Here is the situation...

I have had my Myth box running for over 1 year now. I have been running R5F27 since it was released with no issues. For the last week, I have been having troubles watching Live TV and recorded TV. The error messages I get are in mythfrontdend.log saying:
2008-03-17 18:31:14.186 IVD Error: Fetching frames played from decoder
eno: Input/output error (5)
2008-03-17 18:31:15.238 IVD Error: Fetching frames played from decoder
eno: Input/output error (5)
2008-03-17 18:31:16.289 IVD Error: Fetching frames played from decoder
eno: Input/output error (5)
2008-03-17 18:31:17.339 IVD Error: Fetching frames played from decoder
eno: Input/output error (5)

that messages repeats.

Here are some things I've tried
1) If I uncheck the "Use PVR350 mpg decoder" in the Setup menu, it doesn't freeze, but the video is not smooth.
2) I can play avi files through mplayer and xine just fine.

The only thing I can think is that my PVR350 needs to be replaced. Does anyone have any other ideas? Is there some key information that I have neglected to include?

I appreciate all the help!

Might not be the 350 Hardware specifically. I had a problem with freezing up, then eventually couldnt watch anything that used xv extensions (mythgame, etc) and alot of mythvideo movies that had abstract resolution (unfortunately included my copies of "back to the future").

Ended up reinstalling my SBE box and fixed it. I think it was either a firmware or ivtv driver having to do with my PVR 350.


Easy way to test is grab another small harddrive (6.5GB or higher) and install knoppmyth (then go through the wiki/forum to convert it to a slave backend server with a new hostname) test if that works. if it doesnt, you can always blow away the info created for the test from the DB.

My issue was specific to that one machine, and was not effected by database settings. YMMV though.
--James

If that doesnt work, then you might have to look at the hardware of the card, or try switching pci slots.

I will try that.

Some additional info...

1) I was running R5F27 without a problem sinc eit came out. Last week, was the first time I had the freezing issue. I've done a complete reinstall of Knoppmyth and it is stil lfreezing.

2) I have moved the card to a different PCI slot. Freezing still occured.

I'll see if I have success with the slave backend. Thanks.. keep the ideas coming!!

Slave backend not required. That would be the same test at the reinstall, which you stated has already been done.

Have you tried disabling EIT (pulls program listings from the tuner itself). Other than that, the reinstall (to rule out driver/firmware), and swapping PCI slots pretty much handles the diagnostics.

Only 1 left.


Put the PVR350 into a windows box, and install the updated software from the website. I had to initially update my firmware this way when I first purchased the card. The driver actually includes the firmware (that is where ivtv got their firmware initially). then put the card back in the linux box, and see if it makes a difference. else, the decoder part of the card might have gone bad. sorry.

Or if you have another machine you can put the card into (basically testing to rule out motherboard.)

Other than that, looks like you stumped the chump. might have a flaky/bad card.


When you do the windows test, you might be able to call/email haughpage support on your issue. I am not sure how this goes as far a warranty point of view though.

Perhaps other users on the forum have tried to contact the vendor and can give advide if the before mentioned tests dont work.

I just noticed something else... I always seem to get the following error

2008-03-17 06:46:19.984 IVD Error: Stopping decoder

before this error

IVD Error: Fetching frames played from decoder
eno: Input/output error (5)

If that helps anyone help me, we all can feel good...

Also, have you looked through here:
http://www.ivtvdriver.org/index.php/Troubleshooting

You might be able to submit your errors to them as see what they say.

Also, have you had a chance to test in a windows box so I can update the firmware?

EDIT: Last line should have read "... so it can update the firmware?" Refering to windows drivers updating the firmware of the card.
--James

It looks like the PVR350 card went bad. Hauppauge set up an RMA for me (it is under warranty).

Thanks for your help.

Glad to hear it was under wannranty, and you are going to be taken care of.

What troubleshooting steps did the vendor have you do to verify the card was bad? Just in case I or someone else run into a similar situation, we could use it as a toubleshooting steps?
--James

I go tthe feeling I could have just sent the card back and they would have checked for me... but what they asked me to do was to throw the card into a Windows box and see if the card works. It did not... so back it goes...