Capturing Clear QAM (ATSC) - help needed with vlc1.0.0-rc4

[globaltrasher]

Hi,

I've been capturing and streaming analog TV using VLC for almost a year now. Awesome piece of software!
Since Comcast turned channels above 31 from analog to digital, I had to switch to digital TV tuner. It turned out that (at least currently) all channels are unencrypted Clear QAM, so no cable box is needed. A caveat is that I can no longer use VLC to capture the signal, and watch it - let alone, stream it. I'm on Windows XP Pro, not Media Center or Vista Ultimate, so the only way to watch digital cable is through, e.g. Beyond TV or GB-PVR.

Is there any remote possibility that VLC will ever be able to capture digital cable?

Thanks!

[globaltrasher]

OK, so I've been reading a little today, and it turns out this can be done through:

Open Capture Device --> Capture Mode: DVB DS --> ATSC

OR

"channels.conf" file.

First, I tried creating and opening "channels.conf" file, where channels are configured as e.g.

CNN:579000000:QAM_256:2432:2433:7

Unfortunately, this does not seem to work, even though this seems to be correct syntax and format

Then I tried manually open capture device, then in advanced filling out ATSC Major Channel=80100, ATSC Minor Channel=7 and Physical Channel=56... and this did not work either

Now, there is an interesting part. I temporarily use Beyond TV to watch TV. If I start it up, then close it, and THEN start VLC and open "channels.conf", suddenly VLC will show the channel, although not the one indicated in the .conf file. But that's a progress, right?

Am I doing something wrong or there is some sort of a bug in 1.0.0-rc4?

EDIT 07/04/2009 10:40PM: Well, there must be definitely something wrong with how VLC reads "channels.conf". If I create it as follows:

1:579000000:QAM_256:2432:2433:1
2:579000000:QAM_256:2432:2433:2
3:579000000:QAM_256:2432:2433:3
4:579000000:QAM_256:2432:2433:4
5:579000000:QAM_256:2432:2433:5
6:579000000:QAM_256:2432:2433:6
7:579000000:QAM_256:2432:2433:7
8:579000000:QAM_256:2432:2433:8
9:579000000:QAM_256:2432:2433:9
10:579000000:QAM_256:2432:2433:10
11:579000000:QAM_256:2432:2433:11

... all it does is that I can watch channels 94-1 through 94-11. At this point it does not matter if I change frequency from 579000000 to something else as long as I put something there. It will still show me those same 11 channels...

I'd appreciate your help in solving it, guys

Thanks!

[globaltrasher]

I apologize for those multiple posts but I hope j-b or anyone else on the team could help me get QAM working with help of "channels.conf" playlist file. I'm using AverTV Combo PCI-E which is a QAM tuner, and as far as I know drivers support QAM under Windows XP Pro.

What I can do right now is, e.g. turn on Beyond TV, tune in to NBC HD (channel 120-1 at 1080p), then shut it down completely (all BTV services, so full shut down), followed by VLC start-up and open above "channels.conf". This allows me to watch the same NBC HD channel (last channel watched on BTV), and flip through playlist to get to 120-2, 120-3 and so on... So, I know that VLC can access hardware, but I can't figure out how to change "channels.conf" syntax for each channel to get it working properly...

At below 2 screenshots, under Stream info you can see actual correct vPID=1984 and aPID=1985 for NBC HD, even though "channels.conf" calls 2432/2433 (which with SID=7 is CNN).





Same story below... CBS HD (channel 79-1 at 1080p). First BTV launched, then shutdown and VLC lunched with "channels.conf" file. Under Stream info you can again see correct vPID=2050 and aPID=2049 for CBS HD, even though "channels.conf" calls 2432/2433 (which with SID=7 is CNN).





Lastly, if I tune to e.g. Animal Planet on Beyond TV (channel 86-3) then completely shut it down and open VLC with "channels.conf" playlist, first channel I will see is CSPAN, which is 86-1. Then I can cycle from 86-1 to 86-10 according to playlist, even though vPID and aPID I'm calling for are different, but SID are correct (1-10)...

EDIT 07/05/2009 6:10PM: After messing around even more, I can almost conclude that VLC cannot initiate tuner hardware by itself, and needs other application (in my case Beyond TV Trial) to access it first. I went through the line-up for my Comcast cable and found that there are 128 clear QAM virtual channels total, with 22 ATSC Major Channels (per VLC Advanced Config nomenclature). So, for now I start Beyond TV and tune to ANY of the Major Channels (e.g. 23-1 which is Virtual Channel 70, I can then shut it down, open VLC and go through all Minor Channels for that Major Channel (23-1 to 23-11. BUT, I can't change Major Channel at all.

This is all still through the same"channels.conf" playlist file that I had at the beginning as manual capture is simply not working for me

Please heeeelp... Thanks a ton!

[globaltrasher]

No love?

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Noone knows, I guess
Fill a bug, please.

[joelgibby]

I can confirm the described behavior using VLC 1.0, a Hauppauge HVR-2250 and TSReader Lite to tune the card. Once TSReader tunes a channel, I can close it and open VLC using the command "vlc dvb://" and get the same channel as I tuned in TSReader. I can also change programs on that channel through the GUI.

I would love to be able to do everything through VLC alone. I also searched pretty hard for a guide to the channels.conf file and couldn't find more than some forum posts (no wiki entry?) -- is channels.conf supported under Windows for tuning a QAM card?

Thanks,
Joel

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

I would love to be able to do everything through VLC alone. I also searched pretty hard for a guide to the channels.conf file and couldn't find more than some forum posts (no wiki entry?) -- is channels.conf supported under Windows for tuning a QAM card?

Untested.

[globaltrasher]

Noone knows, I guess
Fill a bug, please.

Done! Ticket #2958. Thanks!

I can confirm the described behavior using VLC 1.0, a Hauppauge HVR-2250 and TSReader Lite to tune the card. Once TSReader tunes a channel, I can close it and open VLC using the command "vlc dvb://" and get the same channel as I tuned in TSReader. I can also change programs on that channel through the GUI.

I would love to be able to do everything through VLC alone. I also searched pretty hard for a guide to the channels.conf file and couldn't find more than some forum posts (no wiki entry?) -- is channels.conf supported under Windows for tuning a QAM card?

Man, I thought I would be the only one experiencing this problem, as there are virtually no posts regarding capturing digital cable with VLC. I'm sure VLC team could figure it out quickly, pleeeease

Untested.

If there's anything I can do on my side to speed that process up, please let me know. This feature working would be simply awesome!

[Lotesdelere]

I apologize for those multiple posts but I hope j-b or anyone else on the team could help me get QAM working with help of "channels.conf" playlist file.

under Stream info you can see actual correct vPID=1984 and aPID=1985 for NBC HD, even though "channels.conf" calls 2432/2433 (which with SID=7 is CNN).

I think Channels.conf is not used on Windows. This file is for Linux only.

For making things easier I'm using a playlist as described in this post:
viewtopic.php?p=182301#p182301

But keep in mind that you are using ATSC so your command line should begin with atsc:// and not with dvb:// since DVB is mostly used in Europe, Russia, India, Australia and some other countries whilst ATSC is used in North America (map).

[globaltrasher]

I think Channels.conf is not used on Windows. This file is for Linux only.

For making things easier I'm using a playlist as described in this post:
viewtopic.php?p=182301#p182301

But keep in mind that you are using ATSC so your command line should begin with atsc:// and not with dvb:// since DVB is mostly used in Europe, Russia, India, Australia and some other countries whilst ATSC is used in North America (map).

Thanks! Since you have more experience in this, would you be able to walk me through on how a sample M3U playlist for my case could look like? I'm pretty new to ATSC capture, and QAM seems to be whole lot different too.

Let's say, that CNN example: What I know is this:

Frequency - 579MHz
vPID = 2432 (0x0980)
aPID = 2433 (0x0981)
SID = 7

Would you be able to help knowing this?

EDIT: Or you you go by VLC terminology when looking at Advanced options:

ATSC Major Channel = 100
ATSC Minor Channel = 7
ATSC Physical Channel = 56
Modulation = 256 (as for QAM256)

[Lotesdelere]

Let's say, that CNN example: What I know is this:

Frequency - 579MHz
vPID = 2432 (0x0980)
aPID = 2433 (0x0981)
SID = 7

Would you be able to help knowing this?

I guess this should work:

Code: Select all

#EXTM3U #EXTINF:1,CNN #EXTVLCOPT:program=7 atsc://frequency=579000000:bandwidth=?

But I have no idea about the channel bandwidth though, hence the ?, so you need to find it out.
But since it seems that you've been able to tune up some ATSC channels, according to your screenshots, you might be able to find usefull informations in the messages log (open it before opening your channel and set verbosity to 2). There is no way that I can test ATSC since I live in DVB land.

[globaltrasher]

OK, playlist looks like this:

Code: Select all

#EXTINF:1,CNN #EXTVLCOPT:program=7 atsc://frequency=579000000:bandwidth=6

Here's when the first problem starts. The playlist will not work if do not open capture device with some other application, in my case Beyond TV Trial. This is what I get in Messages - VLC is stuck at "prebuffering", and then I hit stop:

Code: Select all

main debug: adding item `channels1.m3u' ( C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u ) qt4 debug: Adding a new MRL to recent ones: C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist main debug: rebuild done - 2 items, index 0 main debug: processing request item channels1.m3u node null skip 0 main debug: resyncing on channels1.m3u main debug: channels1.m3u is at 1 main debug: starting new item main debug: creating new input thread main debug: Creating an input for 'channels1.m3u' 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\xxxxxxx\LOCALS~1\Temp' main debug: `C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u' gives access `' demux `' path `C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u' main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u' main debug: looking for access_demux module: 3 candidates main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: creating access '' path='C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u' main debug: looking for access module: 5 candidates vcd debug: trying .cue file: C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.cue vcd debug: could not find .cue file access_file debug: opening file `C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u' main debug: using access module "access_file" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: Using AStream*Stream main debug: pre buffering main debug: received first data after 0 ms main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 2 candidates main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 1 candidate main debug: using stream_filter module "stream_filter_record" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 4.000 ms - Total 4.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 4.000 ms) main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u' main debug: looking for demux module: 50 candidates playlist debug: found valid M3U playlist main debug: using demux module "playlist" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\ main debug: `C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u' successfully opened main debug: deleting item `channels1.m3u' main debug: EOF reached main debug: Creating an input for 'CNN' main debug: finished input main debug: removing module "playlist" main debug: removing module "stream_filter_record" main debug: removing module "access_file" main debug: thread ended main debug: dead input main debug: thread times: real 0m0.000000s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.000000s main debug: TIMER input launching for 'channels1.m3u' : 4.000 ms - Total 4.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 4.000 ms) main debug: changing item without a request (current 1/2) main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist main debug: rebuild done - 2 items, index 0 main debug: using item 1 main debug: starting new item main debug: creating new input thread main debug: Creating an input for 'CNN' main debug: no fetch required for (null) (art currently (null)) main debug: thread (input) created at priority 1 (../.././src/input/input.c:230) main debug: thread started qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MBytes main debug: using timeshift path 'C:\DOCUME~1\xxxxxxx\LOCALS~1\Temp' main debug: `atsc://frequency=579000000:bandwidth=6' gives access `atsc' demux `' path `frequency=579000000:bandwidth=6' main debug: creating demux: access='atsc' demux='' path='frequency=579000000:bandwidth=6' main debug: looking for access_demux module: 0 candidates main debug: no access_demux module matched "atsc" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: creating access 'atsc' path='frequency=579000000:bandwidth=6' main debug: looking for access module: 1 candidate qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry bda debug: CreateTuneRequest: Using Tuning Space: ATSC bda debug: Build: Using Tuning Space ID 3 bda debug: FindFilter: Connected AVerMedia M780 PCIe BDA ATSC Tuner 2 bda debug: BDAGraph: Using adapter 0 bda debug: FindFilter: Connected AVerMedia M780 PCIe Digital Video Capture 2 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() : 2621.000 ms - Total 2621.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2621.000 ms) main debug: Using AStream*Block main debug: pre buffering main debug: incoming request - stopping current input main debug: dying input main debug: prebuffering done 0 bytes in 560s - 0 kbytes/s main error: cannot pre fill buffer main warning: cannot create a stream_t from access main debug: removing module "bda" main debug: dying input main debug: thread ended main debug: dead input main debug: thread times: real 9m22.984375s, kernel 0m0.031250s, user 0m0.000000s qt4 debug: IM: Deleting the input qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry main debug: TIMER input launching for 'CNN' : 562981.027 ms - Total 562981.027 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 562981.000 ms)

However, if I start Beyond TV and let it tune CNN (channel 100.7 - Major 100, Minor 7) then shut it down and open the same playlist, the VLC will prebuffer just fine and start displaying channel 100.7:

Code: Select all

main debug: adding item `channels1.m3u' ( C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u ) main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist qt4 debug: Adding a new MRL to recent ones: C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u main debug: rebuild done - 3 items, index 1 main debug: processing request item channels1.m3u node null skip 0 main debug: resyncing on channels1.m3u main debug: channels1.m3u is at 2 main debug: starting new item main debug: creating new input thread main debug: Creating an input for 'channels1.m3u' 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\xxxxxxx\LOCALS~1\Temp' main debug: `C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u' gives access `' demux `' path `C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u' main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u' main debug: looking for access_demux module: 3 candidates main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms) main debug: creating access '' path='C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u' main debug: looking for access module: 5 candidates vcd debug: trying .cue file: C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.cue vcd debug: could not find .cue file access_file debug: opening file `C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u' main debug: using access module "access_file" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: Using AStream*Stream main debug: pre buffering main debug: received first data after 0 ms main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 2 candidates main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 1 candidate main debug: using stream_filter module "stream_filter_record" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u' main debug: looking for demux module: 50 candidates playlist debug: found valid M3U playlist main debug: using demux module "playlist" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input main debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\ main debug: `C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\My Documents\channels1.m3u' successfully opened main debug: deleting item `channels1.m3u' main debug: EOF reached main debug: Creating an input for 'CNN' main debug: removing module "playlist" main debug: removing module "stream_filter_record" main debug: removing module "access_file" main debug: thread ended main debug: dead input main debug: thread times: real 0m0.000000s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.000000s main debug: changing item without a request (current 2/3) main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist main debug: rebuild done - 3 items, index 1 main debug: using item 2 main debug: starting new item main debug: creating new input thread main debug: Creating an input for 'CNN' main debug: no fetch required for (null) (art currently (null)) 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\xxxxxxx\LOCALS~1\Temp' main debug: `atsc://frequency=579000000:bandwidth=6' gives access `atsc' demux `' path `frequency=579000000:bandwidth=6' main debug: creating demux: access='atsc' demux='' path='frequency=579000000:bandwidth=6' main debug: looking for access_demux module: 0 candidates main debug: no access_demux module matched "atsc" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: creating access 'atsc' path='frequency=579000000:bandwidth=6' main debug: looking for access module: 1 candidate bda debug: CreateTuneRequest: Using Tuning Space: ATSC bda debug: Build: Using Tuning Space ID 3 qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry bda debug: FindFilter: Connected AVerMedia M780 PCIe BDA ATSC Tuner 2 bda debug: BDAGraph: Using adapter 0 qt4 debug: IM: Deleting the input qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry main debug: TIMER input launching for 'channels1.m3u' : 5.000 ms - Total 5.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 5.000 ms) bda debug: FindFilter: Connected AVerMedia M780 PCIe Digital Video Capture 2 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 qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry bda debug: Graph started hr=0x0 main debug: using access module "bda" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 654.000 ms - Total 654.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 654.000 ms) main debug: Using AStream*Block main debug: pre buffering bda warning: BDA SampleCB: Sample Discontinuity. main debug: received first data after 40 ms main debug: prebuffering done 96256 bytes in 0s - 2349 kbytes/s main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 2 candidates main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 1 candidate main debug: using stream_filter module "stream_filter_record" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: creating demux: access='atsc' demux='ts' path='frequency=579000000:bandwidth=6' main debug: looking for demux module: 1 candidate main debug: using demux module "ts" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 53.000 ms - Total 53.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 53.000 ms) main debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\ ts debug: DEMUX_SET_GROUP 7 0 main debug: `atsc://frequency=579000000:bandwidth=6' successfully opened ts warning: lost synchro ts debug: skipping 176 bytes of garbage ts debug: pid[2240] unknown ts debug: pid[2432] unknown ts debug: pid[2624] unknown ts debug: pid[2688] unknown ts debug: pid[2112] unknown ts debug: pid[2433] unknown ts debug: pid[2306] unknown ts debug: pid[2625] unknown ts debug: pid[2305] unknown ts debug: pid[1080] unknown ts debug: pid[2048] unknown ts debug: pid[2368] unknown ts debug: pid[2369] unknown ts debug: pid[2561] unknown ts debug: pid[1984] unknown ts debug: pid[2113] unknown ts debug: pid[2049] unknown ts debug: pid[1076] unknown ts debug: pid[2497] unknown ts debug: pid[2689] unknown ts debug: pid[2560] unknown ts debug: pid[2177] unknown ts debug: pid[2241] unknown ts debug: pid[1985] unknown ts debug: pid[2496] unknown ts debug: pid[2304] unknown ts debug: pid[1081] unknown ts debug: pid[1082] unknown ts debug: pid[1083] unknown ts debug: pid[48] unknown ts debug: pid[2176] unknown ts debug: pid[49] unknown ts debug: pid[50] unknown ts debug: pid[51] unknown ts debug: pid[53] unknown ts debug: pid[54] unknown ts debug: pid[55] unknown ts debug: pid[56] unknown ts debug: pid[57] unknown ts debug: pid[52] unknown ts debug: pid[58] unknown ts debug: pid[59] unknown ts debug: pid[1074] unknown ts debug: pid[1075] unknown ts debug: pid[1078] unknown ts debug: pid[1079] unknown ts debug: PATCallBack called ts debug: new PAT ts_id=34016 version=2 current_next=1 ts debug: * number=1 pid=48 ts debug: * number=2 pid=49 ts debug: * number=11 pid=50 ts debug: * number=6 pid=51 ts debug: * number=5 pid=52 ts debug: * number=9 pid=53 ts debug: * number=3 pid=54 ts debug: * number=7 pid=55 ts debug: * number=12 pid=56 ts debug: * number=4 pid=57 ts debug: * number=10 pid=58 ts debug: * number=8 pid=59 ts debug: PMTCallBack called ts debug: new PMT program number=4 version=9 pid_pcr=2561 ts warning: skipping program (not selected) ts debug: PMTCallBack called ts debug: new PMT program number=10 version=24 pid_pcr=2624 ts warning: skipping program (not selected) ts debug: PMTCallBack called ts debug: new PMT program number=8 version=23 pid_pcr=2688 ts warning: skipping program (not selected) ts debug: PMTCallBack called ts debug: new PMT program number=5 version=24 pid_pcr=2240 ts warning: skipping program (not selected) ts debug: PMTCallBack called ts debug: new PMT program number=1 version=25 pid_pcr=1984 ts warning: skipping program (not selected) ts debug: PMTCallBack called ts debug: new PMT program number=2 version=25 pid_pcr=2048 ts warning: skipping program (not selected) ts debug: PMTCallBack called ts debug: new PMT program number=11 version=25 pid_pcr=2112 ts warning: skipping program (not selected) ts debug: PMTCallBack called ts debug: new PMT program number=6 version=23 pid_pcr=2176 ts warning: skipping program (not selected) ts debug: PMTCallBack called ts debug: new PMT program number=9 version=24 pid_pcr=2304 ts warning: skipping program (not selected) ts debug: PMTCallBack called ts debug: new PMT program number=3 version=23 pid_pcr=2368 ts warning: skipping program (not selected) ts debug: PMTCallBack called ts debug: new PMT program number=7 version=23 pid_pcr=2432 ts debug: * descriptor : CA (0x9) SysID 0x4749 ts debug: * es pid=2432 type=2 fcc=mpgv main debug: selecting program id=7 main debug: looking for decoder module: 35 candidates qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry main debug: using decoder module "libmpeg2" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 190.000 ms - Total 190.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 190.000 ms) main debug: thread (decoder) created at priority 0 (../.././src/input/decoder.c:315) main debug: thread started ts debug: * es pid=2433 type=129 dr->i_tag=0xa ts debug: found language: und ts debug: * es pid=2433 type=129 fcc=a52 main debug: looking for decoder module: 35 candidates qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry main debug: using decoder module "a52" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 530.000 ms - Total 530.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 530.000 ms) main debug: thread (decoder) created at priority 2 (../.././src/input/decoder.c:315) main debug: thread started ts debug: * es pid=2434 type=134 *unknown* ts debug: * es pid=2435 type=192 dr->i_tag=0x5 ts debug: * es pid=2435 type=192 dr->i_tag=0xa2 ts debug: * es pid=2435 type=192 *unknown* ts debug: * es pid=2436 type=192 dr->i_tag=0x5 ts debug: * es pid=2436 type=192 dr->i_tag=0xa1 ts debug: * es pid=2436 type=192 *unknown* ts debug: PMTCallBack called ts debug: new PMT program number=12 version=23 pid_pcr=2496 ts warning: skipping program (not selected) ts warning: first packet for pid=2433 cc=0x6 main debug: Buffering 0% ts debug: pid[2307] unknown main debug: Buffering 30% main debug: Buffering 61% a52 info: A/52 channels:2 samplerate:48000 bitrate:192000 main debug: creating aout main debug: Buffering 92% ts debug: pid[8188] unknown main debug: looking for audio output module: 3 candidates main debug: Stream buffering done (368 ms in 2 ms) qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: New caching: 100 qt4 debug: New caching: 100 aout_directx debug: OpenAudio aout_directx debug: found device: Primary Sound Driver aout_directx debug: found device: SoundMAX HD Audio aout_directx debug: found device: Sandhills Virtual Cable 1 aout_directx debug: found device: Sandhills Virtual Cable 2 aout_directx debug: device supports 2 channels (DEFAULT!) aout_directx debug: device supports 1 channel aout_directx debug: Windows says your SpeakerConfig is 5.1 aout_directx debug: device supports A/52 over S/PDIF aout_directx debug: creating DirectSoundThread main debug: thread (DirectSound Notification Thread) created at priority 15 (../../.././modules/audio_output/directx.c:427) main debug: using audio output module "aout_directx" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 90.000 ms - Total 90.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 90.000 ms) main debug: thread started aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread ready main debug: output 's16l' 48000 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/4 bytes main debug: mixer 'fl32' 48000 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/8 bytes main debug: filter(s) 'fl32'->'s16l' 48000 Hz->48000 Hz Stereo->Stereo main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates main debug: using audio filter module "converter_float" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 314.000 ms - Total 314.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 314.000 ms) main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion main debug: looking for audio mixer module: 3 candidates main debug: using audio mixer module "float32_mixer" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 26.000 ms - Total 26.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 26.000 ms) main debug: input 'a52 ' 48000 Hz Stereo frame=1536 samples/768 bytes main debug: looking for audio filter module: 1 candidate scaletempo warning: bad input or output format main warning: no audio filter module matching "scaletempo" could be loaded main debug: TIMER module_need() : 44.000 ms - Total 44.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 44.000 ms) main debug: looking for audio filter module: 1 candidate scaletempo debug: format: 48000 rate, 2 nch, 4 bps, fl32 scaletempo debug: params: 30 stride, 0.200 overlap, 14 search scaletempo debug: 1.000 scale, 1440.000 stride_in, 1440 stride_out, 1152 standing, 288 overlap, 672 search, 2400 queue, fl32 mode main debug: using audio filter module "scaletempo" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: filter(s) 'a52 '->'fl32' 48000 Hz->48000 Hz Stereo->Stereo main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates main debug: using audio filter module "a52tofloat32" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms) main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion main debug: filter(s) 'fl32'->'fl32' 52800 Hz->48000 Hz Stereo->Stereo main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates main debug: using audio filter module "bandlimited_resampler" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion main debug: End of audio preroll main debug: Decoder buffering done in 475 ms ts debug: pid[8176] unknown ts debug: pid[1] unknown libmpeg2 debug: 704x480 (display 704,480), aspect 576000, sar 10:11, 29.971 fps main debug: no usable vout present, spawning one main debug: looking for text renderer module: 2 candidates main debug: thread (fontlist builder) created at priority 0 (../../.././modules/misc/freetype.c:473) freetype debug: using fontsize: 2 main debug: using text renderer module "freetype" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 167.000 ms - Total 167.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 167.000 ms) main debug: thread started main debug: looking for video filter2 module: 20 candidates freetype debug: Building font database... freetype debug: Finished building font database. freetype debug: Took 0 microseconds main debug: thread ended swscale debug: 32x32 chroma: YUVA -> 16x16 chroma: YUVA with scaling using Bicubic (good quality) main debug: using video filter2 module "swscale" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 91.000 ms - Total 91.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 91.000 ms) main debug: looking for video filter2 module: 20 candidates yuvp debug: YUVP to YUVA converter main debug: using video filter2 module "yuvp" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 413.000 ms - Total 413.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 413.000 ms) main debug: window size: 704x528 main debug: looking for video output module: 7 candidates vout_directx debug: creating DirectXEventThread main debug: thread (Vout Events Thread) created at priority 0 (../../../.././modules/video_output/msw/directx.c:282) main debug: thread started vout_directx debug: DirectXCreateWindow main debug: looking for hwnd module: 3 candidates qt4 debug: requesting video... qt4 debug: Video was requested -1, -1 qt4 debug: Video is resizing to: 704 528 main debug: using hwnd module "qt4" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 37.000 ms - Total 37.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 37.000 ms) vout_directx debug: created video sub-window vout_directx debug: Vout EventThread running vout_directx debug: DirectXInitDDraw vout_directx debug: directx-device: qt4 debug: Updating the geometry vout_directx debug: DirectXEnumCallback: Primary Display Driver, display vout_directx debug: DirectXEnumCallback: NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX , \\.\DISPLAY1 vout_directx debug: selecting NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX , \\.\DISPLAY1 vout_directx debug: DirectXEnumCallback: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280, \\.\DISPLAY2 vout_directx debug: screen dimensions (1920x0,3600x1050) vout_directx debug: DirectDraw Capabilities: overlay=1 yuvoverlay=1 can_deinterlace_overlay=1 colorkey=1 stretch=1 bltfourcc=1 vout_directx debug: align_boundary_src=0,0 align_boundary_dest=1,1 align_size_src=0,0 align_size_dest=0,0 vout_directx debug: End DirectXInitDDraw vout_directx debug: DirectXCreateDisplay vout_directx debug: DirectXCreateClipper vout_directx debug: disabling screen saver main debug: using video output module "vout_directx" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 143.000 ms - Total 143.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 143.000 ms) main debug: Deinterlacing available vout_directx debug: NewPictureVec overlay:yes chroma:YV12 vout_directx debug: YUV overlay created successfully vout_directx debug: End NewPictureVec (succeeded) main debug: got 1 direct buffer(s) main debug: pic render sz 704x480, of (0,0), vsz 704x480, 4cc I420, ar 4:3, sar 10:11, msk r0x0 g0x0 b0x0 main debug: pic in sz 704x480, of (0,0), vsz 704x480, 4cc I420, ar 4:3, sar 10:11, msk r0x0 g0x0 b0x0 main debug: pic out sz 704x480, of (0,0), vsz 704x480, 4cc I420, ar 4:3, sar 10:11, msk r0x0 g0x0 b0x0 main debug: direct render, mapping render pictures 0-14 to system pictures 1-15 main debug: looking for video filter2 module: 1 candidate main warning: dts != current_pts (-89857794054) qt4 debug: Qt: Entering Fullscreen main warning: decoder synchro warning: pts != current_date (-33367) main debug: End of video preroll deinterlace debug: using blend deinterlace mode deinterlace debug: using blend deinterlace method deinterlace debug: deinterlacing main debug: using video filter2 module "deinterlace" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 70.000 ms - Total 70.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 70.000 ms) main debug: Filter 'deinterlace' (0x232db6c) appended to chain main warning: late picture skipped (48189 > -10) freetype debug: using fontsize: 30 main debug: Adding CC track 1 for es[2432] main debug: Adding CC track 2 for es[2432] main debug: Adding CC track 3 for es[2432] main debug: Adding CC track 4 for es[2432] qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry qt4 debug: Updating the geometry main debug: looking for video blending module: 1 candidate blend debug: chroma: YUVA -> I420 main debug: using video blending module "blend" main debug: TIMER module_need() : 36.000 ms - Total 36.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 36.000 ms) main warning: late picture skipped (-23011 > -26507) main debug: decoded 113/120 pictures

I think that's the first problem that needs solving - VLC cannot open capture device by itself...

[globaltrasher]

Just checking in to bump this thread (If I may) and find out if there is any interest from VLC Guru Developers to look into this issue (Digital cable capture), now that 1.0.2 is out

Thanks!

[KenS]

Have you been able to capture without using a playlist? Helps to remove possible causes of error. The error you are getting indicates that the tuner is not receiving a signal.
Your command line looks odd atsc://frequency=579000000:bandwidth=6
I would try atsc:// :frequency=579000000 :bandwidth=6 for starters