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

[Derek & Cindi Cass]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org [mailto:mythtv-users-
> bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Greg
> Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 10:19 AM
> To: Discussion about MythTV
> Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] HD-PVR issues - is there a solution?
> 
> On 03/02/2011 10:04 AM, George Galt wrote:
> > On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 9:54 AM, Greg<greg12866 at nycap.rr.com>  wrote:
> >> On 03/01/2011 05:41 PM, Mark wrote:
> >>>> On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 2:13 PM, Mark<fairlane at springcom.com>
> wrote:
> >>>> Are people having issues with current generation HD-PVR (with a
> fan)?
> >>>> Or is this primarily an issue with older HD-PVR's?
> >>>>
> >>>> I'm curiously following this thread as I'm planning on picking up
> an
> >>>> HD-PVR in the near future.
> >>>>
> >>> One of the purposes of this thread was to collect this data,
> however, it
> >>> has not worked as intended.  Maybe there's just not that many folks
> having
> >>> issues?  I have no idea.
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> mythtv-users mailing list
> >>> mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> >>> http://www.mythtv.org/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
> >>>
> >> I used to get an occasional 0 byte recording,but what cured mine (I
> >> havent had a 0 file in 6 months) was a different STB...The old one
> was
> >> a  SA 4250HDC,the new one is a Samsung Smt-h3260...The channel
> changes
> >> are much faster than the 4250... This is Time Warner in Northern New
> York...
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> mythtv-users mailing list
> >> mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> >> http://www.mythtv.org/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
> >>
> > I had 0 length files, and issues with drops in the middle of the
> file,
> > and sync issues for a while.  It turned out it was a power supply
> > going ever-so-slowly bad.  New power supply, no more problems.
> >
> > I've only skimmed much of the thread, but I hadn't seen anyone
> > suggesting that you check your power supply and your USB
> > hubs/connections.  These could be the culprits as well as something
> to
> > do with Myth (FYI, I originally thought my issue was my upgrade to
> > 0.23, which happened shortly before these issues started cropping
> up).
> >
> > George
> > _______________________________________________
> > mythtv-users mailing list
> > mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> > http://www.mythtv.org/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
> >
> 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...
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> http://www.mythtv.org/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users

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:

[mythtv at mythbox ~]$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 004: ID 1781:0938 Multiple Vendors Iguanaworks USB IR
Transceiver
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 0471:0815 Philips (or NXP) eHome Infrared Receiver
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 2040:4900 Hauppauge
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

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.