Troubleshooting Sage's graph building

[jerryt]

A number of people have been having problems where video does not play correctly.

I have recommended that they enable Debugging logging and read the txt file which is created to determine which codec filters, Sage is using to build the playback graph.

This discussion started on a different forum and I am opening it here so people on this forum can offer suggestions...

Madas wrote;

"I'm in Codec hell here, I had h264 channels feeding from dvbdream without a problem to sage for a while, now I get this in the sage debug log

Fri 8/8 8:56:20.093 Seeker waiting for 3 mins. 
Fri 8/8 8:56:20.382 DShowPlayer setVideoDecoderFilter0(SageTV MPEG Video Decoder) called 
Fri 8/8 8:56:20.383 Using DXVA Enabled SageTV MPEG-2 Video Decoder 
Fri 8/8 8:56:20.461 WIN32 FAILURE HR=0x80004005 FILE=.\PlaybackGraph.cpp LINE=100 
Fri 8/8 8:56:20.461 VideoDecoder DXVA enabled 1 
Fri 8/8 8:56:20.462 VideoDecoder Postprocess 0 
Fri 8/8 8:56:20.462 VideoDecoder ShowErrorFrames 1 
Fri 8/8 8:56:20.462 VideoDecoder EMC_Deinterlace 4 
Fri 8/8 8:56:20.462 WIN32 FAILURE HR=0x80004005 FILE=.\PlaybackGraph.cpp LINE=141 
Fri 8/8 8:56:20.462 DShowPlayer setAudioDecoderFilter0(SageTV MPEG Audio Decoder) called 
Fri 8/8 8:56:20.462 Could not add specified audio decoder filter to graph hr=0x80040154 
Fri 8/8 8:56:20.462 DShowPlayer setTimeshift=1 buffer=0 
Fri 8/8 8:56:20.497 NATIVE Loading the source file 
Fri 8/8 8:56:20.498 NATIVE Setting up the MPEG demux 
Fri 8/8 8:56:21.054 EventThread-SAGETV_PROCESS_LOCAL_UI Hang Detected - hang time = 750 
Fri 8/8 8:56:21.553 Loading RawImage of size 26x26 for images/tvicon_anim1.png 
Fri 8/8 8:56:21.554 Loading 26x26 image from file C:\Users\SNAPST~1\AppData\Local\Temp\stv34535.img 
Fri 8/8 8:56:21.629 Creating DirectX9 Texture from nio buffer w=26 h=26 
Fri 8/8 8:56:21.736 Loading RawImage of size 26x26 for images/tvicon_anim2.png 
Fri 8/8 8:56:21.737 Loading 26x26 image from file C:\Users\SNAPST~1\AppData\Local\Temp\stv34536.img 
Fri 8/8 8:56:21.745 Creating DirectX9 Texture from nio buffer w=26 h=26 
Fri 8/8 8:56:21.804 EventThread-SAGETV_PROCESS_LOCAL_UI Hang Detected - hang time = 1500 
Fri 8/8 8:56:21.853 Loading RawImage of size 26x26 for images/tvicon_anim3.png

Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?"



Hellsington wrote;

"the problem presists. The channel freezes up and comes back after a few seconds or I have to change the channel (although maybe its in my mind but it seems the problem is less frequent now after applying those tweaks)

Fri 8/8 14:45:01.754 DShowPlayer setVideoRendererFilter0({51B4ABF3-748F-4E3B-A276-C828330E926A}) called 
Fri 8/8 14:45:01.771 Setting up VMR9 deinterlacing 
Fri 8/8 14:45:01.772 Curr Mix Prefs=0x1015 
Fri 8/8 14:45:01.772 Set to 0x2015, hr=0x0, New Mix Prefs=0x2015 
Fri 8/8 14:45:01.772 DShowPlayer setVideoDecoderFilter0(ffdshow Video Decoder) called 
Fri 8/8 14:45:01.890 DShowPlayer setAudioDecoderFilter0(AC3Filter) called 
Fri 8/8 14:45:01.956 DShowPlayer setTimeshift=1 buffer=0 
Fri 8/8 14:45:01.977 NATIVE Loading the source file 
Fri 8/8 14:45:01.977 NATIVE Setting up the MPEG demux 
Fri 8/8 14:45:01.982 NATIVE RenderAudio called stream=1 
Fri 8/8 14:45:01.982 NATIVE RenderAudio step 1 
Fri 8/8 14:45:01.982 NATIVE RenderAudio step 2 
Fri 8/8 14:45:01.983 NATIVE RenderAudio step 3 
Fri 8/8 14:45:01.983 NATIVE RenderAudio step 4 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.099 NATIVE RenderVideo called 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.099 NATIVE RenderVideo step 1 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.152 NATIVE RenderVideo step 2 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.152 Video source pin information: 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.152 PIN is not connected yet!Fri 8/8 14:45:02.152 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_YUY2 F type FORMAT_VideoInfo2 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.152 Progressive video 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.152 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_YUY2 F type FORMAT_VideoInfo 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.152 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_UYVY F type FORMAT_VideoInfo2 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.152 Progressive video 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.152 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_UYVY F type FORMAT_VideoInfo 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.152 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_YVYU F type FORMAT_VideoInfo2 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.152 Progressive video 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.153 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_YVYU F type FORMAT_VideoInfo 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.153 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_YV12 F type FORMAT_VideoInfo2 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.153 Progressive video 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.153 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_YV12 F type FORMAT_VideoInfo 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.153 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_RGB32 F type FORMAT_VideoInfo2 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.153 Progressive video 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.153 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_RGB32 F type FORMAT_VideoInfo 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.153 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_RGB24 F type FORMAT_VideoInfo2 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.153 Progressive video 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.153 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_RGB24 F type FORMAT_VideoInfo 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.153 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_RGB565 F type FORMAT_VideoInfo2 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.154 Progressive video 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.154 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_RGB565 F type FORMAT_VideoInfo 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.154 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_RGB555 F type FORMAT_VideoInfo2 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.154 Progressive video 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.154 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_RGB555 F type FORMAT_VideoInfo 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.154 NATIVE RenderVideo step 3 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.264 VMR9 alloc 1920x1080 Offscreen DefaultPool format=YUY2 minBuffs=1 arx=16 ary=9 nativeWidth=1920 nativeHeight=1080 reqNumBuff=1 allocNumBuff=1 hr=0x0 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.264 Setting up VMR9 deinterlacing 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.264 VM9Deinterlacing Tech: PixelAdaptive 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.264 VM9Deinterlacing Tech: BOBVerticalStretch 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.264 Actual deinterlace: hr=0x0 guid={00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.264 deinterlace mode: hr=0x1 guid={00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.264 Setting deinterlace mode to actual mode... 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.265 deinterlace mode: hr=0x1 guid={00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.265 Filter Graph Video Renderer Info: 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.265 Video Renderer:CLSID_VideoMixingRenderer9 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.265 M type MEDIATYPE_Video S type MEDIASUBTYPE_YUY2 F type FORMAT_VideoInfo2 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.265 Progressive video 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.265 DShowGraphFilters=Default DirectSound Device,VidRend,Video Decoder,Audio Decoder,SageTV MPEG2 Demultiplexer,C:\Documents and Settings\Stuff\My Documents\My Videos\SageTV\MustHaiDekhna-212537-0.mpg, 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.266 VideoFrame.timeSelected2(Fri 8/8 14:44:59.201, true) currFile=MediaFile[id=367499 A[212537,212115,"Must Hai Dekhna",36126@0808.14:30,30] host=htpc encodedBy=DVBDream DVB-S Plugin Card 1 on localhost:6969 ARYDI format=MPEG2-PS 0:00:00 0 kbps [#0 Video[MPEG2-Video 29.97003 fps 544x480 4:3 interlaced]#1 Audio[MP2 48000 Hz 2 channels 320 kbps MAIN idx=1 id=c0]] C:\Documents and Settings\Stuff\My Documents\My Videos\SageTV\MustHaiDekhna-212537-0.mpg, Seg0[Fri 8/8 14:44:59.201-Wed 12/31 16:00:00.000]] realDur=0 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.266 About to perform media time selection for 0 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.266 Running the playback graph. 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.267 VF.submitJob(VFJob[DirectControl r=0.0 t=0 file=null ifn=null]) 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.277 VF processing job VFJob[Play r=0.0 t=0 file=null ifn=null] nPlayin=true 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.277 VF processing on UI Thread VFJob[Play r=0.0 t=0 file=null ifn=null] 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.278 VF processing job VFJob[TimeSet r=0.0 t=1218231899309 file=null ifn=null] nPlayin=true 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.279 VF processing on UI Thread VFJob[TimeSet r=0.0 t=1218231899309 file=null ifn=null] 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.279 VF processing job VFJob[DirectControl r=0.0 t=0 file=null ifn=null] nPlayin=true 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.279 CEPoolSize=2 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.279 VF processing on UI Thread VFJob[DirectControl r=0.0 t=0 file=null ifn=null] 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.280 DShowMediaPlayer is consuming the events... 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.280 Event: 0xd l1=0x0 l2=0x0 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.280 VF processing job null nPlayin=true 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.281 isRec=true rd=3080 base=0 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.281 VF thread is now waiting for 0:15:00.549 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.338 Loading RawImage of size 8x8 for C:\Program Files\SageTV\SageTV\STVs\SageTV3\OSDStatusPlay.png 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.338 Loading 0x0 image from file C:\Program Files\SageTV\SageTV\STVs\SageTV3\OSDStatusPlay.png 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.338 Creating DirectX9 Texture from nio buffer w=8 h=8 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.339 Loading RawImage of size 30x26 for C:\Program Files\SageTV\SageTV\STVs\SageTV3\OSDPause.png 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.339 Loading 0x0 image from file C:\Program Files\SageTV\SageTV\STVs\SageTV3\OSDPause.png 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.339 Creating DirectX9 Texture from nio buffer w=30 h=26 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.441 VF.submitJob(VFJob[DirectControl r=0.0 t=0 file=null ifn=null]) 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.441 VF processing job VFJob[DirectControl r=0.0 t=0 file=null ifn=null] nPlayin=true 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.441 VF processing on UI Thread VFJob[DirectControl r=0.0 t=0 file=null ifn=null] 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.441 DShowMediaPlayer is consuming the events... 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.441 Event: 0xe l1=0x0 l2=0x0 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.442 VF processing job null nPlayin=true 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.442 isRec=true rd=3241 base=0 
Fri 8/8 14:45:02.442 VF thread is now waiting for 0:15:00.549 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.192 Switching back to non-FSE window due to focus loss... 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.244 Loading new font to cache font=MetaFont[Arial, size=16, style=1, height=18.398438, ascent=14.746094, descent=3.1289062, leading=0.5234375] 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.317 Loaded font cache info for MetaFont[Arial, size=16, style=1, height=18.398438, ascent=14.746094, descent=3.1289062, leading=0.5234375] numGlyphs=1674 maxGlyph=234 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.319 Rendered new font to cache index=0 font=java.awt.Font[family=Arial,name=Arial,style=bold,size=16] 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.319 Creating DirectX9 Texture from nio buffer w=128 h=128 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.320 Loading new font to cache font=MetaFont[Arial, size=18, style=1, height=20.698242, ascent=16.589355, descent=3.5200195, leading=0.5888672] 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.379 Loaded font cache info for MetaFont[Arial, size=18, style=1, height=20.698242, ascent=16.589355, descent=3.5200195, leading=0.5888672] numGlyphs=1674 maxGlyph=234 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.382 Rendered new font to cache index=0 font=java.awt.Font[family=Arial,name=Arial,style=bold,size=18] 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.382 Creating DirectX9 Texture from nio buffer w=128 h=128 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.384 Rendered new font to cache index=1 font=java.awt.Font[family=Arial,name=Arial,style=bold,size=18] 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.385 Creating DirectX9 Texture from nio buffer w=128 h=128 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.473 Disabling full screen exclusive mode 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.474 Preparing the media player for a reload... 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.474 VF.submitJob(VFJob[ReloadPrepareMF r=0.0 t=0 file=null ifn=null]) 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.474 VF processing job VFJob[ReloadPrepareMF r=0.0 t=0 file=null ifn=null] nPlayin=true 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.493 SetFullScreen(true) 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.497 FullScreen set to true 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.516 VF processing on UI Thread VFJob[ReloadPrepareMF r=0.0 t=0 file=null ifn=null] 
Fri 8/8 14:45:06.517 Stopping the playback graph. "

@Madas, Sage is trying to render your file with Sage MPEG video decoder, and you stated that this was a H.264 file. I understand you are using the DD network encoder, so there must be a seting in the network encoder which is converting the file to MPEG. I would suggest two things 1) download a H.264 file and verify Sage call the correct video decoder & 2) verify your setting in the network encoder.

@Hellsington, I would suggest a different codec for 1920 X 1080 videos, WinDVD 9's intervideo codec work excellent in my opinion. Also you stated that the video would freeze but that does not show in the graph above. Is the recording drive formated with 64K blocks? 64K blocks is a must for lowering the number of reads (and writes) the hard drive has to make. Using a recording directory with 64K blocks is the first step to smooth playback.

[madas]

Jerryt,

I can play a H264 file no problem from Sage. I only have a problem when using DVBDream stream.

In the Network encoder .ini file (I assume this is what you are referring to?) I have

[General]

; Set this to the port where SageTV will communicate with the network encoder. Normally this is 6969,
; but if you use multiple network encoders, you must choose a unique port for each one.
ListenPort=6969

; The larger the number, the more detailed the information that is written to the "SagePlugin.log"
; file. Leave this set to "2", unless instructed otherwise to diagnose a problem.
LogLevel=1

; When set to "External", SageTV uses the normal recording mechanism in DVBDream to make recordings
; (i.e. the plugin just sets the recording location and turns on recording mode). When set to "Internal",
; the plugin uses PID filters to extract the data stream and write it to a file itself. You must use
; "Internal" mode to capture H.264 channels.
CaptureMethod=Internal


[InternalCapture]

; The following settings apply only to the "Internal" capture method.

; When set to "True", the recording format is an mpg program stream. When set to "False", the recording
; format is a ts file. This setting does not affect H.264 recordings, which are always in ts format.
ConvertMpg=True

; This setting applies only when "ConvertMpg=True". When set to "1" (the default) the "new" mpg conversion
; routines (with increased Media Extendeder compatibility) are used. When set to "0", the original
; HDTVtoMPEG2 routines are used.
MpgConversionMode=1

GeneratePAT=False
GeneratePMT=False

Any ideas what I need to change?

Thanks

M

[jerryt]

Originally Posted by madas

I can play a H264 file no problem from Sage.

Yes, but is Sage using it's own MPEG4 codec? Because if so it won't work, you need to be getting playback with Cyberlink, Arcsoft or CoreAVC.

Originally Posted by madas

I only have a problem when using DVBDream stream.

Live TV or recordings? Please let's troubleshoot recordings first.

Originally Posted by madas

ConvertMpg=True

I have ConvertMpg=False

Originally Posted by madas

GeneratePAT=False
GeneratePMT=False

I am running SageDDmodule 2.1 and I don't see these settings?

[hellsingfan]

Hey, the problem is with all channels, not specific to sd or HD, for HD I use CoreAVC currently although I will try different ones as well.

The log doesn't show the "freezing" because that log was basically when I opened SageTV, played a channel, and quit. I thought you just wanted to see how the graph was built but I will post another log when the channel freezes.

[madas]

ConvertMpg=False

did the trick. I guess i was thrown off by this in the .ini file

""
; When set to "True", the recording format is an mpg program stream. When set to "False", the recording
; format is a ts file. This setting does not affect H.264 recordings, which are always in ts format.
""

Bug?

Thanks for your help!

M

[jerryt]

Originally Posted by madas

ConvertMpg=False

did the trick. I guess i was thrown off by this in the .ini file

""
; When set to "True", the recording format is an mpg program stream. When set to "False", the recording
; format is a ts file. This setting does not affect H.264 recordings, which are always in ts format.
""

Bug?

Thanks for your help!

M

Maybe you need to let Mfury know.

[hellsingfan]

Sorry for such a late reply, I was having other problems, and quite busy with some other stuff. Here is the Log where freezing occured, its uploaded because its too long for the forum.

h**p://www.uploadfiles.in/freeupload/download.php?file=879sagetvclient_0.txt

[jerryt]

Originally Posted by hellsingfan

Sorry for such a late reply, I was having other problems, and quite busy with some other stuff. Here is the Log where freezing occured, its uploaded because its too long for the forum.

h**p://www.uploadfiles.in/freeupload/download.php?file=879sagetvclient_0.txt

Searched the txt file for "DShowGraphFilters" and found two graphs

1) Thu 8/28 9:39:33.283 DShowGraphFilters=Default DirectSound Device,VidRend,Line21 Decoder,Video PP,Audio Decoder,SageTV MPEG-2 Video Decoder,SageTV MPEG2 Demultiplexer,C:\Users\HTPC\Videos\SageTV\UrduNews-41941-0.mpg,

2) Thu 8/28 10:27:16.423 DShowGraphFilters=Default DirectSound Device,VidRend,Line21 Decoder,Video PP,Audio Decoder,SageTV MPEG-2 Video Decoder,SageTV MPEG2 Demultiplexer,C:\Users\HTPC\Videos\SageTV\SolhahSingaarr-42817-0.mpg,

Now build those graphs in Graphedit and see if they play.

What is Video PP?
Why Line 21 decoder?
Why mpg? doesn't DVBdream encoder put out TS

Many many errors in the log file, waiting to load "Themed Images", waiting to load this and that. I would wipe Sage and reload.

You need to Google the "Win32 failure" in the log, maybe a corupted Quartz.dll file or something which requires a fresh window installation.

Sorry not much help, too many errors.

Do you have Vista "User Account Control" turned off? and before installing Sage?

I would recommend a different record path "C:\Users\HTPC\Videos\SageTV\" is the OP system drive. Try another drive formated to 64K blocks.

[hellsingfan]

I don't know what Video PP is, and don't know why there is Line 21 decoder, and I don't know why mpg because convertmpg is set to false so it should be ts.

When I looked at recorded files in graphedit, I don't see any Video PP, Line 21 or anything like that.

Can't find anything about win32.

I had User Account Control ON and installed SageTV, then I turned it OFF, since then I have installed and reinstalled SageTV maybe 2 times after turning OFF UAC.

[jerryt]

Toggle Mfury's "Convertmpg" to true as see what it does.

I saw a lot of errors, and was wondering if you have a "Permissions" problem with the recorded files. Where Sage is not getting permission to access the file.

Use Direct Show Filter Manager and look for "Video PP" as a registered filter, then write down it's location and unregister.

Line 21 decoder should only be there if you enabled Closed Caption playback in Sageproperties.

Change that recording directory.

Try Cyberlink, Intervideo, and Nvidia codecs.

Do other players work properly? Mytheatre is a good player.

Describe again in detail the freezing? Doesn't show in the graphs?

Try HDtach to verify that you read / write speeds are OK.

[hellsingfan]

I will try the toggle and your other suggestions. The freezing is not like it plays and freezes then plays and freezes. Its more like the picture is stuck (I think sage loses contact with dd plugin) then changing the channel fixes it.

BUT the reason why I think the problem is actually losing contact with the network encoder is because ALOT of times when I start SageTV it say "no encoder". Give you an example. I just uninstalled SageTV completely, then reinstalled and enabled service mode. It COULDN'T find the DD Plugin. So I uninstalled this time I DIDN't enable service mode and NOW it sees the encoder. BUT after a while of use (its random) Sage becomes completely NON-responsive (usually DURING channel change), and only choice I have is to end process, and then when I open SageTV it will take a LONG time initializing and when I play LiveTV it says NO ENCODER (when I check the source setup DD is there as a source). And no matter how many times I close and open Sage it ALWAYS says NO ENCODER. ONLY fix is to log off or restart the computer, after which it works again.

So once Sage becomes stuck (NOT just the picture) then after closing and opening Sage it is ALWAYS no encoder, and I have to restart (or log off) for it to work again.

And this has nothing to do with permission in my eyes because the same problem existed in XP and XP doesn't have UAC. What puzzles me is the .mpg thing so I'll try the toggle. BTW now I'm using the MPV Decoder Fitler (gabest).

[hellsingfan]

BTW in your opening post of this thread. The log of Madas (who's problem is solved) ALSO has WIN32 failure and from what I have read only change he made was from TRUE to FALSE (I'm already on false (which gives me mpg so I'll try true)

[jerryt]

Are there more then one program trying to use 6969 as a port? Is the DD Plugin on the local computer? If so are you specifying "Localhost" or 127.0.0.1? Are those ports open in the computers firewall? Do you have any additional firewall software installed like Zone alarms?

Make sure that the network encoder entries in sageproperty and the sageplugin.ini entries for 127.0.0.1 and port 6969 are in agreement. Verify that no other program is using 6969 (EPG?) in the systems firewall.

[hellsingfan]

Okay I tried the "TRUE" for "convertmpg" and it still becomes stuck. As for your other questions:

EPG is set to use port 6979 (I think this is default)
What do you mean by "local computer" as far as I can tell it is using the IP address you mentioned.

As for the programs well they are let to be permitted by Windows Firewall there is no specific port specified for any of the programs. So they can basically use ANY port. If port is the issue then I can change the default 6969 to something else.

Dvbdream wasn't on the list, and rightly so as it doesn't use internet, so I added Dvbdream to the permitted list on Windows Firewall but no improvement.

I will make sure again by looking over both sageproperties and sageplugin if I notice anything but this time I looked there was nothing, if I don't see any problems I'll post the both for you to see.

I've switched back to SageTV MPEG Decoder (it has better quality), I don't know why but this decoder is giving me the best quality, I'm a bit surprised.

[jerryt]

As far as freezing, I would try to get past the "No Encoder issue" which I believe would be connected to the freezing.

[hellsingfan]

Originally Posted by jerryt

As far as freezing, I would try to get past the "No Encoder issue" which I believe would be connected to the freezing.

Exactly what I thought as well. But I just don't know what the heck is causing this. Why me!!! lol. I am going to ask in the Network Encoder thread perhaps mfury can help, its possible that the encoder isn't working well with my setup.

[hellsingfan]

BTW Jerryt what is the benefit of 64K cluster disk? And How can I check if my drive is formatted that way, and what tools can I use to do this?

Thanks for the help so far

[jerryt]

Originally Posted by hellsingfan

BTW Jerryt what is the benefit of 64K cluster disk? And How can I check if my drive is formatted that way, and what tools can I use to do this?

Thanks for the help so far

When you format a hard drive Windows will normally use 4K blocks. 64K blocks reduce the number of read writes to the disk. 16 times more information can be read with 64K blocks instead of 4K.

When you select to format, you choose the 64K instead of 4K.

[hellsingfan]

So that should in essence speed things up? But you can't format the drive the Windows is on correct? Because during installation Windows formats the drive, and so it would do 4K. But I'll format my other drive to 64K, but I'm just curious can you have Windows installed on 64K?

[jerryt]

I believe you could format the OP system disk to 64K, but in addition to using 64K blocks, you will also want to use a non OP system disk for a number of reasons.

1) System restore interfers with recording (Live TV is a recording).
2) Recordings increase the size and are not part of what should be backed up by drive image software.
3) OP system read / writes would disrupt recordings.