HD-PVR 1.0.3.53 Beta AC-3 5.1 Audio Drivers are out

[briands]

Originally Posted by Shield

Boy, I'm so glad I ditched my HD-PVRs. I've been happily watching HD DTV DVR boxes with multiple tuners, DD 5.1 audio, smooth fast forward/rewind, and no delay changing channels. You have much more patience that I do...

If you are content with your solution then why are you here? What are you missing with your solution?

[JetreL]

Obviously, this hobby is not for everybody. I am glad (s)he found a solution. I personally love my HD-PVR solution and the WAF doesn’t mind it either. Not to mentions I get to store unlimited amounts of archived movies. (I just need to keep expanding the disk space.)

[spacecadet]

I upgraded to the new drivers with no problem. Thanks to everyone who tried it before me for their great tips.

I'm getting 5.1DD sound, however the quality of the audio is very poor. It's got a very "electronic" or "static" quality to it, almost as if it were overcompressed. I haven't noticed anyone else reporting audio quality issues like this, so I am wondering if it is something about my setup? I've checked my set top box and it doesn't appear to have any way to control how the sound is output. I have Sage TV set up to use the Component + SPDIF input. The recodings report "AC3/384Kbps@48kHz 5.1" sound in the Sage TV detailed info.

I'm keeping the newer driver and I've switched back to using the RCA audio inputs and the audio is fine over the RCA inputs.

Otherwise the new driver is working great. I switched my set top box back to output 720p and I no longer get the micro-stutters that we there in the previous driver.

I'm at a bit of a loss on the sound issue, so any thoughts would be appreciated.

Edit: Forgot to mention that I am using the HD Extender for playback.

[ghostlobster]

Unsure what the problem might be on your end, however, I had the exact same issue upon my original connection (when it was using PCM). Then, I looked at my optical cable...it was bent, kinked and basically just beat to crap. I pulled a new one out of the infamous tangled cable drawer (Mrs. Lobster HATES that drawer!) and hooked it up, nice and straight, and the sound was perfect!
Just a suggestion...

Originally Posted by spacecadet

I upgraded to the new drivers with no problem. Thanks to everyone who tried it before me for their great tips.

I'm getting 5.1DD sound, however the quality of the audio is very poor. It's got a very "electronic" or "static" quality to it, almost as if it were overcompressed. I haven't noticed anyone else reporting audio quality issues like this, so I am wondering if it is something about my setup? I've checked my set top box and it doesn't appear to have any way to control how the sound is output. I have Sage TV set up to use the Component + SPDIF input. The recodings report "AC3/384Kbps@48kHz 5.1" sound in the Sage TV detailed info.

I'm keeping the newer driver and I've switched back to using the RCA audio inputs and the audio is fine over the RCA inputs.

Otherwise the new driver is working great. I switched my set top box back to output 720p and I no longer get the micro-stutters that we there in the previous driver.

I'm at a bit of a loss on the sound issue, so any thoughts would be appreciated.

Edit: Forgot to mention that I am using the HD Extender for playback.

[spacecadet]

Originally Posted by ghostlobster

Unsure what the problem might be on your end, however, I had the exact same issue upon my original connection (when it was using PCM). Then, I looked at my optical cable...it was bent, kinked and basically just beat to crap. I pulled a new one out of the infamous tangled cable drawer (Mrs. Lobster HATES that drawer!) and hooked it up, nice and straight, and the sound was perfect!
Just a suggestion...

I thought about that (although it's a brand new cable). I'll swap it out with one I know is working and see if that makes a difference.

[spacecadet]

Originally Posted by spacecadet

I thought about that (although it's a brand new cable). I'll swap it out with one I know is working and see if that makes a difference.

Swapped out the cable for one I know is good and I am still getting the same "electronic" feedback on the audio - like an echo or the kind of noise you'd associate with a low bitrate capture.

When you install the new driver, does any firmware on the HDPVR get updated? I noticed that during the driver install, my HDPVR sort of "hung".... the third light (the yellow-orange one) came on and stayed on. I had to pull the plug on the HDPVR to get it to reset.

[spacecadet]

Originally Posted by spacecadet

Swapped out the cable for one I know is good and I am still getting the same "electronic" feedback on the audio - like an echo or the kind of noise you'd associate with a low bitrate capture.

When you install the new driver, does any firmware on the HDPVR get updated? I noticed that during the driver install, my HDPVR sort of "hung".... the third light (the yellow-orange one) came on and stayed on. I had to pull the plug on the HDPVR to get it to reset.

Also just tried connecting the STB directly to the TV/Receiver (outside the context of the HDPVR and SageTV) and the digital audio worked fine, so the STB wouldn't appear to be the issue, either.

[Crowdx42]

I updated to the new beta driver in the hopes that it might solve my channel changing issue, unfortunately there is no change, changing channel using sage still locks up sage on the second time I change channel. I can change channel once with no issue. VERY strange.
I did a clean install of Sage and the issue remained, also with no other hauppauge drivers installed on teh HD-PVR.

[Chriscic]

Originally Posted by Shield

Boy, I'm so glad I ditched my HD-PVRs. I've been happily watching HD DTV DVR boxes with multiple tuners, DD 5.1 audio, smooth fast forward/rewind, and no delay changing channels. You have much more patience that I do...

Only sticking with it because I still have the dream of PC-based non-DRM unlimited recording, all from a server and distributed to all rooms in the house via client-PCs or Sage HD100s. But my dream has taken a serious hit, and not sure how long I can go before I declare it dead.

[killervette]

Originally Posted by Chriscic

Only sticking with it because I still have the dream of PC-based non-DRM unlimited recording, all from a server and distributed to all rooms in the house via client-PCs or Sage HD100s. But my dream has taken a serious hit, and not sure how long I can go before I declare it dead.

hang in there. it is possible. i have whs running with 3 hd pvrs powering a hd100 for the client. works smoothly.

[DOS64K]

Originally Posted by gplasky

Make sure to power off the HD100. I initially had no audio until I actually powered off the HD100. (Not suspend)

Gerry

Tried that during my intial attempts at troubleshooting. It was working just fine before the upgrade and I don't understand why the neither of the extenders are working.

I'll try running hcwclear and starting over.

EDIT: Cleared out the drivers and reloaded. Still no joy. There isn't a version issue I missed somewhere along the way is there? I'm running Sage 6.4.5.

EDIT, Part Deux: It seems that the new drivers did not like my 6.4.5 Beta version of Sage. Loading 6.4.8 fixed the problem.

[thomaszoo]

I had to power down the HTPC last night for just a minute. When tried to bring it back up it wouldn't boot at all. After unplugging everything I determined it was an external drive. After plugging everything back in the HD PVR was no longer working. I have uninstalled and reinstalled all Hauppauge drivers and the best I can do is to get it to work with the analog inputs. Anytime I try to use SPDIF I lose my picture (including in TME). I didn't make any other changes and am at a total loss as to what to try next. Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Chriscic]

I gave up on the HD100 for the moment and have been playing around with my dedicated client PC. The video is playing reasonably smoothly, but all I am getting is stereo audio. Well, actually, when I first loaded up the client I was getting DD5.1 on HBO, but now (and I didn't change a thing) I can't recreate that or get anything but stereo.

I notice that in the Sage Detailed Setup, Audio/Video, under Audio Renderer, there is no option for SPDIF (there is only directsound device, Realtek, etc), as there is on another PC with Sage installed (alternate server but it ain't working well). Shouldn't I have this option? Maybe that is the problem? I can't figure out how to get SPDIF to show up as a selection. I have I think the latest Realtek XP drivers installed and I can get SPDIF and digital output with MPC playback.

Any thougts/suggestions appreciated. Are others selecting SPDIF for audio in that menu, or just using whatever the default is? Thanks.

[Chriscic]

Update: I just needed to go to TME on my client PC and select SPDIF. Then get digital audio in SageTV (although still no SPDIF selection in audio renderer... apparently you don't need it).

The "good news" is that the client PC works reasonably well, at least relative to what I have beeen getting. Much of the time the 5.1 audio works, although usually I have to pause for a second and then resume or the audio is screechy, nonexistant, video is halting, etc. And the video is not totally smooth (on a P4 3.0ghz with AGP 2600Pro video acceleration) but not bad.

Note that some channels I still get only stereo through Sage, despite the fact that the source is definitely 5.1 (I know because I switch back and forth between the Sage audio input and the cable digital input from my STB). I'd be surprised if this isn't happening to other folks... probably they don't realize it because they're not switching back to the original source to verify whether it should be 5.1 or not.

Playback through my HD100 is still a mess. I'm surprised it's working for other folks. I get sometimes no audio, sometimes only pops and screeches, and sometimes video that pauses every second or two, etc. Since the HD100 is supposed to "just work," this is doubly frustrating.

I really feel that Sage (and I know you are reading this) really should step up to the plate and help their customers figure out what is going on. I know they're not responsible for Hauppauge drivers, but many of us have spent considerable $ on Sage software and extenders, and we are their customers. Also, myself and many others stand to buy more extenders and client licenses if these things get worked out.

Finally, I'm starting to ask myself if the trade-off in quality vs. my TV-provider STB is really worth it anyway. HD100 and my client PC (TME decoder) playback is great but still noticeably softer than my STB. This is a non-issue on my two smaller bedroom PCs upstairs, a moderate issue on my 52" living room set, and a material issue on my projection screen.

Ok, on to other things. Good luck to everyone else.

-Chris

[Shield]

Originally Posted by briands

If you are content with your solution then why are you here? What are you missing with your solution?

I'm here because I did have 3 HD PVR's, and I'm just finding out if this product is fully mature yet. Sounds like it isn't...
I'm not really missing anything with my solution - Sage is working great recording all the fall shows in HD with the HD Homerun, and is an excellent media server.

I don't really need to archive ESPNHD or HGTVHD...

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by ghostlobster

Yup! I'm having blaster issues myself after installing the drivers. Everything was working fine, until I rebooted. Upon reboot, the IR Blaster from the HD-PVR is not sending anything out to the STB. Here's the process I have to go through after any bootup to get everything working properly:

1. Shut down SageTV Service
2. Close the Hauppauge IR Remote tray item
3. Turn off the HD-PVR
4. Turn on the HD-PVR
5. Launch the Hauppauge IR Restart app
6. Start the SageTV service

Then, everything works fine. It seems like a timing issue upon restart. I'm using one HD-PVR controlling one cable STB via it's built in IR blaster. i've also got 2 PVR150's installed in this box, tuning analog cable, in case that matters.

I'm having the same exact issue with the IR blaster, except I haven't been able to get it to work with any workaround. I get a "No Signal" message when I reboot the computer (or even cycle the Sage server). If I cycle the HD-PVR power, I can get video and digital audio fine, but then the IR blaster (the hauppauge blaster) does not work.

EDIT - I can change the channels using the Hauppauge Blaster Config program that came with the unit, so it is only messed up in Sage.

I also forgot to mention that I have no volume control now that I have switched to the optical output. I made sure that the HD-100 was set to optical output, but there is still no volume control via the extender.

[Chriscic]

Originally Posted by sic0048

I also forgot to mention that I have no volume control now that I have switched to the optical output. I made sure that the HD-100 was set to optical output, but there is still no volume control via the extender.

That last part is normal, I believe. If you're sending a digital bit-stream for your receiver/speakers to decode, you can only control the volume though your receiver/speakers.

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by Chriscic

That last part is normal, I believe. If you're sending a digital bit-stream for your receiver/speakers to decode, you can only control the volume though your receiver/speakers.

This is correct. You can't change the volume on a digital bit-stream. You can only change it from the device that is decoding/playing the audio.

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by Chriscic

That last part is normal, I believe. If you're sending a digital bit-stream for your receiver/speakers to decode, you can only control the volume though your receiver/speakers.

OK, thanks for the information. I'll just program my system home automation system to trigger on the extender IR volume signal and change the receiver volume instead. That is an easy fix.

As far as the Hauppauge IR blaster goes, I guess I'll need to downgrade to the original drivers until this is fixed.

Edit - I've turned in a support ticket to Sage regarding this IR blaster issue since it seems to affect multiple people. So I don't think it is something wrong with my setup. I recommend the others that are having this problem do the same thing. Again, I can get channels to change using the Hauppauge IR Config program, so the blaster does work with the new drivers. I believe the communication between Sage and the IR blaster is broken under the new drivers.

[phelme]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

This is correct. You can't change the volume on a digital bit-stream. You can only change it from the device that is decoding/playing the audio.

And FYI, mute won't work within Sage either. Had to reconfigure my Harmony remote for that.

So far, the beta driver is working for me. I had one issue that so far hasn't repeated itself and hopefully won't. When I initially installed the new driver, I didn't remove the source within Sage, but simply selected the +SPDIF option. Things worked great for a while as I tested different channels from the server itself. Then at some point while still testing, channel changing (through a DirecTV serial connection) just stopped. Wouldn't work at all, rebooted the server and everything. Panic set in.

I checked the serial port settings to see if something changed there. Nope. Turns out the channel changing option on the HD-PVR source disappeared completely and was now unset. Not sure how that happened and why it worked for a while and then broke. I removed the HD-PVR source and added it again and has been fine so far. But it's a mystery that is related to the beta driver installation.