T2 USB Tuner Pixelation Issue

[sthomp31]

Hi all,

I've had my T2 for a few years now and all has been fine until recently. I started noticing random recordings were pixelated. They would start fine but about 5 to 10 minutes in they would start to pixelate in small sections of the picture. The pixilation would slowly become more frequent and covering more of the screen. Checking the same channel an hour or so after the recording and the same channel had no issue. I initially didn't notice a pattern but saw the issue again last night while I was recording three shows simultaneously, all on different networks. I noticed tuner A and B networks were fine, but tuner C network was pixelated. I was recording three shows simultaneously again tonight and saw the same issue.
I checked the signal strength on both AB and CD on each of the recording channels and they were both 99% on every channel.
I also checked the cable connections on the back and they are connected as they should be and I see no cable break.
Do I have a faulty USB tuner?
Are there any other tests I can perform to pinpoint the issue further?
Should I force the T2 to use the USB tuner as primary to test? If so, how?

Cheers
Scott

[Grumpy_Geoff]

See 'T2 picture breakup (as passthrough tuner and in recording)' - viewtopic.php?f=50&t=10878

What firmware are you running? Tuner recovery has been in the beta firmwares since August last year.
If you're running 20190207 general release firmware then there should be no persistent image issues using the Beyonwiz USB tuner dongle, provided that timeshift is enabled. Minor glitching can still occur.

The alternative Rafael Micro/Realtek-chipped unit doesn't have this issue.

[sthomp31]

Not sure what the specific firmware version is but under the information/about section I see it was last upgraded in late 2016.
Looks like I'm due a firmware update.

I found where to set the preferred tuner so made it tuner C.
With no recordings happening I had no pixilation issues on tuner C, however I just flipped through the channels and didn't stay on a single channel for more than about 1 minute.

I'll try the firmware update.
Thanks.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

The pixelation issue is not conditional on recording. The issue is also not time dependent; it can occur after only a few minutes, a few hours, or a few days. When "bad stuff happens" then it's all over red rover until you change broadcasters to force a retune (which is what the tuner recovery code does).

[sthomp31]

Thanks. I'll do the firmware upgrade. Given its a major one and some effort required I won't be able to get to it until the weekend.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

Late 2016 would probably make it the 20160817 4.4-series firmware. If your T2 is networked then you can get to your settings file to print 'em out to base your new setup on -
Use Windows File Explorer to navigate the T2's 'Root' share to get to the settings file (Root>>etc>>enigma2>>settings),
Or via FTP if you wish (/etc/enigma2/settings)
Or via OpenWebif and dump on http://beyonwizt2/api/settings or http://beyonwizt2/web/settings).

Same for your waiting timers in /etc/enigma2/timers.xml via File Explorer, or take some photos from the GUI list, or screenshots from OWIF timers list http://beyonwizt2 Main>>Timers (or screen scraping them).
If using IceTV then just resend all timers.
AutoTimer definitions are in /etc/enigma2/autotimer.xml

It doesn't take that long to start from scratch - you should have your firmware loaded and settings done in about 30-45 mins.

[sthomp31]

I did the upgrade on Sunday and then waited for the triple-recording to occur that night.
I checked all three recordings and I still get the pixilation issue on the content recorded via the USB tuner.

Is it likely to be a faulty USB tuner?
Any other thoughts?

[sthomp31]

PS. Since the upgrade I now get no audio on some mkv content.
The same content worked on the older OS version.

It appears to be limited to dolby digital plus audio.
Many other formats work fine.

Note - I am sending the audio to the TV, not to my AMP (which I haven't tested given the hour and everyone else is in bed)
I checked the AV settings and I have downmix from AC3 and AAC both set to ON.
Am I missing a setting?

[Gully]

It appears to be limited to dolby digital plus audio.

If you are posting problems like this you need to post the actual version of firmware as latest version can mean a few different things and also a mediainfo report of the file in question.

Though having said that IIRC dolby digital plus isn't a supported audio format so won't work. In which case you'll need to recode it.

[MrQuade]

PS. Since the upgrade I now get no audio on some mkv content.
The same content worked on the older OS version.

In the latest firmware, multi-channel audio is no longer downmixed to stereo, but can now be downmixed to multi-channel PCM.
Your TV may be having trouble with that. See how your Amp fares, or try turning off AC3 downmixing for a trial.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

I did the upgrade on Sunday and then waited for the triple-recording to occur that night.
I checked all three recordings and I still get the pixilation issue on the content recorded via the USB tuner.

Is it likely to be a faulty USB tuner?
Any other thoughts?

How sure are you the pixelated recording was made using the USB tuner? Perhaps you viewed the service/network at the time and observed the infobar tuner ID?
Even after the recording has completed, there are some other ways to find the recording tuner ID -

• view the recording's timer log entries; assuming the completed timer is still listed, press INFO on the timer entry in the list. The tuner will be shown in the resulting log entries.
• in the media selection listing, bring up the 'Movie tag filter' popup (default button is RADIO). Then locate the 'Tuner-C' tag entry that'll be listed towards the end and press OK to see all of the recordings with that tag. If the recording is listed then it was made on the USB tuner.
• use File Commander to view the recordings list. Locate the recording's *.ts.meta file and view it (OK or TEXT). The line prefixed with '0005:' will have the tuner ID (as Tuner-X) amongst the tag entries.

You don't need to wait until you have three recordings from different broadcast networks to exercise the USB tuner, as you can force its use by setting it as the preferred tuner in the Tuner allocation setup screen (MENU>>Setup>>Tuners>>Tuner allocation). Use LEFT/RIGHT to swap to Tuner C, then GREEN/Save. EXIT back to live TV.
Change the service being shown on live TV to one from a different broadcaster, as this will force a retune and the use of the preferred tuner as set.

Check the picture quality and infobar details for signal strength/quality for the different broadcasters using the USB tuner.
Press OK from live TV, the USB tuner should be indicated with a green letter C towards the right-hand end of the infobar (next to the signal strength [top]/quality [bottom] bars).
I think it's easier if you press OK again whilst the infobar is showing to bring up the detailed (second) infobar, as that and the bottom infobar remain on screen. Then cycle through the services using CH+/- and check the signal strength and quality.

How long did the pixelation last on the recording from Sunday night? Perhaps the broadcaster was at fault?
You can kick off a long-running instant recording using the USB tuner to see if it's the issue.

Once the signal has been checked, set the preferred tuner back to its default of 'auto'.

[sthomp31]

Hi Geoff,

Great info and good question. I am not sure THIS TIME which tuner was used as I didn't check at the time of the recording.
I have checked during other times and each time it was Tuner C.

So I attempted to use your three options to check after the fact.
INFO on recording - it showed a bunch of info but not the tuner
Movie TAG filter - I couldn't see Tuner-X (ie. any Tuner) as an option. It just gave me either ALL, or the various names of shows I have recorded.
I've never used FILE COMMANDER and unfortunately couldn't find it so I have no info from this one.

Regarding your question about how long the pixilation lasts - it started a few minutes into the recording and continued for the length of the recording (90 minutes). This is the same as prior to the firmware upgrade.
BTW I am using 17.5 build 20171204

I am home early today so have time to test. I have set Tuner C as the preferred tuner. Then changed channels until I saw tuner C was chosen.
I left it on the same channel for about 30 minutes and no pixilation.
I then set a recording for that same channel and left for another 30 minutes, still no pixilation.
I then added recordings on other networks to use all three tuners. Still no pixilation.
Damn. I was hoping to see the same pattern. All channels recorded were HD, which has been the case when I saw pixilation.

Also, signal strength has been either 99% or 100% on all tuners.
When I saw the pixilation issue it was still getting 99% signal strength.

Cheers
Scott

[prl]

I've never used FILE COMMANDER and unfortunately couldn't find it so I have no info from this one.

FileCommander is run when you use MENU>Files / Sources from live TV.

It doesn't have the world's most user-friendly interface, though it has been improved a bit in the last year.

[MrQuade]

I've never used FILE COMMANDER and unfortunately couldn't find it so I have no info from this one.

That's just the name for the "Files /sources" entry that you see in the main menu.

Also, signal strength has been either 99% or 100% on all tuners.
When I saw the pixilation issue it was still getting 99% signal strength.

How about Signal Quality? 99% is good for strength as it suggests that the tuner isn't being overpowered, but quality is usually a better indication of the signal integrity.

The USB tuner pixelation issue is not a direct result of a bad signal either. I'm not wizardly enough to fully understand the issue, but this glitch only affects the USB tuners since their drivers are not able to recover from some particular kind of glitch or odd bit of data in the broadcast information. This is why it recovers as soon as you change channel, and it basically "resets" the fault.

[sthomp31]

Hi guys,
I went away from the TV to write my earlier post and when I came back to the TV I now see the pixilation issue.
I confirmed I am on tuner C and signal strength is 100%.
How do I check for signal quality?

[prl]

How do I check for signal quality?

There are two coloured bars with a percentage in that part of the infobar. The top one is signal strength & the bottom one is signal quality.

[sthomp31]

Aha. The top bar is solid on 100% and the bottom is changing between 98% and 100%.
Mostly on 100%

[sthomp31]

And I am getting blocky pixilation across the screen almost constantly, which it has been doing since I started seeing it this evening.

[MrQuade]

BTW I am using 17.5 build 20171204

Did you upgrade to that on the weekend?

Do you have online updates turned off? You should have been offered the latest firmware update which will have fixed the USB pixellation issue (assuming that this is what you are seeing).

The latest (as of this post) USB image can be found here:
viewtopic.php?f=45&t=13155

[Grumpy_Geoff]

Regarding your question about how long the pixilation lasts - it started a few minutes into the recording and continued for the length of the recording (90 minutes). This is the same as prior to the firmware upgrade.
BTW I am using 17.5 build 20171204

No wonder, no wonder - it's Chateau Tanunda, aged in oak by Seppelts. That firmware is way too old -

• it doesn't have the pixelating tuner retuning code
• it doesn't have the tuner tag code

Load the 20190207 firmware - 17.5-20190207 promoted to production release

[sthomp31]

Yes, I upgraded to that firmware on the weekend. I assumed it was the latest.
I've got background check set to ON and check every HOUR

[sthomp31]

I assume that is NOT a major release update from what I am on now o I can run the online update.
Is that correct?
I have backed up my settings

[MrQuade]

It's a pretty major update that incorporates a number of quality of life improvements. I'm not sure why your update check isn't finding it.

The announcement post on the forums was never elevated to a "sticky" thread, so I understand how the USB image would have gone unnoticed though

Do you get any errors if you manually check for an update?

[Grumpy_Geoff]

20171204 was a beta release. If you haven't switched to the beta update feed then there'll be no update prompt (AFAIK).

A later beta update accidentally introduced firmware package bloat. I don't think there's any way around the bloat except for loading a later USB image, so you may as well load 20190207 as linked.

I can't remember when the settings backup location changed, so I can't be sure if you'll be offered a settings restore.

[Gully]

It's a pretty major update that incorporates a number of quality of life improvements. I'm not sure why your update check isn't finding it.

The announcement post on the forums was never elevated to a "sticky" thread, so I understand how the USB image would have gone unnoticed though

Do you get any errors if you manually check for an update?

That post of Peter's is definitely a sticky though under topics not announcements but nevertheless at the top.

I wouldn't think with all the changes there would be an online update from 17.5 build 20171204 especially with an official release of version 17.5 build 20180417 before that.

I think the best thing to do is a backup and USB update to 17.5-20190207.

[sthomp31]

Just completed the update via USB and could restore my settings.
I've got MasterChef and House Rules just about to start recording so will add in a third once they start. I want to do it after as the girls in my family have been complaining about the pixilation issue on their shows. Don't want to risk that unnecessarily.
I'll just pick a random show on another network and let that run for the hour.
Fingers crossed but it is sounding promising.

PS. I also re-checked those shows with Dolby Digital Plus audio and they now play the sound - BONUS !!!!

Thanks to everyone for your help this evening. Your quick responses have allowed me to work through this issue tonight.
I'll post later on tonight once I check the recordings.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

I've got MasterChef and House Rules just about to start recording so will add in a third once they start. I want to do it after as the girls in my family have been complaining about the pixilation issue on their shows. Don't want to risk that unnecessarily.
I'll just pick a random show on another network and let that run for the hour.

It's possible that MasterChef or House Rules may be recording from the USB tuner. You can check that by pressing INFO on the timer, or zap to the broadcaster and check the lit tuner ID.
With the retuning code, the pixelation should last only a second or two (it'll recover, unlike in prior f/w versions).

[sthomp31]

I checked which recording was running on each tuner while they were recording. MasterChef ended up on Tuner C because I was watching a different network from Tuner A when the two recordings started. I the started a recording on another network.
I checked all three recordings after they completed and NO PIXILATION !!!!!!!

Thanks again to everyone who helped me work through this.