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Troubles capturing video

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 2:10 pm
by vk3pb
Hi all

I am using the Datv Express board along with a pvr-150 capture board.

I endeavoured to transmit some video tonight without success. I keyed our digital repeater ok but just got a blank black screen for video from the output of the repeater. I tried a number of video sources all with the same result.

I then recorded the ts stream and played it back. It was exactly the same as what I saw coming out of the repeater - a black screen.

It looks like the capture card may not be capturing video for some reason, most probably a software setting. I have previously tested my card at a friends place who has a datv setup and it worked ok there. I am running my software under kubuntu.

Hoping someone can help

Regards Peter vk3pb

Re: Troubles capturing video

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 2:28 pm
by G4GUO
What input number are you using?

Re: Troubles capturing video

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 5:10 am
by vk3pb
I'm using input 1.

cheers Peter

Re: Troubles capturing video

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 2:27 pm
by vk3pb
A little success tonight. I have good audio but still just a black screen.

It appears that the setup is working ok but the video I am inputting from my camera is not being captured by the pvr-150. I can safely say that I am transmitting ok to the repeater, The problem is in the video capture.

Re: Troubles capturing video

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 2:45 pm
by G4GUO
Hello Peter,

Unfortunately I think I know what the problem is.
I was just confirming it on my own system (hence the delay).

I believe you are using composite in which is input 2
Unfortunately Dave G0MXW found a bug which means
when you select input 2 it tries to read a transport stream from the UDP socket.

If this is the problem you will need a fixed version of the software.
I need to think how best to do that, the next release of software has some major
changes in it and until I have tested it I don't want to release it.
The safest way for me to release a fix is if I build from the old sources.
Hopefully I can get something ready this weekend.

I am sorry for the inconvenience

- Charles G4GUO

Re: Troubles capturing video

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 7:52 am
by vk3pb
Thanks Charles. I look forward to your software solution!

Re: Troubles capturing video

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 7:54 am
by vk3pb
Just a quick addition,

I was actually using input 1 which is I think is the correct input for the pvr-150. I stand to be corrected. I did try all the other input numbers without success however and also tried a s-video to rca converter also without success.

I hope you can find a fix.

cheers Peter

Re: Troubles capturing video

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 9:01 am
by G4GUO
On my pvr-150 input 2 is definitely the composite input.
You can use v4l2-ctl to set various parameters of the card from a command line.
That will tell you which input is which, the -i options sets/reads the input.
On my machine
v4l2-ctrl -d /dev/video0 -i 2
returns
Video input set to 2 (Composite)

0 = Tuner
1 = S-Video
2 = Composite

- Charles

Re: Troubles capturing video

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 11:44 am
by vk3pb
Dear Charles

Some good news. Option 2 didn't work for me but option 1 with a s-video to vga converter worked ok. I now have sound and video.

Thanks Peter

Re: Troubles capturing video

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 11:48 am
by G4GUO
Thanks Peter,

Obviously there is another issue I have to look at as it is not behaving how it should.

- Charles