Posts by VLouis

Quote from StoneWall

What I really want to preserve are the list of watched and in-progress shows. What is the best way to do that?

Hi,

Different Kodi versions use different media database, even if you will restore the video database created with LE 9.2 (Kodi v18 - Leia: MyVideos.116), will be ignored and the LE 10 will create a new DB (Kodi v19 - Matrix: MyVideos.119). Don't know if exist any tool to migrate-convert the database. More info you can find here: https://kodi.wiki/view/Databases

Don't know if in case of upgrade, from LE 9.2 to LE 10, the databases will be converted... Because in the LE 10 is with major changes, the upgrade not recommended. If you have time... maybe can try after LE-9.2 backup, to upgrade to LE10, find the database folder, save it, make a fresh LE10 install, restore the database folder...

Hi,

Another ways to check the stream coming from TVH server:

1. Install the Kodi to another device (PC, Android), install the TVHeadend client addon and try if the same issue appear.

2. Download the channel list as m3u playlist (browser: http://ip:9981/playlist - "TVH-IP" = IP of device where the Tvheadend server installed).

Try to open the channel with another video player (ex: VLC).

In the both case if the playback not perfect (interrupted sound or video), means the stream from TVHeadend server have errors (antenna signal quality?).

Quote from ghtester

I don't plan to try testing with Tvheadend 4.2 as with this random issue it would be just time wasting.

I don't think the issue ever happened with stream recording so the stream itself should be OK (need to say I use recording in rare cases).

Why the hell the player can't sometimes detect the live audio stream properly?

About trying the TVH 4.2... as you wish...

The AAC stream not so exotic in case of DVB-T2, I have found it in my setup in a few channels (even if I watching very seldom that channels), and didn't noticed same issue.

Also I checked your log, don't know if now is the same situation is present, but looks like you had the TVHeadend 4.2 and 4.3 too installed:

2021-11-09 03:57:13.212 T:1449 INFO <general>: CAddonMgr::FindAddons: service.tvheadend42 v9.80.11.125 installed

2021-11-09 03:57:13.212 T:1449 INFO <general>: CAddonMgr::FindAddons: service.tvheadend43 v10.80.2.102 installed

and:

Nov 09 04:26:20.700309 LE tvheadend[360]: TS: PRG-U/642MHz/Nova: AAC-LATM @ #274 Continuity counter error

....

Nov 09 04:26:27.350300 LE tvheadend[360]: tsfix: transport stream AAC-LATM, DTS discontinuity. DTS = 22256813, last = 22068651

....

You have a lot of transport stream AAC-LATM, DTS discontinuity and Continuity counter error, so trying with another version of TVH, another tuner, checking the antenna cable and connections... could be a good idea...

Hi,

I don't think to be a Kodi or Libreelec issue. It's something with PVR backend-frontend.

Please share some details about your device, TVHeadend(?) versions, if the server is on same RPi...

I'm using 3 RPi3's in local network, LE11, TVHeadend server 4.3, 3 tuners (2x DVB-C, 1x DVB-T2) and don't experienced any similar issue.

If you use the TVH server 4.3, maybe try the 4.2 to see if same issue produced. No need to uninstall the 4.3, only disable it in addon settings.

To verify if a frontend or backend (server) issue, try to install the Kodi on another device (laptop, phone-android) and check it.

About "write-caching" and 6TB NTFS... no idea. I used once for few hours a HDD as "File server". As I don't need big a storage, and for me was too anoying the noise of the drive... replaced with a cheap 32GB USB stick (now 128GB). Also anything what mechanically moving... wears out... (I'm an eficiency maniac ).

Another side, even if the data coruption will be almost eliminated, I don't think to be safe for data and hardware the "just flip the power switch" method. If the power go down when the HDD working (write cycle), is some chance to damage the HDD (head or disk fault). And losing some TB of data... Few years ago, I strugled a day to recover only 5GB of data (vacation pictures and movies) for a good friend from an defective HDD...

If you have power cuts (or use the power switch), maybe could be an idea to use an SSD (no moving parts ) for "active data" (TV recording, etc.) and once a day or week to move it to HDD. The HDD most of time can be in IDLE (hdparm), and the data copy/move can be resolved automatically with a cron job.

Quote from LybsterKodi

ExFAT looks like the answer, at least with my experiments with a 600GB USB drive.

ExFAT was developed for removable media. Probably the write cache is disabled if the system detect the exFAT partition.

You can check the write cache status in SSH terminal: hdparm -W /dev/sda (if sda is your USB "big" disk).

If not disabled by default, maybe is possible to disable the write cache: hdparm -W 0 /dev/sda - use it in autostart.sh.

I have an 128GB USB stick for media storage (exFAT), and this is in my case the default write cache status:

Quote from LybsterKodi

I've now tried with a couple of different disks, even formatted the smaller (600GB) one to Ext4 but still the same problem. Also tried plugging into the USB 2 port rather than the USB 3 - no difference.

Looks like I'll be sticking with the RPi3 setup.

Hi,

Did you tried another format type or only NTFS and Ext4?

I'm not an expert in this matter, but I think is used a write buffer for disk write. Maybe that buffer sometimes didn't written to the disk correctly (power issue or another bug?).

As I had issues with NTFS partitions in my PC under Linux (dual boot: W11 & Xubuntu for Android build environment), I'm using an ExFAT partition for data what I want to be accessible in the both OS. I you have some spare small disks, maybe is worth to try it.

That "advancedsettings.xml" options are valid for the disk write buffer too, or is possible to be disabled in other way?

Hi, do you really need simultaneous audio? I was in the same situation, HDMI+USB audio (now HDMI & I2S DAC ), basically using the USB/DAC for music and net radio. I had issues too with pulse audio, quality, sometimes works, sometimes not, struggled a lot to make to work stable. Now I'm using the "Audio Profiles" addon, what able to switch the audio output for different media format. If you don't need to have simultaneous audio (another challenge to synchronize the HDMI and the USB delay...), only different output for different type of media, try it. More info here: https://kodi.wiki/view/Add-on:Audio_Profiles

Hi,

Another thing what I experienced, with more or less same issue, was connected to display settings and the media FPS.

In my case the Live TV have 50Hz FPS, and when the display (TV - HDMI) was set to 1920×1080@60Hz, got sometimes audio-video async issues.

That was some time ago, and after that I always used the Display/TV (Settings --> System --> Display --> Resolution) at 1920×1080@50Hz.

Try to change in the settings the display resolution, maybe you will find one without async issue.

Do you have set something in the Settings - System - Display - Whitelist?

Kodi and LE is an amazing combination, but sometimes need a bit of patience and sweat to have all working well and as we like it.

Hi,

The wifi hardware present on the RPi3 have "limited capacities". I have 3 RPi3's in local network, only one using wifi connection (don't have lan cable at that place). I had some issues with built-in wifi and live TV, mostly stutters. I resolved by using an cheap USB-Wifi adaptor with external antenna. To disable the built-in wifi in "config.txt" add this line: dtoverlay=disable-wifi

That RPi3 with wifi connection I'm using now with latest LE10-nightly, not too often with TV, don't noticed any audio-video async or other issue (very-very-very seldom green artifacts on HD channels, probably because of new deinterlacing method, wasn't present with LE9 when I changed to USB-wifi).

Quote from Michale

The HTPC box is running LEIA.. The Video Server is running MATRIX...

I am assuming I should upgrade the HTPC box??

To play media from server not necessary to have the same version.

If you want to use joint SQL database and migrate the Library data there, you need to have same version (https://kodi.wiki/view/Databases). The advantage is, if you use kodi on different devices, the media library will be synchronized (ex. movie watched status, resume points). As SQL database I'm using the "MariaDB" addon. More info you can find here: https://kodi.wiki/view/MySQL/Setting_up_Kodi

Possible to be something from tvheadend server 4.3 and new deinterlacing method?

Maybe try to install the tvheadend server 4.2. No need to unistall the 4.3, just disable. Search only one transponder for channels where the issues appear and check.

I have 3 RPi3B in network, one I upgraded to LE 10.0.2 few months ago, without to experience any unusual issues with LiveTV.

Recently I upgraded the last two. Upgraded the tvheadend server to 4.3 (with 4.2 had some EPG updating issues, what is present in 4.3 too) and very seldom, was issues to start the LiveTV (only 1080i, stream blocked at first picture, in the media info "no deinterlace", at all clients, not only where the server running), two days ago I returned to 4.2 version, no issues yet. The "memory bandwidth required for deinterlacing" could be an explanation, in my case when the stream starting use too much memory/processor and lead (?) to deinterlacing issue... maybe... (RPi3B - smaller uP).

Hi,

You can try these:

1.

SSH to RPi, stop tvheadend service "systemctl stop service.tvheadend43".

Make a backup of your tvheadend server addon (/storage/.kodi/addons/service.tvheadend43 and /storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/service.tvheadend43 - use ex. filezilla).

Start tvheadend in first run mode SSH: "tvheadend -C"

Try to use the web interface (without login - first run mode) to create new user with full admin rights.

Try to login with new admin user, if working, log out, SSH: close with control+c and reboot.

Check again if the new user working.

2.

Uninstall the tvheadend server addon, when asked keep the addon data (with all your settings).

Reboot and install again.

Try to use the web interface without user (at first run should be active without any login).

Create new admin user with password. Reboot, check.

About "transfer sat-channels & (auto-)timers from 4.2 to 4.3"... check the folders in /storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/service.tvheadend43/

"input", "channel", "bouquet"... don't know if the 4.2 data is compatible with 4.3 version....

I had same issue with my RPi3 and tvheadend 4.3 setup (Astrometa tuners, 2x DVB-C + 1x DVB-T)... Same "green artifacts, glitches and distortion", only with 1080i, didn't tried to play with deinterlacing, I resolved after activated the "Force old status" in the tvheadend server tuner setup (web interface).

I spent some time to get working the dual audio output (DAC & HDMI) with PulseAudio on my RPi3, was unstable and the quality wasn't the best. Because I don't need really simultaneous audio (DAC for net radio & hdmi for TV and movies), I'm using now the "Audio Profiles" add-on and is the perfect solution for me.

If you need real simultaneous audio, use the solution proposed by chewitt, if your TV have any usable audio output, use it as audio source for headphone, if not use hdmi-audio splitter.