MVP and Powerline Networking: Incompatible?

[mdnttoker]

It has nothing to do with DHCP, always had my router/dhcp server on and the MVP always got a valid IP address prior to loading the GB-PVR app (by looking at Attached Devices on the router's web interface). The powerline adapters don't get IP addresses, just pass along information from my router/gateway to the MVP.

I think it had something to do with the way the MVP boots from a hard-reboot (power plug pull) and how GB-PVR loads.

The HDX101 powerline ethernet port/circuit clearly had problems with the timing of events (link power-down, changed MAC, etc.). The DELL go-between seems to cure all.

-Dan

[sub]

I'll be really interested to see if the next version of GB-PVR corrects this. It includes a much better TFTP server which copes with lost UDP packets.

[Kristan]

I think you'll find it will fix the immediate problem but not the underlying one. With a better tftp server the packets lost due to the port speed mismatches will (I guess) be resent and the mvp will get a complete dongle.bin to boot off. However, you're still going to get packetloss when sending anything to the mvp, so just using the mvp in general may not be as smooth or quick as it should be. I suspect the only real fix is a new dongle.bin or mvp firmware to help the older switches cope with it.

I'll be happy to test the new version when it's out though!

[csy]

I agree with Kristan

[sub]

I think you'll find it will fix the immediate problem but not the underlying one. With a better tftp server the packets lost due to the port speed mismatches will (I guess) be resent and the mvp will get a complete dongle.bin to boot off. However, you're still going to get packetloss when sending anything to the mvp, so just using the mvp in general may not be as smooth or quick as it should be.

Exactly, but this tftp bootup is the only critical time where lost UDP packets actually stops things from working. The rest of the communication is done via TCP, where whatever retries will done automatically behind the scenes. Sure, people that lose a lot of IP packets on their network will get degraded performance - but at least they'll now be able to boot their MVP, and it wont be seen as my problem

...but also, those that suffer very few lost IP packets, and did not suffer any notable degraded performance, will also now be able to boot their MVP without having to rely on other software. It is quite common to lose some UDP packets if you've got other devices on your network.

[mdnttoker]

Once the new version is released, I'll test it with and without the Dell Managed Switch in between - see if it fixes the "underlying issue" that we're assuming is there.

[sub]

It wont fix the underlying problem, which is crappy networking done by the MVP (that I have no control over), but it will fix your ability to boot the MVP. This was exactly Kristian's point above.

[sub]

Probably in about a week.

[RangerBob]

I'm in the same position here with the same Netgear HDX101 AV powerline. Finally got round to setting up GBVPR in my new house, and these seemed the ideal solution. I will be eagerly awaiting the new version!

[RangerBob]

Ok, scratch that. I now have the MVP working nicely across the HDX101's. I made the rookie mistake and had the Hauppage MVP software running too, must of got switched on somehow. I killed that, ran the GBPVR MVP service, and it runs lovely. No dropped packets, no stuttering, lovely.