[mythtv-users] HD-PVR issues - is there a solution?

[Christian Szpilfogel]

On 02/03/2011 6:44 PM, Derek & Cindi Cass wrote:
>> One thing you pointed out that got me to thinking, is USB hubs..I don't
>> thing it would be a good idea to run a HD-PVR through a hub... If
>> anyone
>> had a need need for a hub,I would suggest moving other devices to the
>> hub and run the HD-PVR on a dedicated port...
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> I know for sure from my personal experience that the hd-pvr should be on
> it's own 2.0 USB bus.  I have in the past had it sharing a bus with either a
> usb keyboard or a IguanaIR transceiver, and if it shared with either one (or
> both), then all kinds of issues cropped up.  I would regularly get 0 byte
> files, and I would have issues even running cat /dev/video0>  test.mpg.  By
> rearranging the ports that each device was using, I was able to get the
> hdpvr to be on its' own bus:
>
> ...
> Now that I have the hd-pvr isolated, 0 byte files became rare.  After adding
> a 5 second delay to my channel change script, I haven't had a 0 byte file
> since.
>
> I only have 1 hdpvr, so I can't say if 2 hdpvrs would work on a usb 2.0 bus
> if they were the only devices on that bus.  I have the D1 revision running
> firmware 0x15, which I believe is the latest.
>
> I am using a Scientific Atlanta 3250HD as well.
>
I agree.

My number one theory is I/O contention that affects the USB bus by 
whatever means. I have two HD-PVRs which actually share a bus. At one 
point I had a Sil3132 eSATA port multiplier card which seemed to create 
some I/O conflict that affected the USB bus. This certainly exacerbated 
the 0 byte issue. Once I moved the sil3132 to another slot things 
dramatically improved.

I do still get the occasional 0 byte issue and accompanying HD-PVR lock 
up but this occurs maybe once per month now. I suspect I still have some 
sort of an I/O conflict. This thread has given me some good ideas to try 
and see if it resolves this issue but with the frequency so low I may 
not report back for about 2 months!

For the record, I have one HD-PVR on an SA4250 and the other on an 
SA3250. Both HD-PVRs are susceptible to locking up.