Sage Client Freezes on channel change

[insomniac]

Hi,

Just tried the client/server setup out, and love its potential!

Only problem is that I cant figure out why it hangs when i try to change the channel in Live TV. It causes the app to completely hang and cpu spikes to 100%. I have to end task and restart it.

My current setup is:

Server machine
XP Pro
Athalon 1.33
PVR 250
Creative DVCR
768mb ram

Client Machine
Epia M9000
256mb ram
Hauppauge Intervideo codecs w/ HWMC and VXDA enabled

Also,

On my EPIA, it seems that I have not been able to get the same kind of results that most have by enabling these options (e.g. 30-40% cpu). My cpu utilization went from 90-100% to 60-70%. Which is do-able, but am I missing something? Any other quick fixes besides those 2 settings?


Anyway, let me know if you need more info.

hhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeellllllllpppppppppp :)

[Narflex]

How did you get the Hauppauge Intervideo filters to work on the client without having the Hauppauge hardware installed on the client? They're designed to only work on a machine if it has Hauppauge hardware installed.

[insomniac]

Installed the card in both, then pulled it and put it in my server. Seems to work fine, just slightly high in cpu. The DVCR is the one thing that seems to be crimping my style right now.. It tries to use the dvcr and chokes (what it seems like at least.).

It doesnt like those decoders.


My idea of a perfect client server setup would be to have a bunch of low grade clients w/o cards streaming from fast server with a depot of cards. Was this design for something a little different?

Even If I were to put the hauppauge in the EPIA, wouldnt I run into decoder issues when it tries to grab the dvcr? Am I just doing this all wrong? :)

I.


Originally posted by Narflex
How did you get the Hauppauge Intervideo filters to work on the client without having the Hauppauge hardware installed on the client? They're designed to only work on a machine if it has Hauppauge hardware installed.

[Narflex]

All you need to do is get an MPEG2 decoder for the EPIA box. You can download one from Elecard.com to try or you can purchase a DVD decoder pack from Sonic or Intervideo or a few other places as well.

[insomniac]

Thx for the response.

I tried the elecard decoders without much luck (95% cpu). Very jittery. I will try to get a hold of some other decoders and give them a try as well.

Know of any optimization for the elecard ones?

I.

Originally posted by Narflex
All you need to do is get an MPEG2 decoder for the EPIA box. You can download one from Elecard.com to try or you can purchase a DVD decoder pack from Sonic or Intervideo or a few other places as well.

[insomniac]

Hmmm...Just picked up the sonic decoder pack and tried them out. No luck, sigh.

There is a option to enable dxva and VMR. Both presently checked. I have tried all reasonable options with this decoder to no avail.

I can say that they do work to a degree. It does not crash when I change channels now, but it still sucks up 100% cpu. Not sure if its a side effect, but it also loses sync for about the first 30-45 seconds after you change channels. Then it slowly re-syncs. Annoying, but cool that it seems to have the ability to re-sync.

Know of any other reghacks for this decoder? Any input is very appreciated.

Im really contemplating selling this EPIA on EBAY and getting a shuttle board :) This is a cry out there to all EPIA owners!!

I.


Originally posted by Narflex
All you need to do is get an MPEG2 decoder for the EPIA box. You can download one from Elecard.com to try or you can purchase a DVD decoder pack from Sonic or Intervideo or a few other places as well.

[Narflex]

Try the Intervideo decoders from Intervideo. The one's that Intervideo has should more or less be the same as the ones Hauppauge has. And the Hauppauge Intervideo decoders are the ones I use on my M9000.

[sshapiro63]

I suggest you also try the NVDVD decoders. I just posted a message in the SageTV forum about how to obtain and configure them . They have worked the best for me so far, and since installing them I have had NO SageClient lock up problems for over 12 hours on two pc's.

Also, make sure you don't set the encode rate to higher than 2GB/Hour in the SageTV setup. Higer rates will cause problems, such as A/V stuttering when using SageClient.

[Narflex]

Higher rates only cause problems for a few users. If you've got a 100Mbit LAN that's running fine you can stream at the highest bitrate from multiple clients simultaneously without any stuttering.

[insomniac]

Narflex,

When you say to use the intervideo codecs, are you using the PVR 250 or are you using the DVCR card on the remote? The intervideo codecs work fine (not the hauppauge ones) on the hauppauge, but choke on the DVCR. DXVA is enabled.

I did a bunch of throughput tests on my 100mbit lan. Everything looks good there. I can tell you that after last night, I have almost sworn off my EPIA.

I ran the client on another machine on the same port/cable etc without issue.

So it seems that the problem lies with Epia's crappy onboard video(*cough hardware acceleration cough*), VBDVCR, and its inability to use any industry standard codecs.

I will try NVDVD codecs to see if I have any better luck.

Thanks for all the replies,

I.

Originally posted by Narflex
Higher rates only cause problems for a few users. If you've got a 100Mbit LAN that's running fine you can stream at the highest bitrate from multiple clients simultaneously without any stuttering.

[Narflex]

I'm using the 250 card in that setup, but on my workstation I use the DVCR card with the Intervideo codec quite frequently.

[insomniac]

NVDVD decoders = Blue screen on the EPIA client. Hah, should of expected it :)

I'll reload the OS and retry all codecs, etc. When I can stomache the aggravation, that is...

The Ice Cube at compusa is starting to look better and better :D

I.

Originally posted by sshapiro63
I suggest you also try the NVDVD decoders. I just posted a message in the SageTV forum about how to obtain and configure them . They have worked the best for me so far, and since installing them I have had NO SageClient lock up problems for over 12 hours on two pc's.

Also, make sure you don't set the encode rate to higher than 2GB/Hour in the SageTV setup. Higer rates will cause problems, such as A/V stuttering when using SageClient.

[insomniac]

I reloaded the EPIA w/ XP again. NVDVD codecs still = bluescreen on EPIA.

Let me know if anyone else has different results.

FYI:
I clocked down the memory in the BIOS on the EPIA and got rid of the Video hang issues (which the EPIA is so well known for..). If anyone else is having similar issues, give that a try.

I.


Originally posted by insomniac
NVDVD decoders = Blue screen on the EPIA client. Hah, should of expected it :)

I'll reload the OS and retry all codecs, etc. When I can stomache the aggravation, that is...

The Ice Cube at compusa is starting to look better and better :D

I.

[insomniac]

Jeff,

I have had best results with the intervideo codecs on the epia, but my cpu is still never less than 80% and an average of 90%. I have dxva on in the registry. Am I missing any other settings? Sage.properties? More registry changes? etc....

I.

Originally posted by Narflex
I'm using the 250 card in that setup, but on my workstation I use the DVCR card with the Intervideo codec quite frequently.

[Narflex]

The EPIA box doesn't have an NVidia chip in it so the NVDVD decoders should not work.

For the CPU usage, what's it like when the video is paused vs. playing?

[insomniac]

Jeff,

Cpu is basically idle during pause, etc. Its only during playback that cpu is basically spiked.

Ah, yeah, In my stupidity...I assumed that it was gunna be a universal ap like windvd, etc....

Luckily, I was just testing it after I formatted to try to clean up my freeze issues...Thx for the brain check tho...

I.

Originally posted by Narflex
The EPIA box doesn't have an NVidia chip in it so the NVDVD decoders should not work.

For the CPU usage, what's it like when the video is paused vs. playing?