Dreambox DM500s streaming lag

[cheatman]

I've got a DM500s with latest (2009) PLi Jade image. If I watch channels on TV, everything is fine. But if I view channels on my PC using streaming function, the channels lag (only on PC, it's ok on TV). It happens not for all channels, maybe a half.
I think the problem is the bandwidth required for streaming on ethernet.
I heard DM500s had a slow ethernet problem, is this the case?
Should I flash another image? Thank you.

[Bazinga]

Re: Dreambox DM500s streaming lag

Does it lag on High Definition Channels Only?

EDIT: Just Realized DM500S is not high definition

Maybe its channels that use more bandwidth like Channels with AC3 Audio? maybe?

[cheatman]

Re: Dreambox DM500s streaming lag

No, it doesn't happen on AC3 channels only, even simply stereo. Mediaset (Italy) channels suffer from lags.
Do DM500s have a ethernet config file in tuxbox, or a place I can set ethernet settings?

[erno]

Re: Dreambox DM500s streaming lag

I propose that you make some simple transfer tests to sort this out.
Take a file of a well known size, transfer it through ftp to your PC, and measure.
THis will give you a valuable information of what your local network can handle.
Then you will see if this low level transfer is good.

[edin4o]

Re: Dreambox DM500s streaming lag

Is your FTP cable somewhere pressed (maybe by a heavy object) ? I had the same problem and saw that the cable was squeezed from my door

[cheatman]

Re: Dreambox DM500s streaming lag

My cable is perfect, I also try to replace it.
However, I measured speed over a FTP session between the dreambox and my PC: results are about 280 kbyte/s (2240 kbit/s). Is it too low? I think streaming and FTP could maybe use different speed because of different protocols. How can I increase this value? I read that channels use 1 to 8 Megabit/s.

[erno]

Re: Dreambox DM500s streaming lag

2Mbits is a minimum for SD, 6Mbits are mandatory for HD.
So I thinks that you are in the limit, which could explain your pb.

[cheatman]

Re: Dreambox DM500s streaming lag

So, are you saying that it's not a dreambox fault, but the problem is located in my home network? I'll do more tests.

[whinpo]

Re: Dreambox DM500s streaming lag

speed problems on a network are often due to speed negociation between computer and switch.

what kind of switch do you have?
you should be able to check the stats of connections on your computer and on your dreambox using the netstat command (on linux it's netstat -s).
You should check for errors (on both side) and look it these numbers increase while streaming

don't hesitate would you need more info about netstat

[erno]

Re: Dreambox DM500s streaming lag

I think that your home network is too slow, do you have something running all the time consuming bandwith ?
By the way don't expect too much results with Wifii, its performances for streaming are not always good.
Do you have a switch that bottlenecks your network ?

[cheatman]

Re: Dreambox DM500s streaming lag

I don't use a C-line, I'm building a server. However, I spent all day testing my network.
Finally found the problem: it was caused by poor Wi-fi connection.
I connected the Dreambox directly to a desktop PC through Ethernet cable, and voilà... channels didn't lag anymore.
Sad about that, my target was to view channels on my Macbook Air (wifi only).
For me the only solution is rebuild the wifi network.

[whinpo]

Re: Dreambox DM500s streaming lag

If you got wifi from your modem/router for example, buy a good dedicated Wifi AP (a linksys for example), not expensive, but a from a good brand.
It should help a lot...

[edin4o]

Re: Dreambox DM500s streaming lag

I don't use a C-line, I'm building a server. However, I spent all day testing my network.
Finally found the problem: it was caused by poor Wi-fi connection.
I connected the Dreambox directly to a desktop PC through Ethernet cable, and voilà... channels didn't lag anymore.
Sad about that, my target was to view channels on my Macbook Air (wifi only).
For me the only solution is rebuild the wifi network.

Maybe it's a little of-topic, but..How did you get the dreambox connected to the router via WiFi?

[cheatman]

Re: Dreambox DM500s streaming lag

I connected the dreambox using a spare wifi DSL router I had. I went to router config page and set up as "AP client", then connected the dreambox to one of the 4 ethernet ports. However this sort of bridge slowed connection.
Now I connect the dreambox directly to a server through LAN cable and I don't get speed related issues.
My primary Access Point for home network is a "US Robotics".