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

Tue Aug 27 21:30:40 UTC 2013

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
>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> 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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>
>
I have not looked at the splitter on the outside of my house very closely,
but I did look at the one inside the house (Comcast #2) and it shows
-3.5db.  The Monster Cable one I *was* using showed around -7.5db (it is a
4 way splitter).  I would assume that the outside splitter probably loses
3.5db as well.

I don't know how to see the dBmV and dB values for Signal Quality and
Symbol Quality--I only see percentages.  Both show 100% on both Windows and
Mythbuntu.  Signal strength is between 91-95% (without the Moto booster, it
was at 100% with).
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