how to improve poor streaming quality?

[snowbird14 0]

Summary: I'd like to be able to watch football games (both live and recorded) on my laptop from a remote location. 

 

My "server" computer specs are:

• eMachine ER1402-05
  
• Processor: 1.7 GHz AMD Athlon
  
• RAM: 4 GB
  
• Hard Drive: 160 GB, 5400 RPM
  
• Graphics Coprocessor: NVIDIA GeForce 9200
  
• Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
  

 

The "server" computer is connected via ethernet to my router. I have 5 Mbps upload speed.  I use TeamViewer to remote desktop to the "server" computer, and I have dyndns service.

 

I have Hauppauge USB TV tuner (191 WinTV-HVR-955Q) which is hooked up to an outdoor OTA antenna.  I'm using Windows Media Center (WMC) for scheduling recordings and EPG.

 

On the "server" computer, I have installed Media Browser Server (version 3.0.5347.22096), ServerWMC (version 1.0.0.39, build 1162), and the ServerWMC plug-in for MB. My setup seems to be working correctly. I am able to open the Media Browser dashboard (remotely) and watch live TV and stream recorded shows via the web browser. 

 

The problem I'm having is with the quality of the stream (live and recorded).  It "stutters" to the point it's unwatchable.  I get a little better viewing experience using Remote Potato.  I get the best viewing experience by remoting to the "server" computer via TeamViewer and watching direct from WMC.

• Does anyone have suggestions on how to improve the stream quality?  
  
• Are there things to tweak in Media Browser and/or on the "server" computer itself that will help?  
  
• Is my "server" computer so underpowered it's unrealistic to expect smooth streaming?
  

I've attached a couple log files from today.

server-63545527482.txt

transcode-17bac91e-c1d2-4b83-8298-6b2336a41ba6.txt

 

Any help/advice appreciated...

 

Thanks,

Joan

[Logos302 86]

Well there are three things that stand out that it might be (Task manager can tell you) the problem, the cpu, disk and memory all seem like they might not be up to the task.  How is it when your not remote?

[snowbird14 0]

It also stutters when viewing via MB locally (on server machine) -- a little bit less so, but still unwatchable.  The CPU maxes out at 100%, the memory usage is around 50%.

 

Stuttering is minimal when viewing via WMC locally (on server machine) -- it's watchable, though sort of like watching in slow motion. The CPU maxes out at 100%, memory usage is around 45%.

[ebr 16184]

That machine is pretty under-powered for transcoding.

 

Also, in my experience, 5MB upstream bandwidth isn't enough to give good performance streaming high-quality video outbound.

[ebr 16184]

Yeah, looking at your transcode log that machine is simply not up to the task.  It is transcoding at 6 frames per second and you are trying to watch 30.

[snowbird14 0]

So stupid question time - if it's transcoding at 6 fps, can you change the setting that you are watching at to 6 fps?  I'm guessing that would be way too slow motion?  Sorry, just trying to wrap my brain around how all this works. This is my first attempt creating an HTPC and streaming...

[Beardyname 198]

fps essentially stands for "pictures" or frames per second, anything below minimum 25 would be like looking at a slideshow, what you could do is trying to re-encode your stuff at lower resolutions and such and not trying to do that on the fly.

[ebr 16184]

Yes, as beardy says, the only way you are going to get adequate performance out of that machine will be to re-encode your media to a format that doesn't require transcoding on the fly.

 

MP4 with AAC audio is the most cross-compatible I think but you may also have to pay attention to bitrates and not get them too high.

[Luke 42079]

@@snowbird14

@@Beardyname

 

We now have native Hauppauge support available for testing in the Emby Server beta: 

 

https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/54560-32609-hauppauge-support/?hl=hauppauge

 

Thanks.