[mythtv-users] Analog firewire recordings end early due to 25% fewer frames

[Yeechang Lee]

Sam Logen <starz909 at yahoo.com> says:
> If there are problems with the SD channels, it's possible it's a
> corruption somewhere along the line in the mpeg stream, probably due
> to comcast's poorly implemented firmware.

Astound, actually, not Comcast.

I agree about the poorly-implemented firmware, though. Some more data:

* Just heard from another mailing-list subscriber who also has Astound
  who arranged to record the same program via FireWire as me as a
  test. His recording plays back with the correct 29.97 frame rate.

* My recording stopped midway (without mythbackend noticing, as
  usual), as I half expected. I recently connected the cable box used
  to my flat panel via component, and so switched to that input. Lo
  and behold, the panel showed a still frame of the moment where the
  FireWire connection died! I then used 6200ch to switch channels on
  the box. Switching to the channel the box was already on didn't do
  anything other than put the box's own OSD up, but switching to
  another channel revived the video output and, more interestingly,
  the recording resumed!

Based on this I assume that the issue is almost certainly defective
firmware that is on my two boxes (and the boxes they replaced), but
not on the other list member's box. Another, less likely, possibility
is some peculiarity with the way Linux interacts with two
daisy-chained FireWire cable boxes; I'll next try disconnecting one of
the boxes and see what happens.

-- 
Frontend/backend:	P4 3.0GHz, 1.5TB software RAID 5 array
Backend:		Quad-core Xeon 1.6GHz, 6.6TB sw RAID 6
Video inputs:		Four high-definition over FireWire/OTA
Accessories:		47" 1080p LCD, 5.1 digital, and MX-600