Help SageTV server and Client and video files

[mohanman]

Hey guys,
I need some help. I recently got sagetv server working on my pc in my living room great. I like it much better then MCE. The only problem I am having is with the client software in my bedroom. I have a NAS attached to the whole setup as well.

If I use the client to play tv it works great! But to watch dvds or videos (.divx) in my nas on the client is slow and choppy..

Any suggestions?
Thanks
Mo

[mohanman]

I did some experimenting.. its only with divx/xvid files. DVD files (ripped) work just fine!

And I cant seem to get dolby 5.1 despite using cyberlink powerdvd on my server while watching dvds?

Thanks

[mohanman]

Does anyone have a fix for this? I am only having problems with xvid/divx files, dvd files from NAS work perfectly.

I also solved the 5.1 sound problem by looking around on this website. Switched to Ac3 filter, working great!

So the only problem and the last problem I am having with sagetv is playing divx/xvid/avi files from my NAS on my client in my bedroom which is occasionally slow and choppy? Again, dvds on NAS play fine, and tv does too!

Thansk
Mo

[vividweb]

What type of hardware do you have for your client system? MVP? PC?

[rickgillyon]

Originally Posted by mohanman

So the only problem and the last problem I am having with sagetv is playing divx/xvid/avi files from my NAS on my client in my bedroom which is occasionally slow and choppy?

What sort of Server are you running Sage on?

[mohanman]

Its an Alienware MCE. Its a pentium 4 with 1gb memory and 160gb hard drive. Its a pretty fast computer. What gets me is if I use placeshifter on my laptor xvids and divx work just fine! It just doesnt work well with my client in my bedroom??
Thanks

[rickgillyon]

So what is the client and what decoders are you using on it?

[mohanman]

My client is a powerspec mce that is also pentium 4. It works just great with MCE, and sagetv, but not divx/xvid under sagetv. It is using powerdvd as the video decoder and ac3filter for the audio?

Thanks
Mo

[mohanman]

Alright, so I did some expiermenting. My computer in my bedroom plays divx/xvid files just fine when using the placeshifter app, but when using client it is choppy and unwatchable??

What gives?

Mo

[wvpolekat]

What is the network between the 2 like?

[mohanman]

Well I have powerline adapters throughout my home. The alienware in my living room is the server. This is attached to powerline to my netgear router. The netgear router is attached to a NAS (infrant ready) which stores most of my divx/xvid movies. Then there is another power adapter in my bedroom with the powerspec pc (client).
Trust me, other then sage everything is fast and dependable. I can stream dvd movies on my NAS to the client just fine. Its just those stupid divx/xvid movies which give me trouble.

[GKusnick]

Maybe it's just a matter of horsepower. Using SageTVClient, all the decoding happens client-side. With Placeshifter, there's probably a server-side transcoding step going on that maybe takes some of the decoding load off the client.

[mohanman]

I dont think so. I tried both software on my other computer in my den yesterday. That computer is a mac pro 4 core, so it is fast.
Same problem.. client slow choppy divx/xvid, placeshifter fast and fine?

[mohanman]

I think I figured it out. It has to do with my server not being directly attached to the NAS?? How can I add the NAS to my client and not have the system go from client to server then to NAS?
How can I have it go from client directly to server?

Thanks
Mo

[mohanman]

I mean how can I have it go from client to nas directly and not client to server to nas?

Thanks

[mohanman]

Nevermind. All the issues went away when I actually bought a key for the client and not used it as a demo.
Xvid and divx now plays fine from my server.. no hiccups!

I am the happiest person on earth right now... wasted almost 2 days trying to figure it out, and all it was was the demo!

Lates!
Mo

[mohanman]

Well... right after I wrote the previous message divx/xvid files started stuttering again.

I am depressed again!

[FidgetyRat]

I had similar issues with client on a windows box. A 1.4gig celeron was having alot of issues playing back recordings. Especially xvid.

I ended up buying another MVP and got rid of the client. MVPs are just plain awesome.

No maintenance, no crashing. YAY


Xvid transcodes really well, with only about 30% CPU use on my 3.06 single core celeron server. Only issue is "iffy" fast forward and rewind functionality with the MVP when playing transcoded content.

Other then that couldn't be happier with it.

[mohanman]

My only problems. I have posted these a couple times. If these could be fixed I would be the happiest person on Earth!

1) For some reason xvid/divx files from my NAS to client/server causes skips/freezing and slow downs. I never had this problem with media center before I switched over to sage. Dvds stored on my NAS under /video_ts plays fine!!!!

2) For some reason my hdhomerun (which I must say was very easy to install on sage compared to mce) does not stream well to the client, freezes/pauses/stutters like the xvid/divx files. I know for a fact that I was streaming with media center just fine!

If these answers can be fixed, oh please let them get fixed!! I would have in my hands the ultimate set up..

Thanks
Mo

[Polypro]

GigE network?

P