STB Firewire (IEEE-1394) Support

[travisbell]

Originally Posted by timmmoore

ok, now I understand, thanks. Thats a bug, it shouldn't need -v to pass the supported check.
I would use -v rather than -f until I fix it. If you make a mistake and send the command to the firewire tuner it will blue screen. -v will allow it to pass the supported check without forcing the comand to be sent to non supported devices.

Sorry if what I said may have been confusing... but ya you guys got it. The only way I could get channelw.exe to actually change channels was if I passed the -v flag along with the command. Using just "channelw.exe 2" just simply never worked.

Cheers!!

[Fusion]

Please Help!

I almost have firewire working in Sage. I have a SA3250 box and I'm using SGraphRecorder with the following graph:

Scientific-Atlanta AV/C Tuner Device -> Nvidia TS Info Parser -> MPEG-2 Demutliplexer -> Cyberlink MPEG Muxer -> CLDump

Everything works fine when viewing in Sage and I change channels manually, but when I set it up to use Girder to change channels something weird happens. The digital box has an OSD that comes up while you are switching channels. The OSD, however is not HD. When SGraph starts while switching channels, instead of capturing the HD feed, it is coming up with an SD (standard definition) one. I guess the digital box is actually sending out two signals, an HD and SD one, and while changing channels, SGraph is picking the wrong one.

I thought if I set the tuning delay high enough so that the channel change was over, it would fix the problem. But apparently, the tuning delay does not affect when recording starts, just when playback starts. I can still see the channel change on the OSD starting from the first number even when I set the delay to 10,000.

I also tried out the channel change over firewire option but it doesn't appear to work with my box. I'm guessing its because my OS is different (SARA).

If anyone has any ideas on how I can get this to work, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Fusion

[timmmoore]

Originally Posted by Fusion

Please Help!

I almost have firewire working in Sage. I have a SA3250 box and I'm using SGraphRecorder with the following graph:

Scientific-Atlanta AV/C Tuner Device -> Nvidia TS Info Parser -> MPEG-2 Demutliplexer -> Cyberlink MPEG Muxer -> CLDump

Everything works fine when viewing in Sage and I change channels manually, but when I set it up to use Girder to change channels something weird happens. The digital box has an OSD that comes up while you are switching channels. The OSD, however is not HD. When SGraph starts while switching channels, instead of capturing the HD feed, it is coming up with an SD (standard definition) one. I guess the digital box is actually sending out two signals, an HD and SD one, and while changing channels, SGraph is picking the wrong one.

I thought if I set the tuning delay high enough so that the channel change was over, it would fix the problem. But apparently, the tuning delay does not affect when recording starts, just when playback starts. I can still see the channel change on the OSD starting from the first number even when I set the delay to 10,000.

I also tried out the channel change over firewire option but it doesn't appear to work with my box. I'm guessing its because my OS is different (SARA).

If anyone has any ideas on how I can get this to work, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Fusion

can you post the output of a channel change over firewire? I would like to see if we can get it going. Make sure you have the -v parameter. Also if you are using a version of channel older than 1.0.5 it will not work with the SA3250.

[Fusion]

Sure, here is the output.

C:\Program Files\Timmmoore\MCE 2005 STB Controller>channel -v 2 700
Firewire STB channel changer V1.0.6, by timmmoore
Device 2 Channel 700 Timeout 50 Dec 0
1 "FireBus MPEG2TS Tuner Subunit Device"
'Scientific-Atlanta AV/C Tuner Device'
"@devicenp:\\?\avc#scientific-atlanta__inc.&explorer(r)_3250hd&typ_5&id_0#cee6
3f210f00#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\global" 0
2 "AVC Panel Device"
'Scientific-Atlanta AV/C Panel Device'

UniqueID 'cee63f210f00'
VendorID 'f21'
ModelID 'be0'
VendorText 'Scientific-Atlanta Inc.'
ModelText 'Explorer(R) 3250HD'
"@devicenp:\\?\avc#scientific-atlanta__inc.&explorer(r)_3250hd&typ_9&id_0#cee6
3f210f00#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\global" 1
3 'Hauppauge WinTV PVR PCI II Capture'
"@devicenp:\\?\pci#ven_4444&dev_0016&subsys_88010070&rev_01#3&267a616a&0&68#{6
5e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\{9b365890-165f-11d0-a195-0020afd156e4}" 0
Device Id ""
Device Version "2.1.0"
Using alternative command 4
Response (0x09 (ACCEPTED)) received 7 bytes
09 48 7c e7 04 02 bc

I tried all combinations using the -a parameter. The only way I could get the box to do anything was to do:

channel -f -a4 2 5

followed by:

channel -f -a0 2 5

This caused a '0' to be sent to the box. It didn't matter what channel number I put in, it always sent a '0' and it only did it if I did those commands in sequence.

Fusion

[timmmoore]

Originally Posted by Fusion

Sure, here is the output.

I tried all combinations using the -a parameter. The only way I could get the box to do anything was to do:

channel -f -a4 2 5

followed by:

channel -f -a0 2 5

This caused a '0' to be sent to the box. It didn't matter what channel number I put in, it always sent a '0' and it only did it if I did those commands in sequence.

Fusion

The good news is that since it managed to change the channel there probably is a command that works. Can you try

channel -v -a0 -cl 2 700 > channel.out

it will take a few minutes and then post the channel.out file
Also let me know whether the channel changed while it ran

[Fusion]

Here is the output. The box flashed "00" once while it ran. It only took a few seconds.

[timmmoore]

Originally Posted by Fusion

Here is the output. The box flashed "00" once while it ran. It only took a few seconds.

thanks, can you now try

channel -v -a0 -c101 2 C
channel -v -a0 -c102 2 C
channel -v -a0 -c103 2 C
channel -v -a0 -c229 2 C
channel -v -a0 -c230 2 C
channel -v -a0 -c231 2 C

try a few different channel numbers (C), a single digit and a 2 digit number and see if any of the commands change channel
What happening is the -cl commands trys a lot of different commands, from the output I can see which may work, which are the 6 above. If one of the commands works, let me know and post the output of the command and I can add support for it

[Fusion]

Unfortunately none of them worked for changing the channel. Some of them did something to the box, but it only seemed to work when I ran the commands in a certain order. When I ran the commands like this:

channel -v -a0 -c229 2 C (nothing)
channel -v -a0 -c230 2 C (nothing)
channel -v -a0 -c231 2 C (nothing)
channel -v -a0 -c101 2 C (box flashes "00")
channel -v -a0 -c102 2 C (box flashes "24")
channel -v -a0 -c103 2 C (sends channel "0" to box)

I tried using different 1,2 and 3 digit channel numbers like you suggested and I got the same results.

If you have any other ideas, I'd be welcome to try them.

[timmmoore]

Originally Posted by Fusion

Unfortunately none of them worked for changing the channel. Some of them did something to the box, but it only seemed to work when I ran the commands in a certain order. When I ran the commands like this:

channel -v -a0 -c229 2 C (nothing)
channel -v -a0 -c230 2 C (nothing)
channel -v -a0 -c231 2 C (nothing)
channel -v -a0 -c101 2 C (box flashes "00")
channel -v -a0 -c102 2 C (box flashes "24")
channel -v -a0 -c103 2 C (sends channel "0" to box)

I tried using different 1,2 and 3 digit channel numbers like you suggested and I got the same results.

If you have any other ideas, I'd be welcome to try them.

What was the channel you tried with
channel -v -a0 -c102 2 C (box flashes "24")?

[Fusion]

It didn't matter what number I sent, it always flashed "24". I'm guessing it is some sort of informational command. The -c103 command did appear to be sending a channel, the box flashes "--0" but it didn't matter what number I used, it always sent "0".

[dys]

Originally Posted by taltman

Ok - i pasted in the config restarted sage and wow I can see SgraphRecorder! I shut down sage, changed the media type to 10, and now It says 1394 interface for recording.

mmc/encoders/12346/1/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/12346/1/0/video_crossbar_type=10

Ok so far so good.

Problem - if I try to watch anything from sage I get a 0 byte file and then sage barfs and says sorry can't play the file.

If I play back the graph file in graphedit I can a perfect mpeg file which I can playback in Windows media player. The same graph file is being used and referenced in the sgraphrecorder's ini file. So what am I doing wrong?

Attached are my files of interest...appeneded with a txt extension to allow for uploads.

Below are the detailed logging from sage:

Sat 4/30 18:42:00.309 MMC received response from 127.0.0.1:6969 of 200
Sat 4/30 18:42:00.410 MMC sent request to 127.0.0.1:6969 of GET_FILE_SIZE H:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\My Videos\SageTV\SGraphRecorderon12700169691394-0.mpg
Sat 4/30 18:42:00.411 MMC received response from 127.0.0.1:6969 of 200
Sat 4/30 18:42:00.512 MMC sent request to 127.0.0.1:6969 of GET_FILE_SIZE H:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\My Videos\SageTV\SGraphRecorderon12700169691394-0.mpg
Sat 4/30 18:42:00.512 MMC received response from 127.0.0.1:6969 of 200
Sat 4/30 18:42:00.515 VideoFrame.timeSelected2(Sat 4/30 18:40:35.441, true) currFile=MediaFile[id=6181628 FA[BAD AIRING] host=a3098 encodedBy=SGraphRecorder on 127.0.0.1:6969 1394 H:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\My Videos\SageTV\SGraphRecorderon12700169691394-0.mpg, Seg0[Sat 4/30 18:40:08.388-Wed 12/31 16:00:00.000]] realDur=0
Sat 4/30 18:42:00.515 About to perform media time selection for 27053
Sat 4/30 18:42:00.515 Did Media Time Select Millis 27053
Sat 4/30 18:42:00.515 Exception from line: 115
Sat 4/30 18:42:00.516 VideFrame had an error loading the file. It must abort the file load.
Sat 4/30 18:42:00.516 processOptionsMenu optionsMenu=Widget[ErrorMessage id=6163539 OptionsMenu Layout=Vertical AnchorX=0.5 AnchorY=0.5 down=[6166384,6166385,6166386,6161511,] up=[6166387,] context=Context[parent=Context[parent=Context[parent=null map={CaptureDeviceInput=SGraphRecorder on 127.0.0.1:6969 1394, Lineup=SGraphRecorder on 127.0.0.1:6969 1394}] map={LaunchedVideo=true, ItemChoices=[Done with Channel Setup, Enable All Channels, Disable All Channels, [1, Channel[stationID=-1752432723, Name=1394]]]}] map={ErrorCategory=Playback, ErrorDetails=sage.PlaybackException: ERROR (-4,0x0): There was a problem rendering the video portion of the content for playback., _SAGE_HOOKSOURCEWIDGET=java.lang.Object@78001b, ReturnValue=null}]

/Tal

Hi taltman,

Were you able to solve the problem you had earlier? I seem to have very similar problem as the one you described. Any suggestion?

Thanks.

[taltman]

I fixed some of my problems by doing the following:

1) Updated all the drivers from timmmoore's and spaceghost's instructions.

2) Recreated ps2ts graph using graphedit.

3) Specified full path to graphs and utilities (my system root drive is h: not c: - the stupid usb card reader got in the way)...

4) Moved to Cayars 17 STV (probably not related but helped anyways)...

So after doing all that I can do the following:

a) I can use channel.exe to tune my Moto 62xx box to the correct channel - girder config in spaceghosts instructions were not all that clear =(

b) I can watch SOME (not all) HD channels without problem. These channels are ESPNHD, local HD - fox, cbs, nbc, pbs.

I can NOT do the following:

a) channels using AC3? audio can not be played back. I tried to install ac3filter but that didn't seem to help or get registered into sage at all. How do I do this?

b) some channels start to play and then stop. Is comcast up to no good? NBATV for example will start to play and then stop. It is not HDTV channel. Whats up with that?

c) If I could get a list of codecs people are using for watching HDTV then i can finally get this working

d) HD Channels I can't watch are: inhd1, and inhd2, discoveryHD, and a few SD channels as well.

References:

AC3filter
http://ac3filter.sourceforge.net/

SpaceGhosts instructions
http://forums.freytechnologies.com/f...&postcount=355

Make sure to use timmmoore's firewire drivers. You can skip the girder config section.

/Tal

[dys]

Hi,

Printed out the whole thread and read several times over and I am still having the audio playback error problem.

I installed the latest firewire from timmoore and it changes the channel pretty reliablly.

Everything is down on a brand new installed Windows XP system. Installed DirectX 9.0b and Nero Burning ROM. Downloaded the trial version of SageTV version 2.2.8 and installed the trial version of the Nvidia DVD decoder. Also install the AC3 codec (the latest version, I believe is 0.7b).

I can record (most of the time). But playback for most (as far as I can tell, in fact all) digitial channel requires me to first play a non-digital channel first. This is pretty much the same as a few posts (in the May time frame) described here. Once I play the non-digital channel and then change to play the digital channel (either SD or HD), it will play ok. But if I put Sage to sleep or reboot the system, I have go through the same trick again. It becomes a big issure before I can convience my wife that this system is ready for prime time.

All the recorded file plays fine in MS Media Player or GraphEdit. I think it goes like this:

File -> Sage Mpeg Splitter -> Nvidia Video Codec -> Default Video Renderer
-> AC3 -> Default Audio Renderer

Before I install the AC3, I do not get audio from the non-digital channel.

Anyway, it is almost there. In fact, I get the PC with a Leadtek WinFast 600 card connected with component to a Panasonic rear projection TV and image is great (when it works). But the Audio Playback Error is really starting to become annoying. Played with all the audio codec I can find and still no luck.

By the way, I have set the delay on the SGraphRecorder.ini to 3500 and the delay in Sage.properties to 5000.

Somehow Sage is not following the standard DirectShow route and just refuse to play those files. Just hope someone can get a more reliable method than the current one.

It seems that this thread become much quiter these days. Is everyone happy with their setup already? Or people have given up on this?

[Morgan111]

Originally Posted by dys

Hi,
It seems that this thread become much quiter these days. Is everyone happy with their setup already? Or people have given up on this?

I have gotten it to a point where it works for some channels, but not always reliable. Watching and recording with apps like VLC seems pretty smooth on all the digital and HD channels so I am hoping 3.0 (out any day, right?) will include at least some additional support to make recording and playback of HD nice and stable.

[esubramanian]

I tried this over the weekend. I was able to change channels, record, but playback does not work. I gound out that Sigma XCARD is the problem. Sage log file indicates that the 'pin is not compatible'. I also have a PVR 350 and it works with that.
Anyone had this working with XCARD. Anyhow, I have decided to wait for 3.0 instead of spending more time on this.
Also, is it possible to just use this to change the channels using firewire?

[Morgan111]

esubramanian, you can use the ExeTuner or EXEMultiTuner Plugin and call the channel.exe command with the channel number argument.

[turak]

Originally Posted by dys

It seems that this thread become much quiter these days. Is everyone happy with their setup already? Or people have given up on this?

I have one HD show (an episode of Lost) that plays pack without the audio rederer error for some reason. In order to play back HD files without getting the audio error I have to first start watching that episode of Lost. Then while it's playing, switch to the HD file that I want to watch. Am I happy with my setup? No. I spent several months trying everything I could think of the get rid of the error and now I'm just hoping that either someone else finds a solution or that SageTV V3 fixes the issue. It makes no sense to me that every app I try other then SageTV plays the files back fine.

[ChuckvB]

In MCE if I run the Tray program no devices show up in the tuner positions, which is why I think when I try to record MCE says it's an invalid channel. Both the SA tuner and panel devices seem to be installed okay and CAPvhs works to make a manual recording. Any help appreciated on where I should look.

Also when I installed the SA panel device and SA tuner It asked for two other files that are not in Tims package. I had then from a previous zip file "DVHsdrivers). The files were meistrm.sys and mstapeo.sys. Since they didn't come with Tims meistb.zip file are they the right ones to use?

[timmmoore]

Originally Posted by ChuckvB

In MCE if I run the Tray program no devices show up in the tuner positions, which is why I think when I try to record MCE says it's an invalid channel. Both the SA tuner and panel devices seem to be installed okay and CAPvhs works to make a manual recording. Any help appreciated on where I should look.

Also when I installed the SA panel device and SA tuner It asked for two other files that are not in Tims package. I had then from a previous zip file "DVHsdrivers). The files were meistrm.sys and mstapeo.sys. Since they didn't come with Tims meistb.zip file are they the right ones to use?

Download the latest package from http://www.thegreenbutton.com/commun...ssageID=104152
Its all included now. If no devices show up in tray but channel -v D C
where D is the device number for the AV/C Panel and C is a channel number
then the mostly likely is that MCE doesn't think there is a STB connected.

[ChuckvB]

Tim, When I look in the file you linked there are only four items. Two are pictures one is a text file and the other is a zipped file. In the zipped file I only found one program file inside. are the two other zipped files hidden within this? What's strange is the frist time I ran the file (the one I pulled down a couple of days ago.) it asked for a location of mstapoe.sys and Meistrm.sys. This made me think it's not in the package. After I browsed around my system I found two copies from the DVHs zip package and used them. After that first install even if I removed the SA tuner device and reran Firestb.msi I didn't get asked for the location of the two SYS files again. So either it used the old ones or had the new ones hidden in the install program.

Either way I MCE using the Tray device no tuner are listed.