[SOLVED] Some recordings create giant 200GB .mka files that fill disk to 100%

dave h

Issue: Sometimes tvheadend creates giant files that fill up my disk.

Version

- tvheadend: version 4.2.8-23~g74cdf3f16
- Running on Linux (uname: 4.15.0-51-generic #55-Ubuntu SMP Wed May 15 14:27:21 UTC 2019 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux)
- standard package
- HDHomerun (2x dual tuners, 4 total)
- steps to duplicate: Live 60+ miles from broadcast antenna and wait for weather to change :)
TVHeadend Setup and Issue:

- I have tvheadend set up to record to a 400G partition.
- tvheadend usually records the file correctly.
- However, occasionally (about 1 out of 15 recordings), it is like the recording hangs or fails to quit and just keeps getting larger and larger until it's 200GB and fills the drive to 100% (thence causing things to stop working).
- The large recordings I find on the 100% full disk are usually ".mka" files (mka is apparently matroska audio).
Tuners:

- using a couple HDHomerun dual-tuner capture devices (so 4 total tuners on 2 networked devices)
Reception Area:

- I'm in a sub-ideal reception area so I do get errors in my recordings, depending on weather.
- I think more errors correlates to higher chance of a large file.
Encoding:

For files, I've been using matroska with these settings:
Enabled: checked Default: no Profile name: matroska Comment: Matroska Default priority: Normal Force priority: 0 Timeout (sec) (0=infinite): 0 Restart on error: not checked Continue if descrambling fails: checked Descrambling timeout (ms): 2000 Switch to another service: checked Preferred service video type: None WEBM: not checked
Logs:

I've looked at the logs; here is the chunk around the most recent large-file-jams-disk-to-100%-event which may help (final messages then continuously repeat):

 286 Jun 13 14:05:57 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: subscription: 0060: "epggrab" unsubscribing
 287 Jun 13 14:59:30 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr: "PBS NewsHour" on "KCETDT (KCET-DT)" recorder starting
 288 Jun 13 14:59:30 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr: About to set stop timer for "PBS NewsHour" on "KCETDT (KCET-DT)" at start 1560463200 and original stop 1560466800 and overal
     l stop at 1560466800
 289 Jun 13 14:59:30 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: 557.028MHz in ATSC-T Network - tuning on HDHomeRun ATSC-T Tuner #0 (10.xx.xx.164)
 290 Jun 13 14:59:30 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tvhdhomerun: tuning to auto:557028615
 291 Jun 13 14:59:30 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: subscription: 0063: "DVR: PBS NewsHour" subscribing on channel "KCETDT (KCET-DT)", weight: 300, adapter: "HDHomeRun ATSC-T Tuner
     #0 (10.xx.xx.164)", network: "ATSC-T Network", mux: "557.028MHz", service: "KCET HD", profile="matroska"
 292 Jun 13 15:00:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr: /home/hts/PBS-NewsHour/PBS-NewsHour2019-06-13-S45E249.mkv from adapter: "HDHomeRun ATSC-T Tuner #0 (10.xx.xx.164)", networ
     k: "ATSC-T Network", mux: "557.028MHz", provider: "<N/A>", service: "KCET HD"
 293 Jun 13 15:00:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr:  #  type              lang  resolution  aspect ratio  sample rate  channels
 294 Jun 13 15:00:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr:  1  MPEG2VIDEO              1280x720    16:9
 295 Jun 13 15:00:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr:  2  AC3               eng                             48000        2
 296 Jun 13 15:00:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr:  3  AC3               spa                             48000        2
 297 Jun 13 16:00:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: subscription: 0063: "DVR: PBS NewsHour" unsubscribing from "KCETDT (KCET-DT)"
 298 Jun 13 16:00:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr: "PBS NewsHour" on "KCETDT (KCET-DT)": End of program: Completed OK
 299 Jun 13 16:59:30 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr: "Rick Steves' Europe" on "KOCEDT (KOCE-DT)" recorder starting
 300 Jun 13 16:59:30 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr: About to set stop timer for "Rick Steves' Europe" on "KOCEDT (KOCE-DT)" at start 1560470400 and original stop 1560472200 and
      overall stop at 1560472200
 301 Jun 13 16:59:30 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: 497.028MHz in ATSC-T Network - tuning on HDHomeRun ATSC-T Tuner #0 (10.xx.xx.164)
 302 Jun 13 16:59:30 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tvhdhomerun: tuning to auto:497028615
 303 Jun 13 16:59:30 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: subscription: 0064: "DVR: Rick Steves' Europe" subscribing on channel "KOCEDT (KOCE-DT)", weight: 200, adapter: "HDHomeRun ATSC-T
      Tuner #0 (10.xx.xx.164)", network: "ATSC-T Network", mux: "497.028MHz", service: "PBS-HD", profile="matroska"
 304 Jun 13 17:00:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr: /home/hts/Rick-Steves'-Europe/Rick-Steves'-Europe2019-06-13-S03E09.mkv from adapter: "HDHomeRun ATSC-T Tuner #0 (10.xx.xx.
     164)", network: "ATSC-T Network", mux: "497.028MHz", provider: "<N/A>", service: "PBS-HD"
 305 Jun 13 17:00:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr:  #  type              lang  resolution  aspect ratio  sample rate  channels
 306 Jun 13 17:00:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr:  1  MPEG2VIDEO              1920x1080   16:9
 307 Jun 13 17:00:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr:  2  AC3               eng                             48000        2
 308 Jun 13 17:00:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr:  3  AC3               eng                             48000        2
 309 Jun 13 17:00:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr:  4  AC3               eng                             48000        2
 310 Jun 13 17:07:41 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD Transport error indicator (total 1)
 311 Jun 13 17:07:42 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309 Continuity counter error (total 1)
 312 Jun 13 17:07:42 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Continuity counter error (total 1)
 313 Jun 13 17:07:42 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308 Continuity counter error (total 1)
 314 Jun 13 17:07:42 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310 Continuity counter error (total 1)
 315 Jun 13 17:07:43 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305: Invalid start code 1e:8d:55
 316 Jun 13 17:07:43 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309: Invalid start code 36:db:9a
 317 Jun 13 17:07:44 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310: Invalid start code d3:06:0c
 318 Jun 13 17:07:45 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308: Invalid start code 27:e4:7e
 319 Jun 13 17:07:52 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD Transport error indicator (total 9963)
 320 Jun 13 17:07:52 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Continuity counter error (total 5150)
 321 Jun 13 17:07:52 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309 Continuity counter error (total 535)
 322 Jun 13 17:07:52 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308 Continuity counter error (total 613)
 323 Jun 13 17:07:52 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310 Continuity counter error (total 200)
 324 Jun 13 17:07:53 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305: Invalid start code 15:47:30
 325 Jun 13 17:07:53 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309: Invalid start code ac:ec:c6
 326 Jun 13 17:07:54 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310: Invalid start code a8:85:71
 327 Jun 13 17:07:55 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308: Invalid start code 12:48:ff
 328 Jun 13 17:08:02 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD Transport error indicator (total 15047)
 329 Jun 13 17:08:02 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Continuity counter error (total 6623)
 330 Jun 13 17:08:02 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309 Continuity counter error (total 968)
 331 Jun 13 17:08:02 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308 Continuity counter error (total 904)
 332 Jun 13 17:08:02 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310 Continuity counter error (total 298)
 333 Jun 13 17:08:03 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305: Invalid start code 11:38:52
 334 Jun 13 17:08:03 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309: Invalid start code 5b:95:25
 335 Jun 13 17:08:04 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310: Invalid start code e4:ca:6e
 336 Jun 13 17:08:05 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308: Invalid start code 7f:01:38
 337 Jun 13 17:08:12 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD Transport error indicator (total 24649)
 338 Jun 13 17:08:12 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Continuity counter error (total 11969)
 339 Jun 13 17:08:12 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309 Continuity counter error (total 1721)
 340 Jun 13 17:08:12 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308 Continuity counter error (total 1513)
 341 Jun 13 17:08:12 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310 Continuity counter error (total 501)
 342 Jun 13 17:08:13 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305: Invalid start code 4e:26:4d
 343 Jun 13 17:08:14 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309: Invalid start code 4d:99:8c
 344 Jun 13 17:08:15 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310: Invalid start code 81:4c:b8
 345 Jun 13 17:08:15 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308: Invalid start code 05:bd:d1
 346 Jun 13 17:08:22 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD Transport error indicator (total 40756)
 347 Jun 13 17:08:22 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Continuity counter error (total 23251)
 348 Jun 13 17:08:22 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309 Continuity counter error (total 2505)
 349 Jun 13 17:08:22 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308 Continuity counter error (total 2399)
 350 Jun 13 17:08:23 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305: Invalid start code ed:29:a8
 351 Jun 13 17:08:23 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310 Continuity counter error (total 793)
 352 Jun 13 17:08:25 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309: Invalid start code 6c:c0:f6
 353 Jun 13 17:08:26 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308: Invalid start code 96:e4:07
 354 Jun 13 17:08:26 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310: Invalid start code 34:cd:b2
 355 Jun 13 17:08:32 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD Transport error indicator (total 54503)
 356 Jun 13 17:08:32 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Continuity counter error (total 29782)
 357 Jun 13 17:08:32 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309 Continuity counter error (total 2988)
 358 Jun 13 17:08:32 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308 Continuity counter error (total 3029)
 359 Jun 13 17:08:33 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Corrupted PES header (errors 3284)
 360 Jun 13 17:08:33 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310 Continuity counter error (total 1008)
 361 Jun 13 17:08:36 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308: Invalid start code 88:b5:3e
 362 Jun 13 17:08:36 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309: Invalid start code 75:72:b9
 363 Jun 13 17:08:36 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310: Invalid start code 0d:53:71
 364 Jun 13 17:08:42 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD Transport error indicator (total 68276)
 365 Jun 13 17:08:42 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Continuity counter error (total 37765)
 366 Jun 13 17:08:42 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309 Continuity counter error (total 3525)
 367 Jun 13 17:08:42 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308 Continuity counter error (total 3791)
 368 Jun 13 17:08:43 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305: Invalid start code c1:fd:e9
 369 Jun 13 17:08:43 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310 Continuity counter error (total 1236)
 370 Jun 13 17:08:47 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: The timediff for AC3 is big (5666120), using current dts
 371 Jun 13 17:08:47 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: The timediff for AC3 is big (5634440), using current dts
 372 Jun 13 17:08:47 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = 5529600, last = 28800
 373 Jun 13 17:08:47 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr: Unable to reconfigure "/home/hts/Rick-Steves'-Europe/Rick-Steves'-Europe2019-06-13-S03E09.mkv"
 374 Jun 13 17:08:47 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = 5595840, last = 34560
 375 Jun 13 17:08:47 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr: "Rick Steves' Europe" on "KOCEDT (KOCE-DT)": End of program: Source reconfigured
 376 Jun 13 17:08:47 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr: "Rick Steves' Europe" on "KOCEDT (KOCE-DT)" recorder starting
 377 Jun 13 17:08:47 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr: About to set stop timer for "Rick Steves' Europe" on "KOCEDT (KOCE-DT)" at start 1560470927 and original stop 1560472200 and
      overall stop at 1560472200
 378 Jun 13 17:08:47 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr: /home/hts/Rick-Steves'-Europe/Rick-Steves'-Europe2019-06-13-S03E09.mka from adapter: "HDHomeRun ATSC-T Tuner #0 (10.xx.xx.
     164)", network: "ATSC-T Network", mux: "497.028MHz", provider: "<N/A>", service: "PBS-HD"
 379 Jun 13 17:08:47 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr:  #  type              lang  resolution  aspect ratio  sample rate  channels
 380 Jun 13 17:08:47 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr:  1  MPEG2VIDEO              1920x1088   ?                                    <disabled, no valid input>
 381 Jun 13 17:08:47 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr:  2  AC3               eng                             ?            ?         <disabled, no valid input>
 382 Jun 13 17:08:47 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr:  3  AC3               eng                             48000        2
 383 Jun 13 17:08:47 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: dvr:  4  AC3               eng                             48000        2
 384 Jun 13 17:10:49 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD Transport error indicator (total 70315)
 385 Jun 13 17:10:50 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Continuity counter error (total 38127)
 386 Jun 13 17:10:50 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Corrupted PES header (errors 3806)
 387 Jun 13 17:10:50 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309 Continuity counter error (total 3572)
 388 Jun 13 17:10:50 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308 Continuity counter error (total 3847)
 389 Jun 13 17:10:51 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310 Continuity counter error (total 1243)
 390 Jun 13 17:10:51 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308: Invalid start code f1:6d:19
 391 Jun 13 17:10:54 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309: Invalid start code c6:2d:04
 392 Jun 13 17:10:54 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310: Invalid start code 91:d4:b4
 393 Jun 13 17:10:59 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD Transport error indicator (total 78953)
 394 Jun 13 17:11:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Continuity counter error (total 42768)
 395 Jun 13 17:11:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305: Invalid start code ff:0d:bb
 396 Jun 13 17:11:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308 Continuity counter error (total 4397)
 397 Jun 13 17:11:00 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309 Continuity counter error (total 4041)
 398 Jun 13 17:11:01 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310 Continuity counter error (total 1418)
 399 Jun 13 17:11:01 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308: Invalid start code 5e:b4:7c
 400 Jun 13 17:11:03 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309: Invalid start code 3c:38:af
 401 Jun 13 17:11:04 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310: Invalid start code aa:32:16
 402 Jun 13 17:11:09 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD Transport error indicator (total 83020)
 403 Jun 13 17:11:10 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Continuity counter error (total 43799)
 404 Jun 13 17:11:10 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305: Invalid start code 39:d8:08
 405 Jun 13 17:11:10 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308 Continuity counter error (total 4591)
 406 Jun 13 17:11:10 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309 Continuity counter error (total 4345)
 407 Jun 13 17:11:11 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310 Continuity counter error (total 1490)
 408 Jun 13 17:11:11 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308: Invalid start code f1:bd:aa
 409 Jun 13 17:11:13 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309: Invalid start code 47:90:03
 410 Jun 13 17:11:14 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310: Invalid start code 29:a7:05
 411 Jun 13 17:11:19 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD Transport error indicator (total 84243)
 412 Jun 13 17:11:20 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Continuity counter error (total 43905)
 413 Jun 13 17:11:20 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305: Invalid start code 76:d0:ec
 414 Jun 13 17:11:21 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308 Continuity counter error (total 4643)
 415 Jun 13 17:11:21 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309 Continuity counter error (total 4413)
 416 Jun 13 17:11:22 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310 Continuity counter error (total 1514)
 417 Jun 13 17:11:22 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308: Invalid start code b6:43:c7
 418 Jun 13 17:11:23 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309: Invalid start code 69:fb:ae
 419 Jun 13 17:11:24 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310: Invalid start code 57:94:a3
 420 Jun 13 17:11:29 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD Transport error indicator (total 88016)
 421 Jun 13 17:11:30 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Continuity counter error (total 45152)
 422 Jun 13 17:11:30 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305: Invalid start code 9f:ba:d2
 423 Jun 13 17:11:31 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308 Continuity counter error (total 4912)
 424 Jun 13 17:11:31 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309 Continuity counter error (total 4739)
 425 Jun 13 17:11:32 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308: Invalid start code 4a:fa:b5
 426 Jun 13 17:11:32 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310 Continuity counter error (total 1615)
 427 Jun 13 17:11:33 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309: Invalid start code d4:cb:30
 428 Jun 13 17:11:34 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310: Invalid start code e7:76:66
 429 Jun 13 17:11:39 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD Transport error indicator (total 98289)
 430 Jun 13 17:11:40 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Continuity counter error (total 50802)
 431 Jun 13 17:11:40 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305: Invalid start code 80:f6:a3
 432 Jun 13 17:11:41 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308 Continuity counter error (total 5630)
 433 Jun 13 17:11:41 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309 Continuity counter error (total 5476)
 434 Jun 13 17:11:42 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310 Continuity counter error (total 1836)
 435 Jun 13 17:11:42 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308: Invalid start code ad:61:cc
 436 Jun 13 17:11:44 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309: Invalid start code ee:a1:f3
 437 Jun 13 17:11:44 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310: Invalid start code 4c:4d:22
 438 Jun 13 17:11:49 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD Transport error indicator (total 109898)
 439 Jun 13 17:11:50 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305 Continuity counter error (total 57830)
 440 Jun 13 17:11:50 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: MPEG2VIDEO @ #305: Invalid start code 34:a6:1a
 441 Jun 13 17:11:51 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308 Continuity counter error (total 6526)
 442 Jun 13 17:11:51 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309 Continuity counter error (total 6217)
 443 Jun 13 17:11:52 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310 Continuity counter error (total 2107)
 444 Jun 13 17:11:52 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #308: Invalid start code cb:2a:68
 445 Jun 13 17:11:54 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #309: Invalid start code 4b:1d:6e
 446 Jun 13 17:11:55 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: TS: ATSC-T Network/497.028MHz/PBS-HD: AC3 @ #310: Invalid start code 6d:19:25
 447 Jun 13 17:12:10 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = -9223372036854775808, last = 5427161280
 448 Jun 13 17:12:25 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = -9223372036854775808, last = 5427160768
 449 Jun 13 17:12:40 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = -9223372036854775808, last = 5427160256
 450 Jun 13 17:12:55 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = -9223372036854775808, last = 5427159744
 451 Jun 13 17:13:10 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = -9223372036854775808, last = 5427159232
 452 Jun 13 17:13:23 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: too much queued input data (over 50MB), discarding new
 453 Jun 13 17:13:25 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = -9223372036854775808, last = 5427158720
 454 Jun 13 17:13:33 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: too much queued input data (over 50MB), discarding new
 455 Jun 13 17:13:41 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = -9223372036854775808, last = 5427161088
 456 Jun 13 17:13:43 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: too much queued input data (over 50MB), discarding new
 457 Jun 13 17:13:53 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: too much queued input data (over 50MB), discarding new
 458 Jun 13 17:13:56 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = -9223372036854775808, last = 5427160576
 459 Jun 13 17:14:03 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: too much queued input data (over 50MB), discarding new
 460 Jun 13 17:14:11 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = -9223372036854775808, last = 5427160064
 461 Jun 13 17:14:13 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: too much queued input data (over 50MB), discarding new
 462 Jun 13 17:14:23 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: too much queued input data (over 50MB), discarding new
 463 Jun 13 17:14:27 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = -9223372036854775808, last = 5427159552
 464 Jun 13 17:14:33 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: too much queued input data (over 50MB), discarding new
 465 Jun 13 17:14:43 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = -9223372036854775808, last = 5427159040
 466 Jun 13 17:14:43 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: too much queued input data (over 50MB), discarding new
 467 Jun 13 17:14:53 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: too much queued input data (over 50MB), discarding new
 468 Jun 13 17:14:58 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = -9223372036854775808, last = 5427161408
 469 Jun 13 17:15:03 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: too much queued input data (over 50MB), discarding new
 470 Jun 13 17:15:13 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: too much queued input data (over 50MB), discarding new
 471 Jun 13 17:15:14 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = -9223372036854775808, last = 5427160896
 472 Jun 13 17:15:23 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: mpegts: too much queued input data (over 50MB), discarding new
 473 Jun 13 17:15:29 misterroboto tvheadend[1049]: tsfix: transport stream AC3, DTS discontinuity. DTS = -9223372036854775808, last = 5427160384
dave h

This was solved by recording to .ts files rather than mkvs.
Tvheadend handles errors on these .ts files much more gracefully (by dumping them into "failed recordings" labeled "too many errors").
Hope this can help someone else in the future. Marking solved.