[mythtv-users] HD upgrade: new problems with playback

[Willy Boyd]

On 2/17/07, Chad <masterclc at gmail.com> wrote:
> That's pretty much what I am running, and I have also built several
> identical boxes.  The variable here is that the onboard SPDIF is used
> and not an addon card.  I have no problem playing back HDTV recordings
> (mpeg2) in both 720p and 1080i, and mpeg4 recordings up to 720p.  I
> haven't tried 1080p yet on mpeg4 for 2 reasons:
> 1.  I wasn't aware of the source video for it (thanks!); and 2.  I
> don't have a 1080p set to utilize 1080p on.  I'll test it (on a
> non-1080p set) and get back to you.
>
> But in general, this setup should be working just fine for HD, and
> definitely for SD, with no prebuffering pauses or buffer overflow
> messages.  My guess is that once you get the bracket and remove the
> USB audio, those messages might be reduced.
>
> Good luck!

FWIW, I've found some sort of "solution" for both of my problems.  But
likely not something that will be helpful for most others.

First, I did try removing the USB Audio and re-enabling the onboard
sound (just as a test, no sound actually connected since I don't have
the bracket).  This didn't make a difference.

Then on a hunch I went back and checked my configure params.  I
noticed that MMX wasn't enabled when I used cpu=i686, and so I took
this out and just let configure detect the right architecture (which
came out to like athlon-k8 or something like that).  I left in
enable-proc-opts, which was there before.  I also disabled XvMC in my
configure since I didn't plan on using it if I could get by without.
Doing these things and using Extra Audio Buffering now allows me to
watch LiveTV or pre-recorded mpeg2, with no hangs but still with
prebuffering pause messages.  I just don't watch the logs anymore :)
I figure as long as it's not stuttering again (or worse, crashing),
I'll live with the warnings since I have no clue where they come from.

Another strange thing, which I don't think is directly related, but
who knows:  I discovered I had a bad network switch.  During trying to
copy over a 1080i HD mpeg2 TS for testing, I noticed the lan speed in
one direction was around 20kbps or less.  In the other direction 1.5M,
but still low for a 100Mbit network.  I took out the switch and scp
started averaging 5.5M again.  It may be a placebo but it sure seems
like this affected the smooth playback as well.

However, I still don't know why the Elephant's Dream clips will not
play, but I will for now chalk that up to mpeg4 decoding issues with
the internal player.  I have switched to VLC for now anyway.  Plays a
few more formats, including h.264 HD trailers from apple.com and WMV9.

- Willy

>
> -Chad
>
> --
> Prebuilt HDTV capable systems at reasonable prices:
> http://www.pauselivetv.com
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