MediaMVP Troubleshooting...

[jc8472]

Where to find MediaMvp Server? I recieved my unit yesterday and it refuses to connect to my sis 900 onboard lan device through a crossover cable connection. It also stops at the "Loading Application".

I implore you to assist me please.

[sub]

Install the Hauppauge software and check it works with that first.

[jc8472]

Thanks for the quick response.

I installed the hauppauge software and it never progressed beyond the

loading application screen. I disable all firewalls, tweaked the blazes out of

the onbaord lan, and used a crossover cable for two days. I even drove to

CHICAGO to buy another scarce unit from radio shack and the problem

persists perpetually. I even check my machine services for the dhcp client

thingamajig. Every thing it tried to connect an error message pops up stating

that the network connect is slow or not active. I tried repairing the ip

address thingy but it wont start properly. I'm about to lose my sanity over

this thing.

[lajams]

You haven't hard-set the interface speeds, have you? Should be auto on the PC end. I have a managed switch and did that once for the MVP....it refused to connect at anything other than 100/half. I finally just set the port to auto and it picks up fine every time. You can always pick the MVPs out on my switch's web-view...they all come in at 100/half.

LA.

[jc8472]

Sub and lajams,

Thanks for your assistance. I reinstalled my sp2 os and, as a result, the MVP works. I also had to set a static ip address. Yaaaayy it's operable!!!!

Also, GBpvr works like a charm especially with the extras all wrapped in one package so neatly. I can timeshift television from my living room ,.........EXCELLENT! The changeable skins,..........Splendid!!!!! The aesthetically pleasing interface.............QUALITY!!

This program exponentially kicks butt.

Now only if I can cut out the required hauppauge dhcp server bullcr** so that I can boot directly into GBpvr.:confused:

[bluesxman]

No hauppauge software is required, but you DO need a DHCP server somewhere on your network, be it a router, Windows ICS or any other form.

[jc8472]

Thanks for the advice. I tried DHCP turbo but to no avail so until my software dilemma becomes solved, I will do the "switcharoo method" to boot gbpvr onto the MediaMVP.

[SFX Group]

I havnt read all of this thread BUT i have just got an MVP and i am a network engineer. These MVP (i have a UK one) are not built as they should be so dont work as network topology say they should.

Heres what i know (do not read between the lines, this is where it goes wrong).

1.MVP turns on.

2.Looks for DHCP or BOOTP.
NOTE: Unable to determine which and it MIGHT not be either standard protocols. It keeps requesting an IP but never confirms it gets it so sometimes the server then denies it... This will be a problem for "some" hardware boxes that are not full DHCP servers (and most arnt). This would indicate its more BOOTP than DHCP though, BOOTP doesnt have all the overhead of DHCP as regards assigning.....

3. Gets IP address, it needs IP and SUBNET nothing else.
NOTE: According to BOOTP standards there should be a way to tell it what server AND what file to pickup, the MVP doesnt seem to take note of either which is a pain as it will ALWAYS poll to look rather than be told what to do once it has an IP address, i am still confirming this though.

4. Looks for TFTP server via a POLL on the network.
NOTE: This is where my work ends, i am still working on this part, once it finds this you should then be ok. Please read what i have found below.


What i found:
I ONLY use 3COM switches (NOT HUBS) i found as long as you have a full DHCP server thats also BOOTP compliant (Turbo DHCP) (software service not hardware) running the IP address asigment happends in seconds (mine takes 1 second once the screen is on). The funny thing about this and this is odd but not surprising, i cant get this box to then take an option "-14" or option "-20" for the TFTP server. But when i moved the DHCP server to the PVR box running windows it finds the TFTP server in about 4 seconds instead of 2 mins. All cabling and switches where not moved, this is an MVP thing nothing else.

This means it would appear the MVP then checks the IP address of the BOOTP server that assigned the address to see if the TFTP server is there (and it woudl be for Hauppauge software as they both do the same thing), if its not there (which it wont be if you are running a hardware DHCP server, and remember it would appear this needs a compliant BOOTP server not a fully compliant DHCP server) then it polls the network to find it, what i also noticed then if it it has to poll you get some weird slowness over the network like it assumes the BOOTP server will also be the TFTP server.

Again this is true of Hauppauge, not if GBPVR, unless you have done what i did, BOOTP and GBPVR on the same machine.

Read that as you will but i now have a BOOTP server running in full lock down to ONLY assign IP adresses to the MAC addresses of the MVP and there all fast (quicker than the PVR350 i have) and none have ever crashed (as yet), even when i pull the ethernet cable out they reconnect in seconds with no problems, menu is reset but its fine.

I am still working on finding the option needed to tell the box where to look for the TFTP server as i think this will cure most of the problems with these boxes being slow and crashing. What this space (i hope).

[steves]

Ashley,

Having tried to get MVP to run the Myth TV standalone software recently (It runs natively on the MVP and is well quick on my brothers system), I can second your comments.

1) MVP doesn't do negotiation of network speeds well, it likes to be hard coded to 100MbsHalfDuplex. This is important if using a cross over cable.

2) It seems to need to be told to download "dongle.bin". I use TFTP32 for a DHCP server and have to config "dongle.bin" in.

3) There definetely differences between the "dongle.bin" don't expect that a particular dongle will work with all the various hauppauge software versions.

4) If in doubt try the Hauppauge software that came on the CD with a cross over cable and the interface set to 100MBsHD.

Cheers

Steve

[SFX Group]

If in doubt try the Hauppauge software that came on the CD

I didnt install ANY Huappauge software, only TURBO DHCP (locked down) then GBPVR, works first time.

No dongle.bon alterations, just the one with GPPVR.

I also noticed its Half Duplex, Full Duplex would have probs got rid of the latency noticed with the menu buttons i bet.... Shame that, no surprise though.