Hello,

When I run "mythbackend &" and "mythfrontend" and then select watch live TV, I get just a black screen. If I alt+tab out to the console where I ran the frontend, this is what I get, repeated over and over again:

2005-11-27 03:45:53.210 New DB connection, total: 1
Total desktop width=1024, height=768, numscreens=1
2005-11-27 03:45:53.230 Using screen 0, 1024x768 at 0,0
2005-11-27 03:45:53.237 mythfrontend version: 0.18.1.20050523-1 www.mythtv.org
2005-11-27 03:45:53.238 Enabled verbose msgs : important general
2005-11-27 03:45:54.257 Switching to square mode (MythCenter)
2005-11-27 03:45:54.809 Joystick disabled.
2005-11-27 03:45:54.861 New DB connection, total: 2
2005-11-27 03:45:54.987 Registering Internal as a media playback plugin.
2005-11-27 03:45:55.046 Registering MythDVD DVD Media Handler as a media handler
2005-11-27 03:45:55.048 Registering MythDVD VCD Media Handler as a media handler
2005-11-27 03:45:55.536 Registering MythMusic Media Handler as a media handler
SIP listening on IP Address 192.168.0.xxx:5060 NAT address 192.168.0.xxx
SIP: Cannot register; proxy, username or password not set
2005-11-27 03:46:01.467 Connecting to backend server: 192.168.0.xxx:6543 (try 1 of 5)
2005-11-27 03:46:01.475 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:01.527 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:01.876 Disable DPMS
2005-11-27 03:46:02.102 RemoteFile::Read() failed in RingBuffer::safe_read().
2005-11-27 03:46:02.326 RemoteFile::Read() failed in RingBuffer::safe_read().
2005-11-27 03:46:02.550 RemoteFile::Read() failed in RingBuffer::safe_read().
2005-11-27 03:46:02.774 RemoteFile::Read() failed in RingBuffer::safe_read().
2005-11-27 03:46:02.998 RemoteFile::Read() failed in RingBuffer::safe_read().
2005-11-27 03:46:03.222 RemoteFile::Read() failed in RingBuffer::safe_read().
Couldn't read file: rbuf://192.168.0.xxx6543/video/buffer/ringbuf1.nuv
2005-11-27 03:46:03.262 LiveTV not successfully started
2005-11-27 03:46:03.294 Changing from None to WatchingLiveTV
2005-11-27 03:46:03.302 Changing from None to None
2005-11-27 03:46:03.322 Enable DPMS
2005-11-27 03:46:03.342 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:03.518 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:03.694 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:03.870 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:04.046 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:04.222 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:04.400 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:04.574 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:04.750 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:04.926 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:05.102 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:05.278 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:05.350 Using protocol version 15
2005-11-27 03:46:05.570 Disable DPMS
2005-11-27 03:46:05.790 RemoteFile::Read() failed in RingBuffer::safe_read().
2005-11-27 03:46:06.014 RemoteFile::Read() failed in RingBuffer::safe_read().
2005-11-27 03:46:06.238 RemoteFile::Read() failed in RingBuffer::safe_read().
2005-11-27 03:46:06.466 RemoteFile::Read() failed in RingBuffer::safe_read().
2005-11-27 03:46:06.694 RemoteFile::Read() failed in RingBuffer::safe_read().
2005-11-27 03:46:06.922 RemoteFile::Read() failed in RingBuffer::safe_read().

And this is what I get on the backend:

[1] 10434
[root@localhost ~]# 2005-11-27 03:45:39.879 New DB connection, total: 1
Starting up as the master server.
2005-11-27 03:45:39.964 New DB connection, total: 2
2005-11-27 03:45:40.008 New DB connection, total: 3
2005-11-27 03:45:40.054 New DB scheduler connection
2005-11-27 03:45:40.064 mythbackend version: 0.18.1.20050523-1 www.mythtv.org
2005-11-27 03:45:40.065 Enabled verbose msgs : important general
2005-11-27 03:45:42.081 Reschedule requested for id -1.
2005-11-27 03:45:42.559 Scheduled 0 items in 0.5 = 0.44 match + 0.04 place
2005-11-27 03:45:42.563 Seem to be woken up by USER
2005-11-27 03:46:01.482 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:01.482 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:01.518 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:01.518 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 1)
2005-11-27 03:46:01.534 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:01.534 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:01.558 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:01.558 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:01.574 adding: localhost.localdomain as a remote ringbuffer
2005-11-27 03:46:01.614 Changing from None to WatchingLiveTV
2005-11-27 03:46:01.828 NVR: Won't work with the streaming interface, falling back
VIDOCGMBUF:: Invalid argument
2005-11-27 03:46:01.838 TVRec: Recording Prematurely Stopped
2005-11-27 03:46:03.350 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:03.350 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:03.526 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:03.526 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:03.702 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:03.702 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:03.878 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:03.878 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:04.054 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:04.054 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:04.230 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:04.230 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:04.406 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:04.406 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:04.582 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:04.582 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:04.758 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:04.758 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:04.934 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:04.934 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:05.110 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:05.110 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:05.286 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:05.286 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:05.358 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:05.358 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:05.390 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:05.391 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:05.406 adding: localhost.localdomain as a remote ringbuffer
2005-11-27 03:46:05.426 Changing from None to WatchingLiveTV
2005-11-27 03:46:05.529 NVR: Won't work with the streaming interface, falling back
VIDOCGMBUF:: Invalid argument
2005-11-27 03:46:05.535 TVRec: Recording Prematurely Stopped
2005-11-27 03:46:07.051 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:07.051 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:07.231 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:07.231 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:07.403 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:07.403 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:07.583 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:07.583 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:07.763 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:07.763 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:07.943 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:07.943 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:08.123 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:08.123 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:08.303 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:08.303 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:08.483 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:08.483 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:08.663 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:08.663 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:08.843 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:08.843 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:09.023 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:09.023 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)
2005-11-27 03:46:09.100 MainServer::HandleAnnounce Playback
2005-11-27 03:46:09.101 adding: localhost.localdomain as a client (events: 0)


Any Help you could give me would be much appreciated. I'm running FC4 with a Hauppauge PVR-150. I followed the directions here: http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/fcmyth.php

I would have used Knoppmyth instead (and tried to actually), but I got the same problem. Then I read the PVR-150 isn't supported by Knoppmyth, so I switched over to FC4.

/video/recordings and /video/buffer is owned by the mythtv user, and the mythtv user has access to the disk.

Please help

Thanks
crazyPSP

Hi crazyPSP,

You may want to reconsider KnoppMyth. There is a lot of good stuff in the R5A26. The 150 has a couple of flavors, MCE & non, I see most success with the non-mce, (worked for me too)

The issue you describe sounds like you are missing cache. It looks for /cache/cache and I make it chown mythtv:mythtv /cache/cache . I don't know if that is right or wrong but it works. Also check your paths for / ???/tv/ and the others.

Mike

Thank you for your quick reply.

Actually, I've fixed it!

Here is what I did (for those of you who may have this problem):

#1 - edited /etc/groups and added mythtv user to "disk" group, as per http://mysettopbox.tv/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5885



#2 - made sure /video/recordings and /video/buffer (my recordings and live-tv cache) were both chmodded to allow access from mythtv user. I used 777, and I'm sure some would yell at me about security, but I'm the only person that uses this computer, so I dont' care.



#3 - reran mythtv configuration, deleting ALL settings (yes to both questions at beginning), then picked PVR-250/350 as my capture card type. I'm using the PVR-150 (model 1045, the barcode on the box says 85428 01045, and it says Media Center Edition)... you may need a different selection if you have a different card, and unfortunately I can't help you out there.



#4 - configure everything else as usual, but make sure "tuner0" is selected as the input for /dev/video0 (in my case) if you're using the co-ax input on the back of the PVR-150.

#5 - exit the setup with [escape]

#6 -rerun the mythfilldatabase program to get your channel and programming information back



#7 - restart the mythbackend



This may fail, it did for me a few times, and I think it means it's not started, so give it a
in that case

#8 - start the frontend



#9 - VERY IMPORTANT! You must make sure all FOUR recording profiles have been set from within the front end. Go to recording profiles (somewhere in settings under TV, I think) and for each one (default, live tv, high-quality, low-quality), make sure the first number is 720. The second number is correct (sorry, I'm writing this off the top of my head, I believe it's 480). You can skip over all the other options for each of the 4. But do it for all four. Yes, it is repetitive.

#10 - exit the frontend with [escape] a few times. Restart the backend (for good measure)


There should be no errors this time, as I told you to start it if there was an error in step 7.

#11 - start the frontend



#12 - you should be good to go for watching live tv now. If not, I'm sorry I couldn't have been more of a help

Mike, maybe if I had known my problems were stemming from a general configuration problem and not knoppmyth's support, I would have stayed with it. Alas.

Happy tuning

crazyPSP

Just FYI for everyone that has been trying to fix "Black Screen" for live TV issues, I went through I don't know how many forums and tried a ton of things, in the end, getting and installing R5A30 fixed it all with zero configuration. I first tried R5A16 (or 12?) with my Haupauge 500 MCE and updated the ivtv drivers, among a pile of other things, and what actually worked flawlessly was R5A30.

Thanks!