New Release of Miniclient (1.2.8)

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by ojones

Stuckless - I am at a bit of an impasse testing some guidance from Jeff and CrazyFuzzy.

They indicated the "pull method" in the miniclient settings should disable transcoding.

I've verified that method is set in the pre logon page but once a recording is started info reveals the picture is being pushed at 352x240. Is there anything I should do to troubleshoot?

Have you tried a non-recording? I did a quick check in the code, and I appear to be doing what the placeshifter does, but, I'd need to trace through the code to see if it's actually doing it.

Have you tried the Placeshifter to see if behaves the same way?

[ojones]

I have tried both live tv and recordings (but not any imported files). My source is a ceton off of fios but also have same experience with bm3000.

i haven't tried the placeshifter pc version yet to duplicate but my previous experience says that does what you tell it (albeit poorly). The client logfiles do have a note about testing if pull will work. not sure what that involves.

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by ojones

I have tried both live tv and recordings (but not any imported files). My source is a ceton off of fios but also have same experience with bm3000.

i haven't tried the placeshifter pc version yet to duplicate but my previous experience says that does what you tell it (albeit poorly). The client logfiles do have a note about testing if pull will work. not sure what that involves.

if you can test the pc placeshifter and it doesn't transcode, but the miniclient does, then that is odd, and would certainly be a bug. I looked at the miniclient code, and it's almost an exact copy of the placeshifter in this area. ie, when you set the placeshifter to "no transcode" it sets it in PULL mode, and in the miniclient that's the same as setting the streaming option PULL (instead of the default DYNAMIC). I do have to get back to the miniclient at some point, so I'll try to look at this closer and see what is happening.

[jptheripper]

Any update on dts-hd passthrough?

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by jptheripper

Any update on dts-hd passthrough?

I keep updating ExoPlayer for each release, and I think it supports that, right? My hope is that with each release ExoPlayer becomes as usful as ijkplayer.

[ojones]

Originally Posted by stuckless

if you can test the pc placeshifter and it doesn't transcode, but the miniclient does, then that is odd, and would certainly be a bug. I looked at the miniclient code, and it's almost an exact copy of the placeshifter in this area. ie, when you set the placeshifter to "no transcode" it sets it in PULL mode, and in the miniclient that's the same as setting the streaming option PULL (instead of the default DYNAMIC). I do have to get back to the miniclient at some point, so I'll try to look at this closer and see what is happening.

I do see an interesting note in my logs serverside (I set some extra debug flags in stranscode section to true). I will post tonight but sage is running a bandwidth test and if less than 10mb/s forcing push. I admit I've been using a cellular connection to test this but I've been testing at 20mb/s (through my vpn) vs the hard floor of 10 server side. Server says it detected 19kb/s from UI - not sure if this is a client or server issue. Could client be under reporting?

[ojones]

Fri 7/21 14:24:05.796 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@b6669d] Bandwidth test base=130 base*2=247 BW=1008984
Fri 7/21 14:24:05.797 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@b6669d] Detected non-LAN connection under 10Mbps but above set limit (1008984), force it to transcode mode
Fri 7/21 14:24:05.797 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@b6669d] MiniPlayer got an estimate from the UI on bandwidth of 19Kbps
Fri 7/21 14:24:05.797 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@b6669d] MiniPlayer is using Push mode playback
Fri 7/21 14:24:05.797 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@b6669d] MiniPlayer is using the MPEG4 transcoder
Fri 7/21 14:24:05.798 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@b6669d] MiniPlayer is using the transcoder
Fri 7/21 14:24:05.807 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@b6669d] Mpeg2Reader is detecting timestamp boundaries in the file...
Fri 7/21 14:24:05.808 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@b6669d] IFrame alignment=false
Fri 7/21 14:24:05.808 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@b6669d] Opened MPEG-2 PS file: D:\TV Rec\CelticThunderLegacy-61455826-0.ts firstPTS=45000 durationMsec=-1
Fri 7/21 14:24:05.809 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@b6669d] openURL0(push:f=MPEG2-PS;[bf=vid;f=MPEG4;][bf=aud;f=MP2])

[wnjj]

Your log file shows a bandwidth of about 1M. I looked at the code and if it's less than 10M, it forces it to the value stored in "miniplayer/min_bandwidth_for_no_transcode" - 1000. The code defaults to 2M if the property isn't found in sage.properties but yours must be set to 20k.

[ojones]

wnjj - The setting I have in my properties file is as follows (I believe the default is 20,000,00[0]): miniplayer/min_bandwidth_for_no_transcode=2000000

It was my understanding that a lower value for this setting allowed pull="no transcode" on slower network connections. Reading my log files I think the system (i.e. either client or server) thought my connection was 19kbps - but I tested at ~20mbps or 2.5MB/s. I tried to duplicate this again today (same result - ended up with push) but this time I used a known connection (fiber) that can support 100mbps or 12.5MB/s tested via large file transfer (server side upload is 940mbps). Unfortunately the logs were overwritten before I got home so I need to try for a 3rd time... I'm trying to trouble shoot this before family goes on vacation - my wife appears addicted to comskip!

[davidk21770]

I stumbled on this as I was updating my Sage to v9 and am really impressed! I've been searching for a solution to watch Sage on my old tablet and Plex was just not cutting it (no commercial skipping, very clumsy and ...SLOW... when skipping around in a recording).

I'm using it on an ancient Samsung Galaxy 10.1 Tablet running Lineage OS N (Android 7.1.1 Nougat).

The interface is a bit slow (but my tablet is ancient ), and once I disabled animation, it became usable.

I can't use any of the HW decoders that I've tried, so I'm using push SW with IJK. (Is there more info on the other decoders/playback and how to pick and choose?)

Since I don't have a HW keyboard, I'm using the swipe-in "remote" since arrow key navigation appears to work the best. A would be really helpful is -- can the remote be movable around the screen so I don't have to try to read through it all of the time? So I can drag it out of the way without having to close it and reopen it?

And I find that skipping around in the show is error-pone. It will often lose track of where it truly is and resume playing in the wrong place. I typically need this at the beginning when the show started before the scheduled time, but I have sage set to start recording early to handle it (but sage starts playback where the show should start and I normally just hit back a few times to get lined-up). This also happens if the show starts with a commercial and the commercial ID was off a little and I need to move back. It won't move back or it thinks it moved back but doesn't. Any suggestions? (My HD300's work quite well in these instances, so I don't think it's my primary sage install).

Thanks for this! Even with these issues, it's very usable!

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by davidk21770

I stumbled on this as I was updating my Sage to v9 and am really impressed! I've been searching for a solution to watch Sage on my old tablet and Plex was just not cutting it (no commercial skipping, very clumsy and ...SLOW... when skipping around in a recording).

I'm using it on an ancient Samsung Galaxy 10.1 Tablet running Lineage OS N (Android 7.1.1 Nougat).

The interface is a bit slow (but my tablet is ancient ), and once I disabled animation, it became usable.

I can't use any of the HW decoders that I've tried, so I'm using push SW with IJK. (Is there more info on the other decoders/playback and how to pick and choose?)

Since I don't have a HW keyboard, I'm using the swipe-in "remote" since arrow key navigation appears to work the best. A would be really helpful is -- can the remote be movable around the screen so I don't have to try to read through it all of the time? So I can drag it out of the way without having to close it and reopen it?

And I find that skipping around in the show is error-pone. It will often lose track of where it truly is and resume playing in the wrong place. I typically need this at the beginning when the show started before the scheduled time, but I have sage set to start recording early to handle it (but sage starts playback where the show should start and I normally just hit back a few times to get lined-up). This also happens if the show starts with a commercial and the commercial ID was off a little and I need to move back. It won't move back or it thinks it moved back but doesn't. Any suggestions? (My HD300's work quite well in these instances, so I don't think it's my primary sage install).

Thanks for this! Even with these issues, it's very usable!

As for the decoders, I certainly reocmmend using IJK since it will try to use hardware decode if it exists, and then use a software decoder if there isn't a hardware decoder. The only time you really need to play with disabling the hardware decoders is if you have a hardware decoder and it has bugs and cause the video to crash, then you can turn it off and then only software will be used.

I'm not sure what you are video formats are. Mine are all h264 ts files (or h264 mkv, mp4). These appear to work ok. I think the MPEG2 video formats are still problematic. And it' nothing to do with the server, but simply that I'm not a video person sow hen a video format is behaving, I don't have a lot of time to figure out why You skipping issues seem consistent with that I've seen while testing some mpeg2 files (other work fine, but I have no idea why).

As for the OSD remote. While the app itself does work on a tablet, it's not really intended for "touch". Moving the remote around is a good idea, but, I think the remote itself needs some reworking, along with, the STV to be updated to account of IsTouchUI(). For example in the STV if there is a mouse, it will show the buttons on it's OSD for ff/rew etc, but the Android Presents itself without a MOUUSE (like the HD300) since telling sagetv you have a mouse, also causes the server to treat you slightly differently. So the STV needs to be updated to test for mouse or touch. That woould alllow for tess needing of the MiniClient's remote. The goal of the remote was simply to be there in those times when you really needed it, and not used as a primary navigation interface.

[davidk21770]

Originally Posted by stuckless

As for the decoders, I certainly reocmmend using IJK since it will try to use hardware decode if it exists, and then use a software decoder if there isn't a hardware decoder. The only time you really need to play with disabling the hardware decoders is if you have a hardware decoder and it has bugs and cause the video to crash, then you can turn it off and then only software will be used.

I'm not sure what you are video formats are. Mine are all h264 ts files (or h264 mkv, mp4). These appear to work ok. I think the MPEG2 video formats are still problematic. And it' nothing to do with the server, but simply that I'm not a video person sow hen a video format is behaving, I don't have a lot of time to figure out why You skipping issues seem consistent with that I've seen while testing some mpeg2 files (other work fine, but I have no idea why).

As for the OSD remote. While the app itself does work on a tablet, it's not really intended for "touch". Moving the remote around is a good idea, but, I think the remote itself needs some reworking, along with, the STV to be updated to account of IsTouchUI(). For example in the STV if there is a mouse, it will show the buttons on it's OSD for ff/rew etc, but the Android Presents itself without a MOUUSE (like the HD300) since telling sagetv you have a mouse, also causes the server to treat you slightly differently. So the STV needs to be updated to test for mouse or touch. That woould alllow for tess needing of the MiniClient's remote. The goal of the remote was simply to be there in those times when you really needed it, and not used as a primary navigation interface.

Thanks!

I have all kinds of media files -- mpg, TS/H.264, TS/MPG2, MP4, MKV/lots, AVI -- and more ;-).

But I think that I found the problem. I changed from dynamic streaming to pull streaming -- and I'm being a lot more patient to wait for it to respond .

By "remote", I meant the overlay that you put in place when I swipe-in from the left side of the screen. I'm not sure what you call it (On Screen Navigation?), but its the only way to get playback controls without a keyboard! And it's always in the center which is usually also what I'm trying to look...

[ojones]

Stuckless & Crew!

I feel like I'm being extra dense right now but I'm trying to figure out what setting I need to make in order to cause the transcoder NOT to force push (want raw file pull) even if the quality is poor - for trouble shooting purposes.

Basically I initiated the stream over a (on paper) 1gb to 100mb fiber line (iperf shows 50-65Mb/s; file transfers run at ~10MB/s) via IPSEC hardware VPN (ping is 10ms). Theoretically this connection should be able to handle a 1.5-2MB stream with plenty of overhead.

My sage property setting is:
miniplayer/min_bandwidth_for_no_transcode=2000000

If I am reading that right if Bandwidth is above 2MB/s then pull is allowed.

BUT... in my logs I see the following. It appears to detect a 5MB/s connection, notes that its above the floor (2MB?) and then says needs to transcode (push) anyway. Am I missing something? Are there two different bandwidth tests happening? Greatful for any observations.

Logs follow:
Sat 8/12 18:20:20.714 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@66adf] getEstimatedBW=0 estimatedBWBytes=0 estimatedBWTime=0
Sat 8/12 18:20:20.715 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@66adf] MiniPlayer was not able to get a bandwidth estimate from the UI system, sending data to get its own estimate...
Sat 8/12 18:20:20.804 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@66adf] Bandwidth test base=25 base*2=27 BW=5246720
Sat 8/12 18:20:20.805 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@66adf] Detected non-LAN connection under 10Mbps but above set limit (5246720), force it to transcode mode
Sat 8/12 18:20:20.805 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@66adf] MiniPlayer got an estimate from the UI on bandwidth of 1999Kbps
Sat 8/12 18:20:20.805 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@66adf] MiniPlayer is using Push mode playback
Sat 8/12 18:20:20.805 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@66adf] MiniPlayer is using the MPEG4 transcoder
Sat 8/12 18:20:20.806 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@66adf] MiniPlayer is using the transcoder
Sat 8/12 18:20:20.806 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@66adf] Mpeg2Reader is detecting timestamp boundaries in the file...
Sat 8/12 18:20:20.806 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@66adf] IFrame alignment=false
Sat 8/12 18:20:20.807 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@66adf] Opened MPEG-2 PS file: D:\TV Rec\ThePioneerWoman-16MinuteMealsOnStandby-65155015-0.ts firstPTS=45000 durationMsec=-1

[ojones]

Quick follow-up. Just retested this on the lan. The line BW=5246720 is different than the line "Miniplayer got an estimate...Bandwidth of 1999Kbps" when I was remote.

On the lan I see the following:
Sat 8/12 23:01:24.861 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@3f3b3e] Bandwidth test base=6 base*2=8 BW=21861333
Sat 8/12 23:01:24.861 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@3f3b3e] MiniPlayer got an estimate from the UI on bandwidth of 21861Kbps
Sat 8/12 23:01:24.862 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@3f3b3e] MiniPlayer is using Pull mode playback
Sat 8/12 23:01:24.862 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@3f3b3e] openURL0(stv://192.168.45.15/D:\TV Rec\ThePioneerWoman-16MinuteMealsOnStandby-65155015-0.ts)

[wnjj]

Originally Posted by ojones

Quick follow-up. Just retested this on the lan. The line BW=5246720 is different than the line "Miniplayer got an estimate...Bandwidth of 1999Kbps" when I was remote.

On the lan I see the following:
Sat 8/12 23:01:24.861 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@3f3b3e] Bandwidth test base=6 base*2=8 BW=21861333
Sat 8/12 23:01:24.861 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@3f3b3e] MiniPlayer got an estimate from the UI on bandwidth of 21861Kbps
Sat 8/12 23:01:24.862 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@3f3b3e] MiniPlayer is using Pull mode playback
Sat 8/12 23:01:24.862 [VideoFrame-42554d47414b@3f3b3e] openURL0(stv://192.168.45.15/D:\TV Rec\ThePioneerWoman-16MinuteMealsOnStandby-65155015-0.ts)

The bandwidth is first measured and reported. Then if it's less than 10M but >= the 'min_for_no_transcode' value, it "fakes" the bandwidth to be 1k less than then no_transcode value. That's why you see 1999k. In your first case, the BW was 5M so met that window. I don't claim to know how the logic is supposed to work but that's what's in the code.

It sure seems like that setting effectively does nothing below 10M and 10M is the hard min limit.

[pjpjpjpj]

So I'm very late to the miniclient deal (only switched to v9 at the epg cutoff, hadn't even seen it existed before) and I am not sure where to look through the many threads about it, so I'll ask here: can it remotely access sage without a placeshifter license?

It works on my Samsung J7 (running Android 6, I think) but I tried it remotely yesterday, putting in my Locator ID, and it pulled up a window saying placeshifter wasn't configured and behind that, a placeshifter login pop-up (which I couldn't access because it then shut down when I hit OK).

What's the deal?

[Tiki]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

So I'm very late to the miniclient deal (only switched to v9 at the epg cutoff, hadn't even seen it existed before) and I am not sure where to look through the many threads about it, so I'll ask here: can it remotely access sage without a placeshifter license?

It works on my Samsung J7 (running Android 6, I think) but I tried it remotely yesterday, putting in my Locator ID, and it pulled up a window saying placeshifter wasn't configured and behind that, a placeshifter login pop-up (which I couldn't access because it then shut down when I hit OK).

What's the deal?

As far as Sage is concerned, the Android mini-client is the same as a Placeshifter. But, once Sage went open-source (starting with v9), license files are no longer required.

Sage can tell if you are connecting locally (IP address on the same LAN sub-net), or remotely and will behave differently.

[rickgode]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

So I'm very late to the miniclient deal (only switched to v9 at the epg cutoff, hadn't even seen it existed before) and I am not sure where to look through the many threads about it, so I'll ask here: can it remotely access sage without a placeshifter license?

It works on my Samsung J7 (running Android 6, I think) but I tried it remotely yesterday, putting in my Locator ID, and it pulled up a window saying placeshifter wasn't configured and behind that, a placeshifter login pop-up (which I couldn't access because it then shut down when I hit OK).

What's the deal?

I was in the same boat as you. I'm pretty sure all you need to do is create a placeshifter user ID and password on your SageTV Client.

Ricky

[tvmaster2]

Sorry if this has been discussed, maybe I'm searching for the wrong term -
with the Android Mini Client, how can you select a channel directly, i.e. type in the number, for example 1200, and go to that channel? With 1,000's of channels, swiping up seems pointless.
Surely there's a way to just type in the channel and I can't figure it out?
Thanks

[cncb]

Any chance ijkplayer will get Dolby Digital passthrough or have you given up on that?