Thread: MCAS + 5.3/5.4 Cards

Yes, having problems with ACS 5.4 on UltraPlus980 MCAS Jan18. Have tried March16 with same result. Picture freezes regularly for a few minutes at a time.

Same card runs OK on Oscam with UltraPlus980 as the only client.

I have tried the 22 Nov mcas in the medistar 8200s and have exactly the same problem. Depending what firmware you are running there are other Mcas versions that work but overall I have had the same or similar problems with the 5.3 card, its annoying but at least it still works 90% of the time

900HD and 22 Nov 11 MCAS using a 5.3 card here - also have lock up issues.

Tends to lock up:

- when switching channels after the unit has been left on overnight
- after an EPG data grab for either just a channel or a page of channels. Locks up after you change channels a few times or try and access the EPG again

It does work 90% of the time, but needs to be hard reset on a daily basis (at minimum).

I've found the best way to ensure a recording works is to switch to channel you want to record, grab EPG data, schedule recording and leave the Ultraplus on that channel until the recording has completed. It will then inevitably lock up at a later time but at least the recording works.

I've also found it's better to hard reset before you intend to do a lot of channel changing/watching as this minimises the chance of lock ups whilst watching the shows you're interested in. This way you don't have to wait the 2-3 minutes for a hard reset to complete whilst the footy or something similar is on!

It looks like there are a few solutions here...

1. I am running my UltraPlus 900HD through MythTV via a HD-PVR. I could have MythTV send a power off, wait 60 seconds, power on, wait 60 seconds, begin recording (not that great when it freezes on channel surfing, however this happens early morning or mid afternoon).

2. Use the UltraPlus to share the card and insert my DVB-S cards into my MythTV Backend (is there a linux client that can utilise the UltraPlus as a CS server?)

3. Use my MythTV Backend PC to do the card sharing and use the UltraPlus as a client (not the ideal solution, I bought the UltraPlus because I couldn't be bothered figuring this one out, guess I could give it to my parents and go down this route)

4. Have the manufacturer resolve these issues?

-rF

Originally Posted by LeroyPatrol

Can you try the 22 Nov 11 MCAS?

Leroy

I don't have that one. Closest I've got is 24 Oct 2011.

I'll have a look around for it though.

Thanks LP, didn't realise those plugins were OK for a UP980hd as well.

Well I have fixed the freezing issue, MythTV sends a power off command via infrared, sleeps for 5 seconds, sends a power on command, sleeps for 15 seconds, sends the channel number and begins recording. if anyone wants the lirc configuration file for the 900HD remote I created I would be happy to share.

In case anyone wants it.


# Please make this file available to others
# by sending it to <lirc@bartelmus.de>
#
# this config file was automatically generated
# using lirc-0.9.0(default) on Mon Apr 30 19:02:59 2012
#
# contributed by rF
#
# brand: 900HD
# model no. of remote control:
# devices being controlled by this remote:
#

begin remote

name 900HD
bits 16
flags SPACE_ENC|CONST_LENGTH
eps 30
aeps 100

header 9091 4456
one 603 1656
zero 603 522
ptrail 590
repeat 9059 2229
pre_data_bits 16
pre_data 0x409F
gap 108371
toggle_bit_mask 0x0

begin codes
POWER 0x50AF
MUTE 0x30CF
V.Format 0x708F
SLEEP 0x7887
TV-RADIO 0x58A7
RESOLUTION 0xF00F
PAGEUP 0xC23D
PAGEDOWN 0x22DD
SUBTITLE 0xD02F
TELETEXT 0xB04F
0 0x08F7
1 0x8877
2 0x48B7
3 0xC837
4 0x28D7
5 0xA857
6 0x6897
7 0xE817
8 0x18E7
9 0x9867
FAV 0x827D
PLAYLIST 0x02FD
INFO 0x609F
RECALL 0x906F
MENU 0x20DF
EXIT 0x38C7
UP 0x00FF
DOWN 0x807F
LEFT 0xC03F
RIGHT 0x40BF
OK 0xF807
VOL+ 0x728D
VOL- 0xF20D
CHANNEL+ 0x7A85
CHANNEL- 0xFA05
EPG 0x10EF
RED 0xD22D
GREEN 0x52AD
YELLOW 0x926D
BLUE 0x12ED
REWIND 0x1AE5
PLAY 0xAA55
PAUSE 0xE01F
FASTFORWARD 0x3AC5
PREVIOUS-CHAPTER 0x0AF5
STOP 0x2AD5
RECORD 0x6A95
NEXT-CHAPTER 0x32CD
TICK 0x42BD
PIP 0x8A75
PIPSWAP 0x4AB5
PIPSLIST 0xCA35
end codes

end remote

Has anyone else started having regular freezing (I am talking minutes now) even with the 22 Nov 2011 MCAS?

This started happening to me about an hour ago, only way I have found around it is to use the latest MCAS with continuous EMM blocking enabled...

I've always had the freezing problem. I don't understand what that mythtv thing is your mentioned in previous posts though.

I also don't understand what continuous EMM blocking is either, but I'm sure someone will be able to shed some light on it.

It doesn't matter what version MCAS or the firmware combination is, it always freezes regularly. That's my experience anyway.

I guess it will continue to do so until there's an MCAS update?

Originally Posted by mrtw

I've always had the freezing problem. I don't understand what that mythtv thing is your mentioned in previous posts though.

I also don't understand what continuous EMM blocking is either, but I'm sure someone will be able to shed some light on it.

It doesn't matter what version MCAS or the firmware combination is, it always freezes regularly. That's my experience anyway.

I guess it will continue to do so until there's an MCAS update?

Well mine is still doing it as of this morning, looks like I am in the same boat as you, which makes my decoder pretty much useless. Guess I will pursue the oscam route.

Originally Posted by LeroyPatrol

I'm running the 9200 and not having this issue and the firmware is basically the same. I'll run up a 900 without MCAS and see how it goes on FTA channels for a couple of days. Then I'll install MCAS and put an Austar card in the slot (I don't have a 5.3/5.4) and see how it goes over a couple of days. Might be a challenge for me this weekend but I can start the FTA test today.
Cheers,
Leroy

Leroy, could you please post up a link for the latest and greatest firmware for the 900HD?

Originally Posted by LeroyPatrol

It's already loaded on your box! The next will be out soon.

Leroy

I rolled it back to the revision that came with the 22Nov11 MCAS