Client/Server Experiences?

[smajor]

Hi folks,

I've been using GB/NPVR as stand alone units for a long time now and am looking for input for what folks have been doing with client server. I'm interested in reliability of the setup, mostly.

I have two Time Warner STBs so I'm limited by those for HD. With a growing family (and TVs) I'm thinking of moving those STBs, along with their HD-PVRs to a central NPVR "server".

Some thoughts, for me, and questions:

- computers aren't an issue. The kids computers can easily be used as clients, plenty of horsepower; I already have decent computers in exiting NPVR locations. As such, I'm not interested in devices like Popcorn Hour, or other media jukeboxes.

- doing this allows a limited resource, namely rented STB signals, to be used in multiple locations - that's one of the driving factors.

- how does a streaming server/client LiveTV/Recording's quality compare to the STB/HD-PVR being directly connected to the host TV?

- How reliable is it? I've seen some NPVR threads discussing client/server issues, have these been addressed?

Thanks everyone!

[Reddwarf]

One thing is for sure, WiFi network is generally useless for client/server purpose. A 100 MB/s wired network works fine for SD content but you may require 1000 MB/s for HD content to avoid lagging. I'v been running a client for some months now for testing and it is pretty stable. Playback of recordings, videos and music works fine, but I am having A/V sync issues with live-tv. That may change in future versions, dependent of how much effort Sub wants to put into it.

- As for limited resources, a STB can only tune and output one channel at a time, so if more than one user wants to watch that channel everything is fine.
- Streaming to a client does not affect quality since no re-encoding takes place. The content is digital, so you can in theory copy it an infinite number of times without loss.
- Pretty stable, but things may be a bit slow between client and server, so if you'r the impatient type and gives a lot of commands/requests from the client without waiting for the server's response it sometimes locks up.

[jcjefferies]

I view mostly on the client and it is reasonably reliable but some problems are not actually to do with NPVR. To be foolproof so the family can use it at any time you may need the server and network connection left on. Most of my problems are when the server had gone into sleep mode or I have forgotten to switch on the network.

My server is wired but my client is connected via Wi-Fi. Using the client with MCE remote control is fine but it does slow the response time. The main problem I have with NPVR is that around once or twice a week the client locks up during playback. Another problem I occasionally have is that timing gets lost so you cannot skip forward past the adverts. On a more general thing, I find it is a good idea to reboot the server around once a week if you are using Sleep mode as it reduces the chances of it crashing.

[Reddwarf]

Another problem I occasionally have is that timing gets lost so you cannot skip forward past the adverts.

Does this happen during playback of a ready recording? There is no extra timing info transferred to the client during live-tv.

[smajor]

Thanks for the input... in response to the above:

-I have two STBs and two HD-PVRs, right now separate computers. By combining them to an "always on" server, two live or 1 record/1 live could happen. Looking at our usage, we're hardly ever using both STBs at the same time. Making them shared puts the ability for use in multiple areas.
-Back when we furnished our basement, I had ready access to all the upstairs walls and flooring. I have GIG ethernet everywhere. Bandwidth or wifi isn't an issue.

I'll wait and see if sub did any tweaks in the next release and then start testing.

[Reddwarf]

@smajor, what is the input to the STB's, could any of them be replaced with a capturecard?

[smajor]

@smajor, what is the input to the STB's, could any of them be replaced with a capturecard?

I wish. The Time Warner boxes are the only way to get HD and they don't offer cable-cards with the same options. We're in a rural area so we also get virtually nothing over-the-air. Those boxes and HD-PVRs are pretty much my only options.

[whurlston]

I wish. The Time Warner boxes are the only way to get HD and they don't offer cable-cards with the same options.

They are required by law to allow you to use a cablecard to get all the channels you can get with an STB. The only exceptions being OnDemand/PPV.

[smajor]

They are required by law to allow you to use a cablecard to get all the channels you can get with an STB. The only exceptions being OnDemand/PPV.

Well, yes, last time I checked they didn't support them for HD channels, but now because it's switched digital it has to be a Tru2Way card. I don't find too many tuners for PCs that can use them. Sometimes my Google-fu fails, however.

[Reddwarf]

Mmm, not much options. So you'r using blasters to control the STB's?

BTW: No need to wait for next version to start testing, my A/V sync problem is most likely due to an old/slow graphic card in the client, but if your clients are gaming computers they'r likely to have lightning-fast graphics