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tiffy2 – 11 minutes ago »
Thanks for the further reply.
Yes, appreciate the benefits of the custom firmware, have owned and used the Foxsat-HDR running custom FW for many years, still active, however, the wife prefers the HDR-1800T standard interface and since buying the freeview box a few years ago that’s now our default device.
There is a built in (menu driven) disk checker on the FV box, have run this twice and it reports error free.
If I do go to the trouble of removing the HD would the Linux FS checker be any more likely to find faults of course assuming that HD faults exist ?
Is there any of the current production Humax freeview recorders you would consider using rather than the old HDR-FOX-T2 ?
The built in disk checker is rudimentary to say the least. So yes the Linux capability is much more likely to work. Incidentally the HDR-FOX-T2 has a virtually identical UI as the 1800/2000T. Doubt you would notice any difference.
Maintenance mode on the HDR-FOX-T2 with CF, reverts the box to basically the same as connecting it to a Linux-PC.
If you copy the recording files, simply delete all the partitions on the original disk and let the Humax format and partition the disk from scratch when you re-install.
Once setup you can simply remove the HDD, transfer it back to the PC to reinstate the recordings and put it back in the the box.
It probably takes 10 mins or so to remove the HDD, so where is the problem.
Incidentally with my old Foxsat-HDR I used a a external esata caddy to remove the HDD and e-sata connections to mount the internal drive externally for a long time. I built a 12V relay to turn on the external caddy power supply. It worked seamlessly as if the drive was mounted internally.
Because the reservations are in NVRAM you can then use multiple recording drives and swap them at will.
Following Graham’s guidance I removed the HD and copied all my recordings to Desktop PC’s SSD running Linux Mint, used USB-3 interface so quite fast.
Now fully tested the HD with normal Linux utilities, no errors shown.
Deleted all media and partitions.
Re-fitted the blank HD in the recorder and re-formatted.
Everything working normally except for the original issue which is still the same, still getting the video & sound stuttering every few seconds on live TV, certainly appears that the issue is not HD (hardware) related as such.
The current quick fix remains, pause live TV for a few seconds then resume, this completely cures the video/audio stuttering until “stop/return to live TV” is chosen !
Still re-instating my recordings unfortunately by the slow, USB drive in recorder method as my dual boot Win/Linux Mint PC won’t let me log on to Mint any more (apparently a known issue)which I have not yet resolved.
So, looks like a new recorder will be on the cards shortly, thanks to all for the interest and assistance.
tiffy2 – 1 hour ago »
Following Graham’s guidance I removed the HD and copied all my recordings to Desktop PC’s SSD running Linux Mint, used USB-3 interface so quite fast.
Now fully tested the HD with normal Linux utilities, no errors shown.
Deleted all media and partitions.
Re-fitted the blank HD in the recorder and re-formatted.
Everything working normally except for the original issue which is still the same, still getting the video & sound stuttering every few seconds on live TV, certainly appears that the issue is not HD (hardware) related as such.
The current quick fix remains, pause live TV for a few seconds then resume, this completely cures the video/audio stuttering until “stop/return to live TV” is chosen !
Still re-instating my recordings unfortunately by the slow, USB drive in recorder method as my dual boot Win/Linux Mint PC won’t let me log on to Mint any more (apparently a known issue)which I have not yet resolved.
So, looks like a new recorder will be on the cards shortly, thanks to all for the interest and assistance.
This is baffling . Is the issue the same on all channels ? So delaying live TV and replaying from the time shift buffer is fine. This is a bit for bit copy of the original broadcast so very mysterious. Try at least one channel from each multiplex from your local transmitter
Clutching at straws now.
Do you have lcn’s in the 800s in your epg ?
Create a usb linux distro and boot from that. That should be independent of your PC hard drive.
Check your PM’s
Many thanks for your further response.
Some further observations on the issue.
Only HD channels are effected, all SD channels play normally.
Living in N.I. (border area) have access to RTE terrestrial broadcasts, their HD and SD channels all play normally (believe that RTE have maintained the DVB-T standard for their HD broadcasts as opposed to the DVB-T2 UK standard, hence the difference)
Yes, I do have 800 series program listing, that’s where the RTE transmissions reside, has always been the case well before the current issue.
To get around my current Linux Mint, no access issue, I’am booting from the USB drive I used to install Mint until I can figure out a solution to the dual HD boot issue.
I think it is related to a “running out of space” warning I received on the last HD normal run but can’t really think why this should be as Linux is installed on half a 500Gb. SSD partition the other partition being used for Win 10 general data, Win 10 being installed on a separate 128Gb M.2 SSD.
The dual boot has worked very well until yesterday, may have to re-install Linux Mint.
tiffy2 – 10 minutes ago »
Many thanks for your further response.
Some further observations on the issue.
Only HD channels are effected, all SD channels play normally.
Living in N.I. (border area) have access to RTE terrestrial broadcasts, their HD and SD channels all play normally (believe that RTE have maintained the DVB-T standard for their HD broadcasts as opposed to the DVB-T2 UK standard, hence the difference)
Yes, I do have 800 series program listing, that’s where the RTE transmissions reside, has always been the case well before the current issue.
To get around my current Linux Mint, no access issue, I’am booting from the USB drive I used to install Mint until I can figure out a solution to the dual HD boot issue.
I think it is related to a “running out of space” warning I received on the last HD normal run but can’t really think why this should be as Linux is installed on half a 500Gb. SSD partition the other partition being used for Win 10 general data, Win 10 being installed on a separate 128Gb M.2 SSD.
The dual boot has worked very well until yesterday, may have to re-install Linux Mint.
How odd. Set a recording from the epg. Wait 10 mins after recording starts, and then replay the recording (chasing playback). Can you get to the end of the programme without issues ?
Thinking about this a bit more it makes no sense.
Say you are watching a HD channel. The Video Data data is compressed using the H264AVC codec and the audio with aac (advanced audio codec).
SD channels use mpeg2 (same as DVD) and mpeg1 layer 2 audio (MP2) audio.
The tuner extracts these streams, This stream of data is digital so when you record it it is simply copied to a hard disk file. The file is exactly the same as the original transmission. The same applies to when the current tuner stores the live stream to the time shift buffer file.
That’s why true pvr’s record in exactly the same quality as the original broadcast.
This isn’t true for DVD recorders. The data is recoded, depending on the bitrate used the recording can be made smaller than the broadcast at the expense of quality.
The audio and video compression is removed within the box decoding module, the now much larger amount of data is transmitted over HDMI to the display device.
The same bit of the box handles the audio and video decoding process. The only difference is where the data come from. It is either the live tuner output, the time shift buffer file or the actual recording file.
How can the same data produce problems when delivered direct from the tuner rather than from a exact copy from the box HDD.
Answers on a postcard please.
I can only think it’s a issue in the direct signal path from tuner output to decoding module in.
The playback of an entire programme succesfully using chasing playback might help to confirm this hypothesis.
Carried out the recording scenarion exactly as you directed in your previous post.
After 10 minutes into the scheduled (HD) recording started playing while still recording, absolutely no issues experienced during the remainder of the 1 hour program.
After completion, the recorded program was also perfect and played without issue.
Definately a strange issue which I have not seen recorded to date, with your level of knowledge on the subject by comparison to my very limited Linux system knowledge, I can only surmise that there is an issue with decoding a live DVB-T2 (only) data stream which certainly will not be easily fixed, the recorder is close to 4 years old now and certainly well beyond warranty.
With what appears to be full appreciation of the issue now I can live with the limitations currently imposed and accept the work arounds while I decide on a replacement for the recorder.
tiffy2 – 23 minutes ago »
Carried out the recording scenarion exactly as you directed in your previous post.
After 10 minutes into the scheduled (HD) recording started playing while still recording, absolutely no issues experienced during the remainder of the 1 hour program.
After completion, the recorded program was also perfect and played without issue.
Definately a strange issue which I have not seen recorded to date, with your level of knowledge on the subject by comparison to my very limited Linux system knowledge, I can only surmise that there is an issue with decoding a live DVB-T2 (only) data stream which certainly will not be easily fixed, the recorder is close to 4 years old now and certainly well beyond warranty.
With what appears to be full appreciation of the issue now I can live with the limitations currently imposed and accept the work arounds while I decide on a replacement for the recorder.
None of this Linux related.
It cannot be related to the modulation used. If it was the recordings would be affected as well. In fact you would get nothing.
Are SD channels equally affected as well ?
DVB-T2 is backwards compatible with DVB-T. In fact if you connect a digital modulator to a totally seperate HDMI source, These devices produce a single HD DVB-T single channel MUX using the UHF carrier of your choice, that Humax Freeview-HD pvrs can tune and record, just like RTE.
eg
Any device with DVB-T2 capability can work with DVB-T because the standard was designed to be backwards compatible even if the source is HD. DVB-S2 (satellite is the same). There are HD channels on Freesat that still use DVB-S.
So your RTE channel(s) on 800+ is not the issue. This would only affect the series/ accurate recording system for UK transmitters, though manual recordings for RTE should work just fine.
None of this has any bearing on the breakup of live TV be it SD or HD or with DVB-T or DVB-T2 modulation.
Still not sure if the problem is restricted to only RTE channels. If so there is likely not a issue with your box. If so a new box won’t fix.
Not familiar with RTE terrestrial DVB-T transmission standards. eg bandwidth gap between Mux, FEC settings or some other change.
Perhaps some change in transmission parameters have created issues with UK specced DVB-T kit.
Perhaps ask if others using UK Humax or other makes in the borders area have similar issues.
Quote: Are SD channels equally affected as well ?
No, as reported earlier all SD channels play perfectly live as do RTE SD and HD channels.
I am totally impressed by your knowledge of the subject and very much appreciate you taking the time to impart to a less informed person.
I’am certainly stumped and resigned to the fact that the recorder is now past it’s best and will have to be retired shortly so please don’t spend any more of your valuable time on the issue unless you absolutely wish to do so.
tiffy2 – 12 minutes ago »
Quote: Are SD channels equally affected as well ?
No, as reported earlier all SD channels play perfectly live as do RTE SD and HD channels.
I am totally impressed by your knowledge of the subject and very much appreciate you taking the time to impart to a less informed person.
I’am certainly stumped and resigned to the fact that the recorder is now past it’s best and will have to be retired shortly so please don’t spend any more of your valuable time on the issue unless you absolutely wish to do so.
So all UK based SD or HD channels create the live TV issue, but not the RTE ones. Is that correct ?
Don’t worry about the time.
The HDR- 1800/2000T are still still current recorders so Humax should at least provide support for what is still a current machine.
https://uk.humaxdigital.com/product/hdr-2000t/
https://uk.humaxdigital.com/product/hdr-1800t/
Your box has shown no hardware faults, so basically looks like a firmware bug possibly revealed by your geographic location. That should not create issues when tuned to UK transmitters as is yours.
Quote: So all UK based SD or HD channels create the live TV issue, but not the RTE ones. Is that correct ?
Apologies if I have not made this clear:
All UK based HD channels give the live TV (video & audio stuttering) issue.
None of the UK based SD channels exibit this issue.
All RTE based SD & HD channels display (and sound) normal, no issues.
To the best of my knowledge, RTE HD transmissions differ from UK based transmissions in that RTE have not adopted the DVB-T2 standard so leading me to conclude that the issue with my recorder is somehow associated with processing the DVB-T2 format data as all SD transmissions (and RTE HD transmissions) work normally from UK or RTE based sources and only UK based HD (DVB-T2) transmissions are manifesting the issue.
I will be away from home for a few days but will certainly submit a request for assistance to Humax on my return, can’t do any harm although not very hopeful judging by general forum feedback.
Can’t remember if I mentioned earlier but I did go through the process of re-loading firmware even though I was already on the latest revision, made no difference.
Very similar to the issue I reported :-
https://myhumax.org/forum/topic/4000t-and-2000t-sound-issues
It has not happened recently but now I have posted thus, I am sure it will return.
tiffy2 – 9 hours ago »
Quote: So all UK based SD or HD channels create the live TV issue, but not the RTE ones. Is that correct ?
Apologies if I have not made this clear:
All UK based HD channels give the live TV (video & audio stuttering) issue.
None of the UK based SD channels exibit this issue.
All RTE based SD & HD channels display (and sound) normal, no issues.
To the best of my knowledge, RTE HD transmissions differ from UK based transmissions in that RTE have not adopted the DVB-T2 standard so leading me to conclude that the issue with my recorder is somehow associated with processing the DVB-T2 format data as all SD transmissions (and RTE HD transmissions) work
normally from UK or RTE based sources and only UK based HD (DVB-T2) transmissions are manifesting the issue.
I will be away from home for a few days but will certainly submit a request for assistance to Humax on my return, can’t do any harm although not very hopeful judging by general forum feedback.
Can’t remember if I mentioned earlier but I did go through the process of re-loading firmware even though I was already on the latest revision, made no difference.
What signal strength and quality do you get on both the RTE HD and SD channels.
I have seen your post re the UK channels which as Martin says look fine. Be interesting to compare the RTE channel figures.
SSThing – 1 day ago »
Very similar to the issue I reported :-
https://myhumax.org/forum/topic/4000t-and-2000t-sound-issues
It has not happened recently but now I have posted thus, I am sure it will return.
Yes, similar except that my issue effects audio & video and has been proven to be an issue only on UK, HD format transmissions, works perfectly on RTE, HD transmissions which incorporate a different standard as previously mentioned.
Not an issue on any SD transmissions !
Quote: What signal strength and quality do you get on both the RTE HD and SD channels.
On RTE SD transponder, 75/100 (Strength/Quality)
On RTE HD transponder, 79/100 (Strength/Quality)
Re-tested UK transmissions:
On SD transponders, 54/100 (Strength/Quality)
On HD transponder, 67/100 (Strength/Quality)
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