[mythtv-users] Has MythTV bricked my HD-PVR?

[Greg Oliver]

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 7:16 AM, Larry K <lunchtimelarry at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, Mar 4, 2012 at 10:45 PM, Derek & Cindi Cass
> <cass at casscoenterprises.com> wrote:
>>
>> >On Sun, Mar 4, 2012 at 4:06 PM, Larry K <lunchtimelarry [at] gmail>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >> On Sun, Mar 4, 2012 at 12:21 PM, Christian Szpilfogel <chriszpml [at]
>> >> gmail
>>
>> >> > wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> On 03/03/2012 10:07 PM, Larry K wrote:
>> >>> > I think the problem has to be either the O/S (driver) or the
>> >>> > hardware
>> >>> > itself. At this point I am not sure how to determine which. Should
>> >>> > I try hooking the PVR up to my windows machine and capture from
>> >>> > there?
>> >>> > Maybe that would tell me if my Linux system is the culprit, or the
>> >>> > hardware.
>> >>> >
>> >>> > Talk about frustrating....
>> >>> I hear you. I've had issues like this in the past yet have somehow got
>> >>> through them.
>> >>>
>> >>> You may have already tries this but I did have to replace my power
>> >>> supplies on my HD-PVRs. When the power supplies were failing it would
>> >>> cause these types of issues. Double check but I think the power supply
>> >>> is 5V 2A. IIRC I swapped one out with a 5V 2.5A and the other with a
>> >>> 5V
>> >>> 2A both of which I happened to have lying around.
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >> I found a 5V2A wall wart laying around, but it had the wrong size pin.
>> >> I
>> >> cut and spliced from the Hauppauge power supply, and I am testing it
>> >> now.
>> >> So far, so good. This might just be the problem!
>> >> Many thanks for the suggestion! I'll probably order another power
>> >> supply
>> >> that isn't cut/spliced, or ask Hauppauge if they would like to comp me
>> >> one.
>> >>
>> >
>> >Well, I spoke too soon, it seems. With the makeshift power supply, I was
>> >able to get 30 minutes into a show before the Poll Error occurred. I've
>> >tried multiple recordings, and it seems to be consistently better than it
>> >was, but it still fails. Where it used to be 3-5 minutes before failure,
>> >it now seems to be closer to 30 minutes. Very disheartening. I thought
>> >this was the answer to my problems...
>> >
>> >I should also point out that I checked my STB, and it is set to send
>> > 720P,
>> >with 4:3 override disabled.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >>> I've also seen the hd-pvr respond badly when they get hot.
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >> Yes, heard that too. Mine is near the exhaust fans in my home theater
>> >> cabinet, so I hop it stays cool enough.
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>
>> It sounds to me like you might have had 2 issues.  One was the wall wart,
>> and now you have a heat issue.  Can you get the HDPVR out of your HT cabinet
>> and see if that helps?
>
>
> For the last week, the cabinet doors have been open, providing what I think
> is more than adequate ventilation.  It doesn't seem to be getting all that
> warm....
>

I know you said you replaced the USB cable, but initially with my
HDPVRs, I ran into the same problem while trying to be greedy with a
cable just a tad longer than USB spec.   Once I moved the hdpvr closer
to the computer and got longer component cables versus longer USB, the
issue went away.