Linux PVR problems
#1
Question 
Hey guys,

I've just finished setteing up my xbmc (xbmcbuntu) with pvr (tvheadend) on my htpc (AMD A6-5400). I know that pvr (especially with timeshift) is still not the most stable part of xbmc but since there is a solution for most of the problems I need some information about log files / other stuff to monitor my setup.

I've experienced some problems with timeshift, for example just a few minutes ago I paused for 10 minutes and after watching 2 of it the video hang. XBMC log doesnt say much (WARNING: error while seeking for example). How can I find out what causes thoses problems?

Another problem is HDTV which "stumbles" on ARD / ZDF. Maybe an issue regarding my AMD graphics card?

So my question is: Besides xbmc log, where can I get information to solve those kind of problems? Is tvheadend logging? Or do you have some other tipps?

Thanks!
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#2
(2013-08-18, 21:29)raki Wrote: Hey guys,

I've just finished setteing up my xbmc (xbmcbuntu) with pvr (tvheadend) on my htpc (AMD A6-5400). I know that pvr (especially with timeshift) is still not the most stable part of xbmc but since there is a solution for most of the problems I need some information about log files / other stuff to monitor my setup.

I've experienced some problems with timeshift, for example just a few minutes ago I paused for 10 minutes and after watching 2 of it the video hang. XBMC log doesnt say much (WARNING: error while seeking for example). How can I find out what causes thoses problems?

Could you paste a screenshot of the timeshift settings tab in tvheadend?

(2013-08-18, 21:29)raki Wrote: Another problem is HDTV which "stumbles" on ARD / ZDF. Maybe an issue regarding my AMD graphics card?

Try changing the deinterlace method, or if you run Gotham, go to System -> Settings -> Video, enable advanced or expert settings, select "don't use high quality deinterlacers for scaling above" and set it to 10 or 20%.

(2013-08-18, 21:29)raki Wrote: So my question is: Besides xbmc log, where can I get information to solve those kind of problems? Is tvheadend logging? Or do you have some other tipps?

Tvheadend should be logging to /var/log/syslog by default.
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#3
(2013-08-19, 21:04)negge Wrote: Could you paste a screenshot of the timeshift settings tab in tvheadend?

Image

(2013-08-19, 21:04)negge Wrote: Try changing the deinterlace method, or if you run Gotham, go to System -> Settings -> Video, enable advanced or expert settings, select "don't use high quality deinterlacers for scaling above" and set it to 10 or 20%.

I'll give that a try!

(2013-08-19, 21:04)negge Wrote: Tvheadend should be logging to /var/log/syslog by default.

Thanks!
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#4
I was going to suggest you check the "(unlimited)" checkboxes in tvheadend but it seems you already did.

To enable debug logging to syslog for tvheadend you need to change /etc/default/tvheadend (look at /etc/init.d/tvheadend for what the option name is, I can't remember).
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#5
Well, sadly I forgot to enable further debugging for tvheadend but I had that timeshift problem again. Just paused for about 10-15 minutes, resumed and after a few seconds (5-10s) the film freezed. That's wht syslog says (maybe it gives you some hint):

Code:
Aug 23 07:35:11 htpc rsyslogd: [origin software="rsyslogd" swVersion="5.8.6" x-pid="937" x-info="http://www.rsyslog.com"] rsyslogd was HUPed
Aug 23 07:35:12 htpc anacron[12140]: Job`cron.daily' terminated
Aug 23 07:35:12 htpc anacron[12140]: Normal exit (1 job run) Aug 23 07:39:01 htpc CRON[12381]: (root) CMD ( [ -x /usr/lib/php5/maxlifetime ] && [ -d/var/lib/php5 ] && find /var/lib/php5/ -depth -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type f -ignore_readdir_race -cmin +$(/usr/lib/php5/maxlifetime) ! -execdir fuser -s {} 2>/dev/null \; -delete)
Aug 23 07:46:51 htpc tvheadend[1426]: subscription: "127.0.0.1 [ htpc | XBMC Media Center ]" unsubscribing from "ProSieben"
Aug 23 07:47:00 htpc tvheadend[1426]: subscription: "127.0.0.1 [htpc | XBMC Media Center ]" subscribing on "Sky Action HD", weight: 150, adapter: "STV090x Multistandard 1", network: "ASTRA 1", mux: "ASTRA 1: 11,332,250 kHz Horizontal (No satconf)",provider: "SKY", service: "Sky Action HD", quality: 100
Aug 23 07:47:01 htpc tvheadend[1426]: cwc: Got unexpected ECM reply (seqno: 2763)
Aug 23 08:09:01 htpc CRON[13071]: (root) CMD ([ -x /usr/lib/php5/maxlifetime ] && [ -d /var/lib/php5 ] && find /var/lib/php5/ -depth -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type f -ignore_readdir_race -cmin +$(/usr/lib/php5/maxlifetime) !-execdir fuser -s {} 2>/dev/null \; -delete)
Aug 23 08:17:01 htpc CRON[13302]: (root) CMD ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.hourly)
Aug 23 08:25:44 htpc tvheadend[1426]: TS:STV090x Multistandard 1/BetaDigital: 11,332,250 kHz Horizontal (No satconf)/Sky Action HD: H264 @ #511: Continuity counter error
Aug 23 08:39:01 htpc CRON[13927]: (root) CMD ( [ -x/usr/lib/php5/maxlifetime ] && [ -d /var/lib/php5 ] && find /var/lib/php5/ -depth -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type f -ignore_readdir_race -cmin +$(/usr/lib/php5/maxlifetime) ! -execdirfuser -s {} 2>/dev/null \; -delete) Aug 23 09:05:20 htpc tvheadend[1426]: subscription: "127.0.0.1 [ htpc | XBMC Media Center ]" unsubscribing from "Sky Action HD"
Aug 23 09:05:27 htpc tvheadend[1426]: subscription: "127.0.0.1 [ htpc | XBMC Media Center ]" subscribing on "Sky Action HD", weight: 150, adapter: "STV090x Multistandard 1", network: "ASTRA 1", mux: "ASTRA
1: 11,332,250 kHz Horizontal (No satconf)", provider: "SKY", service: "Sky Action HD", quality: 100
.

I resumed the movie arund 9:00, so I guess no error is logged?
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#6
Ok, I got the problem "logged". I just switched debugging on in the webinterface and paused for a few minutes (the first few times I paused just for a few seconds to see if logging works Wink)..

Log:

Code:
Aug 23 20:18:48.718 timeshift: ts 5 change speed 0
Aug 23 20:18:53.650 timeshift: ts 5 change speed 100
Aug 23 20:18:57.847 timeshift: ts 5 change speed 0
Aug 23 20:19:30.202 timeshift: ts 5 change speed 100
Aug 23 20:19:33.895 timeshift: ts 5 change speed 0
Aug 23 20:20:00.149 epg: expire event 15131 from Sky Comedy
Aug 23 20:20:00.150 epg: now/next 15133/15135 set on Sky Comedy
Aug 23 20:20:00.150 epg: arm channel timer @ 1377288600 for Sky Comedy
Aug 23 20:20:00.150 epg: inform HTSP of now event change on Sky Comedy
Aug 23 20:20:00.150 epg: expire event 18065 from 13th Street HD
Aug 23 20:20:00.150 epg: now/next 18071/18073 set on 13th Street HD
Aug 23 20:20:00.150 epg: arm channel timer @ 1377288600 for 13th Street HD
Aug 23 20:20:00.150 epg: inform HTSP of now event change on 13th Street HD
Aug 23 20:20:07.781 timeshift: ts 5 buffer full

--- RESUMED TV ----

Aug 23 20:20:49.247 timeshift: ts 5 change speed 100
Aug 23 20:21:20.565 timeshift: ts 5 remove /home/htpc/buffer/5/tvh-1354
Aug 23 20:22:20.538 timeshift: ts 5 sob speed 100

As you can see, after resuming at 20:20:49 tv worked for about 30 seconds before freezing at 20:21:20.

Timeshift path is /home/htpc and df says:

Code:
Dateisystem    GröÃe Benutzt Verf. Verw% Eingehängt auf
/dev/sda6        14G    3.7G  9.4G   29% /
udev            1.7G    4.0K  1.7G    1% /dev
tmpfs           696M    1.1M  695M    1% /run
none            5.0M       0  5.0M    0% /run/lock
none            1.7G       0  1.7G    0% /run/shm
none            100M       0  100M    0% /run/user
/dev/sda7        26G    4.4G   20G   19% /home
/dev/sdb1       1.8T    1.5T  375G   80% /media/medien-hdd

so there should be enough space.


Any ideas? Maybe those EPG events interferes with timehisft?




//Edit:
I played a little bit with timeshift and monitored the buffer folder. When I pause a file named "tv-1399" was created. After that file reached a size of 16092 bytes another file ("tv-1400") was created (man, "was created"...is that proper english?) and when that file reached 23036 bytes the log said "buffer full". Second time the first while reached 5080 bytes and the second one 24700.

Maybe that gives someone of you a hint.
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