Dual Plextor ConvertX PX-TV402U and SageTV 2.2

[prowler2000]

For all of For all of you with Plextor Convertx PX-TV402U PVR's ... Version 2.2 makes a world of difference. I had nothing but problems with version 2.1 … especially with 2 (two) Plextors hooked up at the same time. Like many, my problems were

1) Left over tmp files
2) Files that recorded as an mpeg2 (not just the wrapper waiting to be converted to avi) … that problem happened only with a second Convertx attached. Remove the 2nd Convertx, back to avi files.
3) Files that kept the mpeg2 wrapper around them.
4) Programs that recorded as static.

I reloaded my machine with Windows XP pro (all updates), a new Java load, and the version 2.1 software … nothing but huge … insane … problems.

I unloaded version 2.1, put in version 2.2 (had to do it twice for some reason, started up with a Java error the first time, but the second install worked great), and everything worked the first time!

No left over tmp files, everything is a DIVX avi file. Everything works great .. so far.
The only thing I need to do is “import” my old recordings … I haven’t looked into that yet.

What a difference. I was using the trail software … now my credit card will purchase SageTV

[prowler2000]

Dual Plextor ConvertX PX-TV402U and SageTV 2.2

Now my frame to sound is off by several seconds - I'll try a reboot and turn the Plextor on/off. I hate these problems.

[korben_dallas]

Looking at recent posts, I think Frey is still working on the various Plextor/DivX issues. Can you confirm that all your DivX recordings are actually .avi files now?

[prowler2000]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

Looking at recent posts, I think Frey is still working on the various Plextor/DivX issues. Can you confirm that all your DivX recordings are actually .avi files now?

I power downed the computer and Plextor's ... back on and the video is in sync again. So far, with version 2.2, all of the files are definitely DIVX and have an extension of .avi ... including when both are recording at the same time.

[korben_dallas]

Are you able to pause, rewind, ffwd during the actual recording?

[CarlG]

Holy Jeez I gotta try this

[CarlG]

I don't know what you did but I'm still getting mpegs

[prowler2000]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

Are you able to pause, rewind, ffwd during the actual recording?

I haven't tried any of these .. I will experiment and let you know. I never watch and record ... too busy, but will check.

[prowler2000]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

Are you able to pause, rewind, ffwd during the actual recording?

The pause, rewind, ffwd during the actual recording seemed to work fine ... so far ... but I must admit I've only had a minor amount of time to experiment. Watching the program while using these functions seemed to work just fine ... but I have not re-watched the program to see if these actions have disrupted the actual file.

Unfortunately, I check the system this morning and several programs have video / sound sync issues again. Very disappointing. I tried the files on another computer to verify a file vs computer issue … same thing, sound is off.

I stopped the live program with the sound issue … thus the Convertx record light went off. I started another program and the sound was in sync … unfortunately, now that I think about it, I’m not sure if watching another program started using the other Convertx.

Still experimenting …

[CarlG]

How did you get it to record in .avi format prowler?

[korben_dallas]

If you disable timeshifting, it will record directly to AVI, but you lose your LiveTV capabilities on that recording.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

If you disable timeshifting, it will record directly to AVI, but you lose your LiveTV capabilities on that recording.

Couldn't you do that in earlier versions too tho? I heard about that trick before 2.2.7 anyways, that much i do know.

[prowler2000]

Originally Posted by CarlG

How did you get it to record in .avi format prowler?

I set the defaults to DIVX Portable High Quality (640x480 resolution). It works best for me and produces files that look just fine in most cases (a half hour show comes in at 412 Megs, while an hour long show is 808 Megs). For the most part, I watch the shows on the computer since I have yet to decide on a remote. While the recording is happening, the files show up as an Mpeg2 (has the Mpeg2 “wrapper” around it – search other posts), but after the show is fully recorded, SageTV removes the wrapper and you end up with an avi extension

[prowler2000]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

If you disable timeshifting, it will record directly to AVI, but you lose your LiveTV capabilities on that recording.

I posted this comment at http://forums.sage.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=10279 .. this person is having the same issues as me.

Originally Posted by laddepp

If I record a show that's 30 minutes, I have no problems with audio / video sync. However, if I record a two-hour show, the audio progressively goes out of sync with the video (it begins to be noticable after about an hour).

I have two Plextor ConvertX PX-TV402U units and I have huge audio to video sync issues. That was a good observation … 30 minute files seem okay, although I think they may be a bit off at the end … it’s hard to tell. Anything over 30 minutes is a real problem. I looked at my video files and I had 5 hour long programs recorded in a row (hour after hour). The first was a little off, the second and the rest were completely messed up. I just turned off the timeshifting (mmc/enable_mpeg4_timeshifting=false) and I post the results when I have recorded video to check.