pittsburghpenguins
asked on
Microsoft Windows Media Center and Xbox 360
Hello.
I have a windows 7 PC running Windows media center with the latest patches. I have a ReadyNas Duo V2 with the video files on it. They are all AVI. I have the NAS setup through WMC to be used as the video library. I have an Xbox 360 set up as an extender which allows me to play the video library on my TV.
The problem I am having is that from time to time, during a movie, the movie will become blocky or heavily pixelated. Sometimes only for a moment, sometimes for a few minutes. It will eventually clear, and may or may not return later.
I've run the bandwidth tests (I'm actually a network engineer), and there is plenty of bandwidth available (direct gigabit connection), I've run the Extender tuner, which also shows optimal bandwidth. I have the NAS configured t share the videos as videos via DLNA.
Also, if I play the videos through the PC, and Ipad, or the native video player on the Xbox, they all work great. The only problem is via the Windows Media Center Player on the Xbox 360.
Oh by the way, I actually have 2 Xbox 360's in the house and they both do the same exact thing.
I thought maybe increasing the buffer may help, but I've not found where to do this.
Has anyone run into this? I'd appreciate any help / insight you can provide.
Thanks!
I have a windows 7 PC running Windows media center with the latest patches. I have a ReadyNas Duo V2 with the video files on it. They are all AVI. I have the NAS setup through WMC to be used as the video library. I have an Xbox 360 set up as an extender which allows me to play the video library on my TV.
The problem I am having is that from time to time, during a movie, the movie will become blocky or heavily pixelated. Sometimes only for a moment, sometimes for a few minutes. It will eventually clear, and may or may not return later.
I've run the bandwidth tests (I'm actually a network engineer), and there is plenty of bandwidth available (direct gigabit connection), I've run the Extender tuner, which also shows optimal bandwidth. I have the NAS configured t share the videos as videos via DLNA.
Also, if I play the videos through the PC, and Ipad, or the native video player on the Xbox, they all work great. The only problem is via the Windows Media Center Player on the Xbox 360.
Oh by the way, I actually have 2 Xbox 360's in the house and they both do the same exact thing.
I thought maybe increasing the buffer may help, but I've not found where to do this.
Has anyone run into this? I'd appreciate any help / insight you can provide.
Thanks!
Not all avi are the same, I believe you need to recode the bad avi so that they have divx codec in them.
Test first if it is simply a codec issue
Make sure your computer has the latest divx player or the K-lite codec pack installed with ffdshow and dix
There are several different variants of the K-Lite Codec Pack.
If Xvid was used or a different form of audio then that may needs to be converted to avi with mp3 audio
I use S.U.P.E.R
It is still the best simplest free converter I have come across so will recommend it.
There is a few folks who complain the newer version is full of spam so I installed the new 2012 to test..and just paid attention to the extras during setup, make sure not to install the toolbar or Norton scan stuff like that, in the setup steps donot agree to these extras and the installer will continue on with Super installer alone.
I believe that is where folks get caught out they think if they don't agree to this terms during this stage then the install will not continue but it does.
And with no spam that I am aware of.
Once installed rightclick the interface and set your save to directory, I chose desktop
Drop your avi on then put your output container to avi leave everything else as is the video scale the same.
Then click encode a window should popup asking which divx to use I use All divx supported players. OK and your good to go.
Alternatively drop the problem avi onto Gspot ( codec analyser ) and post back a screen dump of the analyses of Gspot so I can confirm what codecs were used
Test first if it is simply a codec issue
Make sure your computer has the latest divx player or the K-lite codec pack installed with ffdshow and dix
There are several different variants of the K-Lite Codec Pack.
If Xvid was used or a different form of audio then that may needs to be converted to avi with mp3 audio
I use S.U.P.E.R
It is still the best simplest free converter I have come across so will recommend it.
There is a few folks who complain the newer version is full of spam so I installed the new 2012 to test..and just paid attention to the extras during setup, make sure not to install the toolbar or Norton scan stuff like that, in the setup steps donot agree to these extras and the installer will continue on with Super installer alone.
I believe that is where folks get caught out they think if they don't agree to this terms during this stage then the install will not continue but it does.
And with no spam that I am aware of.
Once installed rightclick the interface and set your save to directory, I chose desktop
Drop your avi on then put your output container to avi leave everything else as is the video scale the same.
Then click encode a window should popup asking which divx to use I use All divx supported players. OK and your good to go.
Alternatively drop the problem avi onto Gspot ( codec analyser ) and post back a screen dump of the analyses of Gspot so I can confirm what codecs were used
ASKER
The problem is truly intermittent meaning that it may or may not happen on any file. Sometimes I play file A from end to end with no issue, sometimes I play file A with minor issues, and sometimes I play file A with a great deal of issues. Therefore, I am less inclined to believe it's an encoding issue. Nonetheless, I have re-encoded several files using a miriad of different settings and can produce then same results.
What kind of router do you have? I understand you have a wired connection.
ASKER
No router involved. Cisco 8 Port Gigabit switch connects the Windows Media Server Machine, the Xbox 360 and the NAS device. All on the same /24 network as well.
Is it a managed switch? Can you configure QoS?
ASKER
No, it's not managed, however I have done extensive bandwidth tests and am getting a pretty constant 700mbps between all three devices. The bandwidth test on the WMC tool also shows solid green.
I too thought it might be a bandwidth issue, so I've explored that avenue fairly deeply.
I too thought it might be a bandwidth issue, so I've explored that avenue fairly deeply.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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That KB article outlines some pretty good things to try. :)
ASKER
Interesting point! I will certainly check that out.
Thank you!
Thank you!
ASKER
Spot on! Thank you!
BTW I had to change my NIC speed to 100 Duplex. The enabling of flow control didn't do the trick. I assume as you mentioned that the switch in the middle isn't doing any flow control and just flooding the Nic on the Xbox.
Thank you!
BTW I had to change my NIC speed to 100 Duplex. The enabling of flow control didn't do the trick. I assume as you mentioned that the switch in the middle isn't doing any flow control and just flooding the Nic on the Xbox.
Thank you!
My files play perfectly on a Western Digital TV Live device and the computer. I'm curious to see if anybody else has a solution for this without modding the Xbox, but I think it's a software issue Microsoft would have to address on their end.
Keeping my fingers crossed, but you and I both may be up a creek. I know it's not really a resolution, but it may be the answer...