Brand new HD200 - very poor DVD playback - FIXED

[jetradio]

Ok, I just unboxed my brand new HD200 tonight. I am connected to my receiver via HDMI. I hardcoded an IP address on the unit and I verified network connectivity. I also conducted a firmware upgrade as soon as I could get into the device menu. Here's my story. I reviewed Appendix I for setting up the HD200 to playback network-based DVDs. Even though I have a SageTV server up and running, it seems that the act of playing a DVD folder is essentially stand-alone mode. I went into the settings and selected the server on my network that has the DVD folders, and I also entered the proper user name and password combo. Lo and behold, as expected, all of the movies showed up with the DVD logo. I thought I was in business, but whenever I actually attempt to play a movie, the playback stalls in several places, ranging from scene selection, to the blue movie rating scene, and even when I select "start movie" from the DVD menu. I've tried at least 7 different movies, and they all stopped or stalled at one point. I immediately suspected that I might have bad archives (I'm using DVD Shrink) so as a test, I hooked up my MacBook to the same network that my HD200 is on and started the DVD application and everything works flawlessy on the Mac, so I don't think it's a DVD folder issue. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here, and I'm about to go on medication because this is the major reason I bought this thing (network-based DVD library). Are there any other tips or tricks that I need to be doing?

Thanks in advance!

Edit: Issue resolved by keeping vob files to 1GB (recommended setting in DVD Shrink)

[jetradio]

Update - There seems to be no rhyme or reason to my issue. Most DVDs are dying after the transition from the main menu. Some die at the main menu but chapter selection works great and I can view the movie from there. Some that die at the menu can't be accessed at all from scene selection. It seems to be completely random. Since my MacBook (using iDVD) is not freezing or locking anywhere, using any rip, I believe I do not have suspect files and folders from DVD Shrink. Something else is at play here.
I also switched from stand-alone mode to connecting to my SageTV server and the exact same things are happening with the exact same movies. One thing for certain, it's not network performance.

I'm so close.

[gplasky]

And you are ripping them to a VIDEO_TS folder with individual vobs less than 2GB in size? As described in Appendix I of the SageTV manual?

Gerry

[jetradio]

Originally Posted by gplasky

And you are ripping them to a VIDEO_TS folder with individual vobs less than 2GB in size? As described in Appendix I of the SageTV manual?

Gerry

I thought I read Appendix I thoroughly and I did not see a mention of keeping the files under 2GB. I just rechecked the manual and there is no mention of that. I suppose I could do a quick test and create a folder of a DVD with known issues and keep the vobs less than 2GB. I'll report my findings soon!

[gplasky]

Actially the default .vob file size in a standard DVD is 1 GB. (1,048,574 KB) or less if it is the .vob. The DVD standard and I thought the default for DVDShrink is to create the .ifo, .bup and .vob files. And the .vob files should be around 1GB in size. As opposed to choosing options such as putting it all in one .vob file or creating an .iso file.

Gerry

[jetradio]

Originally Posted by gplasky

Actially the default .vob file size in a standard DVD is 1 GB. (,048,574 KB) or less if it is the .vob. The DVD standard and I thought the default for DVDShrink is to create the .ifo, .bup and .vob files. And the .vob files should be around 1GB in size. As opposed to choosing options such as putting it all in one .vob file or creating an .iso file.

Gerry

That's what I had done - I had disabled the setting that keeps the file to 1GB. The main reason I had done that is because a few weeks ago I was originally attempting to configure my Xbox 360 as a media extender and all the feedback that I read recommended to rip the movie into a single file. I am re-ripping a DVD right now - should be done in a few minutes.

[jetradio]

Well hell - that was it. One of my problem DVDs is now playing and searching flawlessly from the menus. I had a suspicion that was it based on a couple threads I saw and your post confirmed it - thanks!