[mythtvnz] Previously fine WiFi Frontend connection now having regular drop-outs. Common causes?

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:58:04 +1200

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Have you tried just moving the ibook closer to the AP to see if the problems
are solved? If they are you know the wireless signal is weak...

A microwave or similiar device could also be causing inteferance, but this
would be only while it's on.

On 8/30/07, Matt Poff <matt.poff@headfirst.co.nz> wrote:
>
> I'm been running a Myth frontend on a Mac iBook over WiFi (mixed
> protocol, max of 802.11g) connecting to a Linux server and, to date,
> have had no problem playing back recordings. Since I installed the
> system about four months ago it could handle the format fine but in the
> last couple of weeks I get frequent "NVP: prebuffering pause" errors and
> choppy playback. Playback on the server machine (which also runs a
> frontend) is fine.
>
> I was running at 99% disk usage so I freed up about 30% - no difference.
> I tried mucking with the WiFi settings (network robustness, channels
> etc.) - no difference. The server box is not under load (i.e. playing
> video, transcoding, ad detecting or othewise).
>
> I found the info below a short while ago (troubleshooting page for a
> Gentoo installation) and will try it out when I get home. But as this
> problem has only recently emerged and as I am not using Hauppage cards
> (I have two Skystar2s) I'm not holding my breath.  Frustrating - I know
> the network can handle the bandwidth but now, for some, reason it can't!
>
> Wondering if anyone has encountered a similar problem and had a fix or
> does anyone know what sort of data/sec rate I need to sustain to play
> back a default quality recording? Any other troubleshooting things I
> should check?
>
> I know WiFi networks can be fickle but our house is a reasonable
> distance from possible sources of interference and no new transmitting
> devices have been added recently. The topology is a LinksysWRT56G with
> an Apple Airport Express acting as a relay (and into which the server
> box is plugged).
>
>
> Gentoo tip - choppy playback
> ----------------------------------------
> Jerky video on Hauppauge PVR-250 / 350 cards. If your Live TV video is
> playing jerky (i.e. running too fast, then stopping every 1-2 seconds)
> and you keep getting "prebuffering pause" errors in the console, try
> adjusting the video format in the recording profiles. The default format
> used in all of my installation's profiles was set to 480x480, which
> might be suitable for NTSC regions. But I'm using a PAL version of the
> PVR-250 which obviously doesn't like this setting. After changing the
> format to 720x576, all problems just vanished: watching and recording tv
> in MythTV are now working perfectly.
>
> Hope someone can help.
>
> Cheers,
> Matt
>
> _______________________________________________
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> mythtvnz@lists.linuxnut.co.nz
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<div>Have you tried just moving the ibook closer to the AP to see if the problems are solved? If they are you know the wireless signal is weak...</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>A microwave or similiar device&nbsp;could also be causing inteferance, but this would be only while it&#39;s on. &nbsp;</div>
<div>On 8/30/07, Matt Poff &lt;<a href="mailto:matt.poff@headfirst.co.nz">matt.poff@headfirst.co.nz</a>&gt; wrote:
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">I&#39;m been running a Myth frontend on a Mac iBook over WiFi (mixed protocol, max of 802.11g) connecting to a Linux server and, to date,
 have had no problem playing back recordings. Since I installed the system about four months ago it could handle the format fine but in the last couple of weeks I get frequent &quot;NVP: prebuffering pause&quot; errors and
 choppy playback. Playback on the server machine (which also runs a frontend) is fine. I was running at 99% disk usage so I freed up about 30% - no difference. I tried mucking with the WiFi settings (network robustness, channels
 etc.) - no difference. The server box is not under load (i.e. playing video, transcoding, ad detecting or othewise). I found the info below a short while ago (troubleshooting page for a Gentoo installation) and will try it out when I get home. But as this
 problem has only recently emerged and as I am not using Hauppage cards (I have two Skystar2s) I&#39;m not holding my breath.&nbsp;&nbsp;Frustrating - I know the network can handle the bandwidth but now, for some, reason it can&#39;t!
 Wondering if anyone has encountered a similar problem and had a fix or does anyone know what sort of data/sec rate I need to sustain to play back a default quality recording? Any other troubleshooting things I
 should check? I know WiFi networks can be fickle but our house is a reasonable distance from possible sources of interference and no new transmitting devices have been added recently. The topology is a LinksysWRT56G with
 an Apple Airport Express acting as a relay (and into which the server box is plugged). Gentoo tip - choppy playback ---------------------------------------- Jerky video on Hauppauge PVR-250 / 350 cards. If your Live TV video is
 playing jerky (i.e. running too fast, then stopping every 1-2 seconds) and you keep getting &quot;prebuffering pause&quot; errors in the console, try adjusting the video format in the recording profiles. The default format
 used in all of my installation&#39;s profiles was set to 480x480, which might be suitable for NTSC regions. But I&#39;m using a PAL version of the PVR-250 which obviously doesn&#39;t like this setting. After changing the
 format to 720x576, all problems just vanished: watching and recording tv in MythTV are now working perfectly. Hope someone can help. Cheers, Matt _______________________________________________
 mythtvnz mailing list <a href="mailto:mythtvnz@lists.linuxnut.co.nz">mythtvnz@lists.linuxnut.co.nz</a> <a href="http://lists.ourshack.com/mailman/listinfo/mythtvnz">http://lists.ourshack.com/mailman/listinfo/mythtvnz
</a> Archives <a href="http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/mythtvnz/">http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/mythtvnz/</a> </blockquote></div>

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