[mythtv-users] Pixelation/Bad Recordings HDHR Prime -- I am at my wits end

[Mike Carron]

From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org
[mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Stephen P. Villano
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2013 5:41 PM
To: mythtv-users at mythtv.org
Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Pixelation/Bad Recordings HDHR Prime -- I am at
my wits end

 

A gain of 10.2-11 at the end of the run is a gain of 10.2-11 of both noise
and signal, where the noise is much, much higher. That is why it's been
strongly suggested that you put the booster at the entry, where the signal
is at its strongest and the noise at its minimum.
Placing the amplifier at the lossy end is one of the most common errors in
cable runs.

On 8/27/13 8:13 PM, Captain Hook wrote:

That strength is without the booster. Here is more info on the booster if
you're interested. Looks like the gain is 10.2-11 dB.
http://www.motorolasolutions.com/web/Business/Products/Cable%20Broadband/RF%
20Amplifiers/BDA100/_Documents/staticfile/BDA_Catalog_Specifications.pdf 

 

I will definitely take your advice. My plan is to move the HDHR around and
see what the readings are in different areas. 

 

Thanks. 

On Tuesday, August 27, 2013, Chris Porter wrote:

On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 2:56 PM, Captain Hook <captainhookzero at gmail.com>
wrote:

 

On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 5:51 PM, Chris Porter <hoodlum7 at gmail.com> wrote:

On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 2:30 PM, Captain Hook <captainhookzero at gmail.com>
wrote:

 

On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 5:22 PM, Chris Porter <hoodlum7 at gmail.com> wrote:

On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 2:15 PM, Captain Hook <captainhookzero at gmail.com>
wrote:

I am not sure how much bandwidth the packet loss test attempted to push.
This issue occurs when there is only a single recording happening, if that
makes any difference.

 

Here is a link to a diagram of my network.  Yes, my TrendNET 8 port gigabit
switch is just an unmanaged switch.  I have a Sonicwall firewall and a
separate Meraki access point (also both connected to the switch).  My
frontend has another switch connected (also a TrendNET), but that is
upstairs.  For what it's worth, my brand new frontend does act laggy at
times with fast forward and loading the recordings screen but this is fairly
rare.

 

http://s21.postimg.org/iuqsauaif/Coax_Wiring_Home.jpg

 

The splitter just prior to my HDHR Prime has alternated between Monster
Cable splitter, Motorola 2 port signal booster, and a splitter I obtained
from Comcast years ago.  All three exhibit this issue.

 

On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 5:09 PM, Chris Porter <hoodlum7 at gmail.com> wrote:

On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 1:57 PM, Captain Hook <captainhookzero at gmail.com>
wrote:

Background
 I have been having intermittent issues with recording quality with my
HDHomeRun Prime with Comcast cablecard since the inception of this project.
I am really remembering why I gave this HTPC nonsense up years ago, but I'm
already significantly invested in this at this point and I am determined to
see it through.
 
Issues
 Intermittent issues with recordings on MythTV. Some recordings will be
perfect, others will have pixelation periodically, others will have heavy
pixelation, yet others will be so bad that the recordings stop during
playback. The same channel will not behave the same twice--sometimes things
are fine, other times they are terrible. This seems to happen on any channel
and do not occur at any particular time of the day or during any other
operations or recordings on my network.
 
During playback the pixelation occurs at exactly the same points on dam

Hmmm, is the signal strength value -4.6dBmv with the booster or without? I
strongly suggest your take my advice about placement of the amp. I am
curious as to the dB signal output of the amp is it 12dB?



-- 
Working on World Domination since 2001


**
When I was setting my system up I asked a friend who was on the cable
company tech staff for some tips to make the system reliable. He advised
that in any system where the cable is feeding more than one device I should
terminate the cable in an unboosted 2 for 1 splitter, which the cable
company supplied. One of the outputs from that splitter should go directly
to the cable modem and nowhere else. The other output should go to a second
splitter that has enough outputs to handle everything else. Any
amplification should be on the 2nd output of the first splitter and be
physically close to it. In my case the amplifier wasn't necessary because
the final splitter only feeds two HDHR Primes which handle all of the TV
needs for the house over the network. If/when I add a third HDHR Prime I'll
look at either a boosted splitter or an inline amplifier. Fortunately all of
my RG6 runs except the cable modem are 36" or less in length so I may not
need the amp.

 

mike

 

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