing to know anything about the workings of the various tuning technologies are and how to tune them. You're supposed to connect to a URL and it just works. The solution is to separate the modern devices from the legacy devices and only use http tuning for modern devices. It would be nice if SageTV had a way to directly import the lineup from the capture device vs what it currently does when it iterates through each frequency.

[EnterNoEscape]

thomaszoo,

Try changing hdhr.allow_qam_remapping to false in opendct.properties.

[EnterNoEscape]

It's been a while since I released a new version of OpenDCT. Now seems like a good time.

• Changed to thread pooling for starting and stopping channel tuning to improve responsiveness.
• Added ability to tune Virtual Channels for Clear QAM lineups without a CableCARD for reference.
• Fixed sagetv.device.parent.<parent_id>.channel_map=. The value wasn't being read from properties and could not be set.
• Added logic to handle HDHomeRun Premium TV on a device in QAM mode.

[KarylFStein]

So for those of us that now use the OpenDCT unRAID Docker do we need to switch to some other method to keep current ?

[EnterNoEscape]

Originally Posted by KarylFStein

So for those of us that now use the OpenDCT unRAID Docker do we need to switch to some other method to keep current ?

I thought that container just downloaded the latest version. Or is it stuck on beta?

[rickgillyon]

Originally Posted by EnterNoEscape

I thought that container just downloaded the latest version. Or is it stuck on beta?

The container just updates on the next restart. Mine updated on restart this morning.

[thomaszoo]

Originally Posted by EnterNoEscape

thomaszoo,

Try changing hdhr.allow_qam_remapping to false in opendct.properties.

I didn't make this change , but I did install your update and it works!!! Thank you!

So now that I am done uninstalling and reinstalling and hitting my head against the wall, I wanted to share a couple thoughts.

1. While I wasn't able to use Sage to schedule recordings I looked at several of the alternatives such as Plex, NextPVR, and Emby. I quickly learned just how great SageTV is, especially with scheduling recordings. I was surprised to find that Plex didn't support more than one EPG lineup which meant that OTA and cable could not be combined (there was one quirky workaround that I wasn't willing to do).

2. Maybe this should be 1a, but I also got a cableTV (Xfinity) DVR to cover recordings while I fixed things. I was surprised at how user unfriendly they are (no CEC for example) and they won't playback recorded material if there is a cable outage.

3. Now that I'm not spending all of my time trying to fix this I'm wondering what I can do to help support this great community. A BIG thank you to everyone that contributes to this community.

[KarylFStein]

Originally Posted by EnterNoEscape

I thought that container just downloaded the latest version. Or is it stuck on beta?

Ah, you're right it grabs the latest version, whew .

[KryptoNyte]

Originally Posted by EnterNoEscape

It's been a while since I released a new version of OpenDCT. Now seems like a good time.

• Changed to thread pooling for starting and stopping channel tuning to improve responsiveness.
• Added ability to tune Virtual Channels for Clear QAM lineups without a CableCARD for reference.
• Fixed sagetv.device.parent.<parent_id>.channel_map=. The value wasn't being read from properties and could not be set.
• Added logic to handle HDHomeRun Premium TV on a device in QAM mode.

This is just awesome! Thank you for the update.

[KryptoNyte]

Originally Posted by thomaszoo

... Now that I'm not spending all of my time trying to fix this I'm wondering what I can do to help support this great community. A BIG thank you to everyone that contributes to this community.

I tried Visual Basic programming back in the early 2000's and was so bad at it that I never developed any real skills, so I usually just try to toss the developers a few Paypal bucks so they can have a meal or two on me once in a while. It obviously isn't enough to compensate them for so much work, but it's a gesture of appreciation at least.

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by EnterNoEscape

We're still dropping packets like crazy. I'm not sure what else to have you do other than try a different NIC (preferably an Intel NIC).

Still having this big issue

I think I've ruled out the NIC and network. I can stream every channel from the HDHomeRun to VLC and the video plays smooth as silk. I've checked ifconfig (several times) and it shows 0 dropped packets.

I'm not an expert at networking but I don't see how it can be anything other than opendct that is dropping the packets. What steps can I take to try and get this working. If I can't record anything Sage isn't of much use to me.