Does anyone have WAN placeshifter + HD-PVR working and what is your CPU?

[koan00]

I have MPG2 HD files transconding fine, but HD-PVR files stutter. I realize that the transcoding process is still single threaded and no ETA for an update to the multithreaded version.

So I ask, if anyone has HD-PVR transcoding working and what kind of horsepower does it require?

Right now running at 2.6 GHz or AMD's latest cores doesn't work. I figure I can reasonably OC to 3.0 Ghz, but I'm not sure if a a 15% bump will be enough. Sure would be nice to get my other 3 idle cores working :/

[wayner]

See here: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46180

If you are trying to use 1080i then Placeshifter won't even work on your LAN.

[koan00]

Thanks for linking me to my own post

I am aware of the software limitations, I was more concerned about the hardware limitations. Right now I have stuttering and a single core running at 100% when trying to transcode a Highest Quality 720p H.264 recording.

I saw in another thread that someone claimed success with an Intel Q6600 (Kenstfield, 2.4 Ghz). I know Intel generally has a higher IPC, but I figured that AMD had improved IPC enough with the latest cores that a newer AMD core at 2.6Ghz would be equivalent.

It would be most helpful if anyone (especially AMD users) could post what hardware they have been successful with.

[mayamaniac]

I have an intel Q6600, and it could barely transcode 720P to the placeshifter.

[Slugger]

I also have a Q6600 (more specs in my sig), and I'm able to watch my HD-PVR recordings (720p only) via Placeshifter with no issues. It kicks the crap out of my CPU when I do it, but I have no problems with it and no complaints from the others in the house that also use it. Mind you, we don't Placeshift much anymore since we'd all rather wait and watch it in HD on the LAN, but I'd say anywhere from 4-10 shows are streamed via Placeshifter per month and I've had no problems myself and no complaints from others with the 720p HD-PVR recordings. Most recently, Quantum of Solace (HD-PVR recording @ 720p) was watched via Placeshifter with no problems and no complaints back to me about quality, stuttering, etc. He watched the whole movie via Placeshifter (7Mb/0.8Mb inet connection). As always, YMMV.

[Skiier__Dude]

I was doing an experiment while on a ski trip over the holidays in this thread: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45940 and was never able to successfully get a show to play for more than about 5-7 minutes without pausing it and allowing a buffer to build up.

I'm not completely satisfied that my own limitation of streaming Placeshifted content is a transcoding issue, or more of a bandwidth upload issue? When I change the setting in the Placeshifter client to stream the content without Transcoding over the WAN, the playback performance is the same.

When I do a SpeedTest on my home Internet connection, my upload bandwidth is .5-.8Mbps -- sometimes less.

[koan00]

Originally Posted by Skiier__Dude

I was doing an experiment while on a ski trip over the holidays in this thread: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45940 and was never able to successfully get a show to play for more than about 5-7 minutes without pausing it and allowing a buffer to build up.

I'm not completely satisfied that my own limitation of streaming Placeshifted content is a transcoding issue, or more of a bandwidth upload issue? When I change the setting in the Placeshifter client to stream the content without Transcoding over the WAN, the playback performance is the same.

When I do a SpeedTest on my home Internet connection, my upload bandwidth is .5-.8Mbps -- sometimes less.

I assume that you are also using MPG2 content? I would think your CPU is adequate for that. Also given it works well for the 5-6 minute period, I would think it's bandwidth related. An easy way to test might be to manually set the encoding parameters to the lowest settings and see if that helps you (I would think that would lower the bitrate required on the transfer).

[Skiier__Dude]

Originally Posted by koan00

I assume that you are also using MPG2 content? I would think your CPU is adequate for that. Also given it works well for the 5-6 minute period, I would think it's bandwidth related. An easy way to test might be to manually set the encoding parameters to the lowest settings and see if that helps you (I would think that would lower the bitrate required on the transfer).

No, I have actually been using the H.264 HD content. In the past, I had a PVR-150 hooked up and could stream MPEG2 content over the same Internet connection and it worked flawlessly. Then again, the file sizes were much smaller.

[koan00]

Well I just tested here on wired Gbps LAN, and forced the streaming / transcoding settings. Overclocked to 2990Mhz and CIF resolution works fine. D1 resolution is still jumpy.

It's weird though, I keep getting playback failures (my clients too). When I try to playback, it just acts like it gets to the end of the recording and asks me if I want to delete it. I tried emailing support and just got the standard "We don't support Windows 7" line.

[koan00]

Also seem to crash the transcoder thread when ever I seek or fast forward in videos :/