grahamlthompson – 16 hours ago  » 

I might be jumping the gun here. This morning I noted that the HDMI out socket on the aura is located next to the RF sockets.

I curved the hdmi cable away from the rf cabling to form a loop, Curved it back over the rf cabling as far away as possible from the rf connectors.

HDMI cabling radiates RF in the energy band and the frequency varies with the current hdmi output.

So far not seen any picture breakup at all and this usually starts as it starts to get dark and effect live TV and recording output. Not noticed any on paused content but having an oled if going to pause for a significant period I turn the screen off on the TV.

The TV has voice control the command screen off turns off the screen in 5 seconds. pressing 1 turns it on.

Update no pixellation up to box shutdown yesterday evening.

Manclad – 46 mins ago  » 

I was watching Bloodlines last night on BBC1HD on live tv and had to pause it for a minute, so when I came back and pressed play I was the watching it on delayed recording. Sure as anything within a few seconds it was once again giving bursts of pixelation every few minutes.

This morning, I’m watching ITV1HD, and have purposely paused the live TV and hit play again so I’m watching it on delay…. and not one single error.

Someone in the thread had commented this problem only occurs in the evenings… any thoughts on this observation that the problem is related to evenings?

I had some pixelation on Live TV yesterday evening. Not sure why you pause the live TV. I can’t see this having any effect. When you see it the problem is already in the timeshift buffer. This is a direct bit for bit for bit copy of the live stream sent to the unit mpeg decoders. If you rewind the buffer during pause you should be able to locate the flawed stream data.

As it sometimes only happens once or twice in a single programme not surprised you don’t see it anymore. Nothing to do with pausing the content. Just a coincidence I reckon.

Manclad – 10 mins ago  » 

grahamlthompson – 25 mins ago  » 

Manclad – 46 mins ago  » 

I was watching Bloodlines last night on BBC1HD on live tv and had to pause it for a minute, so when I came back and pressed play I was the watching it on delayed recording. Sure as anything within a few seconds it was once again giving bursts of pixelation every few minutes.

This morning, I’m watching ITV1HD, and have purposely paused the live TV and hit play again so I’m watching it on delay…. and not one single error.

Someone in the thread had commented this problem only occurs in the evenings… any thoughts on this observation that the problem is related to evenings?

I had some pixelation on Live TV yesterday evening. Not sure why you pause the live TV. I can’t see this having any effect. When you see it the problem is already in the timeshift buffer. This is a direct bit for bit for bit copy of the live stream sent to the unit mpeg decoders. If you rewind the buffer during pause you should be able to locate the flawed stream data.

As it sometimes only happens once or twice in a single programme not surprised you don’t see it anymore. Nothing to do with pausing the content. Just a coincidence I reckon.

Hi. I pause the live TV simply to go put the kettle on, go for a pee, or whatever. So when I come back I hit play and I carry on watching from where I left off. But obviously, from this point, I’m watching the program time shifted, and sure as heck, I start seeing the incidents of brief pixelation.

Just FYI…I’m trying to ensure I’m using the correct terminology when I’m trying to describe this issue I’m seeing. So, for example, hitting the pause button, then hitting play button (same button) is what I call Time Shift Recording even though its not a purposely made recording, and I realise I’m just using the buffering ability of the box. Also, watching live TV on the Aura is (seemingly) using the “Live TV” app to watch live TV!!! To me i just am watching digital TV, but with the Aura box… one is using an app. Slightly confusing.

I will try and explain a bit more.

Firstly Live TV is a seperate android app.

Secondly the tuner extracts a stream of digital data (zeros and ones) from the multiplex you are using related to the TV channel you are using.

A Multiplex uses a single UHF (analogue) carrier just like analogue TV. That is why there is no such thing as a digital aerial. The difference is in the way the carrier is modulated to carry video and audio data. Digital TV uses digital rather than analogue data.

The tuner subtracts a copy of the analogue carrier producing a series of zeros and ones for the channel you are watching (it can actually do this for 2 channels at the same time (hence you can record two channels from the same multiplex using only a single tuner).

The output is stream of zeros and ones. That’s exactly what a hard disk is designed to record.

The signal has a degree of error correction built in. If the issue affecting the decoding exceeds the error correction capability the on screen image and any recording produces frame break up.

All the time the box is on the stream is copied to any recording you may have in progress if you are recording. It is also buffered to a seperate file on the hard disk.

This allow two functions. One creating a complete recording of the current programme (automatically if you were tuned to it when the programme started.

The pointers to the part of the buffer where the current programme started are reset automatically to point at this location. If you press the instant recording button the content of the buffer to the point where you pressed the record button is instantly converted into a regular recording which will continue adding to the content until the programme is completed.

Two allows you to pause and rewind to any point within the current buffer.

If you see a corrupted frame on screen by the time you press the pause button it will already be in the buffer file (and also in any recording in progress on the same channel which you may or may not be watching. Of course if not watching you will only find out when you watch the recording.

It is thought that the aura tuners are very sensitive which in one way is good because they should be able to hang on to a weak signal.

The downside is if the signal level is too high it can clip the peaks off the analogue carrier to a point where the digital error correction fails.

It’s easy to reduce the signal level using a cheap plug in attenuator.

Post what the signal diagnostics say the channel you having issues with say.

Rather than watch the programme live if you are recording it. Especially on channels with ads start watching the recording 15 mins or so after it has started (chasing playback). You can then skip the ads using the programmeable skip keys.

You can also safely pause and release as many times as you want this way.

If you try and pause live TV close to the programme end you may lose the end. Remember the buffer resets when a new programme starts.

davidrew – 8 mins ago  » 

grahamlthompson – 1 hour ago  » 

Manclad – 46 mins ago  » 

I was watching Bloodlines last night on BBC1HD on live tv and had to pause it for a minute, so when I came back and pressed play I was the watching it on delayed recording. Sure as anything within a few seconds it was once again giving bursts of pixelation every few minutes.

This morning, I’m watching ITV1HD, and have purposely paused the live TV and hit play again so I’m watching it on delay…. and not one single error.

Someone in the thread had commented this problem only occurs in the evenings… any thoughts on this observation that the problem is related to evenings?

I had some pixelation on Live TV yesterday evening. Not sure why you pause the live TV. I can’t see this having any effect. When you see it the problem is already in the timeshift buffer. This is a direct bit for bit for bit copy of the live stream sent to the unit mpeg decoders. If you rewind the buffer during pause you should be able to locate the flawed stream data.

As it sometimes only happens once or twice in a single programme not surprised you don’t see it anymore. Nothing to do with pausing the content. Just a coincidence I reckon.

For a bit of research, a quick question. Do you use wi-fi or a hardwired LAN ethernet connection to the Aura?

Many thanks.

Wired via a pair of 300Mbps home plugs. All kit in rack shares this link using a unmanaged network switch – NETGEAR 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Switch,

davidrew – 18 mins ago  » 

grahamlthompson – 16 mins ago  » 

davidrew – 8 mins ago  » 

grahamlthompson – 1 hour ago  » 

Manclad – 46 mins ago  » 

I was watching Bloodlines last night on BBC1HD on live tv and had to pause it for a minute, so when I came back and pressed play I was the watching it on delayed recording. Sure as anything within a few seconds it was once again giving bursts of pixelation every few minutes.

This morning, I’m watching ITV1HD, and have purposely paused the live TV and hit play again so I’m watching it on delay…. and not one single error.

Someone in the thread had commented this problem only occurs in the evenings… any thoughts on this observation that the problem is related to evenings?

I had some pixelation on Live TV yesterday evening. Not sure why you pause the live TV. I can’t see this having any effect. When you see it the problem is already in the timeshift buffer. This is a direct bit for bit for bit copy of the live stream sent to the unit mpeg decoders. If you rewind the buffer during pause you should be able to locate the flawed stream data.

As it sometimes only happens once or twice in a single programme not surprised you don’t see it anymore. Nothing to do with pausing the content. Just a coincidence I reckon.

For a bit of research, a quick question. Do you use wi-fi or a hardwired LAN ethernet connection to the Aura?

Many thanks.

Wired via a pair of 300Mbps home plugs. All kit in rack shares this link using a unmanaged network switch – NETGEAR 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Switch,

Thanks Graham. Interesting, another hardwired LAN user with picture issues. I was asking because since I disconnected my hardwired LAN and moved to Wi-Fi over a week ago, based on some evidence and discussions in other threads, I’ve had none of the pixilation issues I’d been seeing since I first had the Aura last November.

I’m sort of conducting and unofficial straw-poll to see if hardwired LAN is possibly causing pixilation issues. I may be completely off-base but I’m coming around to the conclusion that somthing is going on with the hardwired LAN connection handling that causes a brief knock-on to the signal decoder leading to the momentary signal drops.

Would be interesting to know how Manclad has is Aura LAN connected.

Just for full disclosure I am part of the Beta Test Program so I am currently on the 13/03/2021 update.

I’ve always used Wi-fi. I get picture pixelation. Last night whilst watching “Rich House Poor House” on channel 5 (watching from the live recording and selected from recordings, I was not on channel 5) and behind the live program. Was very noticeable. I have also noticed that it occurs more in the evenings than during the day.

davidrew – 2 hours ago  » 

grahamlthompson – 16 mins ago  » 

davidrew – 8 mins ago  » 

grahamlthompson – 1 hour ago  » 

Manclad – 46 mins ago  » 

I was watching Bloodlines last night on BBC1HD on live tv and had to pause it for a minute, so when I came back and pressed play I was the watching it on delayed recording. Sure as anything within a few seconds it was once again giving bursts of pixelation every few minutes.

This morning, I’m watching ITV1HD, and have purposely paused the live TV and hit play again so I’m watching it on delay…. and not one single error.

Someone in the thread had commented this problem only occurs in the evenings… any thoughts on this observation that the problem is related to evenings?

I had some pixelation on Live TV yesterday evening. Not sure why you pause the live TV. I can’t see this having any effect. When you see it the problem is already in the timeshift buffer. This is a direct bit for bit for bit copy of the live stream sent to the unit mpeg decoders. If you rewind the buffer during pause you should be able to locate the flawed stream data.

As it sometimes only happens once or twice in a single programme not surprised you don’t see it anymore. Nothing to do with pausing the content. Just a coincidence I reckon.

For a bit of research, a quick question. Do you use wi-fi or a hardwired LAN ethernet connection to the Aura?

Many thanks.

Wired via a pair of 300Mbps home plugs. All kit in rack shares this link using a unmanaged network switch – NETGEAR 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Switch,

Thanks Graham. Interesting, another hardwired LAN user with picture issues. I was asking because since I disconnected my hardwired LAN and moved to Wi-Fi over a week ago, based on some evidence and discussions in other threads, I’ve had none of the pixilation issues I’d been seeing since I first had the Aura last November.

I’m sort of conducting and unofficial straw-poll to see if hardwired LAN is possibly causing pixilation issues. I may be completely off-base but I’m coming around to the conclusion that somthing is going on with the hardwired LAN connection handling that causes a brief knock-on to the signal decoder leading to the momentary signal drops.

Would be interesting to know how Manclad has is Aura LAN connected.

Just for full disclosure I am part of the Beta Test Program so I am currently on the 13/03/2021 update.

I use an ethernet cable from Aura to the BT Hub, not tried a wireless connection yet.

I noticed when Recording & ‘chase’ playing a prog on BBC1 HD whilst recording, no pixellation but a brief sound dropout at around 3 minutes in.

Then a slight stutter on the video (no sound dropout) when the “Completed Recording” box popped up.

When returning to the recording from the beginning again, no sound dropout and no picture stutter.

Signal strength at 68% through variable attenuator and 100% quality.

LAN connected, but will try Wi-Fi.

(Included in Beta testing & running latest 13/03 update)

Don’t know how this will be solved. Just watching master chef bbc 1 hd and the notification of another recording popped up and I got pixelation on master chef. I rewound and watched it again and pixelation at the same place. Quality 93%, strength 100%.