I've replaced the firmware files with those from the ivtvdriver.org site. No change detected (I think the firmware files are identical) Did a reinstall of the system to make sure I've got clean configs, setup the card again. The same problem: Viewing /dev/video0 with VLC produces a good image, playing TV with mythtv is choppy and unwatchable. After trying to play with mythtv, VLC can't play the stream either (same choppyness as in MythTV). Does mythtv apply some special (buffering?) settings before starting tv playback? Please find mythfrontend log below. 2010-04-05 15:27:05.966 mythfrontend version: trunk [23623] www.mythtv.org 2010-04-05 15:27:05.967 Using runtime prefix = /usr 2010-04-05 15:27:05.967 Using configuration directory = /home/bart/.mythtv 2010-04-05 15:27:06.658 Empty LocalHostName. 2010-04-05 15:27:06.659 Using localhost value of bart-tv2 2010-04-05 15:27:06.668 New DB connection, total: 1 2010-04-05 15:27:06.672 Connected to database 'mythconverg' at host: localhost 2010-04-05 15:27:06.673 Closing DB connection named 'DBManager0' 2010-04-05 15:27:06.692 ScreenSaverX11Private: XScreenSaver support enabled 2010-04-05 15:27:06.694 DPMS is disabled. 2010-04-05 15:27:06.696 Primary screen: 0. 2010-04-05 15:27:06.697 Connected to database 'mythconverg' at host: localhost 2010-04-05 15:27:06.699 Using screen 0, 1280x1024 at 0,0 2010-04-05 15:27:06.715 Desktop video mode: 1280x1024 60.0204 Hz 2010-04-05 15:27:06.737 MythUI Image Cache size set to 20971520 bytes 2010-04-05 15:27:06.762 Enabled verbose msgs: important general 2010-04-05 15:27:06.771 Primary screen: 0. 2010-04-05 15:27:06.772 Using screen 0, 1280x1024 at 0,0 2010-04-05 15:27:06.773 Using theme base resolution of 1280x720 2010-04-05 15:27:06.781 LIRC: Successfully initialized '/dev/lircd' using '/home/bart/.mythtv/lircrc' config 2010-04-05 15:27:06.781 JoystickMenuThread Error: Joystick disabled - Failed to read /home/bart/.mythtv/joystickmenurc 2010-04-05 15:27:07.087 Using the Qt painter 2010-04-05 15:27:07.261 XMLParseBase: Loaded base theme from '/usr/share/mythtv/themes/Mythbuntu/base.xml' 2010-04-05 15:27:07.276 XMLParseBase: Loaded base theme from '/usr/share/mythtv/themes/default-wide/base.xml' 2010-04-05 15:27:07.291 XMLParseBase: Loaded base theme from '/usr/share/mythtv/themes/default/base.xml' 2010-04-05 15:27:07.292 XMLParseBase, Error: Unable to load window 'backgroundwindow' from base 2010-04-05 15:27:07.303 Current MythTV Schema Version (DBSchemaVer): 1254 2010-04-05 15:27:07.898 Registering Internal as a media playback plugin. 2010-04-05 15:27:07.973 MMUnix::AddDevice() Error: failed to stat /dev/bdi, eno: No such file or directory (2) 2010-04-05 15:27:07.977 MMUnix::AddDevice() Error: failed to stat /dev/power, eno: No such file or directory (2) 2010-04-05 15:27:07.988 MMUnix::AddDevice() Error: failed to stat /dev/trace, eno: No such file or directory (2) 2010-04-05 15:27:07.993 MonitorRegisterExtensions(0x100, gif,jpg,png) 2010-04-05 15:27:08.023 Current MythMusic Schema Version (MusicDBSchemaVer): 1017 2010-04-05 15:27:08.079 MonitorRegisterExtensions(0x40, mp3,mp2,ogg,oga,flac,wma,wav,ac3,oma,omg,atp,ra,dts,aac,m4a,aa3,tta,mka,aiff,swa,wv) 2010-04-05 15:27:08.097 Current MythVideo Schema Version (mythvideo.DBSchemaVer): 1032 2010-04-05 15:27:08.141 XMLParseBase: Loading window theme from /usr/share/mythtv/themes/Mythbuntu/menu-ui.xml 2010-04-05 15:27:08.231 Loading menu theme from /usr/share/mythtv/themes/defaultmenu//mainmenu.xml 2010-04-05 15:27:08.234 Found mainmenu.xml for theme 'Mythbuntu' 2010-04-05 15:27:09.147 MythContext: Connecting to backend server: 127.0.0.1:6543 (try 1 of 1) 2010-04-05 15:27:09.150 Using protocol version 56 2010-04-05 15:27:09.369 SendReceiveStringList(QUERY_TIME_ZONE) called from UI thread 2010-04-05 15:27:11.014 Loading menu theme from /usr/share/mythtv/themes/defaultmenu//manage_recordings.xml 2010-04-05 15:27:11.675 Loading menu theme from /usr/share/mythtv/themes/defaultmenu//tv_schedule.xml 2010-04-05 15:27:12.306 XMLParseBase: Loading window theme from /usr/share/mythtv/themes/Mythbuntu/schedule-ui.xml 2010-04-05 15:27:21.268 SendReceiveStringList(GET_FREE_RECORDER_COUNT) called from UI thread 2010-04-05 15:27:21.272 SendReceiveStringList(GET_NEXT_FREE_RECORDER,-1) called from UI thread 2010-04-05 15:27:21.307 TV: Attempting to change from None to Watching WatchingLiveTV 2010-04-05 15:27:21.307 MythContext: Connecting to backend server: 127.0.0.1:6543 (try 1 of 1) 2010-04-05 15:27:21.308 Using protocol version 56 2010-04-05 15:27:21.331 Spawning LiveTV Recorder -- begin 2010-04-05 15:27:21.696 Spawning LiveTV Recorder -- end 2010-04-05 15:27:21.699 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:21.705 We have a playbackURL(/var/lib/mythtv/livetv/134250_20100405152721.mpg) & cardtype(MPEG) 2010-04-05 15:27:22.663 We have a RingBuffer 2010-04-05 15:27:23.694 AFD: Opened codec 0x9ea1d10, id(MPEG2VIDEO) type(Video) 2010-04-05 15:27:23.694 AFD: codec MP2 has 2 channels 2010-04-05 15:27:23.694 AFD: Opened codec 0x9ea67a0, id(MP2) type(Audio) 2010-04-05 15:27:23.761 Opening audio device 'default'. ch 2(2) sr 48000 (reenc 0) 2010-04-05 15:27:23.762 Opening ALSA audio device 'default'. 2010-04-05 15:27:23.849 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:23.852 New DB connection, total: 2 2010-04-05 15:27:23.853 Connected to database 'mythconverg' at host: localhost 2010-04-05 15:27:23.857 VideoOutputXv: XVideo Adaptor Name: 'NV17 Video Texture' 2010-04-05 15:27:23.905 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:23.962 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:23.962 OSD Theme Dimensions W: 1280 H: 720 2010-04-05 15:27:24.023 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.077 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.133 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.190 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.245 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.300 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.356 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.410 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.465 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.520 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.574 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.629 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.686 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.741 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.796 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.851 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.909 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:24.966 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:25.026 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152721.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:27:25.050 New DB connection, total: 3 2010-04-05 15:27:25.051 Realtime priority would require SUID as root. 2010-04-05 15:27:25.051 TV: Changing from None to Watching WatchingLiveTV 2010-04-05 15:27:25.052 TV: State is LiveTV & mctx == ctx 2010-04-05 15:27:25.054 Connected to database 'mythconverg' at host: localhost 2010-04-05 15:27:25.055 TV: UpdateOSDInput done 2010-04-05 15:27:25.055 TV: UpdateLCD done 2010-04-05 15:27:25.055 TV: ITVRestart done 2010-04-05 15:27:25.058 [mpeg2video @ 0x5d9c2c0]warning: first frame is no keyframe 2010-04-05 15:27:25.063 Video timing method: USleep with busy wait 2010-04-05 15:27:25.066 [mpeg2video @ 0x5d9c2c0]warning: first frame is no keyframe 2010-04-05 15:27:29.753 TV: Attempting to change from Watching WatchingLiveTV to None 2010-04-05 15:27:30.282 TV: Changing from Watching WatchingLiveTV to None 2010-04-05 15:27:30.360 SendReceiveStringList(MESSAGE,SYSTEM_EVENT PLAY_STOPPED SENDER bart-tv2) called from UI thread 2010-04-05 15:29:30.243 SendReceiveStringList(GET_FREE_RECORDER_COUNT) called from UI thread 2010-04-05 15:29:30.247 SendReceiveStringList(GET_NEXT_FREE_RECORDER,-1) called from UI thread 2010-04-05 15:29:30.271 TV: Attempting to change from None to Watching WatchingLiveTV 2010-04-05 15:29:30.271 MythContext: Connecting to backend server: 127.0.0.1:6543 (try 1 of 1) 2010-04-05 15:29:30.272 Using protocol version 56 2010-04-05 15:29:30.295 Spawning LiveTV Recorder -- begin 2010-04-05 15:29:30.412 Spawning LiveTV Recorder -- end 2010-04-05 15:29:30.416 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152930.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:29:30.420 We have a playbackURL(/var/lib/mythtv/livetv/134250_20100405152930.mpg) & cardtype(MPEG) 2010-04-05 15:29:31.379 We have a RingBuffer 2010-04-05 15:29:32.250 AFD: Opened codec 0xb2dde120, id(MPEG2VIDEO) type(Video) 2010-04-05 15:29:32.251 AFD: codec MP2 has 2 channels 2010-04-05 15:29:32.251 AFD: Opened codec 0xb1327aa0, id(MP2) type(Audio) 2010-04-05 15:29:32.310 Opening audio device 'default'. ch 2(2) sr 48000 (reenc 0) 2010-04-05 15:29:32.311 Opening ALSA audio device 'default'. 2010-04-05 15:29:32.346 VideoOutputXv: XVideo Adaptor Name: 'NV17 Video Texture' 2010-04-05 15:29:32.384 OSD Theme Dimensions W: 1280 H: 720 2010-04-05 15:29:32.385 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152930.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:29:32.443 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152930.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:29:32.502 ProgramInfo: Updated pathname '':'' -> '134250_20100405152930.mpg' 2010-04-05 15:29:32.541 TV: Changing from None to Watching WatchingLiveTV 2010-04-05 15:29:32.563 TV: State is LiveTV & mctx == ctx 2010-04-05 15:29:32.541 Realtime priority would require SUID as root. 2010-04-05 15:29:32.549 [mpeg2video @ 0x5d9c2c0]warning: first frame is no keyframe 2010-04-05 15:29:32.564 TV: UpdateOSDInput done 2010-04-05 15:29:32.565 TV: UpdateLCD done 2010-04-05 15:29:32.565 TV: ITVRestart done 2010-04-05 15:29:32.545 Video timing method: USleep with busy wait 2010-04-05 15:29:32.569 [mpeg2video @ 0x5d9c2c0]warning: first frame is no keyframe 2010-04-05 15:30:01.105 NVP(0): prebuffering pause 2010-04-05 15:30:10.964 NVP(0): prebuffering pause 2010-04-05 15:30:32.200 NVP(0): prebuffering pause 2010-04-05 15:30:34.002 NVP(0): prebuffering pause Output from dmesg: [ 17.335955] ivtv: Start initialization, version 1.4.1 [ 17.336087] ivtv0: Initializing card 0 [ 17.336093] ivtv0: Autodetected Hauppauge card (cx23416 based) [ 17.561436] ivtv 0000:04:08.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 20 (level, low) -> IRQ 20 [ 17.669919] tveeprom 0-0050: Hauppauge model 23559, rev D591, serial# 7965464 [ 17.669926] tveeprom 0-0050: tuner model is Philips FQ1216AME MK4 (idx 91, type 56) [ 17.669932] tveeprom 0-0050: TV standards PAL(B/G) PAL(I) SECAM(L/L') PAL(D/D1/K) (eeprom 0x74) [ 17.669938] tveeprom 0-0050: second tuner model is Philips TEA5768HL FM Radio (idx 101, type 62) [ 17.669944] tveeprom 0-0050: audio processor is CX25843 (idx 37) [ 17.669948] tveeprom 0-0050: decoder processor is CX25843 (idx 30) [ 17.669952] tveeprom 0-0050: has radio [ 17.669957] ivtv0: Autodetected WinTV PVR 500 (unit #1) [ 17.735327] cx25840 0-0044: cx25843-23 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #0) [ 17.882565] tuner 0-0060: chip found @ 0xc0 (ivtv i2c driver #0) [ 17.981312] tuner 0-0043: chip found @ 0x86 (ivtv i2c driver #0) [ 18.098066] tuner 0-0061: chip found @ 0xc2 (ivtv i2c driver #0) [ 18.132662] wm8775 0-001b: chip found @ 0x36 (ivtv i2c driver #0) [ 18.224258] tuner-simple 0-0061: creating new instance [ 18.224270] tuner-simple 0-0061: type set to 56 (Philips PAL/SECAM multi (FQ1216AME MK4)) [ 18.226371] IRQ 20/ivtv0: IRQF_DISABLED is not guaranteed on shared IRQs [ 18.226930] ivtv0: Registered device video0 for encoder MPG (4096 kB) [ 18.226992] ivtv0: Registered device video32 for encoder YUV (2048 kB) [ 18.227048] ivtv0: Registered device vbi0 for encoder VBI (1024 kB) [ 18.227105] ivtv0: Registered device video24 for encoder PCM (320 kB) [ 18.227163] ivtv0: Registered device radio0 for encoder radio [ 18.227170] ivtv0: Initialized card: WinTV PVR 500 (unit #1) [ 18.227302] ivtv1: Initializing card 1 [ 18.227310] ivtv1: Autodetected Hauppauge card (cx23416 based) [ 18.232089] ivtv 0000:04:09.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 21 (level, low) -> IRQ 21 [ 18.292736] tveeprom 1-0050: Hauppauge model 23559, rev D591, serial# 7965464 [ 18.292744] tveeprom 1-0050: tuner model is Philips FQ1216AME MK4 (idx 91, type 56) [ 18.292752] tveeprom 1-0050: TV standards PAL(B/G) PAL(I) SECAM(L/L') PAL(D/D1/K) (eeprom 0x74) [ 18.292759] tveeprom 1-0050: second tuner model is Philips TEA5768HL FM Radio (idx 101, type 62) [ 18.292765] tveeprom 1-0050: audio processor is CX25843 (idx 37) [ 18.292771] tveeprom 1-0050: decoder processor is CX25843 (idx 30) [ 18.292776] tveeprom 1-0050: has radio [ 18.292781] ivtv1: Correcting tveeprom data: no radio present on second unit [ 18.292787] ivtv1: Autodetected WinTV PVR 500 (unit #2) [ 18.363301] cx25840 1-0044: cx25843-23 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #1) [ 18.401150] tuner 1-0043: chip found @ 0x86 (ivtv i2c driver #1) [ 18.420053] tuner 1-0061: chip found @ 0xc2 (ivtv i2c driver #1) [ 18.431119] wm8775 1-001b: chip found @ 0x36 (ivtv i2c driver #1) [ 18.440270] tuner-simple 1-0061: creating new instance [ 18.440278] tuner-simple 1-0061: type set to 56 (Philips PAL/SECAM multi (FQ1216AME MK4)) [ 18.442356] IRQ 21/ivtv1: IRQF_DISABLED is not guaranteed on shared IRQs [ 18.442933] ivtv1: Registered device video1 for encoder MPG (4096 kB) [ 18.442998] ivtv1: Registered device video33 for encoder YUV (2048 kB) [ 18.443059] ivtv1: Registered device vbi1 for encoder VBI (1024 kB) [ 18.443269] ivtv1: Registered device video25 for encoder PCM (320 kB) [ 18.443276] ivtv1: Initialized card: WinTV PVR 500 (unit #2) [ 18.443386] ivtv: End initialization [ 19.076025] ivtv 0000:04:09.0: firmware: requesting v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw [ 19.104774] ivtv1: Loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (376836 bytes) [ 19.125048] ivtv 0000:04:08.0: firmware: requesting v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw [ 19.147001] ivtv0: Loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (376836 bytes) [ 19.440331] ivtv1: Encoder revision: 0x02060039 [ 19.458301] ivtv0: Encoder revision: 0x02060039 VLC log AFTER trying to watch tv with MythTV: vlc /dev/video0 VLC media player 1.0.5 Goldeneye [0x97ac148] main libvlc: Running vlc with the default interface. Use 'cvlc' to use vlc without interface. libdvdnav: Using dvdnav version 4.1.3 libdvdread: Encrypted DVD support unavailable. ************************************************ ** ** ** No css library available. See ** ** /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/README.Debian ** ** for more information. ** ** ** ************************************************ libdvdnav: Can't seek to block 32 libdvdnav: Unable to find map file '/home/bart/.dvdnav/.map' libdvdread: Can't seek to block 256 libdvdnav:DVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.IFO failed libdvdread: Can't seek to block 256 libdvdnav:DVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.BUP failed libdvdread: Can't open file VIDEO_TS.IFO. libdvdnav: vm: failed to read VIDEO_TS.IFO [0x99a6010] vcd access error: could not read TOCHDR [0x99a6010] vcd access error: no movie tracks found QPainter::begin: Paint device returned engine == 0, type: 1 QPainter::begin: Paint device returned engine == 0, type: 1 QPainter::begin: Paint device returned engine == 0, type: 1 [0x99d11a8] pulse audio output: No. of Audio Channels: 2 [0xb7401760] main input error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late, increasing pts_delay to 513 ms [0xb7401760] main input error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called [0xb7408ce0] libmpeg2 decoder error: DpbDisplayPicture called on an invalid picture [0xb7408ce0] libmpeg2 decoder error: DpbUnlinkPicture called on an invalid picture [0xb7408ce0] libmpeg2 decoder error: DpbUnlinkPicture called on an invalid picture [0xb7401760] main input error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late, increasing pts_delay to 782 ms [0xb7401760] main input error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called [0xb7408ce0] libmpeg2 decoder error: DpbUnlinkPicture called on an invalid picture [0xb7408ce0] libmpeg2 decoder error: DpbUnlinkPicture called on an invalid picture [0xb7401760] main input error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late, increasing pts_delay to 1615 ms [0xb7401760] main input error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called [0xb7408ce0] libmpeg2 decoder error: DpbUnlinkPicture called on an invalid picture [0xb7408ce0] libmpeg2 decoder error: DpbUnlinkPicture called on an invalid picture [0xb7401760] main input error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late, increasing pts_delay to 3302 ms [0xb7401760] main input error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called [0xb7408ce0] libmpeg2 decoder error: DpbUnlinkPicture called on an invalid picture [0xb7408ce0] libmpeg2 decoder error: DpbUnlinkPicture called on an invalid picture