[mythtv-users] Pixelation/Bad Recordings HDHR Prime -- I am at my wits end

[Chris Porter]

I suspect there is interference problems or the input into your house from
Comcast is not consistent.
On Aug 27, 2013 6:22 PM, "Captain Hook" <captainhookzero at gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> On Tuesday, August 27, 2013, Chris Porter wrote:
>
>>
>> On Aug 27, 2013 5:13 PM, "Captain Hook" <captainhookzero at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > That strength is without the booster. Here is more info on the booster
>> if you're interested. Looks like the gain is 10.2-11 dB.
>> http://www.motorolasolutions.com/web/Business/Products/Cable%20Broadband/RF%20Amplifiers/BDA100/_Documents/staticfile/BDA_Catalog_Specifications.pdf
>> >
>> > I will definitely take your advice. My plan is to move the HDHR around
>> and see what the readings are in different areas.
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>> >
>> > On Tuesday, August 27, 2013, Chris Porter wrote:
>> >>
>> >> On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 2:56 PM, Captain Hook <
>> captainhookzero at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 5:51 PM, Chris Porter <hoodlum7 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >>>>
>> >>>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 2:30 PM, Captain Hook <
>> captainhookzero at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 5:22 PM, Chris Porter <hoodlum7 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 2:15 PM, Captain Hook <
>> captainhookzero at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> I am not sure how much bandwidth the packet loss test attempted
>> to push.  This issue occurs when there is only a single recording
>> happening, if that makes any difference.
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> Here is a link to a diagram of my network.  Yes, my TrendNET 8
>> port gigabit switch is just an unmanaged switch.  I have a Sonicwall
>> firewall and a separate Meraki access point (also both connected to the
>> switch).  My frontend has another switch connected (also a TrendNET), but
>> that is upstairs.  For what it's worth, my brand new frontend does act
>> laggy at times with fast forward and loading the recordings screen but this
>> is fairly rare.
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> http://s21.postimg.org/iuqsauaif/Coax_Wiring_Home.jpg
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> The splitter just prior to my HDHR Prime has alternated between
>> Monster Cable splitter, Motorola 2 port signal booster, and a splitter I
>> obtained from Comcast years ago.  All three exhibit this issue.
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 5:09 PM, Chris Porter <hoodlum7 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 1:57 PM, Captain Hook <
>> captainhookzero at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>>> Background
>> >>>>>>>>>  I have been having intermittent issues with recording quality
>> with my HDHomeRun Prime with Comcast cablecard since the inception of this
>> project. I am really remembering why I gave this HTPC nonsense up years
>> ago, but I'm already significantly invested in this at this point and I am
>> determined to see it through.
>> >>>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>>> Issues
>> >>>>>>>>>  Intermittent issues with recordings on MythTV. Some recordings
>> will be perfect, others will have pixelation periodically, others will have
>> heavy pixelation, yet others will be so bad that the recordings stop during
>> playback. The same channel will not behave the same twice--sometimes things
>> are fine, other times they are terrible. This seems to happen on any
>> channel and do not occur at any particular time of the day or during any
>> other operations or recordings on my network.
>> >>>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>>> During playback the pixelation occurs at exactly the >
>> _______________________________________________
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>> >
>>
>> Okay, so your signal strength is at a negative. If you amplify that you
>> are amplifying a poor signal.  I suspect If you hooked the HDHR directly to
>> your splitter #1 this value would be in the positive.
>>
>> FYI: a perfect reference signal is 0.0 dBmV. You want to keep your signal
>> as close to the reference as possible. If you go too high you can get the
>> same kind of problems. Most digital devices consider values between -12 and
>> +16 dBmV as acceptable.
>>
>> If you do not feel comfortable replacing splitter #1 with your amp, then
>> I believe you would get the most value placing the amp directly after it.
>> Then run any additional splitters off the amp.
>>
>
> This makes perfect sense. I think I am going to put the amplifier in place
> of the first splitter installed by Comcast. It is currently outside but I
> can easily bring it inside.
>
> Oddly enough my signal is now showing:
> Signal Strength 100% (-0.5 dBmV)Signal Quality 100% (36.8 dB)
> Which really seems to lend credibility to my "intermittent" description.
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