Troubleshooting New Sage/WHS Server

[popcorndog]

To start - this is a great forum and cheers to all it's contributors. Great guides SME, really helped me set up the initial server install.

I am new to Sage and WHS. This is my first post, so if I am missing important details, please let me know. I am looking for some advice on fixing some of the issues I am having with my new build.

1. Occassional brief pauses on playback of ripped DVDs thru HD 200 in extender mode. Playing over a gigabit network, obviously running at the maximum of 100Mbytes (limited by HD 200). Network is only showing 1% usage during playback. Do I need to optimize the settings on the extenders? Is there a bitrate limit on the HD 200s that I need to be aware of? I am currently not compressing the ripped dvds.

2. Ripped bluray movies drop portions of the audio during playback on the HD 200 in extender mode. I believe this issue is related to my issue in item 1. Any suggestions?

3. Guide is not showing any data for CBS digital qam thru Comcast, in my area it is channel 2-1. All the other digital qam channels have guide data. I am not sure how to correct this, so advise or direction to other threads would be helpful.

4. Comskip Monitor with latest Comskip was installed into Program folder of the C: drive on my Windows Home Server. Installed Comskip Playback as well. Comskip does not appear to be working after checking some recorded TV from the evening before. Does comskip create a new file that would tell me if the issue is with comskip monitor?

I am using AnyDVD and Clone DVD for ripping and removing unnecessary audio/video.

I would also like recommendations on essential plug-ins, and why you feel they are a must have.

Thanks ahead for the advise.

[gplasky]

Make sure you have run all the Windows updates for WHS and that you have the powerpacks 1 & 2 installed.

For grins and giggles just try ripping an entire DVD and BR thru AnyDVD and don't use Clone DVD for removing anything and see if they play better.

I'm assuming you're using the Sage HD Theater in extender mode and not stand alone media player mode. You may also want to make sure in the Extender setup you have configured the workgroup to be the same as your WHS. And see if giving the Guest account full access to the shares helps.

Gerry

[Djc208]

If comskip is working you should see the files it generates. There will usually be three additional files with the same file name as the recording with different extensions. The .log is a log file, the .edl and .txt are used for skipping commercials by different programs.

Make sure comskip monitor is pointed at the right folders, especially the location of comskip. Not sure what sources you're capturing from, if you're using the HD-PVR you have to use the donator version of comskip. You also need to make sure comskip monitor is set up to monitor .ts files.

[popcorndog]

Thanks for the suggestions on Bluray/DVD playback and Comskip.

Update:
Of the 1 Bluray movie that is ripped, only the movie m2ts file is having the audio issue - I plan to try to rerip the movie using only AnyDVD, I'll post tomorrow if this corrects the issue

Only select DVD movies seem to have the pause after looking at a couple more - I plan to try to rerip those DVDs as well using only AnyDVD, I'll post tomorrow if this corrects the issue

Comskip files are being generated. I see 2 txt files and 1 edl file for every recording. Comskip Playback may be my issue. I did not place the Comskip Monitor files into Sage file folders. They are sitting in a separate folder under programs. Is that an issue or do I just have Comskip Playback configure wrong.

Any suggestions on the guide not posting digital CBS on Comcast?

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by popcorndog

3. Guide is not showing any data for CBS digital qam thru Comcast, in my area it is channel 2-1. All the other digital qam channels have guide data. I am not sure how to correct this, so advise or direction to other threads would be helpful.

Originally Posted by popcorndog

Any suggestions on the guide not posting digital CBS on Comcast?

You may simply have the station mapped incorrectly. Check your lineup on Zap2it to see what the station name is. In SageTV, go to Channel Setup for your tuner & choose to map a different station to the channel. (This is discussed in the SageTV PDF manual, around pages 163 - 165.) If you use the v6.5.17 beta, it has a much better remapping menu now.


BTW: I suggest that in the future, you break down your unrelated questions into separate threads in the appropriate forums; for example, channel mapping is covered in the EPG forum while comskip & other customization questions belong in the customizations forum. It would probably be easier to follow a discussion that doesn't jump between several topics at once.

- Andy

[popcorndog]

Thanks for pointing me towards how to remap. I did not see the manual when I first installed. I guess that shows how easy Sage is to set up (for the most part). I found the manual helpful and should solve my issue.

Noted on posting too.

[Djc208]

Originally Posted by popcorndog

Comskip files are being generated. I see 2 txt files and 1 edl file for every recording. Comskip Playback may be my issue. I did not place the Comskip Monitor files into Sage file folders. They are sitting in a separate folder under programs. Is that an issue or do I just have Comskip Playback configure wrong.

Comskip monitor can be installed to any folder you like. The comskip monitor package available in the download section has an older version of comskip built in. If you download the new version from Erik's web site, then you either need to over-write the built-in version (replace the old files with the new) or update the web-setup with the folder location of the new version.

If you're getting the .edl files then comskip is working. You'll need to make sure you have the right plug-ins in Sage to use those files.

[popcorndog]

1 - Rerip of Madagascar 2 bluray did not correct issue, guest allowed did not correct issue, workgroup the same did not correct issue. Looking closer, it is only an issue with the english audio channel only on the m2ts file for the movie. Other bluray movies play correctly without issue.

2 - Comskip issue corrected, Comskip Playback configuration for Watch Now enabled seemed to cause the issue. After disabling, comskip appeared to be working correctly.

3 - Channel remapped correctly.

Thanks for everyones help. Curious if anyone else has had an issue with Madagascar 2.