MVP connection problems.

[Krugar]

Sorry, this is a long one, I'm just dumping every bit of info I can think of, hopefully somebody can help me out.

I just can't get the MVP to work well on my network.

I've replaced my router with a linksys WRT54GS-CA. It's been out of the box for less than 24 hours. I've also tried this with a belkin router (F5D7230-4 ver.4000tt) and an 8 port linksys router/gateway (my previous router/gateway don't recall the part number)

My mobo's nic is usually set to force 100 Full with checksum offloading turned off & I've also tried turning off segment offloading just to see if that helps (it doesn't) Forced 100 / Full is my preferred setting.

So problem #1: If I'm wired at this config, the MVP studders & pauses during playback. I cannot return to any menus from playback unless I cycle the MVP (soft or hard both work). I get a blank screen & if I leave it go long enough I get a network disconnect error. Oddly on the belkin the studdering doesn't happen, but I still cannot return to the menu after watching a movie or live TV. Everything works fine for music.

If I switch from 100 Full to full auto, the studdering goes away, however I can't can't return to any menus.

Problem #2. If I go wireless using a WGA54G, playback is great for upto 2 minutes, then I the MVP looses the server and never finds it again. The ethernet light is off on the bridge & the yellow LAN light on the back of the MVP are off at this point. The only way I've found to recover from this is to unplug the MVP. I'm a complete wireless newbie, so I don't know what to expect here. I'm troubleshooting blind.

I've switched the wireless network from channel 11 to 6, this had no effect. I could only minimally play with the position of the the bridge before I ran out of time.

Need some help here, is this a radio issue? What can I do to trouble shoot it?

There are no playback studdering issues if my mobo nic is forced to 100 /full when I'm wireless, however this could be part of the disconnect. I still have the disconnect problem at full auto neg.

Problem #3 and the start of this mess: I can't get back to the menus after playing a movie or live TV. I've tried every dongle.bin I can get my hands on (no change) and GBPVRs version (no change).

I've also for fun tried using the defaul hauppage server and it has the same issues. Playback is fine, but I need to cycle the MVP to ever see a menu again.

It doesn't matter which router, or if I'm wired or wireless. I can't get anything but a blank screen if I try to go back to a menu after watching live TV or a recording.

I'm currently using 9707, but I've also tried the last version (9612?) with no change.

Everthing works great on my computer, I just can't get the MVP to work.

System specs:

Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe
RAID0 (2x250GB)
1GB RAM
AMD64 3000

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Cheers!

[Krugar]

I'm pretty sure the linksys is picking up the bridge's MAC, not the MVP. I haven't had time to dig deeply into the settings, but (assuming I can) do I need to clone the MVP's MAC?

If so, which would I use, wired or wireless? (It's got stickers on the back for both but it's not a wireless MVP).

I'll try the arp cmds once I get home tonight.

Cheers!

[replaytv]

Let's isolate the problem first by connect MVP to the router and see if you have the problem there. Once everything is OK, then test it on your wireless bridge gaming.

Next, if you have stutter video, reduce the bitrate to see if it improves.

Hope that helps.

Dan L.

[Krugar]

Let's isolate the problem first by connect MVP to the router and see if you have the problem there.

Yes I do, I started wired.

Wired, I have stuttering at 100/Full okay playback at full Auto. I'll look into reducing the bitrate, is that on the MVP config screen?

Wireless I have no stuttering, but I can't stay connected for more than 2 minutes.

Either method, I cannot return to any menus after watching live TV or playback.

Cheers!

[replaytv]

It is under Recording sources tab.

Also read the sticky above to see if it relates to your problem.

[Krugar]

I've been reading through it but I'm not sure it applies. (I'm starting at the begging and reading during compiles)

I'm running the latest version, I'm not sure I should use the patch linked.

I could be rebooting, but it doesn't go back to the boot screen (with 4 bars) it just goes back to "contacting servers..." looking for the GUI server. Is this considered a reboot?

This problem only happens wirelessly. Wired I think there's been some good suggestions for me to try out for everything but losing my menus (blank screen after movie ends or I hit back / menu or stop.) Unless I've minsuderstood...

Anyway I'm a programmer, not a network guru so all help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

[Krugar]

Oh you're doing this wireless also...

That's the goal, but right now I'd be happy to get it working 100% on a wire. It doesn't work correctly either way for me.

Did you buy one of those new MVP wireless?

No I've got a normal MVP AFAIK. The sticker on the back provides a MAC for wired & one for wireless (address is wired + 1), but I've no antenna or any why I can see to hook one up. There's an 'extra' RCA jack on the back that I'm told is a A/V plug for something my AV system doesn't use. Sorry I promptly forgot what it's for, it's in the "this doesn't work with my kit" file.

Did you add the mac address to your wireless router if you have that feature?

I do, however while I'm sorting everything out I'm running without security. I'm hiding my SSID, but the rest is open so no MAC restrictions & no encryption. Once things are working I'll be looking at beefing up the security.

Cheers!

[User]

I have found that on 97.7 that in order to get a second MVP to connect once one is already connected to the network, I have to power on the second MVP and wait for it to try to connect for 30 seconds or so, then I turn it off and then back on again with the remote and then it will connect. The first one I start always connects fine, the second one is finicky.

[Krugar]

Okay I tried the arp -a.

Wired or not I can see the MVP and a MAC address (I've got only my server and the MVP on the network right now.)

Since the MAC doesn't change when I go from wireless to wired and it matches what's in the linksys, I have to assume that it's the MVP MAC, but it doesn't match the stickers on the unit.

I tried halving my bit rate for live TV and this did nothing for my wireless disconnects. I've also tried replacing the cat5e with cat6, no difference.

Anything else I can try?

[Krugar]

Just for fun, I put the server on the wireless bridge about 2' away from the wireless router & wired the MVP.

No disconnects after 3 minutes and it's streaming well, so I think that part is just getting the positioning right.

I still can't solve the lack of menus after watching a recording or live TV though. Wired or wireless.

Anyone?