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[djloewen]

Unfortunately that is not related to this problem. I emailed tech support (again), and they have simply said that they cannot duplicate the problem in the labs. I am going to start a new post, to try to find out how widespread this problem actually is.

[sofla]

Yeah, I tried that too. It did not help. Sometimes a video gets to the "Finished" screen within a couple of minutes. Definitely not related to disk spindown in my case.

[ECF]

You state that DVR-ms files playback fine with no issues so you power management setting would not be the issue. It looks to be in the file recoding. Did you create these files yourself? If so what software was used and what settings? Also have you tried mpeg or mpeg2 videos at all. Do you have any issues with playback?

[sofla]

I just want to emphasize that when I refer to DVR-MS playback, I mean Live TV and Recorded TV menu options.

When I talk about Videos going to Finished mode prematurely, I mean Video Library functionality. I have not tried playing DVR-MS files from the Video Library menu option.

Was that your understanding as well?

[ECF]

I was referring to video file types when you watch a video. Also have you tried this in Media lounge mode using Windows media player 11 as your media server as well as an Media Center Extender mode?

[sofla]

I was referring to video file types when you watch a video. Also have you tried this in Media lounge mode using Windows media player 11 as your media server as well as an Media Center Extender mode?

I have not tried playing bare DVR-MS files outside of Recorded TV. I have always gone through the Recorded TV menu for that.

I have tried playing Videos in MediaLounge mode using WMP11 and got nowhere. I don't even get a directory listing. Occasionally, I do get a directory listing of my videos, but most of the time I only get a "This diectory cannot be accessed" error on the DSM-750.

[ECF]

Hmm There is definitely something wrong with the device being able to access your PC properly through your network configuration. Do you have the option to test it without using the wireless option of the DSM-750? 

[sofla]

Hmm There is definitely something wrong with the device being able to access your PC properly through your network configuration. Do you have the option to test it without using the wireless option of the DSM-750? 

I don't have a network cable long enough. If I move the DSM-750 near the router, there is no TV there to display the DSM-750's output.

[djloewen]

Okay, ECF, the problem has nothing to do with the codec.

The longest .mpg or .wmv I could find was about 40 minutes. I played a 40 minute .mpg (1000kbps) through three times with no problems. Now, you can imagine at this point how sick I am of just playing back videos waiting for one to quit. So I brought out the big guns. I ripped a Superbit DVD (Hook) to my hard drive as a single .VOB file, and renamed it to .MPG. So that's a MPEG-2 video codec, Dolby Digital 5.1, a nice high bitrate, 2 hours 22 minutes. It lasted about 15 minutes before "finishing". No skips, no stutters, no pauses, just perfect playback, and then it quits.

So to summarize:
-it has notihng to do with UPnP servers.
-it has nothing to do with wireless connections.
-it has nothing to do with video codecs.
-it is not limited to my device.
-it is more common on slower wireless connections, or with more wireless "hops".
-it is more common with higher bitrate videos.
-to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever seen this device skip/pause/rebuffer.

To me, it is glaringly obvious that this problem occurs when the device isn't getting the stream fast enough. At this point, I would think that DLink could fix the problem even if they can't replicate it, because it has been quite pinpointed. PLEASE, PLEASE FIX THIS SOON. And please, stop making me test things. Just do something about it.

PS some tips if you insist on trying to duplicate:
-try video with a very high bitrate
-maybe try forcing your wireless router to a slower connection speed, so that it couldn't possibly keep up with the video stream. If you can get it to pause/rebuffer without cutting to the "Finished" screen, I'll eat my router.

I am in an apartment in the heart of a major city, and the wireless channels are very crowded, so I don't have to go to so much trouble do "duplicate" it myself.

[ECF]

PS some tips if you insist on trying to duplicate:
-try video with a very high bitrate
-maybe try forcing your wireless router to a slower connection speed, so that it couldn't possibly keep up with the video stream. If you can get it to pause/rebuffer without cutting to the "Finished" screen, I'll eat my router.

I am in an apartment in the heart of a major city, and the wireless channels are very crowded, so I don't have to go to so much trouble do "duplicate" it myself.

Well you have to look at the bitrate being too high and using wireless is not a good combo you may have an unreliable wireless environment or just not have the bandwidth if it is a high bitrate video and if you connecting at 802.11g you may see issues. Also there is no way for us to fix a problem if we cannot replicate it

Keep in mind Mpeg-2 is supported up to 8Mbps as stated in the manual.

[sofla]

Well you have to look at the bitrate being too high and using wireless is not a good combo you may have an unreliable wireless environment or just not have the bandwidth if it is a high bitrate video and if you connecting at 802.11g you may see issues. Also there is no way for us to fix a problem if we cannot replicate it

Keep in mind Mpeg-2 is supported up to 8Mbps as stated in the manual.

Didn't djloewen state it was NOT related to wireless. I think he tested enough times using a wired Ethernet connection. At this point you have to admit that it is convenient for you to blame everything on wireless even if it is not the case. Every other response from you to every question/issue is "Have you tried wired/wireless"? You just refuse to do ANYTHING about ANY problems users report.

I have a wireless setup. I have NEVER had issues with streaming Recorded or Live TV from a wireLESS Media Center to a wireLESS DSM-750. Never-ever. That's two wireless hops: 1) from the Media Center PC to the router: 2) from the router to DSM-750. I can even do that same Recorded TV stream to DSM-750 while watching a Video off a wired server on the same wireLESS Media Center PC. So, that's an additional wireless hop streaming in the other direction.

So, how do I have a wireless issue when DSM can't display a single non DVR-MS video without ending prematurely but works perfectly with DVR-MS files?

[djloewen]

ECF, we seem to be going around in circles here. I obviously agree that high bitrate + poor wireless = "issues". If "issues" meant that the device pauses and rebuffers, that would be fine. But "issues" means that it quits to the Finished screen. THAT is the problem.

Now, since you have pointed out that high bitrate + poor wireless = "issues", you now have the magic formula for replicating the issue. Please find yourself a high bitrate video, set your router on low-speed settings, and wait for the "issue" to occur. Then please change how the DSM-750 handles that "issue".


PS As I stated, my test involved a DVD rip. DVD specs don't allow for more than 8Mbps either, so it was obviously within that.

[ECF]

djloewen

Did you ever report back if your sister was having this same issue you mentions you were going to find out? Also What software is used to create these files and what settings are used in recoding?

[djloewen]

As I mentioned before, my sister doesn't watch videos from the video library. She only uses the device for live and recorded TV.

Regarding the file types: My video library has all been encoded by myself. I can be as specific as you want, but it's beside the point because this problem is not specific to any container or codec. Since you're asking anyway: I encode videos through AVIsynth and VirtualDub using the DivX or XviD codecs, at 1000kbps, into an AVI container. BUT, as my previous posts stated, the problem also occured with an MPEG-2 codec in a .mpg container, pulled straight off of a DVD (not recoded at all).

[djloewen]

ECF, in reply to your private message, I uploaded a sample video to sendbigfile.net. I have not heard from you in some time, and I see that the file has not yet been downloaded. Did you receive the link?