No RX video on portsdown3 again

Discussion about this major DATV Project. See https://wiki.batc.org.uk/The_Portsdown_Transmitter
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juergenstv
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:35 pm

No RX video on portsdown3 again

Post by juergenstv » Thu Jul 07, 2022 8:08 pm

My own system is working well with soft 202206270.
I tried to set up a new system for a friend of mine, he had an Raspi 3 Model B rev 1.2 in stock.
I did new install 3 times with 3 new Buster-downloads like described on the github site with different speed sd-cards (sandisc 32 GB in grey, gold and black) .
always the same result = no video.
A local signal ist received MER20, but no video shown. MER brakes down to zero every 3-5 seconds. On the status screen (DVBS2-lock etc) the 3 lines Call, Provider and video codec are not present. I tried different usb-cables, different usb sockets at the raspi, different mintiouners – Same effect using a powered USB-HUB.
Is the raspi defect? or is it a software problem?

g0mjw
Posts: 2330
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2014 9:15 am

Re: No RX video on portsdown3 again

Post by g0mjw » Thu Jul 07, 2022 8:46 pm

Tell us what the video is. Is it H262, H264 or H265? is it high rate or reduced bandwidth. The PI3 is limited. Don't expect it to work with broadcast signals. Don't expect it to work with the QO100 beacon.

Mike

juergenstv
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:35 pm

Re: No RX video on portsdown3 again

Post by juergenstv » Sun Jul 10, 2022 10:13 am

Update:
I did the above mentioned installs on fresh buster downloads.

If I change the sd-cards between the working and not working system, the bug goes with the sd-card, NOT the hardware.

I also noticed, that a reboot command lasts abt. 25 – 30 seconds on the working system, 1min 50 on the not working system (1min30 to shutdown, 20 sec until ready system is shown).

Same behavior with a third raspi 3.

Could it be a bug oft he github install script.?

G8GKQ
Site Admin
Posts: 2798
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:21 pm

Re: No RX video on portsdown3 again

Post by G8GKQ » Tue Jul 12, 2022 11:37 am

The VLC package that the Portsdown 2020 and Portsdown 4 uses has been subject to external changes, which have broken our use of VLC (AGAIN).

I'm working on a resolution.

Dave G8GKQ

G8GKQ
Site Admin
Posts: 2798
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Re: No RX video on portsdown3 again

Post by G8GKQ » Wed Jul 13, 2022 12:46 pm

I have just developed a cure for this.

Please do a DEV update from the touchscreen menu. After the Dev update, please tell me if it works again! I can then publish it as a full update.

Thanks

Dave, G8GKQ

G6MNJ
Posts: 38
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:25 pm

Re: No RX video on portsdown3 again

Post by G6MNJ » Tue Aug 02, 2022 1:15 pm

I appear to have the same problem wit my Pi4 portsdown 4 even running the dev software - I get the MER info etc then a black screen

73 Paul

G8GKQ
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Re: No RX video on portsdown3 again

Post by G8GKQ » Wed Aug 03, 2022 7:32 pm

Hi Paul

I've just completed a fresh build of the Portsdown 4 and all appears to be OK. Please could you check the VLC version that you have on your Portsdown 4?

From the command line:

Code: Select all

vlc --version
Should respond with:

Code: Select all

VLC media player 3.0.17.4 Vetinari (revision 3.0.13-8-g41878ff4f2)
VLC version 3.0.17.4 Vetinari (3.0.13-8-g41878ff4f2)
Compiled by serge on arm-build.pitowers.org (Jun 22 2022 10:02:16)
Compiler: gcc version 8.3.0 (Raspbian 8.3.0-6+rpi1)
This program comes with NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
You may redistribute it under the terms of the GNU General Public Licence;
see the file named COPYING for details.
Written by the VideoLAN team; see the AUTHORS file.
Thanks

Dave

G6MNJ
Posts: 38
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:25 pm

Re: No RX video on portsdown3 again

Post by G6MNJ » Thu Aug 04, 2022 10:16 am

Ah ha! There was no VLC installed - no wonder it did not work!
Installed it and it is the version as you stated above and it works perfectly now!

Thank you
Paul G6MNJ

G8GKQ
Site Admin
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Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:21 pm

Re: No RX video on portsdown3 again

Post by G8GKQ » Thu Aug 04, 2022 10:31 am

Hi Paul

Pleased that you have sorted it. That was probably a download site outage during the install or update (or I may have made an error in the update script :-( ).

I am considering introducing error detection to trap this kind of thing, but it increases the complexity of the build and update scripts so is a bit of a 2-edged sword.

73

Dave

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