Re: AverMedia AverTVHD MCE A180 stutter

Hey JW,
All good ideas. I am running a single AthlonXP CPU 2200MHz (3000+ I think),
so its not a dual core or HT problem. I have looked into setting the DMA and
write caching for the SATA, but there is no setting for that in the Silicon
Images properties under device manager. I know this is weird, but if the ATI
works, then it shouldn't be this anyway. As for trying just the A180 by
uninstalling and carefully putting the A180 in alone after a clean restart, I
have done one better. I have done a complete reinstall of MCE on the SATA
hard drive and only put in the NVTV analog tuner and the A180. It still
stuttered/pixilated/tore/whatever (basically bad video), but worked once I
switched the recorded TV to the PATA drive (although it still had very
infrequent problems which may have been due to Windows paging file access on
the SATA drive). So I have eliminated that it is the ATI causing the
conflict. I also know it is not a bad card because it works perfectly if I
use the PATA drive for both the OS and recorded TV. It also works if I use
WatchHDTV instead of MCE (because this program doesn't buffer the video).
Anyway, thanks for the ideas and sorry I didn't write back sooner (tornado
here broke the internet for a while). I would appreciate it if you could give
any pointers about DMA and disk caching, because just looking under the
device manage settings like I did for old PATA IDE controllers doesn't seem
to be the place to make these settings for this SATA controller. I guess it
isn't too likely to be that, but one never knows. I am thinking it may be
somehow related to how the A180 drivers do something like DMA or how it
handles PCI interupts, but I am not smart enough to figure those things out
myself. Any further ideas at this point would certainly be appreciated.
Thanks!
--
Windows Media Center 2005 rollup 2, Abit NF7-S v2, GeForce 6600GT, nVidia
decoder 1.02-185, NVTV single tuner, AverTVHD MCE A180, ATI HDTV Wonder


"JW" wrote:

> Another suggestion
> You might trly uninstalling both tuners then shuting down and removing them.
> Then reboot and shutdown again and just install the Avermedia card and its
> drivers again.
> If the problem still exists any possibliity that the drivers for the two
> different manufacturers tuners are not interferring with each other in some
> way.
>
> "JW" <nospam@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:uGn0WZA6FHA.1032@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >I assume that you have confirmed that write caching and DMA access are
> >enabled for the SATA drive. At the moment I have no ideas other than a
> >defective tuner card in which case you might want to contact AverMedia
> >support with all of the information you have.gathered..
> > I also assume that you are not using a dual core CPU even though RU2
> > supposdly fixed any dual core CPU problems with receiving encoded TV by
> > MCE.
> >
> > "denyart" <denyart@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > news:42B6AAC1-F14D-41A4-B890-F6EE1497C96F@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> Okay, I can answer that. Yes, the video pixilation is there if you watch
> >> "Live TV". Of course it is always buffering the TV, so your defiinition
> >> of
> >> "Live" I assume means just clicking on a channel in the Guide and
> >> watching it
> >> "Live". Now, that being said, if I record the show with the A180 and play
> >> it
> >> back with Windows Media Player, the pixilation or stuttering is still
> >> there.
> >> It doesn't affect the audio enough to say that I notice a stutter (or
> >> perhaps
> >> the cause is more specific and only degrades the video), but in any case
> >> the
> >> video breaks up and stuttes/pauses every second or two. If I watch a
> >> second
> >> channel after starting to record the first channel the video is great
> >> (this
> >> is now using the ATI HDTV Wonder) for Live TV and also Recorded TV if I
> >> record it. I can also close Media Center and just let the A180 record
> >> "silently" and the stutters and pixilation are still in the recorded file
> >> (in
> >> both MCE and in WMP). So is there a next step/idea? Thanks
> >> --
> >> Windows Media Center 2005 rollup 2, Abit NF7-S v2, GeForce 6600GT, nVidia
> >> decoder 1.02-185, NVTV single tuner, AverTVHD MCE A180, ATI HDTV Wonder
> >>
> >>
> >> "JW" wrote:
> >>
> >>> As I said before the tuner driver does not talk directly to the disk
> >>> drive.
> >>> MCE receives the MPEG2 input from the controller and the MS MCE software
> >>> writed the buffers to the drive after puttin a wrapper around the file.
> >>> I would still like to know if you have the same problem when watching
> >>> LiveTV
> >>> (without it being recorded) with the AverMedia controller and if the
> >>> problem
> >>> occurs when playing a recording with MediaPlayer instead of with MCE.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> "denyart" <denyart@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> >>> news:D25AA79B-FC03-46AE-BD17-38B344292A81@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>> > All good ideas, but I know it is not the antenna signal becasue I have
> >>> > tried
> >>> > switching the RG6 from the ATI to the A180 and it doesn't change it. I
> >>> > have
> >>> > also tried the same channel at the same time for the ATI and the A180
> >>> > and
> >>> > it
> >>> > worked for the ATi and it pixilated for the A180. I also simply tuned
> >>> > to a
> >>> > channel with the A180 (all channels show pixilation with the SATA
> >>> > drive
> >>> > being
> >>> > used for the Recorded TV folder) and then after noticing the obvious
> >>> > picture
> >>> > problems, I switched the Recorded TV to my IDE PATA drive and
> >>> > restarted
> >>> > Media
> >>> > Center and the picture was immediately normal (just as good as the
> >>> > ATI).
> >>> > So I
> >>> > know it is not the input from the antenna, and I know it is not the
> >>> > actual
> >>> > source from the TV station. It really comes and goes based on using
> >>> > the
> >>> > SiI3112 SATA controller. So, any ideas about what driver problem could
> >>> > cause
> >>> > this behavior? It just seems that it has to be driver related if the
> >>> > ATI
> >>> > can
> >>> > use the SATA but the A180 can't. Thanks!
> >>> > --
> >>> > Windows Media Center 2005 rollup 2, Abit NF7-S v2, GeForce 6600GT,
> >>> > nVidia
> >>> > decoder 1.02-185, NVTV single tuner, AverTVHD MCE A180, ATI HDTV
> >>> > Wonder
> >>> >
> >>> >
> >>> > "JW" wrote:
> >>> >
> >>> >> One more idea.
> >>> >> I assume that you are using a splitter to support the antenna
> >>> >> connections
> >>> >> on
> >>> >> the two different tuner cards. If so then you might try switching
> >>> >> the
> >>> >> splitter lines on the two cards antenna connections to make sure thay
> >>> >> you
> >>> >> aren't getting a degraded signal on one line.
> >>> >>
> >>> >> "denyart" <denyart@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> >>> >> news:9FE3A2CA-B637-4CB6-877B-C2DDC0E097F5@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>> >> > If I play a show recorded by the A180 on the SATA drive, then yes
> >>> >> > the
> >>> >> > video
> >>> >> > is bad just like it is when it is live. I have not specifically
> >>> >> > tried
> >>> >> > it
> >>> >> > in
> >>> >> > WMP, but I have a hunch it is in the recording so it would be
> >>> >> > there. On
> >>> >> > a
> >>> >> > second note, it is not really stuttering of the video, it is
> >>> >> > pixillation
> >>> >> > of
> >>> >> > the video (breakup, macroblocking, not sure what you want to call
> >>> >> > it)
> >>> >> > and
> >>> >> > the
> >>> >> > sound does not miss a beat. I call it stuttering because that is
> >>> >> > the
> >>> >> > generic
> >>> >> > term that many people seem to search for, but this "stuttering"
> >>> >> > that I
> >>> >> > and
> >>> >> > a
> >>> >> > few other people have with this tuner is really somehow related to
> >>> >> > how
> >>> >> > it
> >>> >> > gets along with a SATA controller (maybe only SiI3x12) on the PCI
> >>> >> > bus.
> >>> >> > I
> >>> >> > have
> >>> >> > found this to be the case for both nForce 2 motherboards and a
> >>> >> > person
> >>> >> > running
> >>> >> > an intel board. Here is a post on a forum that I beleive is
> >>> >> > describing
> >>> >> > some
> >>> >> > of what I am saying, but in my case I know there is a way to make
> >>> >> > things
> >>> >> > work, because the ATI HDTV Wonder works beautifully.
> >>> >> > http://htpcnews.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6050&view=findpost&p=71707
> >>> >> > I hope that someone with more knowledge than me can look at this
> >>> >> > and
> >>> >> > tell
> >>> >> > me
> >>> >> > why tha A180 doesn't work and possibly if there is a way to fix it
> >>> >> > by
> >>> >> > forcing
> >>> >> > some change on my system. I will also check to be sure that WMP
> >>> >> > doesn't
> >>> >> > play
> >>> >> > the files back perfectly. Thanks again, and any more ideas would be
> >>> >> > great!
> >>> >> > --
> >>> >> > Windows Media Center 2005 rollup 2, Abit NF7-S v2, GeForce 6600GT,
> >>> >> > nVidia
> >>> >> > decoder 1.02-185, NVTV single tuner, AverTVHD MCE A180, ATI HDTV
> >>> >> > Wonder
> >>> >> >
> >>> >> >
> >>> >> > "JW" wrote:
> >>> >> >
> >>> >> >> After rereading all your posts I have to admit I am rather baffled
> >>> >> >> since
> >>> >> >> AFAIK only the MCE software gets the software from the controller
> >>> >> >> and
> >>> >> >> writes
> >>> >> >> it to disk. The only thing I can think about that may be
> >>> >> >> different
> >>> >> >> between
> >>> >> >> the tuners is that the two tuner drivers buffer up the data and
> >>> >> >> give
> >>> >> >> it
> >>> >> >> to
> >>> >> >> MCE in different size buffers or their is a problem with the
> >>> >> >> AVERmedia
> >>> >> >> driver and MCE gets a buffer out ot sync since I believe that MCE
> >>> >> >> dobules
> >>> >> >> the input from the tuners.
> >>> >> >> If you play a recorded program using Media Player instead of MCE
> >>> >> >> do
> >>> >> >> you
> >>> >> >> still get the stuttering and if yes is it in the same place? I
> >>> >> >> assume
> >>> >> >> the
> >>> >> >> answer will be yes. Do both the audio and video stutter? Again I
> >>> >> >> assume
> >>> >> >> the answer will be yes.
> >>> >> >>
> >>> >> >> "denyart" <denyart@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> >>> >> >> news:E44D2185-2DA3-4EFA-8A0C-B2B424937710@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>> >> >> > Well, for IDE you never usually worry because nothing takes 14
> >>> >> >> > and
> >>> >> >> > 15.
> >>> >> >> > I
> >>> >> >> > checked the IRQs for my system, and the SATA and both HD tuners
> >>> >> >> > are
> >>> >> >> > using
> >>> >> >> > independent IRQs. ATI (if installed) use 17, SATA uses 18, and
> >>> >> >> > the
> >>> >> >> > A180
> >>> >> >> > uses
> >>> >> >> > 19. So its not IRQ sharing. Someone once mentioned option rom
> >>> >> >> > space,
> >>> >> >> > but I
> >>> >> >> > don't know what that is or how tocheck it. Any ideas about
> >>> >> >> > that?
> >>> >> >> > Thanks
> >>> >> >> > --
> >>> >> >> > Windows Media Center 2005 rollup 2, Abit NF7-S v2, GeForce
> >>> >> >> > 6600GT,
> >>> >> >> > nVidia
> >>> >> >> > decoder 1.02-185, NVTV single tuner, AverTVHD MCE A180, ATI HDTV
> >>> >> >> > Wonder
> >>> >> >> >
> >>> >> >> >
> >>> >> >> > "JW" wrote:
> >>> >> >> >
> >>> >> >> >> I normallly don't think about shared IRQs causing a problem
> >>> >> >> >> with
> >>> >> >> >> disk
> >>> >> >> >> drives, however, if the AverMedia Tuner card and the SATA drive
> >>> >> >> >> are
> >>> >> >> >> somhow
> >>> >> >> >> sharing a resource such as an IRQ then that could be the
> >>> >> >> >> problem
> >>> >> >> >> since
> >>> >> >> >> you
> >>> >> >> >> previously stated that you only have problems using the
> >>> >> >> >> Avermedia
> >>> >> >> >> tuner
> >>> >> >> >> with
> >>> >> >> >> the SATA drive and not with you IDE drive.
> >>> >> >> >>
> >>> >> >> >> "denyart" <denyart@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> >>> >> >> >> news:47379726-B66B-496E-9251-EC7DD4D8B69D@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>> >> >> >> > Um, the ATI is an HDTV tuner as well, so the amount of data
> >>> >> >> >> > being
> >>> >> >> >> > sent
> >>> >> >> >> > to
> >>> >> >> >> > disk should be the same for both of them. The ATI doesn't
> >>> >> >> >> > have
> >>> >> >> >> > any
> >>> >> >> >> > problems
> >>> >> >> >> > with the SATA disk being used for Recorded TV, while the
> >>> >> >> >> > Avermedia
> >>> >> >> >> > does
> >>> >> >> >> > have
> >>> >> >> >> > a problem. It would seem odd that one does and the other
> >>> >> >> >> > doesn't,
> >>> >> >> >> > but
> >>> >> >> >> > is
> >>> >> >> >> > it
> >>> >> >> >> > possible that the driver for the A180 has it doing something
> >>> >> >> >> > slightly
> >>> >> >> >> > different from ATI's driver? In my case, I know it is not
> >>> >> >> >> > just a
> >>> >> >> >> > simple
> >>> >> >> >> > "disk
> >>> >> >> >> > not fast enough" problem because a different ATSC tuner has
> >>> >> >> >> > no
> >>> >> >> >> > problems
> >>> >> >> >> > using
> >>> >> >> >> > the disk. Could it be the driver for the A180 does something
> >>> >> >> >> > that
> >>> >> >> >> > causes
> >>> >> >> >> > the
> >>> >> >> >> > SATA to slow down? Thanks
> >>> >> >> >> > --
> >>> >> >> >> > Windows Media Center 2005 rollup 2, Abit NF7-S v2, GeForce
> >>> >> >> >> > 6600GT,
> >>> >> >> >> > nVidia
> >>> >> >> >> > decoder 1.02-185, NVTV single tuner, AverTVHD MCE A180, ATI
> >>> >> >> >> > HDTV
> >>> >> >> >> > Wonder
> >>> >> >> >> >
> >>> >> >> >> >
> >>> >> >> >> > "JW" wrote:
> >>> >> >> >> >
> >>> >> >> >> >> It has nothing to do with the AVERMedia Drivers since they
> >>> >> >> >> >> do
> >>> >> >> >> >> not
> >>> >> >> >> >> pass
> >>> >> >> >> >> anything directly to your disk drive. MCE optains the
> >>> >> >> >> >> already
> >>> >> >> >> >> encoded
> >>> >> >> >> >> siganl fromthe tuner using the AVERMEDIA dirvers and MCE
.

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