[mythtv-users] 024/fixes: Live-TV random freezes, sound related

[Alec Leamas]

Dear list ;)

I have a setup with a BE, a local FE and a remote FE. The local FE works 
fine, including audio. Fedora 14 on all boxes, the BE is x86_64, all FE 
are i686.

The remote FE also works fine when showing videos, including recorded TV 
shows. However, live-TV freezes very often for some seconds, often 
enough to make it unusable. How often seems to be related to the audio 
settings, and possibly the ringbuffer size(?).

Audio: PulseAudio(default): freezes roughly every 10-20 seconds, while 
showing ' Waited 100ms for video buffers' messages on console. Good 
sound in mythmusic.

Using ALSA(default) or the corresponding device: Same freezes, distorted 
sound in mythmusic

Using device NULL: Total freeze, nothing moves(!), continous "Waited 100 
ms" messages on console.

Using an illegal device (non-existing ALSA card): No freezes, nice 
picture but obviously no sound.

I have tested different versions (0.23.1, 0.24, 0.24/fixes) in FE and 
BE. In some configuration it was possible to change the FE ringbuffer 
size. When I increased it, everything worked fine. Sadly, I have not 
been able to recreate this configuration. Recent 0.24 doesn't seem to 
have this, despite the wiki docs(?)

All this is propaply related to the limited bandwidth BE <-> FE which is 
about 10 mbps. This is over public internet, so it's likely to be 
variable over time. Still, it seems to be enough for everything else, 
and it *has* worked w the increased ringbuffer which I can't recreate.

Here are of course many questions. For me, the important ones are
     - Is it possible to run live-TV over ~10 mpbs, with bursts?
     - If so, how?
     - Is there a way to increase the ringbuffer size in recent 0.24?

Any hints out there?