HW decoder on FTVS broken?!

[neik]

Hi guys,

I am having an issue with streaming HD channels to my FTVS and using the HW decoder. HD channels start to flicker a lot and the image looks like a mess.
Apparently this isn't just a VLC specific problem other with other players happens exactly the same.
The same channels play flawlessly on the PC and on an Android Box I have.

If you need further information, just let me know!

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

FTVS ?

[neik]

FTVS = Fire TV Stick

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Please share logs then.

[neik]

Sorry, missed that one.
Anyways, here you go: https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/bHYGYDphtZ/

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

With all files?

[neik]

Sorry, but to be honest I didn't really get your last post. Do you mind be a bit more precise?

A bit more information how I created the log: I opened VLC started the logfile in the VLC settings and then opened a stream that causes a messy image. All the settings were default, I didn't change any of them.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Does it happen with all media files you are playing or just a specific one?

[neik]

It happens with specific ones. The pattern here seems to be HD channels but with some SD channels it happens too, so...
The difference is that SD channels can be SW decoded and are fine then and HD channels cannot be SW decoded on the FTVS - as expected - because of missing horsepower.

Given that, the SW decoder doesn't show such a messy image it apparently has something to do with the HW decoder.

FYI.. This issue not only happens with VLC but with others as well. MPV for instance is one of these players and therefore I also opened an issue on their Github page over here (in case you're interested): https://github.com/mpv-android/mpv-android/issues/129

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Seems really broken hardware/driver.

[neik]

Let's see the bright side: The issue is being narrowed down.

Just for my understanding:
Is this an Hardware or Software issue?
Can you devs solve this or is this a bad implementation of Amazon and they have to solve it?

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Let's see the bright side: The issue is being narrowed down.

Just for my understanding:
Is this an Hardware or Software issue?
Can you devs solve this or is this a bad implementation of Amazon and they have to solve it?

No idea. Probably Amazon bug that needs a workaround. Open a bugreport.

[neik]

Thanks for having a look at it!

• your exact device name (go to Settings > About Phone > Model Number): Fire TV Stick (2nd Gen.) with latest FireOS (5.2.6.3)

• your Android version (go to Settings > About Phone > Android Version): 5.1(.x)

• your VLC version (go to VLC > Options > About): 3.0.10 (installed from the Amazon Store)

• a log file (see below): https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/bHYGYDphtZ/

• whether the issue occurs only on one media (video or music) or all of them: Occurs especially with HD channel streams but also on SD channels

• location to a sample, a screenshot, etc...: https://imgur.com/a/gGvOrKI

Anything else you might need, just let me know.

[tmm1]

Bugs must be reported on the bug tracker (https://trac.videolan.org/vlc/) and should include a sample video file so the developers can reproduce the issue.

[neik]

Here it is: https://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/20713#ticket

[neik]

Hi guys, have been thinking about this and came to this conclusion:

If I see this right then the HW deinterlacer is causing the messy image due to a bug, right? Is there a way to pass the interlaced picture to the TV and let the TV's deinterlacer do its magic?

I mean afaik every TV should have a deinterlacer itself, right?

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Hi guys, have been thinking about this and came to this conclusion:

If I see this right then the HW deinterlacer is causing the messy image due to a bug, right? Is there a way to pass the interlaced picture to the TV and let the TV's deinterlacer do its magic?

I mean afaik every TV should have a deinterlacer itself, right?

Rarely for those cases.

[neik]

Hi Jean-Baptiste,

kinda confused right now!
Your answer belongs to which my three questions? Thanks!

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Letting the TV do the magic is not possible.

[neik]

Could you elaborate a bit why not?

I am wondering because my Samsung TV from 2012 (if I'm not mistaken) can open the sample file I have been using for this issue and plays it just fine without any interlacing artifacts or whatsoever.

Why wouldn't it be possible to let the FTVS feed the TV with the interlaced stream and the TV deinterlaces it just as it does when I open the file directly there?

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Could you elaborate a bit why not?

Because we cannot control the HDMI cable on Android. So, we cannot control the TV.