Playback Freezes

[hometheaterfan]

But if I am using an extender, then the extender decodes the video, not the software decoder on the system. If I am getting freezes on recordings made in Windows XP, then the video card driver wouldn't be an issue. The network driver could be a factor. I will need to look into this one. I can check to see that I have the latest driver or if there are any known issues with the driver.

QUOTE=panteragstk;517366]Because it could be a decoder issue, network driver (if it is a client or extender) video card driver. When you switch to a new os, you usually switch driver versions. Sometimes that is not a good thing.[/QUOTE]

[jgourd]

For me I think it might be an underlying file system or USB issue. Stuff I record myself almost never freezes. Stuff I have stored on my Gen1 Drobo RAID will always freeze and stutter even when viewing as a share to my BluRay player.

[kamp]

The problem started happening again on Sunday as I was watching some football. It didn't clear up until I reset the network bridge and router into which I have the extender connected.

Thumbnail sketch: Sage server connected directly in to the wireless N router. Wireless bridge (N) connected to a router in switch mode connected to the media extender.

Starting to consider getting some sort of auto-timer to cause the router and the wireless bridge to automatically restart every evening.

[sagetv5150]

I'm thinking this has something to do with the underlying IO subsystem. I only notice this behavior on TV recordings, and not videos that sit on my NAS. I used to have my Sage recording directory on my 120 GB SSD (where the Win7 64-bit OS sits). When it was there, I had no issues of freezing. I then decided to move the recording directory to a 2 TB WD Black drive since the beginning of season shows began to fill the SSD. It was then that I began to notice this freezing (freezing that can't be seen when you rewind, meaning the actual recording is fine). I have since moved my recording directory back to the SSD, and the freezing problem has disappeared.

[p4r3z]

I started seeing this problem in Oct 2011. I have noticed in Resource Monitor that the Disk Queue Length spikes with no activity during a freeze. Also, the Network activity goes to near 0 at this time. I have an HD200 and am recording to an external WD eSATA Caviar Black 1TB drive. My entire setup is about 1 year old.

For me, the following steps did nothing:

• Defragmented my harddrive
• Deleted 80% of the drive.
• Factory reset my extender
• Resetting my router
• Experimented with setting up QoS on my router
• Updated my Java version
• Increased my heap size
• Disable Comskip process
• Decrement my version of Java back to Java SE 6 Update 25 to see if the JRE regressed.
• Attempt to run with UAC turned off.

After switching the recording location to my other disk, the problem went away. Suspecting a bad HD, I reformatted the drive and that helped for about a week. I am now faced with purchasing a new harddrive to see if that permanently solves the problem.

[mangriotis]

Along these lines I am also having issues (which have become worse lately)...

My setup is WHS server, with HDPVR (USB to server), and HDHR (attached to gig switch).

My HD300 and HD200 both exhibit lockups, freezing and fast motion "catchup" when watching .mkv files on an extender. It does not occur when watching recorded tv or imported .avi (xvid) files.

I believe it only occurs (or at the very least is far worse and more frequent) when something is recording to the server via the HDPVR.

Note: The imported video folder is in the storage pool (and on WD Green drives), the recorded material is on a Samsung F3 outside of the pool. I had tons of trouble with the WD Green drives as a recording directory when I had them in the pool, and since switching to the Samsung, have had zero issues.

Things I have tried:
- Reset extender (no effect)
- Reset server (no effect)
- Reset switch (no effect)
- Changed out gb switch (no effect)
- Stopped comskip process (I thought at one time that this was the culprit, but this doesn't always make the issues go away)
- Stopped HDPVR recording (This has worked a couple times and has eliminated the problem, but again can't be sure its 100% effective)

Any ideas why this would be happening? It feels like the disk queue is getting hosed up, like an OS operation thing... but I have no evidence of that yet. I am trying to avoid buying a new hard drive with the inflated prices.

p4r3z - Did you solve your issues?

[jgourd]

I solved my issues by getting rid of the USB attached Drobo storage device. Instead I have an UnRAID box on a Gb network and it works great. I also took out the wireless bridges and ran real CAT5e Gb network cables to the rooms with Sage TV set top boxes.

All of this may be moot as there appears to be no future for SageTV and a MythTV solution might be on the horizon.

[mangriotis]

Can you elaborate or link to more information regarding this?

Originally Posted by jgourd

a MythTV solution might be on the horizon.

[jgourd]

Originally Posted by mangriotis

Can you elaborate or link to more information regarding this?

http://www.mythtv.org/

[nstocke]

Originally Posted by jgourd

http://www.mythtv.org/

Any thoughts on how you will use extenders with MythTV?

[jgourd]

I won't so I may have four to dispose of when I make the switch.

[p4r3z]

Sorry for the lack of followup. The stuttering issue came back briefly that first week following the full reformat, and has since gone away "permanently". So, yes, I resolved my issue, and I'm 90% sure that it was the formatting.

One more quick troubleshooting step: Remove the hard drive cable and power supply and then re-seat it. I'm not saying this helped me, but it's probably a good thing to rule out.

http://xkcd.com/979/

[mangriotis]

I ended up biting the bullet, and bought a new 2TB Seagate 5900RPM drive (for $110. High, yes, but justifiable). This drive is outside of the storage pool, and only hosting imported video files (and WHS backup files, manually initiated).

It's only been a week, but I have had zero freezing issues and have watched a few .mkv files since. It seems to have fixed my issues. I will post here if anything changes.

[jarredduq]

Anybody still having this issue? This has been driving me crazy for quite awhile, trying all the things in this thread. I recently moved and had to go to a wireless based system due to the layout of my new house. I thought my issues were network related.

However, I have seen other similar issues in other threads being caused by updates to java. I started downgrading starting at v6, update 31, and running a particular version for 2 days at a time.

The problem persisted until I got to v6, update 21. So far it has been 5 days and no more freezing.

Of course, your mileage may vary.... Also, this version of java is quite old and could be a security risk. I use Firefox with the no script plug-in, so I don't really have the issue with the older version of java being a security risk.

[hoosierengineer]

I have the problem only when you fast forward or rewind. Sometimes playback stops for a few seconds. Sometimes it locks up the computer and rquires a reboot. I am running a server/client configuration. Resetting the client fixes the problem. SageTV 'forgets' where I was in the playback.

I am getting a new video card tonight and see if that fixes it.

[kmp14]

Originally Posted by jarredduq

Anybody still having this issue? This has been driving me crazy for quite awhile, trying all the things in this thread. I recently moved and had to go to a wireless based system due to the layout of my new house. I thought my issues were network related.

However, I have seen other similar issues in other threads being caused by updates to java. I started downgrading starting at v6, update 31, and running a particular version for 2 days at a time.

The problem persisted until I got to v6, update 21. So far it has been 5 days and no more freezing.

Of course, your mileage may vary.... Also, this version of java is quite old and could be a security risk. I use Firefox with the no script plug-in, so I don't really have the issue with the older version of java being a security risk.

I still have this problem, about 2-3 time per week. I have just been living with it, assuming it was something with the network....THANKS for the Java tip. I will definitely give that version a try.