MVP Blinking black screen + Sage "booting up" screen.

[XSiVE]

I have 2 MVP's that I purchased at the same time, One of them is working just fine(v2.04, wired), the other(v2.05 wireless) is blinking between a blank screen and the SageTV "booting up" screen.

I have installed the Hauppauge server software on a different PC than my main media server and both MVP's load that software just fine as well.

After stopping the Sage service, I deleted the clients folder from my Sage server's directory, then started the service back up.

I enabled the SageTV server's logfile and this is what it spits out when the "bad" mvp tries to connect. It IS a wireless MVP, however I am using the wired port to ensure its not a wireless issue. (it acts the same way when using both wireless and wired connections)

Mon 6/12 19:35:48.730 Received mvp packet

Mon 6/12 19:35:48.899 Sending mvp reply
Mon 6/12 19:35:52.204 Received mvp packet

Mon 6/12 19:35:52.369 Sending mvp reply
Mon 6/12 19:35:52.376 Received tftp packet

Mon 6/12 19:35:52.377 Reading dongle.bin.ver in mode octet
Mon 6/12 19:35:52.379 Received tftp packet

Mon 6/12 19:35:52.380 Reading dongle.bin in mode octet
Mon 6/12 19:35:52.381 Opening file
Mon 6/12 19:35:52.577 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:52.578 Retry count exceeded

Mon 6/12 19:35:57.174 At last block
Mon 6/12 19:35:57.374 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:57.574 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:57.774 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:57.975 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:58.175 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:58.375 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:58.575 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:58.775 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:58.976 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:59.176 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:59.376 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:59.376 Retry count exceeded

Remember, my other MVP works just fine.

[_Demo_]

Originally Posted by XSiVE

I have 2 MVP's that I purchased at the same time, One of them is working just fine(v2.04, wired), the other(v2.05 wireless) is blinking between a blank screen and the SageTV "booting up" screen.

I have installed the Hauppauge server software on a different PC than my main media server and both MVP's load that software just fine as well.

After stopping the Sage service, I deleted the clients folder from my Sage server's directory, then started the service back up.

I enabled the SageTV server's logfile and this is what it spits out when the "bad" mvp tries to connect. It IS a wireless MVP, however I am using the wired port to ensure its not a wireless issue. (it acts the same way when using both wireless and wired connections)

Mon 6/12 19:35:48.730 Received mvp packet

Mon 6/12 19:35:48.899 Sending mvp reply
Mon 6/12 19:35:52.204 Received mvp packet

Mon 6/12 19:35:52.369 Sending mvp reply
Mon 6/12 19:35:52.376 Received tftp packet

Mon 6/12 19:35:52.377 Reading dongle.bin.ver in mode octet
Mon 6/12 19:35:52.379 Received tftp packet

Mon 6/12 19:35:52.380 Reading dongle.bin in mode octet
Mon 6/12 19:35:52.381 Opening file
Mon 6/12 19:35:52.577 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:52.578 Retry count exceeded

Mon 6/12 19:35:57.174 At last block
Mon 6/12 19:35:57.374 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:57.574 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:57.774 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:57.975 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:58.175 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:58.375 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:58.575 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:58.775 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:58.976 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:59.176 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:59.376 TFTP timeout

Mon 6/12 19:35:59.376 Retry count exceeded

Remember, my other MVP works just fine.

There is nothing unusual in that log. Could you try to ping the wireless mvp when it is showing the flashing black/sagetv screen?

_Demo_

[XSiVE]

Using the Hauppauge Menus
Reply from 192.168.1.10: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.10: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.10: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.10: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.10: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.10: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Clicked GO
Request timed out.
Loading bar starts lighting up / scrolling
Reply from 192.168.1.10: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.10: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.10: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Loading bar stops moving
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Sage Logo / Black screeen starts blinking.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.10:
Packets: Sent = 51, Received = 44, Lost = 7 (13% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 17ms, Average = 0ms
Control-C
^C

[spence]

I'm having the exact same problem... It's a new MVP as of Friday from Sage!

Wired works after several reboots of the MVP, but when I go wireless - Exact same problem!

When I place the MVP within a few feet of my router it starts to work but NOT 14 Feet away and also line of sight!

I get only 1 bar on the MVP, 2-3 when it's on the workbench besides the router!

Also I have 2 other items on the wirless end of things, one is ~60 feet and the other is in the mother-in-laws bunker behind the house ~100 from the router with both displaying 3 bars...

Btw everything was off except the MVP and my router during my troubleshootng...

I'm in the middle of the woods and the closest electrical anything is almost 1/4 mile from me - Hell the cell starts to work when I get into town

I hope that none of my cows are jaming me

Spence

[Fallen Kell]

I too have the exact same problem. I recieved my wireless mvp from sage today and initially hooked it up wirelessly, (had 3 bars), but after the setup and download of the boot image, it starts flashing with a blue background with the sagetv logo and a booting up "please wait" screen...

I then thought that it might be my wireless connection, so I forced the network to G-only and changed the channel I was using to one that was farther away from other channels in the area. That didn't make any difference, same symptoms. I then broke out a Linksys WRT54GL and loaded up DD-WRT onto it and set it up as a wireless/ethernet bridge and connected the MVP into that with a wire. It looks like that helped some with the setup times as it more easily found everything on the MVP (my server was found automatically, whereas before I had to force it to scan once or twice each time before it would find it).

I am going to connect a laptop to the WRT54GL and run some network speed tests between it and other computers on the other end of the wireless bridge to get a better idea of what my speeds are over the link, but that won't happen until tomorrow night, I am tired

[XSiVE]

I was looking at those ping statistics and got to thinking..

When it loads out to sage, is this the point at which the device "switches" to its actual MAC Address versus the "simulated" address that we've heard about?

Are the devices having problems switching to the real MAC address and this is causing the boot / blinking? if perhaps its having trouble getting a new IP to match it's new MAC? iunno.. it just seems to get more confusing the deeper I get in to it.

next up: Ill connect the MVP to the same hub that the server is on, then i might even try a crossover cable.. tho, no DHCP server might make things difficult. Trying to eliminate all possibilities here, but my signs point to the way sage works on the device since the Hauppauge MVP server running on a different PC can be conected to without a problem.

[xred]

Originally Posted by spence

I'm having the exact same problem... It's a new MVP as of Friday from Sage!

Wired works after several reboots of the MVP, but when I go wireless - Exact same problem!

When I place the MVP within a few feet of my router it starts to work but NOT 14 Feet away and also line of sight!

I get only 1 bar on the MVP, 2-3 when it's on the workbench besides the router!

Also I have 2 other items on the wirless end of things, one is ~60 feet and the other is in the mother-in-laws bunker behind the house ~100 from the router with both displaying 3 bars...

Btw everything was off except the MVP and my router during my troubleshootng...

I'm in the middle of the woods and the closest electrical anything is almost 1/4 mile from me - Hell the cell starts to work when I get into town

I hope that none of my cows are jaming me

Spence

I am having the *exact* same issue. I have the wireless MVP sitting on my coffee table and my laptop beside it. Laptop reports full signal, MVP reports 1 -2 bars no matter what channel I put it on. This has been super frustrating as I have had it for over a week and have yet to see it work. I suspected it might be my Sage server (its only a P3-800) but I can play the recorded video on my laptop no problem, and since the MVP should be doing the decoding, I can't see it as a CPU limited issue.

[MrApollinax]

Wow. I didn't realize that there were that many issues with wireless performance in general. Again, i don't have a wireless MVP to look at but for these bad wireless connections i think the network environment is probably compounded by one of two things:

1. TX power levels are by default set low by the MVP kernel or
2. Bad/unshielded/poorly grounded/noisy connection from the external antenna to the main board wireless.

In the case of 1, low TX power output will effectivly cut the signal down. RF is a two way street. The remote radio may be able to hear the base radio but if it can't talk loud enough for the base radio to hear the response... then you have problems. In the case of 2, bad hardware design/components will make the wireless extremely sensitive to ANY noise (on-board, external, power...) and effect your wireless connection.

I know there were some problems with the older wired MVPs *cough*lowsvideooutput*cough* due to component issues. So I would think that the only addition to the main board (SPDIF was there, just not accessible) could be suspect in terms of hardware. Just my $.02.

Hopefully it is #1 since that can be fixed in software. If it's #2... well I think I might wait a rev or two before I pick up another MVP.

[mmitch]

I am having the same problem. Tried a lot of stuff. Loaded new 5.04 version of server, no luck. Load Hauppauge application and it works great. Remove it and back to the same problem. Rebooting after each attempt. 7 hours later (I told you I tried everything) I give up. I see a lot of people have had this problem but I have not seen a solution yet.

Please help....

[_Demo_]

Can you try this test version of the mvp.bin:

mvp.bin

Note that other things might be broken in it since it is work in progress. I'm curious if it helps fix the flashing problem.

_Demo_

[XSiVE]

Is this new firmware for the MVP or is it just a new version of the sage program for the MVP?

In either case, how do you load it onto the MVP?

If its a new version of sage for the MVP I would assume you put it somewhere on the server so it sends it out to them as their executable file..

as for flashing the mvp? no clue here

[_Demo_]

You should replace the current mvp.bin in your SageTV directory with this test one. (Make a backup copy of the original one)

_Demo_

[XSiVE]

It makes the SageTV "booting up" screen stick on the tv about 1/2 second longer, thats the only visible change...

ping behavior is the same..

log file is the same..

[Jester]

I received my wireless MVP today and it has the dreaded blink issue. It's a Sage issue, no doubt about it.

For grins I loaded the standard MVP server software on another wireless pc on my LAN and the MVP worked fine (a tougher task).

My layout:
Router downstairs with wired to the Sage server. MVP upstairs. Second pc upstairs on the LAN is wireless to the same router downstairs. So, connecting the Hauppauge software to the MVP is:
wireless -> router -> wireless MVP This works!

What does not work:
wired Sage pc -> router -> wireless MVP

I can't wait to get a solution soon. If I have to add a bridge/repeater, I could have just used my old wired MVP and saved some $$$$.

The WAF score is dropping fast!