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Seeing snow on a block of channels
http://forums.linhes.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=6824		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  rkhanso [ Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Seeing snow on a block of channels
I have Time Warner cable. A PVR-350 card that can tune in channels 2-13 come in fine, 14-20 are snow, 21-36 come in fine, then 37-60 are snow and lastly, 60+ are OK.

Many (not all) of the block of 14-20 are local cable access channels, if that makes a difference.

Is there some settings I can change? Is this just not going to work with my cable provider?

I don't have digital cable, nor any cable box/converter. All the channels come in fine on the TV directly, just not through KnoppMyth, and only the blocks of channels listed above have trouble (14-20 and 37-60)

Thanks for any help you can provide.
Author:  Xsecrets [ Mon Nov 07, 2005 10:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
have you tried swapping back and forth between uscable and uscable-hrc in mythtv-setup?
Author:  tjc [ Mon Nov 07, 2005 10:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
Search for a recent thread (something about no sound on some channels) which includes posts by me related to frequency charts. The charts might reveal a pattern. What frequency set did you select in mythtv-setup? us-bcast? us-cable? us-cable-hrc? There really should be a 4th one us-cable-irc but you have to use fine tuning for that.
Author:  rkhanso [ Mon Nov 07, 2005 10:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
I changed it to US-Cable and there's no change, still snow

I changed it to US-Cable-HRC and there's no change, still snow

I'll try fine-tuning...
Author:  rkhanso [ Mon Nov 07, 2005 10:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
I picked out 1 channel (one I was hoping to record tonight) and tried various numbers in the fine-tuning column on the web page.

Is there any rhyme/reason for choosing numbers to enter here?

I tried 125 and 107 as has been suggested in other posts to no avail. I've tried numbers from 0 to 600 by 50's and could see some pattern change to the snow (black bands, squiggly black bars, etc) - there was nothing that resembled a valid TV picture.

Are there guidelines for fine-tuning numbers or other things I need to try or check or post out of my config?
Author:  tjc [ Mon Nov 07, 2005 11:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
What do these print?
Code:
mysql mythconverg -e "select data from settings where value = 'FreqTable'"
mysql mythconverg -e "select freqtable from videosource"
Author:  rkhanso [ Tue Nov 08, 2005 12:47 am ]
Post subject: 
root@pvr:/home/mythtv# mysql mythconverg -e "select data from settings where value = 'FreqTable'"
+----------+
| data |
+----------+
| us-cable |
+----------+

and:

root@pvr:/home/mythtv# mysql mythconverg -e "select freqtable from videosource"
+-----------+
| freqtable |
+-----------+
| default |
+-----------+
Author:  EvilTwin [ Tue Nov 08, 2005 7:43 am ]
Post subject: 
Searching for "time warner cable" shows this: http://mysettopbox.tv/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6345&highlight=warner+cable
So you may be SOL because your cable company is run by dorks. Just for giggles try the us-bcast setting.
Author:  rkhanso [ Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:01 am ]
Post subject: 
somehow a double-post. see next post...
Author:  rkhanso [ Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:04 am ]
Post subject: 
well, I did a suggestion in that other post and see a possible problem?
dmesg | grep ivtv
Code:
root@pvr:/home/mythtv# dmesg | grep ivtv | more
ivtv0 warning: Mailbox[0] 0x00000008 flags 0x00000003
ivtv0 warning: Mailbox[1] 0x00000008 flags 0x00000003
ivtv0 warning: Firmware UNRESPONSIVE when trying cmd 0x00000001!!!
ivtv0 warning: Failed to start decoding for stream 5
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x00000015 with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: DEC: couldn't read clock
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x00000019 with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x00000017 with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x0000001a with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: COULDN'T INITIALIZE DECODER SOURCE -16
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x00000001 with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: Failed to start decoding for stream 5
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x00000015 with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: DEC: couldn't read clock
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x00000019 with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x00000017 with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x0000001a with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: COULDN'T INITIALIZE DECODER SOURCE -16
ivtv0 warning: No Free Mailbox for cmd 0x00000001 after 100 tries!
ivtv0 warning: Mailbox[0] 0x00000008 flags 0x00000003
ivtv0 warning: Mailbox[1] 0x00000008 flags 0x00000003
ivtv0 warning: Firmware UNRESPONSIVE when trying cmd 0x00000001!!!
ivtv0 warning: Failed to start decoding for stream 5
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x00000015 with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: DEC: couldn't read clock
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x00000019 with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x00000017 with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x0000001a with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: COULDN'T INITIALIZE DECODER SOURCE -16
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x00000001 with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: Failed to start decoding for stream 5
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x00000015 with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: DEC: couldn't read clock
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x00000019 with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x00000017 with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: 1000 ms time out waiting for firmware
ivtv0 warning: Failed api call 0x0000001a with result 0xfffffff0
ivtv0 warning: COULDN'T INITIALIZE DECODER SOURCE -16
ivtv0 warning: No Free Mailbox for cmd 0x00000001 after 100 tries!
ivtv0 warning: Mailbox[0] 0x00000008 flags 0x00000003

Here's my ivtv config:
Code:
ivtv:  ==================== START INIT IVTV ====================
ivtv:  version 0.4.0 (tagged release) loading
ivtv:  Linux version: 2.6.13.2-chw-3 SMP preempt 586 gcc-3.3
ivtv:  In case of problems please include the debug info
ivtv:  between the START INIT IVTV and END INIT IVTV lines when
ivtv:  mailing the ivtv-devel mailinglist.
ivtv0: Autodetected WinTV PVR 350 card (iTVC15 based)
ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:10.0[A] -> Link [LNKD] -> GSI 11 (level, low) -> IRQ
 11
tuner (ivtv): chip found at addr 0xc2 i2c-bus ivtv i2c driver #0
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=(tuner unset), addr=61]
msp34xx: ivtv version
msp34xx: init: chip=MSP3448W-A2, has NICAM support, simple (D) mode, simpler (G)
 no-thread mode
msp34xx: $Id$ compiled on: Oct  9 2005 22:52:16
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=MSP3448W-A2, addr=40]
saa7115 1-0021: saa7115 found @ 0x42 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=saa7115, addr=21]
tveeprom: ivtv version
tveeprom: Hauppauge: model = 48132, rev = K268, serial# = 7875278
tveeprom: tuner = LG TAPE H001F MK3 (idx = 68, type = 47)
tveeprom: tuner fmt = NTSC(M) (eeprom = 0x08, v4l2 = 0x00001000)
tveeprom: audio processor = MSP4448 (type = 1b)
tveeprom: decoder processor = SAA7115 (type = 13)
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=tveeprom, addr=50]
saa7127 1-0044: saa7129 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=saa7127, addr=44]
tda9885/6/7: (ivtv) chip found @ 0x86
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=tda9887, addr=43]
ivtv0: loading /lib/modules/ivtv-fw-enc.bin
ivtv0: loading /lib/modules/ivtv-fw-dec.bin
ivtv0: Encoder revision: 0x02040011
ivtv0: Decoder revision: 0x02020023
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder MPEG stream: 128 x 32768 buffers (4096KB total)
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder YUV stream: 194 x 10800 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder VBI stream: 120 x 17472 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder PCM audio stream: 455 x 4608 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv0: Create encoder radio stream
ivtv0: Allocate DMA decoder MPEG stream: 16 x 65536 buffers (1024KB total)
ivtv0: Allocate DMA decoder VBI stream: 512 x 2048 buffers (1024KB total)
ivtv0: Create decoder VOUT stream
ivtv0: Allocate DMA decoder YUV stream: 24 x 43200 buffers (1024KB total)
ivtv0: loading /lib/modules/ivtv_init_mpeg.bin
tuner: type set to 47 (LG NTSC (TAPE series)) by ivtv i2c driver #0
spurious 8259A interrupt: IRQ7.
ivtv0: Initialized WinTV PVR 350, card #0
ivtv:  ====================  END INIT IVTV  ====================
any changes needed?
Author:  rkhanso [ Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:07 am ]
Post subject: 
I tried the Broadcast setting in the mythtv-setup and I had even more channels that were snow, plus a KnoppMyth system lockup.

I'm running out of options...

I haven't heard back from Time Warner what frequency standard they use.
Author:  rkhanso [ Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
Shall I try various tuner types? Any other ideas? Still haven't figured out the blocks of channels with snow problem yet.

current data:
Code:
ivtv:  ==================== START INIT IVTV ====================
ivtv:  version 0.4.0 (tagged release) loading
ivtv:  Linux version: 2.6.13.2-chw-3 SMP preempt 586 gcc-3.3
ivtv:  In case of problems please include the debug info
ivtv:  between the START INIT IVTV and END INIT IVTV lines when
ivtv:  mailing the ivtv-devel mailinglist.
ivtv0: Autodetected WinTV PVR 350 card (iTVC15 based)
ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:10.0[A] -> Link [LNKD] -> GSI 11 (level, low) -> IRQ 11
tuner (ivtv): chip found at addr 0xc2 i2c-bus ivtv i2c driver #0
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=(tuner unset), addr=61]
msp34xx: ivtv version
msp34xx: init: chip=MSP3448W-A2, has NICAM support, simple (D) mode, simpler (G) no-thread mode
msp34xx: $Id$ compiled on: Oct  9 2005 22:52:16
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=MSP3448W-A2, addr=40]
saa7115 1-0021: saa7115 found @ 0x42 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=saa7115, addr=21]
tveeprom: ivtv version
tveeprom: Hauppauge: model = 48132, rev = K268, serial# = 7875278
tveeprom: tuner = LG TAPE H001F MK3 (idx = 68, type = 47)
tveeprom: tuner fmt = NTSC(M) (eeprom = 0x08, v4l2 = 0x00001000)
tveeprom: audio processor = MSP4448 (type = 1b)
tveeprom: decoder processor = SAA7115 (type = 13)
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=tveeprom, addr=50]
saa7127 1-0044: saa7129 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=saa7127, addr=44]
tda9885/6/7: (ivtv) chip found @ 0x86
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=tda9887, addr=43]
ivtv0: loading /lib/modules/ivtv-fw-enc.bin
ivtv0: loading /lib/modules/ivtv-fw-dec.bin
ivtv0: Encoder revision: 0x02040011
ivtv0: Decoder revision: 0x02020023
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder MPEG stream: 128 x 32768 buffers (4096KB total)
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder YUV stream: 194 x 10800 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder VBI stream: 120 x 17472 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder PCM audio stream: 455 x 4608 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv0: Create encoder radio stream
ivtv0: Allocate DMA decoder MPEG stream: 16 x 65536 buffers (1024KB total)
ivtv0: Allocate DMA decoder VBI stream: 512 x 2048 buffers (1024KB total)
ivtv0: Create decoder VOUT stream
ivtv0: Allocate DMA decoder YUV stream: 24 x 43200 buffers (1024KB total)
ivtv0: loading /lib/modules/ivtv_init_mpeg.bin
tuner: type set to 47 (LG NTSC (TAPE series)) by ivtv i2c driver #0
spurious 8259A interrupt: IRQ7.
ivtv0: Initialized WinTV PVR 350, card #0
ivtv:  ====================  END INIT IVTV  ====================
Author:  tjc [ Tue Nov 22, 2005 7:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
Frankly I'm starting to think it's the cable system. Have you tried the channel scanner under mythtv-setup? It's under "Channel Editor".

OBTW - Backup your DB first!
Author:  rkhanso [ Wed Nov 23, 2005 8:13 am ]
Post subject: 
tjc - I tried your suggestion...

When I had Myth scan for channels, it skipped right over the ones that have snow - the same 2 blocks of channels as I mentioned before.

Additionally, I tried both US-Cable and US-Cable HRC options and then scanned for channels. Same situation using both options.

Do I need to change tuner settings? Any other things to try?
Author:  rkhanso [ Wed Nov 23, 2005 8:33 am ]
Post subject: 
OK - I think I've found something to investigate.

When looking at MythWeb and the Channels (I was going to fine-tune)

I see no valid-looking frequencies for the snowy channels.

Image
See image and look at column 6. The channels I can tune in show frequencies like 294000 and the ones I can't tune in show a frequency that is just simply the channel number.

Additionally - the channels I can tune in are shown in column 5 as just listing the channel number while the ones I can't tune in actually have the channel ID shown.

I'm sure there's a simple correction for this problem.....I hope.

Can someone help?
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