[no Bug] TV not working with Network/Internet cable unplugged (1 Viewer)

[doveman]

MediaPortal Version: v1.2RC
MediaPortal Skin: StreamedMP
Windows Version: Win7 Ult 64
CPU Type: Athlon II X4 630
HDD: 2TB Samsung F4
Memory: 4GB DDR2 1066Mhz
Motherboard: Biostar TA790GXBE
Video Card: HD6950 2GB
Video Card Driver: 11.7
Sound Card: onboard Realtek AC97 (ALC662)
Sound Card AC3: no AC3
Sound Card Driver: 6.01.6299
1. TV Card: Hauppauge Nova-T 500
1. TV Card Type: DVB-T
1. TV Card Driver: 4.3.27240
MPEG2 Video Codec: Cyberlink PDVD11
MPEG2 Audio Codec: ffdshow
h.264 Video Codec: ffdshowDXVA
HTPC Case: Custom
Cooling: Scythe 120mm Bottom Intake Fan, TRUE rev.C CPU Heatsink
Power Supply: OCZ StealthStream 400W
Remote: Nova-T 500
TV: Sony XBR800 36"
TV - HTPC Connection: DVI

After resuming from hibernate, once MP had restarted (as I've set it to do), when attempting to tune into any TV Channel I got "Unknown error" or "No free card". TV Server Config loaded and going to the Manual tab showed that the tuners were OK, but then the window greyed out and said not responding for 5-10 seconds, and then everytime I clicked on something they same thing happened.

I then realised that the network cable connecting my HTPC to my router wasn't plugged in, and after re-connecting it TV worked normally. I recall there used to be a problem like this which required the use of the local loopback adapter when there was no real network available, so perhaps that's still the case.

Before re-connecting the network cable, I also tried the Restart option in MP and this produced a Windows error box. MP did restart but I still had to manually close the error box. After connecting the cable and rebooting I tried the Restart option again and this time there was no error box but MP didn't re-start!

 

[wonkyd]

Hi Doveman,

Do you allow your router to assign your HTPC addresses via DHCP?

If so when the network adaptor is disconnected, the computer looses the ip address, which in turn gives MP nothing to connect to. Using a static IP or the MS loopback adaptor like you say usually gets around this.

 

[Jay_UK]

Hi there,

The use of a static IP won't solve the issue. The OS detects the link state is down, and then alters the interface (causing TV server to bomb out).

There are only two fixes for an unplugged cable/powered off router:

Loopback adapter
Reg hack to ignore linkstate

Cheers,

J.

 

[doveman]

Hi Doveman,

Do you allow your router to assign your HTPC addresses via DHCP?

If so when the network adaptor is disconnected, the computer looses the ip address, which in turn gives MP nothing to connect to. Using a static IP or the MS loopback adaptor like you say usually gets around this.

No, I actually manually assign a Static IP to my HTPC so that I can wake it via a WOL command, so it's always set to 192.168.1.64

Hi there,

The use of a static IP won't solve the issue. The OS detects the link state is down, and then alters the interface (causing TV server to bomb out).

There are only two fixes for an unplugged cable/powered off router:

Loopback adapter
Reg hack to ignore linkstate

Cheers,

J.

Ah, that explains it then. I'll look into using the loopback adapter or reg hack then, so that I don't have any problems in future if the connection gets broken.

 

[infinite.loop]

The use of a static IP won't solve the issue. The OS detects the link state is down, and then alters the interface (causing TV server to bomb out).

There are only two fixes for an unplugged cable/powered off router:

Loopback adapter
Reg hack to ignore linkstate

That is correct.

Not a bug in TV-Server, but definitely bad design which causes issues in some cases. If I remember correctly, then this has to do with the streaming engine of the TV-Server which does not like a "down" lan.

Will see if I can get that to mantis somehow.

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/newcomers-forum-240/msloopback-device-singleseat-users-51028/

Must put in wiki

 

[infinite.loop]

Did had a talk with the devs - it is impossible for us to change MP so that it works without an "up" Network connection.
Reason is that communication is through .Net Remoting which is based on TCP/IP. .

So for those who do not have an NIC, or an active LAN, the only solution is to use the loopback device.

Paranoid Delusion I think we should add a note about this to the requirements

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

@Paranoid Delusion I think we should add a note about this to the requirements

If I put a note saying TV will not work if a network is down, ie cable\router unplugged or bad wireless connection, then we recommend installing the MSLoopback adapter on singleseat installations only.



Will do this monday, quiet day then

 

[karniemi]

Oh this is some news to me.

I have configured a static IP for my server in multi-seat configuration -but I configured that in my router, so it's always giving the same IP for my server using DHCP. And I'm using WOL on the server so everytime it wakes up, it rerequests the IP via DHCP. My router is sometimes pretty slow in admitting the IPs and it might take some time until the network connection is properly up. Reading that older thread, I understood that this can cause problems for the TV-server. (I'm used static IP via DHCP so I don't need to configure DNS servers &gateways on my server... yes, they are easy to configure, but I had no reason...until now I guess...)

Shouldn't this loopback adapter/reg.edit/truely static IP(not via DHCP) be pretty much mandatory partof installation/requirement for Mediaportal?

 

[infinite.loop]

@Paranoid Delusion I think we should add a note about this to the requirements

If I put a note saying TV will not work if a network is down, ie cable\router unplugged or bad wireless connection, then we recommend installing the MSLoopback adapter on singleseat installations only.

View attachment 87833

Will do this monday, quiet day then

I prefer to put that into the docs like "active LAN connection required" under requirements.
and link to a (new) page which describes why, and then have ms loopback turotial there for PC's with no NIC or no lan.