help with tv server setup (1 Viewer)

[A_in_oz]

MediaPortal Version: 1.0.2
MediaPortal Skin: Blue3wide
Windows Version: XP Pro SP3
CPU Type: AMD Sepron LE-1250 2.21Ghz
HDD: WD Green Power 750gb
Memory: 2 gb DDR2
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-M61PME-S2
Video Card: MSI NX8400GS TD512EH
Video Card Driver: 175.16
Sound Card: Realtek AL662
Sound Card AC3: SPDIF out
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: Ultraview plus
1. TV Card Type:
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: Zulu HDTV DxVA Decoder (BDA)
MPEG2 Audio Codec: MPC-MPA Decoder
h.264 Video Codec: FFDSHOW
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case:
Cooling:
Power Supply: GW 550SEL
Remote: Ultraview
TV: Panasonic 50" TH-P50G10A
TV - HTPC Connection: DVI to HDMI



I have a HTPC in the lounge which was a single seat setup, which had been working OK.
I installed media portal client on my office computer some time ago, so I could watch TV. This has been working OK.

Recently I have decided I need more TV card/s and as my HTPC does not have a free PCI-E slot (Its covered by the video card H/S), and I would like to be able to install a dual PCI-E video card like the Hauppauge 2200.

So I decided to try to setup my office PC as the TV server.

Setup has gone OK. All working as it should, except the following issues:

1. The live tv is stuttering
2. There is a lag when selecting moving up or down the tv menu items, very slow to operate.
3. There is a 2-3 second delay between live TV on the sever and the TV on the client.


Any help would be appreciated

 

[limpwhizkid]

seems like "dads-office.com" server has a different frame size for network packets.. (bigger)..

08-05-2010 17:02:40 MultiFramedRTPSource::doGetNextFrame1(): The total received frame size exceeds the client's buffer size (
08-05-2010 17:02:40 12
08-05-2010 17:02:40 ).
08-05-2010 17:02:40 1304
08-05-2010 17:02:40 bytes of trailing data will be dropped!

so take a look at normalizing the network settings for networkcards and/or drivers

 

[A_in_oz]

Hi,
I had a look at the network adapter's advanced tab.
There are a bunch of options there, but I don't really know what they do.
I had a look at the network traffic while using live TV, was around 6%
for both computers.
I hear what you are saying, but how do I normalize the settings?

 

[limpwhizkid]

Hi,
I had a look at the network adapter's advanced tab.
There are a bunch of options there, but I don't really know what they do.
I had a look at the network traffic while using live TV, was around 6%
for both computers.
I hear what you are saying, but how do I normalize the settings?

first try and see if maybe "big packets" or jumbo packets is enabled on the server..
if so disable it...

similar would look on your computer but that depends a lot on the manufacturer of the networkcard, what the name will be for this option.

look at the attached screenshot and hopefully find it.. or post a screenshot of your options..

 

[A_in_oz]

Hi limpwhizkid,

Here is my settings:

APS Mode = Of
Flow Control = on
Max IRQ Sec = 5000
Max Frame Size = 4096
Media Type = Auto
Network Address = auto
Number of Rx Buffers = 6
Number Tx Buffers = 2
Task Offload = off

I tried changing the Max Frame Size to 500, the lowest setting, no change.
Tomorrow I might try setting up a client on one of the kids computers, see how it goes.

 

[limpwhizkid]

Hi limpwhizkid,

Here is my settings:

APS Mode = Of
Flow Control = on
Max IRQ Sec = 5000
Max Frame Size = 4096
Media Type = Auto
Network Address = auto
Number of Rx Buffers = 6
Number Tx Buffers = 2
Task Offload = off

I tried changing the Max Frame Size to 500, the lowest setting, no change.
Tomorrow I might try setting up a client on one of the kids computers, see how it goes.

maximum framesize (even on gigabit adapters) is 1500 , which is the default.. set it to that ..

also the number of RX and TX buffers is very wrong.
TX should be either 128 or 256 and RX 512..

also , disable flow control (the default is off)...

after you do this it should work but then again .. there might be more settings totally done wrong..

nice to finally use my CCIE training somewhere

 

[A_in_oz]

Hi,
The max allowable Tx buffers was 32
the max allowable Rx buffers was 64
tried the other settings, still no go.

I installed a Media Portal Client on one of my kids
computers, and it behaved exactly the same, so
the issue must be with the server.

 

[limpwhizkid]

Hi,
The max allowable Tx buffers was 32
the max allowable Rx buffers was 64
tried the other settings, still no go.

I installed a Media Portal Client on one of my kids
computers, and it behaved exactly the same, so
the issue must be with the server.

thats really low, what kind of card is it anyway.. 100mbit or something reasonably old ?

attached are shots of a really common realtek gigabit card (10 euros new) on default settings.

 

[A_in_oz]

My system specs are for the HTPC
The server in my office has an ASUS P5P43TD main board
with Atheros L1E Gb Lan Controller.
I have a heap of spare network cards I could try, but I don't have any spare pci slots...
The H/S from the Graphics Card covers the slot. I would have to swap it out.

 

[limpwhizkid]

My system specs are for the HTPC
The server in my office has an ASUS P5P43TD main board
with Atheros L1E Gb Lan Controller.
I have a heap of spare network cards I could try, but I don't have any spare pci slots...
The H/S from the Graphics Card covers the slot. I would have to swap it out.

well ... you could try downloading new drivers..

but i did some googling... ultra view plus.. is connected on firewire (1394) ? dvb-t ?

Since youre using XP pro sp3.. did you in fact install the hotfix , which is an absolute must have installed ?

◦BDA/DVB hotfix
This hotfix is essential for viewing digital TV broadcasts. It is already included in roll up 2 of Windows MCE 2005, for Windows XP you have to install it manually. [Updated psisdecd.dll]

otherwise where changing your system when the problem is somewhere else.. ?
so lets start at the beginning..
did you follow the guidelines for preparing XP to use Mediaportal at all ?

read this first and apply the needed fixes if not done already.. then we will continue our problem search

GeneralRequirements - MediaPortal Manual Documentation