MP LAN client hangs in My TV (1 Viewer)

[tomoqv]

TV-Server Version:
MediaPortal Version: 0.2.2.0 SVN 05-13-2007
MediaPortal Skin: BlueTwo
Windows Version: XP Home SP2
CPU Type: AMD Athlon 64 3200+
HDD: Seagate 320GB SATA II Barracuda 7200.10
Memory: Corsair Value Select 1024 MB
Motherboard: Asus M2NPV-MX
Motherboard Chipset: nForce 430
Motherboard Bios: 0603
Video Card: Onboard nVidia 6150
Video Card Driver: 91.47
Sound Card: SoundMAX Integrated Digital HD Audio
Sound Card AC3: SPDIF coax/optical out
Sound Card Driver: SoundMAX v. 5.10.1.4151 (2005-10-05)
1. TV Card: Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T 500 (dual tuners)
1. TV Card Type: DVB-T
1. TV Card Driver: Hauppauge 4.2.24318.0 (2006-11-14)
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: NVIDIA PureVideo 4020.185
MPEG2 Audio Codec: AC3 Filter
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case: Antec Fusion
Cooling: 2 side mounted 120 mm TriCool™ 3-speed fans
Power Supply: 430 W ATX12V v2.0 power supply
Remote: Microsoft MCE Remote
TV: DiBoss 32" (1366x768)
TV - HTPC Connection: DVI

I have been trying out the TV Server now for some time for two main reasons:
1) The ability to watch TV in all locations of the house on any LAN connected PC
2) The unbearably long channel changing times in the standard MP (TV engine 0.2)

The TV server solution works fine in single seat mode and channel changing times have shortened from 12-15 secs to about 2-3 secs. However, to stream TV to any other PC than the one with the TV server application fails big time for me. I get the message "Connected to TvServer" on two different clients (have only tried one at a time), but after hitting escape to go back to the My TV screen and turning TV on the MP client hangs or freezes completely. I have to terminate MP via Windows task manager because I am unable to do anything within the program.

The funny thing is that I can view the EPG data from the TV server within the MP client. I have also noticed that trying to watch TV on the client actually initiates timeshifting on the TV server although the client freezes. The correct client is also listed under "Manual Control" in the MP TV server application.

I also tried VLC on one of the clients following the instructions on the Mediaportal site, but didn't get that to work either. Typing vlc with the two arguments listed did not pop up the VLC window, which it did when using only one of the two arguments at a time.

Please help me, I am at a loss here! I have tried to follow the wiki documentation as closely as I can, but have no idea what I am missing. I am attaching the logs I believe to be relevant from the TV server as well as the client.

Thanks,

Tomas

 

[tomoqv]

The MP client regains control again when I restart the TVService on the TV Server machine. Same problem persists, though, when I try to turn the TV on in the client. I get instances in the error.log such as:
"[ERROR][MPMain]: DirectshowUtil. Failed to add filterefault DirectSound Device to graph",
"[ERROR][MPMain]: RTSPPlayer:Failed to open file:rtsp://fusionhtpc1/stream1.0 :0x80004005"
and
"[ERROR][MPMain]: OnMessage exceptionystem.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object."

Windows Firewall is turned off on both machines. I don't know how to disable the built-in firewall in my Netgear WGT624 router, but at least site as well as services blocking is set to "never".

In the error.log on the TV Server I get a message stating:
"no connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it"

Does that mean that my MP client is not allowed to access the TVservices the way it should?

I would be grateful for any hints or ideas about this problem.

Thanks,
Tomas

 

[tomoqv]

Am I the only one having this problem?

 

[Nefius]

No you aren't, i've got exactly the same problems.

TV on the host where the db is, works okay, but at a client, when i click "tv on/off" it freezes...

 

[tomoqv]

This seems to be a non issue for most users, unless everybody else is as clueless as I am. It would be nice though, with some hints about where to start troubleshooting. I have spent hours in the wiki and forums to find a clue, but still nothing.

Tomas

 

[Jaddi01]

Just wanted to add you are not alone with this problem! Me too!

 

[Marcusb]

I have a similar thing too, but am away from home so can't post logs etc.

TV server works perfectly.
Downstairs HTPC can see EPG data but cannot play live tv or recorded tv.
When I try, it freezes for about a minute, then I get control back but with no TV showing.

I tried also from my laptop and it works perfectly, which I guess means that the server is set up correctly. I tried a complete fresh install of MCE OS and MP but the problem persists.

The log has the "Dispose surfaces" message appearing constantly while the error is present but then stops when control comes back. The TV server also shows that it is successfully timeshifting to the HTPC, even though nothing is received.

I'm using the TV server from about a week ago and SVNs from a few days ago, but I get the same issue with all that I have tried.

 

[Jaddi01]

pretty much the same as me, but when I click on TV on it freezes and doesn't come back. I have it on a laptop and pc upstairs as seperate clients, but neither work.

 

[GagReflex]

With a problem like this, I would first ensure your firewall on both client and server are off (Change that AFTER you've got it working). Secondly, make sure you've got your SQL configured correctly on the server.. refer to the wiki..
If you're using Microsoft SQL make sure that the SQL Server Browser is running and is set to Automatic..

I've setup a few systems now and yes it can be a nightmare till you get the 'hang of it'.

 

[hassegubben]

I got the exact same problem. On the single seat setup side (TVE0.3 beta SVN 14918 and MP client 0.2.3 RC1 SVN14918) everything works perfect. From a LAN client(laptop) over a wireless network I can watch my pictures, my movies, listen to my music etc. When I select "TV on", the client hangs. Also, when I try to watch a show recorded on the TV-server, the client hangs. This is strange, because TV-recordings are treated as movies but I can watch movies(only tried DivX/XVID)! I have to kill the client with Task Manager to resume control of the client. The fact that I can not view recorded shows leads me to believe that there is a streamning problem with the recorded mpeg stream. Anybody got a clue what is causing the freezes?