[mythtv-users] HD-PVR: Encoding Errors Running 0.22

[M.A.E.M. Hanson]

Alan, Jeremy, John, et al:

I just wanted to say I've been having the same issues with my HD-PVR.

MythTV Version   : 22906M
MythTV Branch    : branches/release-0-22-fixes
Network Protocol : 50
Library API      : 0.22.20091023-1
QT Version       : 4.5.2
Options compiled in:
 linux release using_oss using_alsa using_backend using_directfb using_dvb using_firewire using_frontend using_hdhomerun using_hdpvr using_iptv using_ivtv using_joystick_menu using_lirc using_mheg using_opengl_video using_opengl_vsync using_qtwebkit using_v4l using_x11 using_xrandr using_xv using_xvmc using_xvmc_vld using_xvmcw using_bindings_perl using_bindings_python using_opengl using_ffmpeg_threads using_libavc_5_3 using_live using_mheg

System specs:  http://tinyurl.com/yz6js8c
The HD-PVR is on the backend. (As you may have guessed)

$ uname -a
Linux mythbox-mbe 2.6.28-LinHES #1 SMP PREEMPT Sun Nov 1 06:47:02 UTC 2009 i686 Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU X3210 @ 2.13GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux

STB: Verizon FiOS QIP6200-2 locked to 1080i output (unfortunately the box won't "float" so I had to pick.  I have not tried 720p STB output)

I'm using SPDIF audio out of my QIP6200-2 to the HD-PVR with the 1.5.6 firmware.

$ dmesg | grep 0x12
hdpvr 1-2:1.0: untested firmware version 0x12, the driver might not work
hdpvr 1-2:1.0: untested firmware version 0x12, the driver might not work

I see errors like this in the backend logs:

2009-11-30 19:17:15.660 DevRdB(/dev/hdpvr0) Error: Poll giving up
2009-11-30 19:17:15.669 MPEGRec(/dev/hdpvr0) Error: Device error detected
2009-11-30 19:17:15.671 DevRdB(/dev/hdpvr0): Stop(): Not running.
2009-11-30 19:17:19.415 RingBuf(/myth/md1/tv/2570_20091130191712.mpg): Invalid file (fd -1) when opening '/myth/md1/tv/2570_20091130191712.mpg'.
2009-11-30 19:17:19.465 RingBuf(/myth/md1/tv/2570_20091130191712.mpg) Error: Invalid file descriptor in 'safe_read()'
2009-11-30 19:17:19.665 RingBuf(/myth/md1/tv/2570_20091130191712.mpg) Error: Invalid file descriptor in 'safe_read()'
2009-11-30 19:17:19.866 RingBuf(/myth/md1/tv/2570_20091130191712.mpg) Error: Invalid file descriptor in 'safe_read()'
2009-11-30 19:17:19.884 DevRdB(/dev/hdpvr0) Error: Poll giving up
2009-11-30 19:17:19.888 MPEGRec(/dev/hdpvr0) Error: Device error detected
2009-11-30 19:17:19.891 DevRdB(/dev/hdpvr0): Stop(): Not running.
2009-11-30 19:17:20.066 RingBuf(/myth/md1/tv/2570_20091130191712.mpg) Error: Invalid file descriptor in 'safe_read()'

$ ls -l /dev/hdpvr0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 2009-11-30 21:11 /dev/hdpvr0 -> v4l/video1

Sometimes the HD-PVR just dies and I have to power cycle the unit.  The logs look like this when that happens:

2009-11-30 19:36:42.239 TVRec(9): Changing from None to Watching WatchingLiveTV
2009-11-30 19:36:42.244 TVRec(9): HW Tuner: 9->9
2009-11-30 19:36:42.245 Channel(/dev/hdpvr0)::Open(): Can't open video device, error "No such file or directory"
2009-11-30 19:36:42.252 Channel(/dev/hdpvr0) Error: SetInputAndFormat(9, NTSC)
                        while setting input (v4l v2)
                        eno: Bad file descriptor (9)
2009-11-30 19:36:42.252 Channel(/dev/hdpvr0) Error: SetInputAndFormat(9, NTSC)
                        while setting format (v4l v2)
                        eno: Bad file descriptor (9)
2009-11-30 19:36:42.256 Channel(/dev/hdpvr0) Error: SetInputAndFormat(9, ATSC)
                        while setting input (v4l v2)
                        eno: Bad file descriptor (9)
2009-11-30 19:36:42.260 Channel(/dev/hdpvr0) Error: SetInputAndFormat(9, ATSC)
                        while setting format (v4l v2)
                        eno: Bad file descriptor (9)
2009-11-30 19:36:42.263 Channel(/dev/hdpvr0): SetInputAndFormat() failed
2009-11-30 19:36:42.270 TVRec(9) Error: Failed to set channel to 570. Reverting to kState_None
2009-11-30 19:36:42.276 TVRec(9): Changing from Watching WatchingLiveTV to None

I'm going to give the 1.5.6.1 firmware a try since it specifically mentions FiOS in the release notes.  In the meantime I wanted you to know that you're not alone. :)