2 Link clients random jitters

[darkjet]

Hi all. I have searched and tried just about anything with the word skipping, jitter, tearing, and am finally resorting to making a new post. Any help is appreciated.

The scenario. I have a main gaming computer which runs the BTV Server(vista 32). 2 Older computers connected with link(winxp sp3). If I am watching anything over about 4gigs in size on the link clients they will randomly begin to stutter. It is almost like the buffer is running out or something. When this happens the network usage on the server actually takes a big drop, going from about 2.5% to about 1.5%(gigabit network). They don't do this all the time but it happens enough to irritate everyone in the house and for them to come to me. My cpu usage is never about 50%, ram only at about 2gigs used out of 4.

Things I have tried:
Codecs, Decoders, new network cable, swapped my switch, just got a new router from Verizon(switched to Fios), reformatted one of the link computers, Server drive 64k Clusters, Static IP's, Used 2nd Onboard Nic on server.

Tuners: Hauppauge 1600 connected to STB and OTA HD. HDHomeRun.

I am completely stumped. Any help is great help. Thanks in advance for any replies.

[Talk4Cheap]

I had this same problem recently but my problem was only happening on HD shows. Any shows recorded in SD would play fine on the link PC but it wouldn't play an HD file for more than a few seconds before choking. Finally figured it this week. I looked at the network card properties of my server box and noticed it was connected to my network at 10MB instead of the usual 100 MB. (Not a gigabit network) Turns out, I had added a new switch to my network and the server got plugged into it. For whatever reason, the switch only connected at 10MB. Unplugged the network cable from the switch back to the main router and viola! Connected at 100MB again and now I can play the HD shows without any problem.

Kinda doubt this is your problem but it might be worth a shot of plugging the network cable from the switch into the router.

[darkjet]

Bump post so that I can post a screenshot. need 3 posts

[darkjet]

Thanks for the reply but that was one of the first things I was thinking. Currently my network goes like this:

My bedroom: 1 switch : 2 computers attached (link and server)
Cat 6 to switch
|
v

Family room: 1 switch : 1 computer(other link) + hdhomerun and a cable to the
router:
Cat 6 to router
|
v

Basement: 1 router : 2 computers

I have tried a different switch in my bedroom but same results. To clarify: it is only bigger files that tend to do it. They will play for about 15 mins then skip/jitter for about 2mins and then return playing fine. It is like they go into a slow motion. If i rewind they play good till they hit the buffer again.

Here is a screeshot of the resources and what exactly happens. As you can see the network utilization just drops for no reason. It will dip for about 2mins(and makes the pic stutter) then go back to normal and act like nothing is wrong.
In the ss I have vnc up on my 2nd monitor there.

[Drake85]

The "buffer" you speak of, at least I know in 4.7 days, was the windows page file being used. I don't know if that's been changed. Do you have that locked, or is it set to be "Windows controlled"? If it's windows controlled, lock it down to a minimum and maximum of your total ram x 1.5 (so 6144, as it wants it in MB). It's good practice to lock it down regardless.

[tscales]

Really? I can't imagine how the buffer was the page file. Never, ever seen a post stating that.

[darkjet]

Thankyou for the help but still no change. In the 1 show I put on it did 1-2 less times than usual. Normal skipping is about 15 mins apart and runs for 30-60 seconds about 3 times per show. My page file was not set to a static and was about 3000, so I went ahead and upped it.

In my network they are D-Link switches(5 port in my room, 8 port in family room) and the standard fios router(westell one). Anyone heard anything bad about D-Link and BTV?

As you can see I am just completely stumped at this and its gotten to the point I will try just about anything.

Thanks again. Looking forward to any other suggestions!

~Steve

[tjpilson]

Same issue for my configuration. Vista32-SP1 on server, XP SP3 on Link client. Tested performance and would see a dip in network traffic when the jitter occurs. It takes about 3 times of hitting the back button (back 7 seconds) to get everything to start flowing again.

I did turn off the TCP auto-tune in Vista which seemed to work perfectly after the change. (netsh command) I rebooted the other night and the problem returned. Displaying the TCP settings again revealed everything as it should be with the auto-tune feature still disabled.

I have a Linksys switch/router between the 2 units and the network is negotiating at 100 Mb. Wired connections.

[ccarlin]

I am going to go with the must be some network issue. I have had similar issue and found it occurred only when I was downloading a file off the server while watching HD on a second or more machine(s). Of course I am on 100MB not Gigabit. I plan to upgrade the server and switch at least soon.

[darkjet]

Originally Posted by tjpilson

Same issue for my configuration. Vista32-SP1 on server, XP SP3 on Link client. Tested performance and would see a dip in network traffic when the jitter occurs. It takes about 3 times of hitting the back button (back 7 seconds) to get everything to start flowing again.

I did turn off the TCP auto-tune in Vista which seemed to work perfectly after the change. (netsh command) I rebooted the other night and the problem returned. Displaying the TCP settings again revealed everything as it should be with the auto-tune feature still disabled.

I have a Linksys switch/router between the 2 units and the network is negotiating at 100 Mb. Wired connections.

EXACTLY what is going on with mine. I will go ahead and try turning off the auto-tune. What version of vista32 are you running? I am running Business edition that I got from school, so not sure if maybe that is it. I have tried doing the back a few seconds technique but normally it is just time related, about 30-60 seconds.

I might pick up a new network switch, maybe a different brand or something and try that. I AM STUMPED!

Thanks for the replys. Looking forward to anything else others have done to fix this, or suggestions to try.

~Steve

[imnee]

There is a reason Dell is still selling XP and charging a $100 XP downgrade fee on new PC's. Vista is likely your issue. I have two links (one is not in the sig) and the one that came with Vista (Vostro 220) gave me constant issues. I installed XP and now the kids have no issues playing shows.

I don't blame all issues on Vista, it's just that XP has a proven track record and plays well with just about everything.

[darkjet]

I can get a copy of xp through school so its not a problem, I would rather try anything and everything else first if possible. I guess I can put the server on one of the current link clients and test everything with that before I totally kill my system.

And to think I am actually starting to like Vista

Any other suggestions before I decimate my OS?

Thanks again,
~Steve

[m509272]

What versions are you using of the BTV stuff. I'm seeing huge problems with playback. VLC on client machines plays off my 4.82 server fine. Same machine cannot play 4.91 without spiking, stuttering, etc AND I get no audio. Even on the 4.91 server machine it's messed up, no sound and it rapidly jumps thru the video, there is also no time displayed just 00:00. BTV Link on that client machine plays 4.91 with stutters essentially unwatchable. So the only thing that can play my 4.91 recordings is BTV server on the server machine.

I'm going to downgrade the client to a link that will play 4.8.2 to see what happens.

[tjpilson]

I am running Vista Ultimate - SP1. (I think my BeyondTV version is 4.7.x) I can downgrade to XP and have no issue with that other than my rebuild time. I'm frustrated enough that it may be worth while.

[m509272]

Ok, here's some more info. I think for my world 4.91 is a lemon. I just downloaded and installed 4.92 Beta 1.

The server produces .tp files that VLC/Videolan can play. Installed Link 4.92 on the client that wasn't working at all (had the corrupt file message). Now it works. You might need to enable or disable square pixel setting. Plays 4.82, 4.91 and 4.92 files fine. Same on the server.

Cleaned up my real target client. Started with VLC. As expected 4.91 files are still crap. However, 4.92 and 4.82 files play fine. Then I made the mistake of installing Link 4.92. My client is a little underpowered on the video card. .avi files played fine in it and .tp files stutter a bit. Went back to VLC and wham that's no longer working properly. Displays the video as an image and a gap and then 1/2 an image repeated. I could use some codec help here if anyone has a clue out to fix VLC and keep Link.