[mythtv-users] Mythtv playback quality poll

[b.taber]

All notes on getting the epia-m operational would be welcome. I've got a
separate backend running on my workstation and trying to use an epia-m
10K as the frontend. So far it's been a nogo.

I've been trying all sorts of different combinations of setups and
kernels to make this work correctly. The main problem is that any
viewing of videos or livetv is extremely jerky and has stuttering audio.
The cpu usage is running at 95-98% when the problems are noticed. I'm
currently plodding through using a 2.6.7 redhat kernel to see if that
will help. Attempts to watch tv with this locks the system so tight that
nothing short of a reboot will get the system recovered.

I've run both the backend & frontend on one machine with limited
success. At least the TV was viewable. I figured that a separate machine
would make it work better.

Any hints or suggestions are appreciated.

Bruce

On Fri, 2004-06-18 at 03:00, Roberto Resoli wrote:
> Kevin,
> Your notes are welcome! I was planning to switch to binary drivers, are
> you
> using the new (06/09/2004) clexf40043.zip via package? 
> 
> Are you able to set a correct overscan? I'm using X at 720x576, and
> setting
> the "TVVSCAN over" option  under XF86Config my overscan exceeds tv
> screen limits.
> Strangely, hw decoding mythtv playback seems to ignore this excessive
> ovescan setting,
> filling relatively well the screen.
> 
> Answering to your questions:
> 
> 1) I'm using the regular Xine with sw decoding, it runs without a glitch
> in the epia
> 10K Nehemiah. No, i'm not using AC3->SPDIF (my tv has only
> analog audio inputs, sorry).
> 
> 2) I'm not using Viaexp, but I suppose that it uses via libddmpeg
> library (hw decoding)
>  version. I'm using the open source (Ivor's) version.
> 
> For comparing quality, i watch directly at  my regular tv broadcast ;
> then, rapidly switching
> to my tv s-video input, i can see livetv playback, slightly delayed. In
> such a way it's easy
> to note any difference. In my setup anyway livetv quality degradetion is
> evident, 
> also at 720X576 @ 4500.
> 
> 
> Kevin Barsby wrote:
> > 
> > > Hardware:
> > > My frontend is an EPIA-M 10K (hw decoding enabled), backend is a Celeron
> > > 1GHz with
> > > PVR-250 tuner-encoder. 100MB full-duplex ethernet in between. Im using the
> > > EPIA s-video tv out.
> > 
> > Hi,
> > 
> > Comparing notes here might be useful as I've got the same hardware, but
> > have gone the via binary driver route.
> > 
> > I have an EPIA M10Kn combined system. My tv-out seems fine, well not any
> > problems that I'd notice, I might have a play with tv-out quality at the
> > weekend. I'm using the kernerl 2.4.25-epia2 sources but the Via binary
> > drivers. Not sure what my capture rate is, (whatever the default
> > settings are as I've not touched a thing).
> > 
> > I've got some questions of my own as I've been considering moveing to
> > the unicrhome driver (SPDIF out from Xine being the must have feature,
> > it doesn't seem to work in Viaexp).
> > 
> > > 1) I was initially suspecting the quality of EPIA tv out, but DVD playback
> > > via xine looks good,
> > 
> > Are you using Xine with the OS plugin for the HW decoder? How well does
> > this work? Are you using AC3->SPDIF passthough for audio?
> > 
> > > 2) Is a hw decoding lacks of quality problem?
> > 
> > Like I said, I've not noticed any problems, Viaexp (Via's hacked up Xine
> > to support their binery mpeg2 driver works fine for DVD, I just can't
> > get the digital passthrough)
> > 
> > > Is someoune  achieving a mythtv playback substantially not distinguishable
> > > from standard
> > > tv broadcast with hardware similar to mine?
> > 
> > I /think/ so, I'll have to check the TV quality again as the signal I
> > get from the aerial isn't great. I'll get back to you on this.
> > 
> > Cheers
> > Kev
> > 
> >   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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