Can't watch DVB-T

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hoki_goujons
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Can't watch DVB-T

Postby hoki_goujons » 07 Jul 2009 00:20

Hi folks,
I'm trying to watch DVB-T using VLC (1.00RC1) in the UK, on XP SP3. I'm using a USB receiver that Windows identifies as an AF9015 BDA. The default software (Totalmedia 3) works fine with it.

I've downloaded the right config file (Winter Hill) from http://linux.mikeasoft.com/dvb.php and when I open it in VLC and go to the playlist, it can see all of the channels no problem, and get the ident logo. I just can't view any actual TV. The messages read:

Code: Select all

main debug: incoming request - stopping current input main debug: dying input main debug: prebuffering done 0 bytes in 12s - 0 kbytes/s main error: cannot pre fill buffer main warning: cannot create a stream_t from access bda warning: BDA SampleCB: Sample Discontinuity. main debug: removing module "bda" main debug: thread ended main debug: dead input main debug: thread times: real 0m13.610507s, kernel 0m0.031250s, user 0m0.015625s main debug: processing request item BBC ONE node Playlist skip 1 main debug: resyncing on BBC ONE main debug: BBC ONE is at 0 main debug: starting new item main debug: creating new input thread main debug: Creating an input for 'BBC THREE' qt4 debug: IM: Deleting the input qt4 debug: Updating the geometry main debug: thread (input) created at priority 1 (../.././src/input/input.c:230) main debug: thread started main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MBytes main debug: using timeshift path 'C:\DOCUME~1\Ben\LOCALS~1\Temp' main debug: `dvb://' gives access `dvb' demux `' path `' main debug: creating demux: access='dvb' demux='' path='' main debug: looking for access_demux module: 0 candidates main debug: no access_demux module matched "dvb" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: creating access 'dvb' path='' main debug: looking for access module: 1 candidate qt4 debug: Updating the geometry main debug: TIMER input launching for 'BBC ONE' : 13635.001 ms - Total 13635.001 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 13635.000 ms) qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input bda warning: CreateTuneRequest: Cannot find a suitable System Tuning Space: hr=0x80004005 bda warning: SubmitDVBSTuneRequest: Cannot create Tune Request: hr=0x80004005 qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry bda warning: CreateTuneRequest: Cannot find a suitable System Tuning Space: hr=0x80004005 bda warning: SubmitDVBCTuneRequest: Cannot create Tune Request: hr=0x80004005 bda debug: CreateTuneRequest: Using Tuning Space: DVB-T bda debug: Build: Using Tuning Space ID 7 bda debug: FindFilter: Connected AF9015 BDA Filter bda debug: BDAGraph: Using adapter 0 bda warning: FindFilter: No filter connected: hr=0x80004005 bda warning: Build: Cannot find Capture device. Connecting to tuner: hr=0x80004005 bda debug: Build: Trying connecting with subtype MEDIASUBTYPE_MPEG2_TRANSPORT bda warning: Build: Cannot connect Sample Grabber to Capture device: hr=0x80004005 (try 1/2) bda debug: Build: Trying connecting with subtype KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_BDA_MPEG2_TRANSPORT bda debug: FindFilter: Connected BDA MPEG2 Transport Information Filter bda debug: Graph started hr=0x0 main debug: using access module "bda" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1219.000 ms - Total 1219.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1219.000 ms) main debug: Using AStream*Block main debug: pre buffering
Any ideas?

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Re: Can't watch DVB-T

Postby VLC_help » 08 Jul 2009 18:26

You get same error with VLC 0.9.9 ?

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Re: Can't watch DVB-T

Postby hoki_goujons » 08 Jul 2009 21:31

Thanks for the reply.

Edit: I am doing it right, aren't I? I'm just opening up the channels.conf file as I would a video file, I'm not doing anything with the DVB setup options.

Just tried it with 0.99 and I get:

Code: Select all

main debug: starting new item main debug: processing request item More 4+1 node Playlist skip 0 main debug: resyncing on More 4+1 main debug: More 4+1 is at 171 main debug: creating new input thread main debug: Creating an input for 'More 4+1' main debug: waiting for thread initialization main debug: thread started main debug: thread 5372 (input) created at priority 1 (../../src/input/input.c:370) main debug: `dvb://' gives access `dvb' demux `' path `' qt4 debug: Updating the stream status: 3 main debug: creating demux: access='dvb' demux='' path='' main debug: looking for access_demux module: 0 candidates main warning: no access_demux module matched "dvb" main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms) main debug: creating access 'dvb' path='' main debug: looking for access module: 1 candidate bda warning: DVB_Open: Unsupported Network dvb main warning: no access module matching "dvb" could be loaded main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms) main error: open of `dvb://' failed: could not create access main debug: finished input main debug: dying input qt4 debug: Updating the stream status: 8 qt4 debug: Destroy the Interaction Dialog qt4 debug: Hide the Interaction Dialog main debug: dying input main debug: thread ended main debug: dead input main debug: thread times: real 0m0.109375s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.000000s main debug: thread 5372 joined (../../src/playlist/engine.c:244) main debug: TIMER input launching for 'More 4+1' : 108.000 ms - Total 108.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 108.000 ms) main debug: starting new item main debug: changing item without a request (current 171/172) main debug: nothing to play main warning: option qt-show-errors does not exist

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Re: Can't watch DVB-T

Postby VLC_help » 09 Jul 2009 17:15

Does Media -> Open capture device... (select DVB Directshow) work any better?

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Re: Can't watch DVB-T

Postby hoki_goujons » 10 Jul 2009 07:23

Wouldn't that work only for one channel though? I've had a go with the frequency for one o fthe channels from the .conf file, and it still didn't work

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Re: Can't watch DVB-T

Postby VLC_help » 10 Jul 2009 16:46

Yep, one channel at time. But it should tell us if the problem is the .conf file or something else.

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Re: Can't watch DVB-T

Postby Lotesdelere » 10 Jul 2009 20:25

Make sure you have installed the BDA drivers for your device.

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Re: Can't watch DVB-T

Postby hoki_goujons » 10 Jul 2009 21:04

OK, here's what I've got. I'm trying to match the values in the conf to the options in VLC, but some of them don't seem to have anywhere to go - the 'HIERARCHY_NONE:600:601:4168' bit for example. ' Here's the line from the conf:

BBC ONE:754166670:INVERSION_AUTO:BANDWIDTH_8_MHZ:FEC_3_4:FEC_3_4:QAM_16:TRANSMISSION_MODE_2K:GUARD_INTERVAL_1_32:HIERARCHY_NONE:600:601:4168

and here's the line from the 'customize' box in VLC after I enter the details:

dvb-t:// :dvb-frequency=754166670 :dvb-bandwidth=8 :dvb-caching=300 :dvb-frequency=11954000 :dvb-inversion=2 :dvb-polarisation="H" :dvb-network-id=0 :dvb-azimuth=0 :dvb-elevation=0 :dvb-longitude=0 :dvb-lnb-lof1=0 :dvb-lnb-lof2=0 :dvb-lnb-slof=0 :dvb-fec=9 :dvb-srate=27500000 :dvb-modulation=-1 :dvb-code-rate-hp=3 :dvb-code-rate-lp=3 :dvb-bandwidth=-1 :dvb-guard=32 :dvb-transmission=2 :dvb-hierarchy=-1

and these are the messages:

qt4 debug: This shouldn't happen, please report
qt4 debug: This shouldn't happen, please report
qt4 debug: :dvb-caching=300 :dvb-frequency=11954000 :dvb-inversion=2 :dvb-polarisation="H" :dvb-network-id=0 :dvb-azimuth=0 :dvb-elevation=0 :dvb-longitude=0 :dvb-lnb-lof1=0 :dvb-lnb-lof2=0 :dvb-lnb-slof=0 :dvb-fec=9 :dvb-srate=27500000 :dvb-modulation=-1 :dvb-code-rate-hp=3 :dvb-code-rate-lp=3 :dvb-bandwidth=-1 :dvb-guard=32 :dvb-transmission=2 :dvb-hierarchy=-1
qt4 debug: New item: dvb-t://
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-frequency=754166670
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-bandwidth=8
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-caching=300
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-frequency=11954000
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-inversion=2
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-polarisation=H
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-network-id=0
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-azimuth=0
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-elevation=0
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-longitude=0
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-lnb-lof1=0
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-lnb-lof2=0
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-lnb-slof=0
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-fec=9
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-srate=27500000
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-modulation=-1
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-code-rate-hp=3
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-code-rate-lp=3
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-bandwidth=-1
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-guard=32
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-transmission=2
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-hierarchy=-1
main debug: adding item `dvb-t://' ( dvb-t:// )
main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist
main debug: rebuild done - 6 items, index 4
main debug: starting new item
main debug: processing request item dvb-t:// node Playlist skip 0
main debug: resyncing on dvb-t://
main debug: dvb-t:// is at 5
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for 'dvb-t://'
main debug: waiting for thread initialization
main debug: thread started
main debug: thread 6696 (input) created at priority 1 (../../src/input/input.c:370)
main debug: `dvb-t://' gives access `dvb-t' demux `' path `'
main debug: creating demux: access='dvb-t' demux='' path=''
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 0 candidates
main warning: no access_demux module matched "dvb-t"
main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
qt4 debug: Updating the stream status: 3
main debug: creating access 'dvb-t' path=''
main debug: looking for access module: 1 candidate
bda debug: FindFilter: Connected AF9015 BDA Filter
bda warning: FindFilter: No filter connected: hr=0x80004005
bda warning: Build: Cannot find Capture device. Connecting to tuner: hr=0x80004005
bda debug: FindFilter: Connected BDA MPEG2 Transport Information Filter
bda debug: Register: registered Graph: VLC BDA Graph 0505c8d8 Pid 0000237c
main debug: using access module "bda"
main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 983.000 ms - Total 983.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 983.000 ms)
qt4 debug: New Event: type 1103
qt4 debug: Updating the stream status: 2
main debug: Using AStream*Block
main debug: pre buffering
bda warning: BDA GetBufferSize: Timed Out waiting for sample
main error: cannot pre fill buffer
main warning: cannot create a stream_t from access
qt4 debug: New Event: type 1103
main debug: finished input
qt4 debug: Updating the stream status: 9
main debug: dying input
qt4 debug: Updating the stream status: 8
main debug: dying input
main debug: dying input
main debug: dying input
main debug: removing module "bda"
main debug: thread ended
main debug: dead input
main debug: thread times: real 0m3.312500s, kernel 0m0.093750s, user 0m0.000000s
main debug: thread 6696 joined (../../src/playlist/engine.c:244)
main debug: TIMER input launching for 'dvb-t://' : 3343.000 ms - Total 3343.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 3343.000 ms)
main debug: starting new item
main debug: changing item without a request (current 5/6)
main debug: nothing to play

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Re: Can't watch DVB-T

Postby hoki_goujons » 10 Jul 2009 21:16

Make sure you have installed the BDA drivers for your device.
It works OK with the TotalMedia software, and Windows lists 'BdaPlgln.ax' and 'BDASup.sys' under the installed drivers for it.

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Re: Can't watch DVB-T

Postby Lotesdelere » 10 Jul 2009 21:35

dvb-t:// :dvb-frequency=754166670 :dvb-bandwidth=8 :dvb-caching=300 :dvb-frequency=11954000

qt4 debug: :dvb-caching=300 :dvb-frequency=11954000 :dvb-inversion=2 :dvb-polarisation="H" :dvb-network-id=0 :dvb-azimuth=0 :dvb-elevation=0 :dvb-longitude=0 :dvb-lnb-lof1=0 :dvb-lnb-lof2=0 :dvb-lnb-slof=0 :dvb-fec=9 :dvb-srate=27500000 :dvb-modulation=-1 :dvb-code-rate-hp=3 :dvb-code-rate-lp=3 :dvb-bandwidth=-1 :dvb-guard=32 :dvb-transmission=2 :dvb-hierarchy=-1
qt4 debug: New item: dvb-t://
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-frequency=754166670
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-bandwidth=8
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-caching=300
qt4 debug: New Option: :dvb-frequency=11954000
Two things:

You are using two different dvb-frequency parameters. This just can't work.
754166670 looks strange to me. AFAIK the last three digits should always be 000 for DVB-T.
11954000 seems to be more a DVB-S frequency than a DVB-T one. Verify the correct frequency, you have to use only one.

AFAIK dvb-bandwidth for DVB-T in UK is 7 and not 8.


And no need to specify all of these parameters as most of them are for DVB-S.
In fact this simple command line should be enough for DVB-T:
dvbt:// :dvb-frequency=754166000 :dvb-bandwidth=7

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Re: Can't watch DVB-T

Postby Lotesdelere » 10 Jul 2009 23:06

I might be wrong about the channel badwidth used in UK though. It seems to be 8 MHz while 7 MHz is used in Australia.

Anyway, you may want to use the ScanChannelsBDA_UK tool which can be found here:
http://www.wintvcd.co.uk/tools/ScanChannelsBDA_UK.exe
http://www.viewfinderdesign.co.uk/downl ... BDA_UK.zip

Perform the scan with both options 1 and 2. It will create a log file with informations like these:

Code: Select all

Frequency (Scanned) = 650000kHz Frequency (Actual) = 786166kHz Transmitter Name = Winter Hill Multiplex = Mux C #Alternate frequencies #Network_3("Winter Hill", 578000, 8, 1) #Network_3("Winter Hill", 545833, 8, 1) #Network_3("Winter Hill", 618000, 8, 1) #Network_3("Winter Hill", 538166, 8, 1) #Network_3("Winter Hill", 650000, 8, 1) Channel Name LCN SID Vid Aud PMT ------------------------------------------------------------------- Virgin Radio , 215, 23104, 0, 1901, 714 # Clyde 1 , 212, 23040, 0, 1801, 713 # Premier Radio , 213, 22976, 0, 1701, 712 # talkSPORT , 211, 22592, 0, 1101, 706 # E4+1 , 30, 22336, 501, 502, 705 # E4+1 , , 22336, 501, 504, 705 # Dave , 19, 22272, 401, 402, 704 # Dave , , 22272, 401, 404, 704 # SKY THREE , 11, 22208, 301, 302, 703 # SKY THREE , , 22208, 301, 304, 703 # Sky Spts News , 83, 22144, 201, 202, 702 # Sky Spts News , , 22144, 201, 204, 702 # Sky News , 82, 22080, 101, 102, 701 # Sky News , , 22080, 101, 104, 701 # # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -17 Quality = 80% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -16 Quality = 85% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -16 Quality = 80% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -17 Quality = 85% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -17 Quality = 90% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -16 Quality = 85% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -16 Quality = 90% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -17 Quality = 85% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -17 Quality = 85% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -17 Quality = 80% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -17 Quality = 80% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -16 Quality = 80% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -16 Quality = 85% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -17 Quality = 90% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -16 Quality = 90% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -17 Quality = 85% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -17 Quality = 90% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -17 Quality = 90% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -17 Quality = 90% # Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = -17 Quality = 95% # Average quality on 650000kHz = 86%
In this example the transmitter is Winter Hill on multiplex C using frequency 650000 kHz with 8 MHz channel bandwidth. And you can see the channels found on this frequency.
This may help you to check which frequencies and which multiplexes you can receive and also, maybe, to set the correct QAM depending on the multiplex because it looks like in UK some multiplexes are.using 16QAM mode (1, B, C, D) while the other ones are using 64QAM mode (2, A). I'm not sure if it's relevant or not to set the correct QAM in VLC as I don't live in UK so I can't test it.

More informations can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVB-T_in_United_Kingdom

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Re: Can't watch DVB-T

Postby hoki_goujons » 11 Jul 2009 00:51

It lives! Using the frequency you gave me in your last post I'm able to get a channel with:
dvb-t:// :dvb-frequency=650000 :dvb-bandwidth=8

I couldn't get any joy out of ScanChannelsBDA - it seemed to see my tuner then say that it hadn't.

So have you got any suggestion for how I can get that Channels.conf file to work so I can get all of the channels? I tried replacing the frequency in it with 650000 but no joy.

I really appreciate your help in getting me this far - I'm not ashamed to say that I knew nothing about DVB, and I know that pointing a noob in the right direction is often a thankless task.

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Re: Can't watch DVB-T

Postby Lotesdelere » 11 Jul 2009 01:28

I couldn't get any joy out of ScanChannelsBDA - it seemed to see my tuner then say that it hadn't.
This is not normal. Post the ScanChannelsBDA log.
It might be a problem with the BDA drivers. Check the device manufacturer's site for the latest up to date BDA drivers for your specific device.

So have you got any suggestion for how I can get that Channels.conf file to work so I can get all of the channels? I tried replacing the frequency in it with 650000 but no joy.
I'm not sure that Channels.conf will work on Windows. I think this file is used on Linux only.
I'm using a playlist as described in this post:
viewtopic.php?p=182301#p182301


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