New MVP

[spaceghost]

I am in the process of setting up my first MVP with GBPVR. So far, I am getting mixed results - I can get it to work, but it loses connectivity especially when viewing live tv. I am using wireless 54g - singal strength is strong. I think I must have configured something incorrectly. Would some mvp - gbpvr expert please provide step by step instructions? I loaded the latest mvp software from hauppauge and disabled the hauppauge mvp gui service - leaving the hauppauge mvp media service active. This works, but I do not know if that is optimal and is causing my problem(s).

[sub]

... leaving the hauppauge mvp media service active

You need to stop both Hauppauge MVP services.

[wtg]

First, I suggest you look at the MVP section of the wiki for improving network performance with the MVP. It's not wireless specific, but still helpful.

Second, I've found the MVP to be particular susceptable to trouble with a wireless connection. I suspect it doesn't buffer much, if any, of the video and therefore even a momentary burp in the connection will stop the video cold. If you're viewing a web page it's no big deal if a link takes a couple seconds extra every now and then, but the MVP is unforgiving wirelessly.

That said, I do run one of my MVP's wirelessly, but I've made sure to configure mine to a separate channel than my neighbors, running on channel 1 while the other neighbors networks I can see run on the default channel 6. I've also replaced the firmware on my router with third party firmware that let me boost the signal, and I've banished all other 2.4 GHz devices from my home, most importantly phones. One phone I had would disconnect the network immediately when it was used to place a call. Your neighbors may very well be using a cordless phone that causes you intermittent trouble.

Like I said, with the MVP it doesn't take much because it wasn't designed for wireless use and requires a steady, consistent diet of mpg to chew on or it halts.

Good luck,
Tim

[spaceghost]

wiki up = problem solved

[spaceghost]

Ok, got the mvp working without any hauppauge services running. Also connectied via cat 5 while testing. Now, everytime I switch channels on the mvp, I lose connection with the server - is that because the server is underpowered (850 PIII +400 meg ram)? Maybe I will have to shuffle my hardware a little to get the best results. Next on the agenda..mvp screen position plugin...

This is really great stuff - well done.

[wtg]

Your probably might be related to the dongle.bin file that gets loaded on the MVPs power-up cycle. Make sure you're using the dongle.bin file that comes with gbpvr, in it's dongle directory, not the one that probably came on your installation CD and that is in the Hauppauge software directory.

This file only gets loaded with the machine gets powered on, so even if you've disabled Hauppauge's services, unless you've literally unplugged the power (not just used the green power button on the remote), the old one is still loaded. The one in gbpvr's directory is the one that's most reliable, so power off and back on to make sure it's loaded, if you've not done so already.

Tim

[spaceghost]

Have power cycled the mvp several times (by unplugged power). PC still chokes on channel changing from mvp - see cpu utilization spike at 100% - then mvp loses connectiivty. Changed windows perfomance settings to optimize for background services - will see if that has any impact.

Thanks for the advice - I am beginning to think an 850 just can't cut it...

[UncleJohnsBand]

Ok, got the mvp working without any hauppauge services running. Also connectied via cat 5 while testing. Now, everytime I switch channels on the mvp, I lose connection with the server - is that because the server is underpowered (850 PIII +400 meg ram)? Maybe I will have to shuffle my hardware a little to get the best results. Next on the agenda..mvp screen position plugin...

This is really great stuff - well done.

This could be....when you are watching live TV via the MVP GBPVR converts the TV Feed into a streaming MPG file that the MVP reads. Your GBPVR server will be converting the live feed into an mpg file, writing to disk and steaming the feed....this can be a little intensive on the CPU.

Try going into the config app and select the playback tab. Set the MVP Live-TV pre-play delay to 2000 (which is the max). This is a buffer amount that will be held on the server....so when you switch channels the server will still have a few seconds of your previous channel to stream while it builds the next stream for you.