v1.0.8 Server & PC Client not working

[daniver]

Relatively new to GB-PVR but I must say that the new interface makes it look very professional and spouse-friendly.

I've been ignoring GB_PVR mainly because I thought it couldn't do remote viewing of live TV via a LAN but stumbled upon a mention of the feature in the release notes of a previous version. The trouble is I can't get it working.

I'm using v1.0.8 and two DVB-T cards to view and record Freeview channels in the UK, which is working fine with only a few minor problems. I then installed v1.0.8 onto a laptop and configured to act as a client using streaming. I assumed the gbpvr folder on the server had to be set up as a network share because when I did the client could "connect" and load up the TV guide.

When I select a program to watch, the server "Recording Status" window shows that channel just selected on the client is being viewed, but that's it. The client shows the channel and programme OSD briefly and then I just get a black screen, no sound or picture and the window is not redrawn if another window is moved across it. I have to kill PVRX2 executable with Windows Task Manager to get it to exit. Also, after a client has attempted to watch something, the server recording service has to be restarted otherwise any attempt to watch TV locally on the server reports that there's no signal.

I don't think its a firewall problem because its turned off; when its on then the client times out trying to the server. I don't think its a laptop video rendering issue because when I reverse the roles of the client and server the problem moves with the client - the server can watch TV locally, the client can't and locks up and the server recorder service must be restarted.

Is my understanding of the client / server functionality correct or is it meant for some other purpose? Has anyone using v1.0.8 or previous versions got this working?

Thanks in advance,

Gary

[HtV]

In previous versions this worked ok, I'm not sure it works with 1.08, however with the "old" gbpvr.exe it should work I guess.

[daniver]

Thanks for the speedy reply. I'll backup my install and try rolling back to the previous version tonight.

In the meantime, I tried another laptop acting as a client - similar results, black screen, no sound, only OSD showing, except this time the client didn't lock up and allowed me to exit normally. Logs attached.

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

[HtV]

I tried it out, here it works ok, pvrx2 aswell as gbpvr.exe. Did you install a videodecoder (I forgot first:o ).
Edit: Sorry you said you switched the systems around, so the videodecoder shouldn't be the problem.

[HtV]

Did you share the recordings-dir aswell, and the temp rec-dir?

[daniver]

I didn't share the recordings dir or temp rec-dir - aren't these fields disabled on the config form if streaming is selected? Shouldn't I be using streaming? I assumed that using shared folders only lets you view pre-recorded programming and not live TV.

I don't suppose there's a "how to get client / server working" guide anywhere?

I'll try the shared files method now and see how I get on...

[daniver]

OK,

tried using the shared file method of client access. This time when the client selects a programme to watch, the screen goes black for 3 seconds, no sound, and then the display flicks back to the TV guide.

Looking in the client logs it talks about translating a server path into a client file path; cuting-and-pasting the translated client file path into an explorer window results in Windows Media Player playing 3 seconds of the programme the client was trying to view. So that must indicate that my set up is more or less correct and the folders are shared correctly.

The question is why does the client never display anything and then flick back to the TV guide display after 3 seconds? It must be the client flicking back to the TV guide that is causing the server to stop recording. I must be missing a setting somewhere. And does anyone know if streaming to another GB-PVR instance actually works?

[dark_half]

I have read reports of client problems using DVR-MS as the mux.

[daniver]

Hmm. I wasn't even using the DVR-MS as the mux, or to use the full name "BDA Multiplexer". I assume that's the right value I'm changing? The one on the "Misc." tab in the config window. Anyway, just tried several and none seem to affect the 3 second black screen behaviour of the client. But thanks for the suggestion.

On a plus point, since switching to the file sharing method of client access, I can now watch pre-recorded programmes; its just live TV that doesn't work. :mad:

[Carlito]

Have you shared the Live TV buffer directory as well?