Issues watching movies on 3G network

[louischatillon]

Hi,

I was able to upgrade my server to version 4.4, install the license, add all my movies and run it on my Android (Nexus S) in about 2 hours. I would have made it work sooner if it was for it not finding my movies. I had not set the path correctly but I was able to find a fix reading the forums. So in all great product.

My issue is with streaming movies as music works great. I have to start by saying that all my tests were done watching the same movie, set to 200kpbs with the image not re-sized on my phone. When I'm watching this movie on my Android set to WI-FI it's ok. When I use the 3G network, the image freezes about every 1:15 sec for about 11 seconds. I have to admit that I find it odd that it's always around those numbers.

Now I should clarify that when I say using the WI-FI, I'm using the office WI-FI as I have a VPN connection between my office and my home. So WI-FI in the office that is sent though the internet through a VPN at my home.

I did some benchmark on my phone on 3G using SpeedTest.net and I have around 2100kbps download on my cell phone. I figure that it's enough to watch a movie in 200kpbs. I also checked my home connection and the upload never goes above 35 kBps.

If the issue would have been the same when my phone is on 3G and the Wi-Fi I would not have talked about it. I would have figured it was my home connection that was not fast enough, but since it works great using the WI-FI, I wondering if there is something else going on.

Any thought?

Thanks,

Louis

[GJ51]

Upfrade to a newer version of ffmpeg, the Windows versions are here:

http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/

Upgrading to JW Player 5.6 doesn't hurt either.

Your problems are most likley due to the cpu not being able to transcode fast enough to keep up with the data output. This is usually because ffmpeg that comes as default with SS only uses one core per stream no matter how much cpu horsepower you have.

The other option is to format all your video for mobile to flv so that there is no transcoding involved.

I have some videos on my site listed at the bottom if you want to test the results of what I've done. There are seperate folders for Movies and Videos.

[louischatillon]

First I would like to thank you for answering me. It's appreciated very much.

I started by updating ffmpeg to latest version. Now the CPU runs slower but it did not change anything as I'm still experimenting the freeze every minute for 10 seconds.

I looked at JW player 5.6 but from what I saw it's a player for the PC. I did a search on my server and PC but I could not find an files for JW Player so I cannot upgrade them.

I also tried watching FLV files from my server but they also freeze every minute so I do not think it's a transcoding issue. While I was watching that FLV movie I checked the CPU from my server and both cores were fluctuating between 10% and 20% utilization. Even when I play a XVid movie the CPU never goes above 20% on both cores.

Also I updated my Android player to 2.8.1 but that also did not change anything.

I also tried watching several movies from your site. I was able to log on and select a movie but it never plays. I only see the wheel spinning endlessly. I tried with my desktop and I can watch a movie but it also freezes ever 30 seconds or so...
Any thought?

[GJ51]

Bandwidth? "I also checked my home connection and the upload never goes above 35 kBps." Not enough.

http://speedtest.net/ Check and see what you get.

I was out of the house yesterday setting up a new laptop for a friend and we tested a Blue Ray rip on my site over the net. It ran without a hitch. that tends to make me think that something is holding up the process at your end.

There could also be something else inhibiting the throughput, usch as firewall or antivirus settings. One user had a problem with F-Protect interferring with the stream.

On your phone, can you test the videos in the folder "Videos/Mobil Phone Versions" try the Subsonic multi Video demo.

[louischatillon]

I did some testing and I found some interesting things that I though I would share with everybody.

I did some testing and found my upload bandwidth to only be 600kbps when the provider informs me that I should have 1000kbps.

I'm on cable with an IP phone. There is a module for the cable and there is another module for the IP Phone. I disconnected the phone module called a Mediatrix to hook up my firewall directly after the cable modem. When I did my speed test, it went up to 1005kbps. I called up my provider and they are sending me another Mediatrix to get that fixed.

What I find most puzzling is that using a VPN connection between my home and my office, I was able to watch my movies from my home to my office without any stuttering. That test had cause me to check elsewhere but it all came down to upload bandwidth.

I would like to thank GJ51 for the assistance as it would of take me a lot longer to figure this out.

Regards,

Louis

[GJ51]

Hi Louis,

VOIP setups will try to reserve bandwidth if they are setup between the gateway device and the router. I use Ooma for VOIP, but instead of putting it in between the modem and the router like they ask, I just pl;ug mine into the switch behind my router. This gets it out of the way of the data stream and doesn't use any bandwidth unless I'm using the phone. Ths configuration may not work well in all instances, but in my case I have enough bandwidth that it works well for my setup. Don't be afraid to experiment to see what works best on your network.

Also keep in mind that some VOIP devices want to handle DHCP as well, which can cause routing issues. Another reason to get it behind the router if it works there.

HTH

Gary