HomeRun HDHR3-US video issues - solved

[00derek]

HDHR3-US HDHomeRun Dual
Windows 7
Windows Media Center

I've been using the HomeRun tuner for about 8 years to record OTA TV. I never had to bother with firmware updates, it worked pretty reliably until a few months ago.

The problem now is the video is freezing; starting/stopping continuously. On live TV as well as recordings. But only using WMC. I looked at the video on the HDHome Run app (let's you watch live TV) and it's fine. I did a firmware update and re-ran the set-up program, but still freezing in WMC.

I have the EPG123 and Schedules Direct set-up - since about a year ago. But freezing only started 2-3 months ago.

Anyone else seeing this and what's the solution?

I submitted a help ticket with Silicon Dust

Thanks

[stuartm]

First thing to try is a packet loss test found here: https://info.hdhomerun.com/info/trouble ... acket_loss
If you are using wireless there may be interference or you may have a failing network component in the path between the PC and the HomeRun.

[00derek]

mmm not getting anything...

Can you show me an example from a cmd window?

This is what I'm getting - the test never starts

Code: Select all

C:\Windows\system32>"C:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun\hdhomerun_config" 10
3AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:8

C:\Windows\system32>"C:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun\hdhomerun_config" 10
3AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:8.1

C:\Windows\system32>"C:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun\hdhomerun_config" 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:8.1

C:\Windows\system32>root
'root' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.


c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config
Usage:
        hdhomerun_config discover
        hdhomerun_config <id> get help
        hdhomerun_config <id> get <item>
        hdhomerun_config <id> set <item> <value>
        hdhomerun_config <id> scan <tuner> [<filename>]
        hdhomerun_config <id> save <tuner> <filename>
        hdhomerun_config <id> upgrade <filename>

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config discover
hdhomerun device 103AE031 found at 169.254.174.3

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto 8.1
ERROR: invalid channel

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto 8
ERROR: invalid channel

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:8.1

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:8

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:CH8 - 3
ERROR: invalid channel

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:CH8
ERROR: invalid channel

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:CH8-3
ERROR: invalid channel

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:12

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:12.1

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 GET HELP
Usage:
        hdhomerun_config discover
        hdhomerun_config <id> get help
        hdhomerun_config <id> get <item>
        hdhomerun_config <id> set <item> <value>
        hdhomerun_config <id> scan <tuner> [<filename>]
        hdhomerun_config <id> save <tuner> <filename>
        hdhomerun_config <id> upgrade <filename>

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set tuner0 channel auto:8
ERROR: unknown getset variable

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner1/channel auto:8

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner1/channel auto:8.1

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner2/channel auto:8.1
ERROR: unknown getset variable

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:8.1

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:8

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:15

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:15.1

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>hdhomerun_config 103AE031 set /tuner0/channel auto:8

c:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun>

[stuartm]

I only have primes so I can't try a OTA packet loss test. However, if you haven't tried yet you might try using the physical channel number rather than virtual.

[00derek]

I've tried all kinds of numbers, but anyway I think the numbers are the same (physical v virtual - at least for my channels).

I pulled the other desktop out of the office and got WMC working up to the point where I could watch live TV on one channel - the video plays fine, no start/stop like on the HTPC. So it's got to be the computer.

I'm going to re-install Windows and see what happens.

So much effort just to watch TV - If the wife didn't insist on watching Sunday political shows with no ads I wouldn't have to do this sh**.

[stuartm]

One difference between WMC and the HD Homerun app is that WMC always buffers the stream on the recording disk. If the app is working properly and WMC is not then you may be having problems with your disk that you use for recordings.
Also, looking back at the packet loss test attempts you posted, I only see you doing the channel set command. The test does not start till you issue the 2nd (save) command.

[00derek]

I was wondering about that - so WMC "live TV" is still coming off the hard drive. I could probably save the live TV file location to a different drive. Without re-installing windows

DUH I see that now - "C:\Program Files\Silicondust\HDHomeRun\hdhomerun_config" FFFFFFFF save /tuner0 null

Thank you!

[stuartm]

You should be able to change your recorded TV location easily, IIRC it's a settable location from a WMC menu somewhere. To reduce wear, long ago I actually changed the live TV buffer location to point to a RAMdisk. The down side of doing that is that to make it fit I had to reduce the buffer size so pause/resume of live TV is more limited, however I never use that anyway.

[00derek]

I cleaned up the C: drive from about 10% free space to 50% free space - deleted unneeded files, moved large files temporarily, uninstalled/reinstalled WMC, turned off antivirus...nothing helped. Even changed Recorded TV folder to a second hard drive. Nope.

Re-installed Windows from a factory image; it took all day to get all the W7 updates, EPG set-up etc., but now it's as good as new, no more video issues. Just another data point that says no matter what you do you will eventually benefit from re-installing Windows

[StinkyImp]

Just another data point that says no matter what you do you will eventually benefit from re-installing Windows

My .02 cents.

I used to believe that until I had to do it one too many times. Now I clone my primary drive onto a duplicate drive once a month. The cloning process takes less than 15 minutes through a USB connection. Now if I need to reinstall I simply unplug the "corrupt" Windows drive and plug in the cloned "uncorrupted" Windows drive. The swap process takes less than 5 minutes and I'm back in business.

Something to consider...