Can't play recordings or live TV on new client setup

[Esteban]

I'm trying to setup a notebook PC running Windows 7 as an NPVR client. I can view the TV guide and the list of recordings on the client, but when I try to play a recording or watch live TV I get a black screen. For the live TV attempt I get an onscreen error that says (paraphrased) "can't communicate with server." However some communication is being accomplished in order to see the guide and recordings.

I've attached the logs. I should mention that I have two PCHs that run successfully from the same server. I appreciate any suggestions.

Esteban

[sub]

It sounds like you've got firewall software on either the client or server getting in the way of communication.

For the live TV attempt I get an onscreen error that says (paraphrased) "can't communicate with server." However some communication is being accomplished in order to see the guide and recordings.

The TV Guide listings, and recordings, are loaded directlyt from the database, so dont require direct communication with the server.

[Esteban]

Both machines are running Windows firewall and have the same exceptions for NextPVR, NRecord, and NDigitalHost. Both set for private and public. I attached a screenshot from firewall interface.

Is there anything else to do in regard to the firewall?

[sub]

To be honest, I'm not that accustomed to configuring the Windows firewall settings. Its been a very long time since I had to do it myself on my machine.

If you want to be more certain it is firewall related, you could temporarily turn off the firewall on these two machines to see if it starts working.

[Esteban]

Well turning off the firewall on both computers yields the same result: "still unable to communicate with recording service."

Another point is that I can setup recordings on the client successfully. I can see the result on the server. A different type of communication, I guess.

[sub]

2012-09-02 16:40:34.024 [ERROR][1] Unexpected exception activating .net remoting: System.UriFormatException: Invalid URI: The hostname could not be parsed.

What exactly have you entered in the server name field? Looking at your logs, it looks like it's invalid in some way.

[Esteban]

Server name: \\CAROLJI-PC

Database share: \\CAROLJI-PC\Users\Public\NPVR

[sub]

The server name should be "CAROLJI-PC".

The database share is correct.

[Esteban]

The server name was the problem. I understand now that it is a name, not a path. Thanks, Sub.

[sub]

I've added logic for the next release to strip the "\\" if a user accidentally enters this.