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

[Chris Porter]

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
>>> damaged recordings. This pixelation is also present in other frontends that
>>> I have used as well as playing them in VLC.
>>>
>>> Screenshot of pixelation:
>>> http://s18.postimg.org/uq2tslkzt/Capture_zpsfb6e2c2a.jpg
>>>
>>> Troubleshooting & Attempts at Resolution Thus Far
>>>  Ran packet loss tests--no packet loss
>>>  Signal showing 70-100% depending on channel--added Motorola 2 Port
>>> Signal Booster
>>>  Signal now showing 100% signal and 100% quality on channels that have
>>> shown pixelation--issue still occurs
>>>
>>> My Setup
>>>
>>> Backend Hardware
>>>  Intel i5 3570k
>>>  16GB RAM
>>>  Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H
>>>  Seagate 3TB x 3 (recordings volume)
>>>  Seagate 350GB (OS volume)
>>>
>>> Backend Software
>>>  VMware ESXi 5.1 (Free version)
>>>  Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
>>>  MythTV .26
>>>  4 vCPU cores
>>>  12 GB of vRAM
>>>
>>> Frontend Software
>>>  Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
>>>  MythTV .26
>>>  (Have both physical machines and VMs with this setup--pixelation occurs
>>> identically in the affected recordings as well as through VLC)
>>>
>>> Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> mythtv-users mailing list
>>> mythtv-users at mythtv.org
>>> http://www.mythtv.org/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>>>
>>>
>> do you have a splitter any where in the chain to the HDHR Prime?
>>
>> --
>> Working on World Domination since 2001
>>
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>>
>>
>
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>
If you have access to where your outside splitter is I would look at the
outputs to see what the dB drop is. It should be listed on the splitter. If
not you will have to look up the splitter model on line. Essentially you
would need to add up all the dB drops for all the splitters in the chain to
your HDHR prime. This chain is most likely the cause of poor quality.

what I had to do for my house is get a distribution amplifier which
provided enough boost to overcome the all my splitters. I then placed this
amp outside in place of the cable company splitter. In your case, I would
have the distribution amp in place of "Comcast supplied splitter #1."  The
goal is to boost the supplied signal before it reaches any of the internal
house splitters.

-- 
Working on World Domination since 2001
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