H.264 woes
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H.264 woes
Comcast recently flipped a bunch of their channels here in Houston to H.264. I am having problems with these stations on both of our HTPCs.
One of them has Intel video, with the TV connected over HDMI. On this machine, I get a black screen on the H.264 channels. This was hardly a surprise given various posts I've read.
The other one has an Nvidia GeForce 8600 GTS, with the TV connected over S-Video, and its behavior is odd. It will decode the H.264 channels. However, if I flip from an H.264 channel in particular to an MPEG-2 channel with DRM, I get either a black screen or totally corrupt video. Sometimes restarting WMC fixes it, other times I have to reboot.
For now, I have disabled all H.264 channels on both boxes, so we have to watch them in SD. I suspect the solution here will be to get new video cards for both machines. Does anyone have any suggestions?
One of them has Intel video, with the TV connected over HDMI. On this machine, I get a black screen on the H.264 channels. This was hardly a surprise given various posts I've read.
The other one has an Nvidia GeForce 8600 GTS, with the TV connected over S-Video, and its behavior is odd. It will decode the H.264 channels. However, if I flip from an H.264 channel in particular to an MPEG-2 channel with DRM, I get either a black screen or totally corrupt video. Sometimes restarting WMC fixes it, other times I have to reboot.
For now, I have disabled all H.264 channels on both boxes, so we have to watch them in SD. I suspect the solution here will be to get new video cards for both machines. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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I'm getting audio, black screens on all my extenders (1 echo, 2 xboxes) for all hbo, max, and staz. The showtime shows seems to work. Strangely, my htpc is being affected with similar results, but hbohd seems to be working on my htpc, but none of the other channels. I did recently installed the latest firmware on my homerun primes. Not sure if that caused it or not.
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Oh I should mention that my htpc is running amd a10 apu with integrated graphics.
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Our area switched over Nov 11th (Western Connecticut). Only 2-3 channels I've noticed are h.264, and at first they were copy-once. Now, they are copy-freely (with exception to HBO). Having an issue on extenders AND main HTPC. Anytime switching between h.264 and mpeg 2 channels, I get grey or black screen. Have to restart WMC and START with an mpeg 2 stream OR dvr mpeg 2 stream to get it to work again. Is there any fix/solution to this? GFX card is an Nvidia 1070.
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Sounds like the problem I first encountered with Cox in 2011. Much more on it in this message from 2013:
http://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/vie ... 705#p60705
I posted in 2015 that it was silently resolved by Cox:
http://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/vie ... 641#p99641
Sorry, no workaround that I know of beyond tuning a "good" channel or restarting WMC or even ehrecvr.
http://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/vie ... 705#p60705
I posted in 2015 that it was silently resolved by Cox:
http://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/vie ... 641#p99641
Sorry, no workaround that I know of beyond tuning a "good" channel or restarting WMC or even ehrecvr.
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Here in Clinton,CT Comcast also announced a move to MPEG-4 as of 11-10. Since then I have sound only on HBO and other premiums. When I run the debug on HBO-HD, instead of seeing MPEG-4 or H.264 (which is what I now see for ESPN), I get "unspecified" for the video codec. What kind of card is going to decode unspecified codec? Seems like they may have goofed up somewhere.
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How does one tell if a channel is being sent in H.264? I am on TWC (Milwaukee area market) and I'm wondering if TWC has made a recent change, as I am having problems streaming one particular channel to XBox's. I tried the debug info screen, but I'm not seeing anything there. Thanks!
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Easiest way is press sequence 4-1-1-info on your remote. The debug screen is displayed, and if you right arrow all the way over (maybe 5 clicks) you'll see the screen with video codec, bitrate, and source dimensions. On converted channels, you'll see codec H264, source dimensions 1280x720. E.g., the MPEG4 conversion, their downrez to 720P, and woefully inadequate bitrate. Non-converted channels will show a codec of MPEG2.
-Alan
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webminster wrote:Easiest way is press sequence 4-1-1-info on your remote. The debug screen is displayed, and if you right arrow all the way over (maybe 5 clicks) you'll see the screen with video codec, bitrate, and source dimensions. On converted channels, you'll see codec H264, source dimensions 1280x720. E.g., the MPEG4 conversion, their downrez to 720P, and woefully inadequate bitrate. Non-converted channels will show a codec of MPEG2.
If you have an actual Channel 411 active, it will be much easier if you disable it so the tuner does not try to tune it when you are opening the debug screen. 411-Info may or may not work depending on the remote you are using. What does work on a keyboard is 4-1-1 Ctrl (hold down), then press the letter "D", and release. The screen is very detailed and you will have to keep scrolling through it to get to the video codec info.
Having finally gotten the debug screen open, I am still very puzzled to see "unspecified" as the video codec on my copy once premium channels.
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I'm seemong to get "unspecified" as well..
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I've seen "unspecified" on extenders but not on HTPC.
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I looked again last night. I goofed a bit. It says "not specified", not unspecified. Either way it makes we wonder if they are sending something goofy or if it is my equipment not being able to decode anything other than the sound. Still, even on copy once h.264 material shouldn't it show h.264 like the other channels where I see that designation?coolwhip wrote:I've seen "unspecified" on extenders but not on HTPC.
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I have seen "not specified" on channels that are not completely tuned in or not displaying video for some other reason. Once I get them to put video on the screen the codec information shows up.sgbroimp wrote:I looked again last night. I goofed a bit. It says "not specified", not unspecified. Either way it makes we wonder if they are sending something goofy or if it is my equipment not being able to decode anything other than the sound. Still, even on copy once h.264 material shouldn't it show h.264 like the other channels where I see that designation?coolwhip wrote:I've seen "unspecified" on extenders but not on HTPC.
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I recently upgraded my Intel i3 integrated graphics with an Nvidia GT 710, and noted 2 things, one of which is a major drawback:
1. You have to re-run Digital Cable Advisor, or many old recording would not play, and HBO wouldn't play at all
2. All "copy once" recordings (for me, that's just HBO, but applies to most premium channels with Comcast) will no longer playback, because the HTPC is treated as a different device now.
I haven't tried plugging back into the integrated graphics, and seeing if that allows old recordings to work again; I suspect not.
Thanks for the tip on the diagnostics screen; will have to try that.
1. You have to re-run Digital Cable Advisor, or many old recording would not play, and HBO wouldn't play at all
2. All "copy once" recordings (for me, that's just HBO, but applies to most premium channels with Comcast) will no longer playback, because the HTPC is treated as a different device now.
I haven't tried plugging back into the integrated graphics, and seeing if that allows old recordings to work again; I suspect not.
Thanks for the tip on the diagnostics screen; will have to try that.
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I am still struggling with this. Tried an old Radeon 4670 in the machine with S-Video, but it crashed when switching from a protected H.264 channel to a protected MPEG-2 channel after a bit of stuttering.
Is there a list of cards anywhere that actually work?
Is there a list of cards anywhere that actually work?
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I stuck a GT 710 in the machine connected to a TV over HDMI. Having problems there when switching between H.264 and MPEG-2 channels, especially with DRM involved.
I'm really wondering now if it's even possible to get this stupid thing working. Any ideas?! I'm starting to regret banking on the HDHomeRun last year.
I'm really wondering now if it's even possible to get this stupid thing working. Any ideas?! I'm starting to regret banking on the HDHomeRun last year.
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I noticed today that when it's failing to view a protected MPEG-2 channel, the 411 debug info incorrectly shows H.264 for the codec. I guessed that maybe it isn't switching codecs properly when switching from copy once MPEG-2 to H.264, but the behavior is inconsistent.
I have been doing testing using the following channels, using the GT 710:
This suggests that there is something different about 81 compared to 445 (along with the rest of the SD HBO channels), even though they have similar flags.
Not sure if this helps anyone figure this out?
I have been doing testing using the following channels, using the GT 710:
Code: Select all
2 KYAZ MPEG-2 copy freely Can change from here to any other channel.
81 HSN 2 MPEG-2 copy once Can change from here to any other channel.
445 HBO-W MPEG-2 copy once Can change from here to any other channel.
460 HBOHD H.264 copy once Can change to 2, 81, or 664. Cannot change to 445.
664 HSNHD H.264 copy freely Can change to 2, 81, or 460. Cannot change to 445.
Not sure if this helps anyone figure this out?
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Is 81 HSN 2 really copy once? (otherwise it sort of looks like the problem is when you switch from H.264 to MPEG-2 copy once)
Similar problems were reported before when switching channels after switchover to H.264 resulted in failures. IIRC they could get things to work by switching to an intermediate channel that worked before switching to one that would fail if a direct switch was tried. Obviously some bug in WMC and of course it will never be fixed.
Similar problems were reported before when switching channels after switchover to H.264 resulted in failures. IIRC they could get things to work by switching to an intermediate channel that worked before switching to one that would fail if a direct switch was tried. Obviously some bug in WMC and of course it will never be fixed.
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Yes, HSN 2 really is copy once. I have no idea why.stuartm wrote:Is 81 HSN 2 really copy once? (otherwise it sort of looks like the problem is when you switch from H.264 to MPEG-2 copy once)
This does indeed work, but it's a pain in the butt.stuartm wrote:Similar problems were reported before when switching channels after switchover to H.264 resulted in failures. IIRC they could get things to work by switching to an intermediate channel that worked before switching to one that would fail if a direct switch was tried. Obviously some bug in WMC and of course it will never be fixed.
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I had the same issues with Comcast and Intel 3000 graphics. Switched to a Dell SFF, AMD 5450 discrete and hardly any issues now.
DRM channels tune in. Switching between DRm/non-DRM channels works fine, mostly; maybe a rare glitch and then I switch back and forth or to another channel.
Going fast back and forward at speed in a live buffer, rarely glitches with a freeze of WMC, needing to close it and reopen. Again, this has happened once.
All in all, much better than my old setup. Although I couldn't care less for DRM movie channels, I fear Comast will eventually go DRm on all channels, which prompted me to change.
DRM channels tune in. Switching between DRm/non-DRM channels works fine, mostly; maybe a rare glitch and then I switch back and forth or to another channel.
Going fast back and forward at speed in a live buffer, rarely glitches with a freeze of WMC, needing to close it and reopen. Again, this has happened once.
All in all, much better than my old setup. Although I couldn't care less for DRM movie channels, I fear Comast will eventually go DRm on all channels, which prompted me to change.
-Art --
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000