From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-path: Received: from hrndva-omtalb.mail.rr.com ([71.74.56.122]:28089 "EHLO hrndva-omtalb.mail.rr.com" rhost-flags-OK-OK-OK-OK) by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S1756518Ab2JQRyt (ORCPT ); Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:54:49 -0400 Message-ID: <507EF0E5.6030308@austin.rr.com> Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2012 12:54:45 -0500 From: Keith Pyle MIME-Version: 1.0 To: linux-media@vger.kernel.org Subject: Re: HD-PVR fails consistently on Linux, works on Windows References: <5063BD18.4060309@austin.rr.com> In-Reply-To: <5063BD18.4060309@austin.rr.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: linux-media-owner@vger.kernel.org List-ID: On 09/26/12 21:42, Keith Pyle wrote: > I recently purchased a Hauppauge HD-PVR (the 1212 version, label on > bottom 49001LF, Rev F2). I have consistent capture failures on Linux > where data from the device simply stops, generally within a few > minutes of starting a capture. Yet, the device works flawlessly on > Windows with the same USB and component cables, same power supply, and > same physical position. This suggests that the device itself has > acceptable power, is not overheating, etc. I'll detail below the > testing I've done thus far and would appreciate any suggestions on how > to further test or address the problem. > > The good news is that I have a highly reproducible failure on Linux, > but then that's the bad news too. > > Thanks. > > Keith > > -- Linux tests -- > I started trying to use the HD-PVR directly with my MythTV backend. I > have subsequently switched all of my testing to simple direct captures > from the /dev/video? device using /bin/cat to eliminate as many > variables as possible. > > I've done a large number of tests with combinations of the following: > > OS: gentoo 3.4.7, gentoo 3.5.4 > HD-PVR firmware: 1.5.7.0 (0x15), 1.7.1.30059 (0x1e) > Input resolution: fixed to 720p, fixed to 1080i, floating based on input > USB ports: motherboard ports on Intel DP45SG, motherboard ports on MSI > X58 Pro-E, ports on SIIG USB PCIe card > > Captures fail consistently. Here's some interesting new information. On noticing that the 3.6 kernel included several USB related commits, I updated the kernel of my test system (MSI X58 Pro-E) from 3.5.4 to 3.6.2. I ran a series of capture tests with firmware 0x1e and all other variables exactly as before - same USB cable, port, physical position, etc. I have 20 successful 1-hour captures and 1 failure. There are no logged messages for the failed capture but the timing coincides within a minute after initializing a wireless joystick on a different USB bus. I've been unable to reproduce this failure, so I cannot conclusively state that there is a correlation. The results of the kernel change are dramatic. Under 3.5.x and earlier, the failure rate for 1-hour captures was 100%. Most failed in less than 10 minutes. There were some instances of hard hangs on the HD-PVR (i.e., power cycle required). With 3.6.2, it is less than 5% failure. The one failure was a truncated recording. I am continuing capture tests on my test system to build more data. I will next be updating my MythTV backend to 3.6 and trying the capture tests on it since it has a different motherboard. It would be quite interesting if others with HD-PVR problems see similar results for 3.6.2 or better. Keith