Beyond TV versus Beyond TV Link for playback

[greynolds]

Not sure if this matters, but all of my BeyondTV content is high-def transport streams.

I'm currently debating about how to go about playback of my BeyondTV recordings (in the office upstairs) on my HTPC (in the family room). Among other options (TheaterTek and using an accessDTV card), I'm considering using BeyondTV Link or another full copy of BeyondTV.

When using BeyondTV Link, does the BeyondTV server stream the content to Link or does Link access the files directly? If I install the full version of BeyondTV on my HTPC, it will obviously get direct access to the files, which I'm thinking might improve playback performance a bit, but I would lose the advantage of being able to manage the recordings in the office from the HTPC (not a big deal).

I currently have the evaluation version of BTV Link on the HTPC and playback of HD content is pretty good, but it seems a bit jerky at times.

[bradjohn]

BTV Link streams the content from the server. If you want to instead play the files remotely via a network share, it seems to me that another copy of full BTV is over-kill. You can use Windows Media Player or VLC player to play the files.
Regarding the jerky playback, there are many threads on this forum that discuss that, but on the Link machine check your BTV playback settings. Which mpeg decoder are you using? Is it set to use overlay or 3D acceleration? I have never been able to get it working well using 3D acceleration. Try using the SnapStream Video/SP decoder in overlay mode.
Also, you should list your setup info in your signature. Do you have a video card in your Link machine capable of good HD playback? To eliminate the network and see if it has the horse power, copy an HD transport stream file over to the Link machine and play it directly with WMP or whatever player.

Just some thoughts.

[tscales]

Don't forget that BTV Server can also act as BTV Link. I've bought mostly server versions as they usually come with a free remote and it gives me more flexibility.

Having said that, I run 4-5 concurrent HD BTVLinks connected to one server without any jerkiness on any machine.

[greynolds]

Originally Posted by bradjohn

BTV Link streams the content from the server. If you want to instead play the files remotely via a network share, it seems to me that another copy of full BTV is over-kill. You can use Windows Media Player or VLC player to play the files.

Doing so loses the nice user interface that BTV provides - it's nice to be able to browse through episode info instead of just looking at filenames. If I were going to go this route, I'd just use TheaterTek 2.0, which is already on the system. As a point of reference, TheaterTek plays the files just fine over the network.

Regarding the jerky playback, there are many threads on this forum that discuss that, but on the Link machine check your BTV playback settings. Which mpeg decoder are you using? Is it set to use overlay or 3D acceleration? I have never been able to get it working well using 3D acceleration. Try using the SnapStream Video/SP decoder in overlay mode.

I'm using the nVidia decoder, which is the same one that TheaterTek uses and am using 3D acceleration.

Also, you should list your setup info in your signature. Do you have a video card in your Link machine capable of good HD playback? To eliminate the network and see if it has the horse power, copy an HD transport stream file over to the Link machine and play it directly with WMP or whatever player.

It's definitely not a horsepower / video card problem as TheaterTek plays the files just fine (which I obviously should have mentioned in my first post). This is why I'm inquiring if playing through BTV Link is inherently different than playing through BTV itself.

Just some thoughts.

And thanks for your reply.

[greynolds]

Originally Posted by tscales

Don't forget that BTV Server can also act as BTV Link. I've bought mostly server versions as they usually come with a free remote and it gives me more flexibility.

Understood, but using it as BTV link would defeat the (presumed) advantage of not having the BTV server streaming the content. Also, I have no need for the remotes as I use a Crestron control system in the home theater and have no need for a remote on the BTV server.

Having said that, I run 4-5 concurrent HD BTVLinks connected to one server without any jerkiness on any machine.

Well, that's definitely a useful datapoint - 1 HD BTVLink should definitely be doable.