Server Error with EWA

[jeffy777]

Hi everyone --

First I must say that GB-PVR and the EWA are brilliant. I truly enjoy streaming TV to my laptop, especially when laid up sick in bed.

However, I am having a reoccurring problem that I would love to have resolved. It just seems to happen at random, but I'll be watching a show and suddenly playback will stop (using VLC). Then I click to stop the stream and it gives me the server error dialog.

In total, this happened about 5 times tonight in about a 3 hour period. Other times it happens less frequently, so it seems a bit random.

Here is what I see in the log file after this happened the last time tonight:

Code:

3/7/2007 6:33:23 PM.750    INFO    [21]    Automatic login from 192.168.0.199
3/7/2007 6:33:23 PM.765    VERBOSE    [21]    RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
3/7/2007 6:33:23 PM.765    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/PreShowPadding : 2
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/PostShowPadding : 2
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    Looking for capture source to record: Modern Marvels
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    Possible capture device: DEVICE:Hauppauge PVR150MCE:1
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    Checking '150' (DEVICE:Hauppauge PVR150MCE:1)
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    RecordingFactory.save()
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    Save(): Inserted new scheduled recording
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    Requesting recording service schedule reload
3/7/2007 6:35:31 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
3/7/2007 6:35:31 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
3/7/2007 6:35:31 PM.156    VERBOSE    [4]    RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
3/7/2007 6:35:31 PM.156    VERBOSE    [4]    getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
3/7/2007 6:35:31 PM.171    INFO    [4]    ***********************
3/7/2007 6:35:31 PM.171    INFO    [4]    VLC Path= C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\Vlc\
3/7/2007 6:35:31 PM.171    INFO    [4]    Args= --intf http "C:\Modern Marvels\Modern Marvels_20070307_18001900.mpg" :sout=#transcode{vcodec=mp4v,vb=512,width=320,height=213,acodec=mp4a,ab=32,channels=2}:standard{access=http,mux=ts,url=:7648} vlc:quit
3/7/2007 7:02:15 PM.000    VERBOSE    [21]    RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
3/7/2007 7:02:15 PM.000    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
3/7/2007 7:02:15 PM.000    VERBOSE    [21]    RecordingFactor.DeleteSheduledRecording()
3/7/2007 7:02:15 PM.031    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/AutoCreateFolders : true
3/7/2007 7:02:15 PM.031    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/LiveTVDirectory : C:\
3/7/2007 7:02:15 PM.031    VERBOSE    [21]    PlaybackPositionManager.deleteLastPlaybackPosition(C:\Modern Marvels\Modern Marvels_20070307_18001900.mpg)
3/7/2007 7:02:16 PM.031    VERBOSE    [21]    RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
3/7/2007 7:02:16 PM.031    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
3/7/2007 7:02:16 PM.031    ERROR    [21]    System.Web.HttpUnhandledException: Exception of type 'System.Web.HttpUnhandledException' was thrown. ---> System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at GBPVR.Backend.Common.ScheduleHelper.CancelScheduledRecording(ScheduledRecording scheduledRecording)
   at gbweb.GBPVRSchedule.CancelScheduledRecording(ScheduledRecording scheduledRecording) in c:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\web\App_Code\classes\GBPVRSchedule.cs:line 49
   at gbweb.Migrated_Player.stopStreamer(Object sender, EventArgs e) in c:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\web\Player.aspx.cs:line 480
   at System.Web.UI.WebControls.LinkButton.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Web.UI.WebControls.LinkButton.RaisePostBackEvent(String eventArgument)
   at System.Web.UI.WebControls.LinkButton.System.Web.UI.IPostBackEventHandler.RaisePostBackEvent(String eventArgument)
   at System.Web.UI.Page.RaisePostBackEvent(IPostBackEventHandler sourceControl, String eventArgument)
   at System.Web.UI.Page.RaisePostBackEvent(NameValueCollection postData)
   at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at System.Web.UI.Page.HandleError(Exception e)
   at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint)
   at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequest(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint)
   at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequest()
   at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestWithNoAssert(HttpContext context)
   at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context)
   at ASP.player_aspx.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context) in c:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NET Files\gbpvr\4d107d39\801bf7b5\App_Web_h5xglfwy.2.cs:line 0
   at System.Web.HttpApplication.CallHandlerExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute()
   at System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously)

I installed GB-PVR last month, so I am using the EWA build that came with it then. Would upgrading to the latest version resolve this issue?

Thank you very much for your help, and for all the hard work that goes into this project! It is greatly appreciated

[UncleJohnsBand]

Hi everyone --

First I must say that GB-PVR and the EWA are brilliant. I truly enjoy streaming TV to my laptop, especially when laid up sick in bed.

However, I am having a reoccurring problem that I would love to have resolved. It just seems to happen at random, but I'll be watching a show and suddenly playback will stop (using VLC). Then I click to stop the stream and it gives me the server error dialog.

In total, this happened about 5 times tonight in about a 3 hour period. Other times it happens less frequently, so it seems a bit random.

Here is what I see in the log file after this happened the last time tonight:

Code:

3/7/2007 6:33:23 PM.750    INFO    [21]    Automatic login from 192.168.0.199
3/7/2007 6:33:23 PM.765    VERBOSE    [21]    RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
3/7/2007 6:33:23 PM.765    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/PreShowPadding : 2
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/PostShowPadding : 2
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    Looking for capture source to record: Modern Marvels
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    Possible capture device: DEVICE:Hauppauge PVR150MCE:1
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    Checking '150' (DEVICE:Hauppauge PVR150MCE:1)
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    RecordingFactory.save()
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    Save(): Inserted new scheduled recording
3/7/2007 6:35:26 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    Requesting recording service schedule reload
3/7/2007 6:35:31 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
3/7/2007 6:35:31 PM.015    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
3/7/2007 6:35:31 PM.156    VERBOSE    [4]    RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
3/7/2007 6:35:31 PM.156    VERBOSE    [4]    getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
3/7/2007 6:35:31 PM.171    INFO    [4]    ***********************
3/7/2007 6:35:31 PM.171    INFO    [4]    VLC Path= C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\Vlc\
3/7/2007 6:35:31 PM.171    INFO    [4]    Args= --intf http "C:\Modern Marvels\Modern Marvels_20070307_18001900.mpg" :sout=#transcode{vcodec=mp4v,vb=512,width=320,height=213,acodec=mp4a,ab=32,channels=2}:standard{access=http,mux=ts,url=:7648} vlc:quit
3/7/2007 7:02:15 PM.000    VERBOSE    [21]    RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
3/7/2007 7:02:15 PM.000    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
3/7/2007 7:02:15 PM.000    VERBOSE    [21]    RecordingFactor.DeleteSheduledRecording()
3/7/2007 7:02:15 PM.031    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/AutoCreateFolders : true
3/7/2007 7:02:15 PM.031    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/LiveTVDirectory : C:\
3/7/2007 7:02:15 PM.031    VERBOSE    [21]    PlaybackPositionManager.deleteLastPlaybackPosition(C:\Modern Marvels\Modern Marvels_20070307_18001900.mpg)
3/7/2007 7:02:16 PM.031    VERBOSE    [21]    RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()
3/7/2007 7:02:16 PM.031    VERBOSE    [21]    getValue cached value: /settings/AutoRemoveMissingRecordings : true
3/7/2007 7:02:16 PM.031    ERROR    [21]    System.Web.HttpUnhandledException: Exception of type 'System.Web.HttpUnhandledException' was thrown. ---> System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at GBPVR.Backend.Common.ScheduleHelper.CancelScheduledRecording(ScheduledRecording scheduledRecording)
   at gbweb.GBPVRSchedule.CancelScheduledRecording(ScheduledRecording scheduledRecording) in c:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\web\App_Code\classes\GBPVRSchedule.cs:line 49
   at gbweb.Migrated_Player.stopStreamer(Object sender, EventArgs e) in c:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\web\Player.aspx.cs:line 480
   at System.Web.UI.WebControls.LinkButton.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Web.UI.WebControls.LinkButton.RaisePostBackEvent(String eventArgument)
   at System.Web.UI.WebControls.LinkButton.System.Web.UI.IPostBackEventHandler.RaisePostBackEvent(String eventArgument)
   at System.Web.UI.Page.RaisePostBackEvent(IPostBackEventHandler sourceControl, String eventArgument)
   at System.Web.UI.Page.RaisePostBackEvent(NameValueCollection postData)
   at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at System.Web.UI.Page.HandleError(Exception e)
   at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint)
   at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequest(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint)
   at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequest()
   at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestWithNoAssert(HttpContext context)
   at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context)
   at ASP.player_aspx.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context) in c:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NET Files\gbpvr\4d107d39\801bf7b5\App_Web_h5xglfwy.2.cs:line 0
   at System.Web.HttpApplication.CallHandlerExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute()
   at System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously)

I installed GB-PVR last month, so I am using the EWA build that came with it then. Would upgrading to the latest version resolve this issue?

Thank you very much for your help, and for all the hard work that goes into this project! It is greatly appreciated

Lets start with the specs on the server that is hosting GBPVR....cpu speed, memory?

What stream settings are you using?

[jeffy777]

Server Specs:

Core 2 Duo E6600
2GB DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
ASUS P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe Motherboard
GeForce 7900GS
160GB Seagate Barracuda SATA 7200RPM 8MB Cache
XP Pro SP2

Here are the stream settings:



Any thing I should change there?

[UncleJohnsBand]

Server Specs:

Core 2 Duo E6600
2GB DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
ASUS P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe Motherboard
GeForce 7900GS
160GB Seagate Barracuda SATA 7200RPM 8MB Cache
XP Pro SP2

Here are the stream settings:



Any thing I should change there?

Are you streaming via Wire connection or Wireless?

Try these more refined settings.

[jeffy777]

It's wireless. Would that possibly cause this error? The laptop has an internal G adapter and the strength is usually "Very Good". The router is a D-Link DI-524 transmitting in G.

I will try the settings, although a Video Bitrate of 128kbs is really bad quality, almost unwatchable

What is actually happening when this error occurs?

It's weird because with the settings I currently have (512kbs, etc.), sometimes I can go for an hour or more without a problem, other times it happens quite frequently.

[UncleJohnsBand]

It's wireless. Would that possibly cause this error? The laptop has an internal G adapter and the strength is usually "Very Good". The router is a D-Link DI-524 transmitting in G.

I will try the settings, although a Video Bitrate of 128kbs is really bad quality, almost unwatchable

What is actually happening when this error occurs?

It's weird because with the settings I currently have (512kbs, etc.), sometimes I can go for an hour or more without a problem, other times it happens quite frequently.

You should be able to bump up the bitrate with your server specs...using the defined video encoder delivers excellent results at lower bit rates...you may be surprised......

I would suspect the wireless is the issue.....I have never had luck with it....with streaming there is a lot of data coming down the pipe and if the packets are disrupted and retransmit requests occur it can easily break the whole stream feed.

Have you ever tried closing VLC on the client (without stoping the server stream) and then reopening and see if it still streams?

I would try streaming with a wired connection for a while and see if the issue still occurs.......

[jeffy777]

Ok, I'm using the settings you specified except with 512kbs and the CPU usage is 10-15% while streaming to a client on localhost for testing. It looks a little more pixelated than the settings I had before, but not too bad.

The router is very a cheap model and I have been considering upgrading. Maybe that would take care of it.

Have you ever tried closing VLC on the client (without stoping the server stream) and then reopening and see if it still streams?

I think I have, but I can't remember for sure. I will give it a try next time (if there is a next time, maybe tweaking these settings will resolve it).

Thank you very much for your help. I'll keep ya updated on this

[pastro]

Your router may have a setting that will speed up the G transmissions if there are no B cards in your network. Hard to say what it will be under, but it might say G exclusive, or be under a protect setting. Setting this can make your network perform better by eliminating the B protection bursts which are very slow.

[jeffy777]

Yes, my router is set to transmit in G only.

After making the changes, I watched on my laptop for about an hour last night with no errors before going to bed. Sometimes before I could go that long without an error too, so it's not something that happens all the time.

I also just ordered a new router from newegg that is sure to perform better than this cheapo D-Link

[pastro]

Yes, my router is set to transmit in G only.

After making the changes, I watched on my laptop for about an hour last night with no errors before going to bed. Sometimes before I could go that long without an error too, so it's not something that happens all the time.

I also just ordered a new router from newegg that is sure to perform better than this cheapo D-Link

That's hard say that it will work better. An N router will probably work better but your laptop is G so that's out.
More transmit power and more diversity (more antennas) is usually the way to get it to work better. Quite a few routers share the same radio platform internally and may not be much different in the long run.