Flakey / Intermittent Sound with Compro VideoMate U300

Heyw00d · **24th July 2007, 05:57 PM**

Hey guys - long time no post. I've been keeping an eye on things over the past 10-ish months since I've had my MCE rig in place. Up until today, I've resisted TV tuners, but have taken the plunge today. Based on APC's (Australian Personal Computer) 'Best Tech' section, I've gone and bought the VideoMate U300. Okay so they rated the U500, but the local guys tell me the U300 is near identical except for the external aerial (which is in the bin).

I've gone and installed the U300, MCE found it, scanned tonnes of channels and picture quality is excellent. Problem is sound is very, very hit and miss. 9/10 times when I hit any of the SBS stations, I get no sound. If I minimise MCE and open PureVideo (which is the DVD codec I purchased last year) it shows sound being processed, output via S/PDIF, etc. SOMETIMES when I maximise MCE again, the sound starts!

There doesn't seem to be any consistency to sound working/not working other than it seems to NOT WORK most of the time on many channels! I've done the ScanChannels BDA and the results look pretty darn good to me:
-----------------------
ScanChannelsBDA-UK starting
Build - v2.4.5.1
Checking for new BDA DVB-T Cards
Tuner - VideoMate U500 Family BDA Digital Tuner (Dev1 Path0)
@device

np:\\?\usb#vid_185b&pid_1e80#000000000000 001#{71985f48-1ca1-11d3-

9cc8-00c04f7971e0}
Finding Demod and Capture filters
Trying - BDA Slip De-Framer
@device

np:\\?\root#system#0000#{fd0a5af4-b41d-11d2-9c95-

00c04f7971e0}\{03884cb6-e89a-4deb-b69e-8dc621686e6a}&global
Trying - BDA MPE Filter
@device

np:\\?\root#system#0000#{fd0a5af4-b41d-11d2-9c95-

00c04f7971e0}\{8e60217d-a2ee-47f8-b0c5-0f44c55f66dc}&global
Trying - VideoMate U500 Family BDA Digital Capture (Dev1 Path0)
@device

np:\\?\usb#vid_185b&pid_1e80#000000000000 001#{fd0a5af4-b41d-

11d2-9c95-00c04f7971e0}\videomate u500 family bda digital capture (dev1 path0)
SUCCESS
Checking for Capture filter
Trying - BDA Slip De-Framer
@device

np:\\?\root#system#0000#{fd0a5af4-b41d-11d2-9c95-

00c04f7971e0}\{03884cb6-e89a-4deb-b69e-8dc621686e6a}&global
Trying - BDA MPE Filter
@device

np:\\?\root#system#0000#{fd0a5af4-b41d-11d2-9c95-

00c04f7971e0}\{8e60217d-a2ee-47f8-b0c5-0f44c55f66dc}&global
Finished Finding Demod and Capture filters
Capture - VideoMate U500 Family BDA Digital Capture (Dev1 Path0)
@device

np:\\?\usb#vid_185b&pid_1e80#000000000000 001#{fd0a5af4-b41d-

11d2-9c95-00c04f7971e0}\videomate u500 family bda digital capture (dev1 path0)
Finished Checking for new BDA DVB-T Cards
Found BDA device: VideoMate U500 Family BDA Digital Tuner (Dev1 Path0)
# signal locked = Y present = Y strength = 174 quality = 10

================================================== ==========================

Frequency (Scanned) = 177500kHz
Frequency (Actual) = 177500kHz

Transmitter Name = Seven Network
#Alternate frequencies
#Network_1("Seven Network", 177500, 7, 1)
#Network_1("Seven Network", 669500, 7, 1)

Channel Name LCN SID Vid Aud PMT
-------------------------------------------------------------------
7 Digital , 7, 1312, 513, 514, 512 # Teletext=516
7 Digital 1 , 71, 1313, 513, 514, 528 # Teletext=516
7 Digital 2 , 72, 1314, 513, 514, 544 # Teletext=516
7 Digital 3 , 73, 1315, 513, 514, 560 # Teletext=516
7 HD Digital , 70, 1316, 577, A579, 576 # Teletext=516
7 Guide , 77, 1318, 609, 610, 608 #

# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 170 Quality = 100%

# Average quality on 177500kHz = 100%

================================================== ==========================

Frequency (Scanned) = 191500kHz
Frequency (Actual) = 191625kHz

Transmitter Name = Nine Network Austrlia
#Alternate frequencies
#Network_2("Nine Network Austrlia", 564500, 7, 1)
#Network_2("Nine Network Austrlia", 767500, 7, 1)

Channel Name LCN SID Vid Aud PMT
-------------------------------------------------------------------
NINE DIGITAL , 9, 1, 519, 720, 256 # Teletext=583
NINE DIGITAL AC3 , , 1, 519, A721, 256 #
NINE HD , 90, 5, 512, A650, 257 # Teletext=576
NINE GUIDE , 99, 6, 517, 700, 258 #

# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 177 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 177 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 90%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 178 Quality = 100%

# Average quality on 191500kHz = 97%

================================================== ==========================

Frequency (Scanned) = 219500kHz
Frequency (Actual) = 219500kHz

Transmitter Name = Network TEN
#Alternate frequencies
#Network_3("Network TEN", 648500, 7, 1)
#Network_3("Network TEN", 788625, 7, 1)

Channel Name LCN SID Vid Aud PMT
-------------------------------------------------------------------
TEN Digital , 1, 1569, 512, 650, 257 # Teletext=576
TEN Digital AC3 , , 1569, 512, A651, 257 #
TEN Digital , 10, 1573, 512, 650, 256 # Teletext=576
TEN Digital AC3 , , 1573, 512, A651, 256 #
TEN Guide , 11, 1575, 513, 660, 262 #
TEN HD , 12, 1576, 514, A672, 263 # Teletext=577
TEN Guide , 100, 1577, 513, 660, 264 #

# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 159 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 159 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 158 Quality = 60%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 158 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 158 Quality = 90%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 158 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 158 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 159 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 158 Quality = 60%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 160 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 159 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 158 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 158 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 159 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 159 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 159 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 159 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 159 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 157 Quality = 80%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 158 Quality = 80%

# Average quality on 219500kHz = 81%

================================================== ==========================

Frequency (Scanned) = 226500kHz
Frequency (Actual) = 226500kHz

Transmitter Name = ABC Sydney

Channel Name LCN SID Vid Aud PMT
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC HDTV , 20, 544, 2314, A2315, 258 # Teletext=2316
ABC TV Sydney , 2, 545, 512, 650, 256 # Teletext=576
ABC TV Sydney AC3 , , 545, 512, A660, 256 #
ABC2 , 21, 546, 2307, 2308, 257 # Teletext=2310
ABC TV , 22, 547, 512, 650, 259 # Teletext=576
ABC DiG Radio , 200, 550, 0, 2317, 260 #
ABC DiG Jazz , 201, 551, 0, 2318, 261 #

# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 177 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 177 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 176 Quality = 100%

# Average quality on 226500kHz = 100%

================================================== ==========================

Frequency (Scanned) = 571500kHz
Frequency (Actual) = 571500kHz

Transmitter Name = SBS NETWORK

Channel Name LCN SID Vid Aud PMT
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SBS HD , 30, 768, 102, 103, 1024 # Teletext=41
SBS , 3, 769, 161, 81, 1025 # Teletext=41
SBS NEWS , 33, 770, 162, 83, 1026 #
SBS 2 , 31, 772, 161, 81, 1032 # Teletext=41
SBS RADIO 1 , 38, 782, 0, 201, 1027 #
SBS RADIO 2 , 39, 783, 0, 202, 1028 #

# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 148 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 147 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 147 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 148 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 149 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 148 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 149 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 150 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 149 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 149 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 148 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 148 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 148 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 148 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 148 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 151 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 151 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 149 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 148 Quality = 100%
# Locked = Y Present = Y Strength = 150 Quality = 100%

# Average quality on 571500kHz = 100%

Just an extract obviously. I've uninstalled PureVideo and re-installed, pumped in the latest ForceWare drivers (v93.71), run another Windows Update to make sure I'm missing nothing - have all Windows Updates in place (including RU2 which went in donk's ago), and still patchy. My config is thus:
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 SP2
All updates, including RU2
NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder v1.02-223
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR PCI (yeah I know it's old but it's served me well thus far!)
Chaintech AV-710 Sound Card - Connected to Denon AVC-A1D Amp Opticaly via S/PDIF
Compro VideoMate U300 DVB-T Stick Tuner

Everything else is and has been good. Wishing I'd have not been bitten by the DTV bug! Help please!

Lester_Burnham · **24th July 2007, 06:06 PM**

Hi,

I'd probably start by rechecking your signal strength using the other version of scanchannelsBDA (non-UK), as SBS does show a lower strength than the others.

I'd also try un-installing nVidia Pure Video and try a trial of PowerDVD to see if it still happens. Make sure you set the codec as preferred before testing. I also make sure you can play a DVD inside of PowerDVD before testing.

Heyw00d · **24th July 2007, 10:38 PM**

Thanks, Lester_Burnham - gave it a go. Uninstalled PureVideo, rebooted, ran System Mechanic to do a Regclean, rebooted then installed the PowerDVD 7 trial. Checked a couple of DVDs without issue. Flicked over to My TV again still to find the same issue. I'm sure it's just me, but I can't find anything but that UK version of ScanChannelsBDA. Looking at the stats from earlier though, the lower readings on SBS still don't correlate. As when I just did some checking, 7 Digital and ABC2 don't have sound. Again, picture is sharp as, but no sound. When I look at the combined scans of Seven Network and ABC Sydney, they both rate highly in terms of strength and quality, viz:

Channel Name LCN SID Vid Aud PMT
7 Digital , 7, 1312, 513, 514, 512 # Teletext=516
Average Strength = 169 & Average Quality = 100%

Channel Name LCN SID Vid Aud PMT
ABC2 , 21, 546, 2307, 2308, 257 # Teletext=2310
Average Strength = 176 & Average Quality = 100%

I should point out looking at DECCHK there are two Cyberlink decoders; Video/SP Decoder (I've checked as preferred) and Cyberlink SAC Video Decoder. There's also an old Ulead MPEG Video Decoder (not checked), but I can't figure a means to get rid of it as there's no entry in Add/Remove Programs and the folder with all the DLLs and AX files is in Program Files\Common Files folder. There's no installed in that folder either, so I tried to manually unregister all the DLLs (regsvr32 /u filename.dll on every DLL) in that folder, but that decoder still comes up.

What else?

Lester_Burnham · **24th July 2007, 10:48 PM**

Hi,

Try this version, just to double check the signal strength
http://nate.dynalias.net/ScanChannel...DA-2.0.0.7.zip

Seeing you're just passing the audio through via SPDIF, there can't be much else getting in the way apart from your sound card, if that's where your SPDIF plug is.

Another thing I'm thinking maybe an AC3 problem?? Just guessing now.

Heyw00d · **25th July 2007, 09:51 PM**

Okay, Lester_Burnham

Gave that alternate version of ScanChannels a go - weirder results - eg. how can you have average qualities of 100 then a couple of 10s for the same network!? I've trimmed the log size for obvious reasons!

Network_1("Seven Network", 177500, 7, 1)
#Alternate frequencies
#Network_1("Seven Network", 177500, 7, 1)
#Network_1("Seven Network", 669500, 7, 1)
Program_ 1("7 Digital" , 1312, 513, 514, 512) # LCN=7 Teletext=516
Program_ 2("7 Digital 1" , 1313, 513, 514, 528) # LCN=71 Teletext=516
Program_ 3("7 Digital 2" , 1314, 513, 514, 544) # LCN=72 Teletext=516
Program_ 4("7 Digital 3" , 1315, 513, 514, 560) # LCN=73 Teletext=516
Program_ 5("7 HD Digital" , 1316, 577, A579, 576) # LCN=70 Teletext=516
Program_ 6("7 Guide" , 1318, 609, 610, 608) # LCN=77

# signal locked = N present = N stength = 180 quality = -100
# signal locked = N present = N stength = 180 quality = -100
# signal locked = N present = N stength = 180 quality = -100
# signal locked = N present = N stength = 179 quality = -100
# signal locked = N present = N stength = 179 quality = -100
Avg Strength = 179 Avg Quality = 100

Network_2("Nine Network Austrlia", 191625, 7, 1)
#Alternate frequencies
#Network_2("Nine Network Austrlia", 564500, 7, 1)
#Network_2("Nine Network Austrlia", 767500, 7, 1)
Program_ 1("NINE DIGITAL" , 1, 519, 720, 256) # LCN=9 Teletext=583
Program_ 2("NINE DIGITAL AC3" , 1, 519, A721, 256) #
Program_ 3("NINE HD" , 5, 512, A650, 257) # LCN=90 Teletext=576
Program_ 4("NINE GUIDE" , 6, 517, 700, 258) # LCN=99

# signal locked = N present = N stength = 181 quality = -100
# signal locked = N present = N stength = 181 quality = -100
# signal locked = N present = N stength = 181 quality = -100
# signal locked = N present = N stength = 181 quality = -100
# signal locked = N present = N stength = 181 quality = -100
Avg Strength = 172 Avg Quality = 100

Network_3("Network TEN", 219500, 7, 1)
#Alternate frequencies
#Network_3("Network TEN", 648500, 7, 1)
#Network_3("Network TEN", 788625, 7, 1)
Program_ 1("TEN Digital" , 1569, 512, 650, 257) # LCN=1 Teletext=576
Program_ 2("TEN Digital AC3" , 1569, 512, A651, 257) #
Program_ 3("TEN Digital" , 1573, 512, 650, 256) # LCN=10 Teletext=576
Program_ 4("TEN Digital AC3" , 1573, 512, A651, 256) #
Program_ 5("TEN Guide" , 1575, 513, 660, 262) # LCN=11
Program_ 6("TEN HD" , 1576, 514, A672, 263) # LCN=12 Teletext=577
Program_ 7("TEN Guide" , 1577, 513, 660, 264) # LCN=100

# signal locked = Y present = N stength = 180 quality = 10
# locked 226500, 7 signal locked = Y present = N stength = 180 quality = 10
Avg Strength = 170 Avg Quality = 10 (!??)

Network_4("ABC Sydney", 226500, 7, 1)
Program_ 1("ABC HDTV" , 544, 2314, A2315, 258) # LCN=20 Teletext=2316
Program_ 2("ABC TV Sydney" , 545, 512, 650, 256) # LCN=2 Teletext=576
Program_ 3("ABC TV Sydney AC3" , 545, 512, A660, 256) #
Program_ 4("ABC2" , 546, 2307, 2308, 257) # LCN=21 Teletext=2310
Program_ 5("ABC TV" , 547, 512, 650, 259) # LCN=22 Teletext=576
Program_ 6("ABC DiG Radio" , 550, 0, 2317, 260) # LCN=200
Program_ 7("ABC DiG Jazz" , 551, 0, 2318, 261) # LCN=201

# signal locked = N present = N stength = 169 quality = -100
# signal locked = N present = N stength = 170 quality = -100
# signal locked = N present = N stength = 170 quality = -100
# signal locked = N present = N stength = 170 quality = -100
Avg Strength = 170 Avg Quality = 100

Network_6("SBS NETWORK", 571500, 7, 1)
Program_ 1("SBS HD" , 768, 102, 103, 1024) # LCN=30 Teletext=41
Program_ 2("SBS" , 769, 161, 81, 1025) # LCN=3 Teletext=41
Program_ 3("SBS NEWS" , 770, 162, 83, 1026) # LCN=33
Program_ 4("SBS 2" , 772, 161, 81, 1032) # LCN=31 Teletext=41
Program_ 5("SBS RADIO 1" , 782, 0, 201, 1027) # LCN=38
Program_ 6("SBS RADIO 2" , 783, 0, 202, 1028) # LCN=39

# signal locked = Y present = Y stength = 159 quality = 10
# locked 578500, 7 signal locked = Y present = Y stength = 159 quality = 10
Avg Strength = 159 Avg Quality = 10 (!??)

Heyw00d · **25th July 2007, 10:00 PM**

I forgot one absolutely critical point in all of this (yep, right back to the start even) - the TV application that came with the Compro (Compro DTV 3.0.4.4) works perfectly on all channels - perfect picture and perfect sound. MCE exhibits sound problems regardless of whether I have Compro DTV installed or not - ie. I've tried both ways with the app installed and after it was removed.

Lester_Burnham · **25th July 2007, 10:51 PM**

Hi,

It's good to know that the Compro app works OK for elimination purposes.

What is your Hard Drive doing when you lose audio? Is it flogging itself?
Apart from that, it's about all I can think of until some real guru's move in

Heyw00d · **27th July 2007, 12:32 AM**

Hey Lester_Burnham

Thanks for your continued responses. My HDD isn't thrashing at all when running My TV - in fact it's not doing much at all. My box has 1.5GB of RAM, the HDD is a Seagate CUDA 7200.10 320GB SATA II 16MB 3G/S NCQ.

I've just eMailed Compro to see if they can give me another driver version - the version on the CD is the same as on their site and it's from March this year so it's not real old. Can't even begin to express how disappointed I am with this experience!

wklopek · **27th July 2007, 06:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heyw00d

Gave that alternate version of ScanChannels a go - weirder results - eg. how can you have average qualities of 100 then a couple of 10s for the same network!? I've trimmed the log size for obvious reasons!

The UK version has workarounds for drivers that are slow to report quality. On some cards, quality starts at 10% just after tuning and quickly ramps up. The UK version waits a few seconds after tuning for quality to settle before taking a reading.

Lester_Burnham · **27th July 2007, 12:18 PM**

Hi again,

Just to clear up what is happening.
The audio stops when you change channels sometimes? Sounds like codec problem if you can minimise then max again and it comes back.

What happens when you press pause on the channel while having no audio? When you press play, does it return?

Lester