Stuttering playback problem over gigabit wired network

[Telecore]

I've had SageTV 7.1/SageDCT 2.2 working well for a long time with two HDHR Primes and two HDHR's (ATSC), four HD-300s running off of a headless server (Asus M5A88-M, Athlon II X2 270 (65W), 8g RAM) and a wired gigabit network with two Netgear GS116 switches. The server is running Windows 7 x64 SP1 with SageTV starting as a service. Running Microsoft Security Essentials, Acronis TrueImage Home 2012, but otherwise no other software except SageTV. HDHR's running latest released firmware.

Recently, I've been experiencing stuttering during playback of live tv, recorded tv and MKV files. The stuttering doesn't last too long, and I can rewind and re-play the stuttered section fine, but it is happening more often than I like. When it happens the video slows way down, then audio turns off, then video plays back too fast until normal speed resumes, then audio comes back. It seems like a packet jitter buffer type of problem.

I think that in the past, power cycling the Netgear switches and/or the HDHRs and/or extenders helped, but obviously since MKV files and recorded TV are effected, it appears to be some kind of network problem.

Any suggestions or ideas for streamlining operation to eliminate the network stutter?

(I have Microsoft Security Essentials bypass scanning of the SageTV, SageDCT, and HDHR services, and all latest drivers and BIOS. I am running Comskip donator's version, but it doesn't run while recording or watching shows. Packet traffic typically has to go through both Netgear switches to get from server to extenders. Again, everything ran perfect for many months).

[panteragstk]

Some times when this happens it will be a network driver issue. I've seen a lot of the same posts before and you'd be surprised how many times that fixes the problem.

[MattHelm]

I've also lost routers that cause SageTV to behave that way.

[hemicuda]

I have a router with 4 ports tied to an 8 port switch which then runs to another 8 port switch and a 300. No issues that aren't in the original file.

[Rob]

I was having trouble at one of my three TV locations. Someone suggested putting a gig switch behind the HD300 at that location. I got the 5 port netgear (GS105 I think). Don't know why, but it works great.

[Telecore]

Yesterday I found a newer version of the Realtek GBe driver on their website. I installed it but it didn't help. I also reconfigured the network such that the packet traffic was only going through a single GS116 switch and that didn't help. I've ordered an Intel PCIe GBe NIC card and will try that next.

I have a Windows Media Center Server, (same Realtek GBe built in NIC on the motherboard), with a Ceton InfiniTV card and have no issues streaming video to an xbox 360.

[peternm22]

Check your network adapter settings for a setting called "Flow Control". If it's disabled, enabled it. If it's enabled, disable it. See if that helps at all.

A while back I installed a new driver for my NIC and I had a bunch of sluggishness and switching that setting fixed my problem (from what I've read, the setting can help or hinder your network speed depending on the situation, particular on mixed 10/100 & gigabit networks).

If that doesn't help, here are instructions on how to do a network speed test with the HD300: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...02&postcount=8

[Telecore]

Disabled flow control and it may have fixed things - thanks for the idea. Will need to watch more TV to confirm.

[Chriscic]

Possible you have a bad recording drive?

[Telecore]

Well, flow control made things much better but still got the occasional halt in recordings. Now trying Intel NIC card. Will look at hard drive if I still get errors but hopefully Intel NIC will fix it.

[rgroves]

Try different ports on the switch, or a different switch. It might be going bad.

Have you cleared out the Temp files\folders on the SageTV server? Try "TempFileCleaner by OldMan".

[ranger]

If you haven't already, don't forget to swap out LAN cables.

[Telecore]

Still getting halts when recording multiple shows at the same time with the Intel NIC. I found this article regarding networking and the HDHR/HDHR Prime.

http://www.silicondust.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5877

Trying to increase RX buffers next.

This is one area where the Ceton InfiniTV seems advantageous since it sits inside the box.

[Telecore]

Problem solved - I think. Final solution - install Intel NIC card (gigabit CT model), change Rx Buffers from default of 256 to max. allowed of 2048.

That seems to do it. Will continue to test.