DVBViewer Recorder: Network encoder

[Ansy_74]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

Use the "Adjust PAT / PMT" option in the DVBViewer Settings / Options / Recorder and it should make SageTV happy.

Regards,
Stéphane.

Sorry, didn't help.

/Ansy

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by Ansy_74

Sorry, didn't help.

As you have the problem with HD channels, and usually HD are H.264/MP4: make sure the recorder is set to record in TS format otherwise, SageTV will request a MPG, but DVBViewer will record a TS.

Can you post your logs when you try to view a HD channel.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[zzmystique]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

This file is not an XMLTV file.... so the Importer cannot import it.

Regards,
Stéphane.

Thanks, realised that after reading more of the online manual, doh!.

What is best way to export the epg data from dvbviewer - that is compatible with the importer?

Cheers

[jamesdisco]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

Otherwise, I'm currently busy writing a new DVB-T/S/C SageTV Recorder (because I'm tired of the way DVBViewer is working for me). If all is right it will be ready in a couple of weeks. It will come with nice features such as : double buffering of TS packets, asynchronous disk writing, reduced fragmentation on recorded files, no lost video content on show boundaries or back to back recordings....

Hi Stephane, Will the new recorder have support for NDScam, ive being trying DVBE4sage but it doesn't work well on WHS. Hoping yours will.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by zzmystique

What is best way to export the epg data from dvbviewer - that is compatible with the importer?

You could use DVBViewer Recorder for that purpose otherwise I don't know.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by jamesdisco

Hi Stephane, Will the new recorder have support for NDScam, ive being trying DVBE4sage but it doesn't work well on WHS. Hoping yours will.

I don't know, MDAPI will be included so it may work or not (I don't know if it will work on WHS correctly though)

Regards,
Stéphane.

[Ansy_74]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

As you have the problem with HD channels, and usually HD are H.264/MP4: make sure the recorder is set to record in TS format otherwise, SageTV will request a MPG, but DVBViewer will record a TS.

Can you post your logs when you try to view a HD channel.

Regards,
Stéphane.

Hi
Yes, DVB Viewer is set to TS.

Here is the tracelog:
(First I tune a SD-channel "Lyxfllan" that works then I change to "AllsngpSkansen" that is a on a HD channel)
20100630 20:20:25.415 - Info - Fire4 - Recording started: E:\TV Program\Lyxfllan-Season7Episode03EpisodeDel3ssong7-1362187-0.ts
20100630 20:20:33.675 - Info - Fire4 - Recording stopped: E:\TV Program\Lyxfllan-Season7Episode03EpisodeDel3ssong7-1362187-0.ts
20100630 20:21:22.446 - Warning - Fire4 - Recording 'E:\TV Program\AllsngpSkansen-Episode01EpisodeDel1av8-1362964-0.ts' could not start, check that DVBViewer is creating the recording in the right directory, or has enough permissions to do so.
20100630 20:21:22.452 - Info - Fire4 - Recording stopped: E:\TV Program\AllsngpSkansen-Episode01EpisodeDel1av8-1362964-0.ts
20100630 20:21:26.374 - Warning - Fire4 - Not currently recording, nothing to stop

Here is what Monitor shows:
Service - 20:20:23.199 - Verbose - Fire4 - START Fire4 Digital TV Tuner|3|2555844046460|E:\TV Program\Lyxfllan-Season7Episode03EpisodeDel3ssong7-1362187-0.ts|Great
Service - 20:20:25.416 - Info - Fire4 - Recording started: E:\TV Program\Lyxfllan-Season7Episode03EpisodeDel3ssong7-1362187-0.ts
Service - 20:20:25.433 - Verbose - Fire4 - START = OK
Service - 20:20:25.448 - Verbose - Fire4 - GET_FILE_SIZE E:\TV Program\Lyxfllan-Season7Episode03EpisodeDel3ssong7-1362187-0.ts = 0
Service - 20:20:33.471 - Verbose - Fire4 - STOP
Service - 20:20:33.486 - Verbose - Current recording file is the one SageTV think is going on
Service - 20:20:33.502 - Verbose - Fire4 - current recording = 'E:\TV Program\Lyxfllan-Season7Episode03EpisodeDel3ssong7-1362187-0.ts'
Service - 20:20:33.519 - Verbose - Fire4 - 'E:\TV Program\Lyxfllan-Season7Episode03EpisodeDel3ssong7-1362187-0' is the current recording, stopping...
Service - 20:20:33.676 - Info - Fire4 - Recording stopped: E:\TV Program\Lyxfllan-Season7Episode03EpisodeDel3ssong7-1362187-0.ts
Service - 20:20:33.729 - Verbose - Fire4 - STOP = OK
Service - 20:20:50.005 - Verbose - Fire4 - START Fire4 Digital TV Tuner|50|2555844100072|E:\TV Program\AllsngpSkansen-Episode01EpisodeDel1av8-1362964-0.ts|Great
Service - 20:21:22.448 - Warning - Fire4 - Recording 'E:\TV Program\AllsngpSkansen-Episode01EpisodeDel1av8-1362964-0.ts' could not start, check that DVBViewer is creating the recording in the right directory, or has enough permissions to do so.
Service - 20:21:22.465 - Verbose - Fire4 - current recording = 'E:\TV Program\AllsngpSkansen-Episode01EpisodeDel1av8-1362964-0.ts'
Service - 20:21:22.480 - Verbose - Fire4 - '' is the current recording, stopping...
Service - 20:21:22.494 - Info - Fire4 - Recording stopped: E:\TV Program\AllsngpSkansen-Episode01EpisodeDel1av8-1362964-0.ts
Service - 20:21:22.512 - Verbose - Fire4 - START = ERROR
Service - 20:21:26.370 - Verbose - Fire4 - STOP
Service - 20:21:26.385 - Verbose - Current recording file is not the one SageTV think is going on
Service - 20:21:26.399 - Warning - Fire4 - Not currently recording, nothing to stop
Service - 20:21:26.454 - Verbose - Fire4 - STOP = ERROR
Service - 20:21:26.472 - Verbose - Fire4 - GET_FILE_SIZE E:\TV Program\AllsngpSkansen-Episode01EpisodeDel1av8-1362964-0.ts = 0

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by Ansy_74

20100630 20:21:22.446 - Warning - Fire4 - Recording 'E:\TV Program\AllsngpSkansen-Episode01EpisodeDel1av8-1362964-0.ts' could not start, check that DVBViewer is creating the recording in the right directory, or has enough permissions to do so.

This is the source of the issue. For some reasons DVBViewer doesn't start the recording at all or is writing the recorded file somewhere else.

This is a problem because, DVBViewer Recorder cannot cancel the recording timer it sets in DVBViewer (the filename will not match anymore).

So my advice would be to use the standalone recorder (this allows you to have DVBViewer open on your desktop), launch a HD recording within SageTV and see what's happen in DVBViewer and especially if the recording starts : where DVBViewer is saving this file and what is its filename?

Regards,
Stéphane.

[burtonpark]

Need help with new install of DBVViewer Recorder. I am unable to get it to record encrypted channels. In Sagetv encrypted channels tune and start working for 15 seconds but then pic freezes.

Here's the story:-

DVBViewer Pro 4.2.1, one NOVAHDS2 Card, ACAMD Plugin.
DVBVeiwer works reliably using valid subscription card and CAM and I can quickly tune to all the encrypted channels perfectly, they all display fine in DVBVewer and can be recorded by DVBViewer. Runs on my WHS Server

SageTV 7.11 on WHS, with HD200 Client ( I get same results on placeshifter), DVB Viewer Recorder Installed, two more NOVAHDS2 Cards (direct Freesat). Added a new lineup "XTRA" for additional encrypted channels via DVBViewer, and added these to guide .

Sequence
1 Re-Start DVBViewer Recorder on WHS (standalone recorder, AV enabled)
-DVBViewer launches, black - no picture
2 Tune into non encrypted channel on XTRA line up using HD200
---short tuning pause <5 secs
---Picture and sound appear on TV (I can rewind live TV)
---Picture on DVBViewer on WHS - black no picture
3 Try tuning an encrypted channel from SageTV EPG
--- long pause then ...
...sometimes nothing
....sometimes channel does tunes in , but then picture freezes after 15 secs or so
...On the server the CAM log still appears to be ticking over
...DBVViewer was tuned in and displaying pic, but goes black after 15secs ( I think my SageTV pic freezes when the graph is closed)

It looks like I need the DBVViewer video/graph enabled to see the picture of encryted channel in Sage TV, but this is shut down after 15secs (looks like the graph is closed by recorder) and that seems to upset the de-encrytion. Also not sure, but I think simultaneous rendering of picture on Server and on SageTV seems to affect Sage ability to timeshift/play the file.

Am I missing something ?, Is it possible to setup DBVViewer Recorder and also use plug in for DBVViewer decription ?

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by burtonpark

Need help with new install of DBVViewer Recorder. I am unable to get it to record encrypted channels. In Sagetv encrypted channels tune and start working for 15 seconds but then pic freezes.It looks like I need the DBVViewer video/graph enabled to see the picture of encryted channel in Sage TV

Yes, you're right in DVBViewer SoftCAM plug-ins need the playback graph to decrypt otherwise it won't work. So you need to enable A/V in your recorders (you can enable A/V for all your recorders by unchecking the "disable audio / video in DVBViewer" or check "A/V Enable" for the recorder that requires it.

but this is shut down after 15secs (looks like the graph is closed by recorder) and that seems to upset the de-encrytion.

This was the case with older version of the recorder, the playback graph was stopped approx. 15 sec. after the recording starts. This is not the case anymore with newer versions: the playback graph is stopped 25 sec. after the recording stops.

Also not sure, but I think simultaneous rendering of picture on Server and on SageTV seems to affect Sage ability to timeshift/play the file.

I don't think so for SD, for HD it depends on your PC : as DVBViewer will also decode the file it will take a lot CPU (because it will not be able to use DXVA)

Another thing you can try is to use the DVBViewer Recorder Service, with the DVBViewer Recorder Service some plug-ins doesn't need the playback grap (it may or may not work)

I'm also currently creating another recorder that doesn't need DVBViewer and you should be able to use MDAPI plug-ins with it (by using Agrawal's MDAPIFilter - the one used by Mediaportal and GBPVR). Though you'll have to wait for 1.0R3 (I'll upload it later tonight, because there is currently an issue with MDAPIFilter I need to resolve)

Regards,
Stéphane.

[burtonpark]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

you can enable A/V for all your recorders by unchecking the "disable audio / video in DVBViewer" or check "A/V Enable" for the recorder that requires it.

I had done that but I usually don't see any video in the DBVViewer window, unless I select a channel in DBVViewer, I was expecting the WHS video to "follow" my tuning selection in SageTV, but it doesn't do that. Sounds like it should? How can I debug?

Originally Posted by StephaneM

This was the case with older version of the recorder, the playback graph was stopped approx. 15 sec. after the recording starts. This is not the case anymore with newer versions: the playback graph is stopped 25 sec. after the recording stops.

Not seeing that think the 15 seconds must be the restart time I have set in the DBVViewer recorder

Originally Posted by StephaneM

I don't think so for SD, for HD it depends on your PC

Only trying SD at present

Originally Posted by StephaneM

Another thing you can try is to use the DVBViewer Recorder Service, with the DVBViewer Recorder Service some plug-ins doesn't need the playback grap (it may or may not work)

I'll have a look, and also will try to get your own recorder working, when you upload new version

Thanks for your help on this

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by burtonpark

I had done that but I usually don't see any video in the DBVViewer window, unless I select a channel in DBVViewer, I was expecting the WHS video to "follow" my tuning selection in SageTV, but it doesn't do that. Sounds like it should? How can I debug?

You should see the video in DVBViewer as soon as you start the recording

Not seeing that think the 15 seconds must be the restart time I have set in the DBVViewer recorder

Yes, you're right, I was confused. When the restart delay expires, DVBViewer recorder stop the playback graph. So you have to use a very long restart delay (but by doing so, DVBViewer recorder will not extract subtitles / create edl file)

So, I guess the best way to handle this issue is to use the DVBViewer recorder service.

When you use DVBViewer recorder service, the recordings are made in the service, DVBViewer then is only a gateway between DVBViewer Recorder and the DVBViewer recorder service. And the DVBViewer plug-ins will work without a video playback graph (there is no playback graph in the recorder service).

Regards,
Stéphane.

[burtonpark]

Thanks to your help. I am making progress and appear to be able to view the encrypted channels now - though the tuning is slowish (10 secs) - & still some work to do

Can you clarify :

In your program "DvbViewer Recorder Monitor" there is a checkbox "Use recorder service" - Since your own product (DbvViewerRecorder) can be run as a service, and the names are SO..ooooo similar to the hosting program does that mean tick that to use the DBVViewer Recorder Service (i.e not your service), Or does it mean use your service, which will the interact with DBVViewer Client and /or Recording Service!

Bottom line - In the case of using the "service" options in both products is there any reason/need to launch the DBVViewer Pro client itself?.

Also do I need to enable streaming in the recording service (think not)?

Second Question.
Really a SageTV one, but related: I have two 2gb recording disks, my disks are out of the D: WHS pool (which I think is a good idea, only move archived TV to the pool with SJQ), and were previously load balanced across F: & J:. That switching seemed to confuse DVBViewer recording dirs?, so I have sage setup to use the disk with least space, so its all going to J: and DvbViere is set to J:. Is there a way to set the disks that tuners can record to so I can have one disk for lineup1 and another for lineup2

I will also try your own new network encoder product when you confirm plugins might be working.

Also need to get more than one tuner, set up guide and quicken tuner if I'm to impress edit satisfy the wife.

Thanks again for your excellent products and support

Bob

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by burtonpark

Thanks to your help. I am making progress and appear to be able to view the encrypted channels now - though the tuning is slowish (10 secs) - & still some work to do

10 sec. is somehow Ok with encrypted channels.

In your program "DvbViewer Recorder Monitor" there is a checkbox "Use recorder service" - Since your own product (DbvViewerRecorder) can be run as a service, and the names are SO..ooooo similar to the hosting program does that mean tick that to use the DBVViewer Recorder Service (i.e not your service), Or does it mean use your service

It means: use the LM DVBViewer Recorder Service.

Bottom line - In the case of using the "service" options in both products is there any reason/need to launch the DBVViewer Pro client itself?

In all cases: you don't need to launch DVBViewer Pro client, the Recorder will launch it for you (wether using the Standalone Recorder or the Recorder Service, and wether you use DVBViewer alone or with the Recording Service)

Also do I need to enable streaming in the recording service (think not)?

No.

Really a SageTV one, but related: I have two 2gb recording disks, my disks are out of the D: WHS pool (which I think is a good idea, only move archived TV to the pool with SJQ), and were previously load balanced across F: & J:. That switching seemed to confuse DVBViewer recording dirs?, so I have sage setup to use the disk with least space, so its all going to J: and DvbViere is set to J:. Is there a way to set the disks that tuners can record to so I can have one disk for lineup1 and another for lineup2

It should be possible, but it doesn't seems to work well (for a unknow reason, DVBViewer related). DVBViewer Recorder set the recording directory in DVBViewer, but DVBViewer seems (with some versions / os) to only record in the first directory found the DVBViewer options.

I will also try your own new network encoder product when you confirm plugins might be working.

MDAPI plug-ins should work now with version 1.0r3 (though as I can't test them I don't know how it behaves when you do multiple recordings... it may need a modification in the MDAPIFilter.ax but this is not my own code...)

Regards,
Stéphane.

[burtonpark]

Thanks Again for quick response

One more thing while working with nDVBPro I noticed it has an 7 day EPG over Sat, have you any view on whether this is more upto date or better data source for XMLTV importer than Digiguide?

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by burtonpark

One more thing while working with nDVBPro I noticed it has an 7 day EPG over Sat, have you any view on whether this is more upto date or better data source for XMLTV importer than Digiguide?

I really don't know (my best guess would be that Digiguide is more reliable as it is a non free service)

[owilsky]

Quick question regarding Placeshifter:
Does anyone successfully use Placeshifter to play videos that have been recorder by DVBViewer Recorder? I use .TS files which containt MPEG2.
They play fine in Placeshifter 6.6.1.217, but I cannot move forward or back in the timeline, also no comskipping. Video playback simply starts from the beginning again, everytime I skip 1 minute it maybe skips few seconds only.

Any hints?

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by owilsky

I use .TS files which containt MPEG2.
They play fine in Placeshifter 6.6.1.217, but I cannot move forward or back in the timeline, also no comskipping.

You should submit a bug report for this. As this is a SageTV issue.

The TS files produced by DVBViewer are nothing unusual. Have you checked the "Adjust PAT/PMT" in DVBViewer? If you don't do this the TS file will contains the definition of all channels included in the transponder and it is a No Go with SageTV.

Otherwise, there is nothing you can do to improve it. For me SageTV doesn't handle very well the PTS (Presentation Time Stamp) in a TS file.

Each stream in a transport stream carries a PTS within its packets. This way you know at what time to present the packet content : video / audio / subtitles, so that they are all in sync.

The PTS are very long numbers and they are expressed (I simplify) like a clock, but not as a 24 hour clock. For having a reference a stream carries a PCR, which is the reference clock; usually this clock is tied to the video stream. The PCR is needed to tell what is the current time of the stream, because some TS packets are sent out of order. So you can receive a packet to be displayed at 21h30, before a packet to be displayed at 21h29.

Add to that that the PCR can be reset at any time to 0, and that some packets can carry erroneous PTS/PCR values (discontinuities or bad transmission). You can see it is difficult to "jump" into the stream at a specific time (because time is not monotonous in the TS file)

Basically you do this: you get the PCR time of a few packets at the begining of the file, you get PCR time of a few packets at the end of the file. You substract the two values (if and only if the clock was not reset in the middle of the file!) and you get the duration of the recording.

With that duration, you can estimate the bits rate of the recording, so that you can compute how much bytes to jump into the stream for skipping into the file a certain amount of seconds/minutes. But once you make the jump, you have to adjust your position into the stream to finally get a PCR time that is the one you expected in the begining (because the majority of the channels are using variable bits rate)

If either one of your calculation is wrong : you'll probalby not be able to jump into the file...

I think something is not right with the way SageTV is doing is calculation because I always see this:

* If I import a TS file on a SageTV installation that is not the one that recorded the file => the file duration is insane (100 hours...). I always verified myself that there was nothing wrong with the file, so SageTV should have computed the duration without issues

* Sometimes SageTV just stop playing back a recording in the middle and would not skip beyond the point it stopped. It's often because : there was a disconitinuity with a bogus PCR/PTS in the file, or because the PCR clock was reset.

I don't use Placeshifter for recorded TV, only Live TV, so I have not tested if things are worse in Placeshifter that in SageTV client. But it should have the same issues...

Regards,
Stéphane.

[owilsky]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

You should submit a bug report for this. As this is a SageTV issue.

I will do so, but I will wait until V7 is out of beta and retest it then.

Originally Posted by StephaneM

The TS files produced by DVBViewer are nothing unusual. Have you checked the "Adjust PAT/PMT" in DVBViewer?

Yes, this option is checked.

Originally Posted by StephaneM

I don't use Placeshifter for recorded TV, only Live TV, so I have not tested if things are worse in Placeshifter that in SageTV client. But it should have the same issues...

Placeshifter does no transcoding per default when streaming in LAN. I changed the settings to do transcoding even in LAN and then it works fine.

Thanks,
Oliver

[burtonpark]

I am using DVBViewer Recorder, and it works for programs with stereo channels OK, but for programs which are recorded with an AC3 5.1 sound track(usually movies, with an AC3 5.1 as track 1 and , Stereo 1 and Stereo 2 track), the HD200 does not play the 5.1 audio on my TV. Strangely I can play without problem an AC3 5.1 track from a DVD rip on the TV fine. I am using PCM setting, but have tried bitstream too with no change. The TV is new and so only has HDMI inputs (no optical). I can get the sound in strereo buy selecting one of the stereo tracks using remote but it is a real pain.

Any idea why the HD200 is having difficulties with this stream, when it copes OK with a DVD stream ?