Video Streaming freezes using H.264

[KevTheRev]

I can stream Videos no problem using WMP or VLC as the external player with the following settings...

Video bitrate 128
Video size 320x213
Streamer transcode settings WMV/MP3/ASF
Streamer Buffer 15000

I'm streaming over the internet from home to work. My upload speed at home is 256k.

When I change the streamer transcode setings to 'H264/MP4A/MPEG-TS' VLC Plays for about 2 seconds before it freezes and WMP refuses to play at all. Anybody got any ideas why this is happening?. I would really like to use the H264 codec for streaming video as it gives a much better picture quality than WMV.

[UncleJohnsBand]

What processor speed are you running and how much RAM do you have?

This is indicative of either processor overload or bandwidth overload....meaning you are tyring to stream too much data through your uplink....

I was able to run your settings when I had a 384k upload speed.

One thing you can try is changing the video size to be scale and enter .5 or .25. This will have VLC reduce the playback image to 1/2 or 1/4 of the originally recorded size.....I think this provides better performance that specifying a screen size.

[KevTheRev]

Pc is a dual core Pentium D 3.0GHz with 2GB ram, so i don't think it's a processing issue. It must be Bandwith overload.

I automatically assumed that because WMV/MP3 streamed ok H264/MP4A would too. I guess streaming H264 must use more Bandwith?

I will try using the Video scale option and let you know what happens

[UncleJohnsBand]

H264 won't use more bandwidth but it does use more CPU power to so the encoding....your system should be fine. H264 is better than WMV.

That leaves bandwidth overload....especially if you have no problem streaming on the local network.

You can also lower the audio bitrate when using H264.....take it down to 32 bit....that will free up some of the bandwidth.

[happyhammer]

iv'e 256kb upstream and could never get the video to play properly, so i think your doing well to get it working with the settings you posted. I suppose it depends on the broadband provider you use.

Does anyone know if there are general settings on a broadband router that could help? or indeed any vlc specific parameters?

[KevTheRev]

By setting the Video scale to 0.5 and the audio bitrate to 16 and 1 audio channel I am able to stream with VLC using H264/MP4A without it freezing. I get the occasional pause,stutter but i can live with that.

All I need to do now is wait for Orange to upgrade my internet connection to 8mb down- 1mb up and I should be able to stream live TV in full screen!.

Thanks for your help UncleJohnsBand.

[UncleJohnsBand]

That is great news.....if you had another 128k of up-speed you could increase those somewhat.

I recently switched over to Fiber (Verizon FIOS) and have 2mbps up speed so I have no issue with high bitrates on audio and video...