H1 WizServer

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 20:17

Hi I'm running the 320 firmware on my H1 and P2, the H1 has a WD Elements 320GB USB drive attached. I've been taping the Tour De France on SBS HD on the H1 then making sure the H1 is in File Play screen while streaming it to my P2 but I?m experiencing intermittent loss of audio and some very minor break of picture maybe once during the 30 minute recording but mostly loss of audio for 1-2 seconds a few times during the viewing.

I can stream from the P2 to the H1 without issue and was wondering if others are seeing this behaviour or is it unique to my set up? Does it matter if the Wiz Server port on both machines is the same (default port) for instance? Any experiences or feedback would be welcome.

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:27

Polite BUMP

tonymy01 · Post by **tonymy01** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:52

Impolite: Nup, no-one has anything for you, apart from perhaps the USB bus and HDD model is the variable factor here.

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 13:04

That's fine and what I wanted to confirm. I wasn't completely sure if the H1 Wiz Server function was the issue. Thanks for getting back to me.

tonymy01 · Post by **tonymy01** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 13:10

I guess there aren't so many H1 server users here to help with their personal experience, I only have an S1, my response was more that these forums are really peer-peer help and the lack of a response is likely due to the lack of a number of people who have even tried the H1 as a server (apart from PRL who has done it for testing purposes briefly only I am sure). My first thoughts when you posted the problem were that the USB performance of the Wiz has always been a bit questionable, and asking it to serve HD is sometimes a tad too much anyway, so combine the two and you might get the issues you have described, but without personal experience in the matter, and no real ideas or suggestions, I decided it best at the time when you posted the thread to keep out, but now you bumped it again, it seems you want someone to say something... so I have

.
Also USB HDDs can have all sorts of sleep/power saving/etc features that might be occasionally doing something that is giving the brief blip. Does rewinding 10secs and playing back the same spot result in it being perfect? Or does it still blip a bit?

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 13:18

Haven't tried your last point but will this evening. I can live with it but just wanted to identify if it was something I could control or not. thanks again I appreciate your feedback and take it all onboard.

IanSav · Post by **IanSav** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 17:53

Hi Trial_Master,

I only have a DP-S1 so I had nothing to contribute on this matter either. Like Tony, I had nothing productive to say so I said nothing. Perhaps Peter can chime in if his DP-H1 experiences allow him to offer something more.

Regards,
Ian.

prl · Post by **prl** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 18:01

IanSav wrote:Hi Trial_Master,

I only have a DP-S1 so I had nothing to contribute on this matter either. Like Tony, I had nothing productive to say so I said nothing. Perhaps Peter can chime in if his DP-H1 experiences allow him to offer something more.

Regards,
Ian.

My H1 and S1 are in the same cabinet. I rarely stream between them. It's more like a 3-tuner PVR

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 18:09

IanSav wrote:Hi Trial_Master,

I only have a DP-S1 so I had nothing to contribute on this matter either. Like Tony, I had nothing productive to say so I said nothing. Perhaps Peter can chime in if his DP-H1 experiences allow him to offer something more.

Regards,
Ian.

No worries, thanks for touching back on the thread though

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 18:11

prl wrote:
IanSav wrote:Hi Trial_Master,

I only have a DP-S1 so I had nothing to contribute on this matter either. Like Tony, I had nothing productive to say so I said nothing. Perhaps Peter can chime in if his DP-H1 experiences allow him to offer something more.

Regards,
Ian.
My H1 and S1 are in the same cabinet. I rarely stream between them. It's more like a 3-tuner PVR

I'm doing the 3-tuner thing too. Damn tv stations scheduling all their shows at the same time.

Paul55 · Post by **Paul55** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 20:43

I have H1 and P1 in different rooms and (as far as I remember) can stream both ways.
I suspect the USB HDD issue is a power requirement problem - the WD needs more power than the BW can supply.

crippstor · Post by **crippstor** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 06:14

I have my H1 setup to stream to my P1 so I will record some SBS HD today and try it out. I have only ever streamed SD from the H! and that always works flawlessly.
I have the WD Elements 250Gb drive attached. I'll post this afternoon with any findings.

craigh · Post by **craigh** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 08:20

I have a couple of H1's and both have USB powered WD 250g drives attached.

Thy both stream reliably but during my testing i found that to get the best reliability out of USB powered I needed to fit the cables that combine 2 USB ports together to give maximum power to the drives.

Powered ones seemed ok.

I very rarely have to put it in File manager to stream.

With regard to the sound there are some issues in the current betas re drop out as you describe specifically on DD recordings over wizpnp. That issue may not just be in the latest betas.

I will record some Tour tonight and have a play.

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 08:25

Thanks a lot Paul55, crippstor & craigh appreciate your feedback and testing. I'm only having my first morning coffee so forgive the dumb question but what's DD Recording?

tonymy01 · Post by **tonymy01** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 08:35

recordings with dolby digital audio.

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 08:53

Ah... Thanks

prl · Post by **prl** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 09:43

crippstor wrote:I have my H1 setup to stream to my P1 so I will record some SBS HD today and try it out. I have only ever streamed SD from the H! and that always works flawlessly.
I have the WD Elements 250Gb drive attached. I'll post this afternoon with any findings.

Streaming HD between Beyonwizes has always been a bit on the edge of failing.

I didn't notice that TrialMaster was having problems with HD rather than SD streaming, and even though he's set the H1 into the state most likely to work., it's still close to the edge

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 09:46

tonymy01 wrote:Does rewinding 10secs and playing back the same spot result in it being perfect? Or does it still blip a bit?

I tested rewinding 10 secs last night and the audio does not blip in the same spot again.

prl · Post by **prl** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 09:49

Trial_Master wrote:
tonymy01 wrote:Does rewinding 10secs and playing back the same spot result in it being perfect? Or does it still blip a bit?
I tested rewinding 10 secs last night and the audio does not blip in the same spot again.

Maybe because it's had a chance to re-buffer a bit.

crippstor · Post by **crippstor** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:03

Tested on the SBS HD Tour De France highlights show. Had the H1 left on SBS HD and it streamed to my P1 with only 1 barely noticeable audio blip, which would have been lucky to be half a second at most. Other than that it was perfect.
That said I don't know if the power requirements of the 250Gb and 320Gb WD Elements drives are different, and whther that may have caused some of your problems.

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:12

Thanks for testing crippstor. Maybe the 320GB Elements is the issue? M'mmmm hard to know without testing a 250GB.

For tonight I've shifted some recordings around so the Tour will record on P2 and a SD show will record on H1. If that has audio issues it would have to be the WD drive. I'm tempted to pick up a 250GB drive now. But my wife would kill me as I only purchased the 320GB last month

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:17

craigh wrote:to get the best reliability out of USB powered I needed to fit the cables that combine 2 USB ports together to give maximum power to the drives.

So you're saying I could use both USB ports on back of H1 to power the WD 320GB? Would that be worth trying?

IanSav · Post by **IanSav** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:02

Hi Trial_Master,

Yes, a dual USB power feed could be worth trying.

For those people who can't get a dual power feed I would suggest trying to find a powered USB hub that can deliver the extra power that is required.

Regards,
Ian.

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:04

So Ian it's just a y-cord (double adaptor) I need to pick up?

IanSav · Post by **IanSav** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:21

Hi Trial_Master,

Yep. Just make sure you tell the supplier that it is for a WD USB hard drive. The cable you get should have one USB plug enabled for power and USB data while the other connector only gets power. This should be clearly marked on the cable.

If they don't have the cable or if it costs a lot then consider the powered hub (as long as it is rated to deliver more than the standard 500mA to each socket).

Regards,
Ian.

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:27

Cool thanks Ian!

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:17

I'm not having any luck finding a cable so I'll look into the powered hub.

prl · Post by **prl** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:33

Trial_Master wrote:I'm not having any luck finding a cable so I'll look into the powered hub.

Google threw up this link on getprice.com.au. It has two Y cables listed that look like they could do the job.

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:40

Yeah I saw that one problem is the WD doesn't have a removable cable and it has a standard usb plug on the end.

prl · Post by **prl** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:52

Trial_Master wrote:Yeah I saw that one problem is the WD doesn't have a removable cable and it has a standard usb plug on the end.

Nasty. It must be a different model Elements drive from the ones I was looking at

IanSav · Post by **IanSav** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:59

Hi Trial_Master,

Sounds like it is time to go hub hunting.

Regards,
Ian.

tonymy01 · Post by **tonymy01** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 14:19

BIGW-has a powered USB2 hub for $20 (was just in there now).
Also has a nice verbatim 250G USB powered HDD for $69.95 at the moment

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 14:21

A work colleagues going to make a cable up for me to test this theory. If I see any changes I'll report back next week when he cracks the soldering iron out

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 18:12

prl wrote:
Trial_Master wrote:Yeah I saw that one problem is the WD doesn't have a removable cable and it has a standard usb plug on the end.
Nasty. It must be a different model Elements drive from the ones I was looking at

Ah, I shouldn't try to recall things when they're not in front of me. It does have a removable cable and I'm ordering one of those leads now. Will let you all know if it makes any difference.

Thanks so much everyone, plenty of ideas to work with now

craigh · Post by **craigh** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 15:45

Hi

I got to look at the 5 hour recording of the Tour i did earlier this week and i can confirm it has occasional audio drops when the H1 is acting as a wizpnp server.

It is not DD sound but I hear an audio drop randomly every few minutes.

Trial_Master · Post by **Trial_Master** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 16:58

Yeah that sounds exactly like mine. I've ordered the dual head usb cable and will report if dropouts are better or eliminated. Hopefully arrives this coming week.

EDIT: I should also add I've been streaming some SD programs from H1 and not having any issues with dropouts so remains to be seen if cable makes any difference.

crippstor · Post by **crippstor** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 18:10

Hope the new cable helps Trial Master. As an aside, as I appear to one of the few on the forum who use the H1 in a server capacity, if anyone has any issues come up that require testing, please let me know and I will be happy to try.
Cheers
Crippstor

braybanks · Post by **braybanks** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 15:25

Trial_Master, I have exactly the same setup as you and have the same problem with audio dropouts. The dropouts are much reduced if I tune the H1 to an SD channel while streaming, or if I turn off Timeshift, so I've assumed it is a limitation of the USB HDD. Serves me right for not buying a powered drive, I suppose - but not a major problem so will live with it until it bothers me enough to try another drive. I'll be watching to find out if you can fix it with added power.

craigh · Post by **craigh** » Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:16

Just a quick update on this issue.

Have been testing with the latest beta and it would appear this issue is greatly improved.

Does not mean it will fix any USB related issues but....

Hanjo did some work around WizPNP and audio issues with DD so may have flowed on.

Have watched 30m of my old 5 hour tour recording and not a single drop out

I will test it with each beta going forward so lets hope it is rectified.

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