I have a WD Live TV Streaming player accessing mkv and m2ts files on a Synology NAS DS212j via hardwire Gigabit connection using SMB file shares. Most files play back fine, but a lot don’t. They stutter and reload every 30 seconds or so. In another room I have a WD Live TV Hub that plays all files over the same network flawlessly. No issues. Can anyone tell me why I’m having issues playing these files on the stream box? It almost seems like the stream box isn’t getting enough bandwith. I’ve checked the connection and its fine. I’ve reset the box to factory settings and its still the same. Appreciate any help.
If you’re using a wireless connection, try using an Ethernet cable to see if you get better results. Also check if you have the latest firmware update available.
Not sue if this is needed, but here is the info for one of the movies that stutters:
General
ID : 0 (0x0)
Complete name : E:\Movies\Finding Nemo.m2ts
Format : BDAV
Format/Info : Blu-ray Video
File size : 24.6 GiB
Duration : 1h 40mn
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 34.9 Mbps
Maximum Overall bit rate : 48.0 Mbps
Video
ID : 4113 (0x1011)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Codec ID : 27
Duration : 1h 40mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 32.2 Mbps
Maximum bit rate : 31.5 Mbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.649
Stream size : 22.7 GiB (92%)
Audio #1
ID : 4352 (0x1100)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : TrueHD / AC-3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Muxing mode : Stream extension
Codec ID : 129
Duration : 1h 40mn
Bit rate mode : Variable / Constant
Bit rate : 640 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 8 757 Kbps
Channel(s) : 8 channels / 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, Back: L R, LFE / Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Stream size : 462 MiB (2%)
Audio #2
ID : 4353 (0x1101)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Format profile : Dolby Digital
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Codec ID : 129
Duration : 1h 40mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 320 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 231 MiB (1%)
Audio #3
ID : 4354 (0x1102)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Format profile : Dolby Digital
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Codec ID : 129
Duration : 1h 40mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 320 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 231 MiB (1%)
Text #1
ID : 4608 (0x1200)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : PGS
Codec ID : 144
Text #2
ID : 4609 (0x1201)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : PGS
Codec ID : 144
I’ve also moved the stream box into the room where my Hub is at (Working perfectly) and tried playing the movies there. Same thing. Stuttering every 30 seconds or so on certain mkv and m2ts files. Seems to be a limit in the stream box or an issue on some of my files (even though they play fine on the hub).
If your connected via HDMI, and your display resolution on the SMP is set to Auto, try manually setting the HDMI.
If the SMP isn’t correctly reading the EDI then it will cause playback issues and if the files are playing fine on the HUB, then most likely the problem isn’t with your files.
That might be a step in the right direction. I set the HDMI to 720p 60hz and set the color to auto and to 12 bit. The movie will still stutter, but a lot less often. Now only every minute or two. Is this just an issue with my tv? Maybe I need to change a setting on my tv?
If the file is the one that you posted the info for and you are trying to play it with TrueHD audio, change the audio stream and see if the playback is better. Just to rule this out.
It certainly could be a network bandwidth issue. What differs in the network connections between the working and unworking box? Perhaps an Ethernet cable is bad, a switch (or just one port on it)? Blu-ray files definitely can require gigabit ethernet connections to play without rebuffering if the server is doing more output than just to the SMP. What I would do is to swap the two WD boxes to try each with the other’s network connection. If it is still the SMP that is the only one not working , then you have pretty much eliminated the network as the issue. If the Hub has issues connected to the SMP’s network connection, then you have a network problem.
There have been some reports that this might be related to Gbit ports. Has your router some 100mbit ports as well so you could try the lower speed on all devices?
I’m also read some stuff about the network card. Mostly just the fact that its NOT gigabit. I’m not sure why they didn’t put a gigabit card in the box. All my ports on my router 10/100/1000 ports. I may have to look in my router and see if there is a way to set it to 100. I do have a little 10/100 switch that I could try running it through.
Actually, the SMP does have a gigabit port, it’s just that it doesn’t transfer at gigabit speeds. But that’s has to do with bottlenecking, and is a different story.
The SMP is quiet cablable of streaming BD quality movies, I (as well as others do it all the time), the issue is most likely to do with your settings, either on the router side or on the SMP itself.
Also, since your HUB will stream the same files (and basically they are the same) you should be able to stream the files to the SMP.
Since there isn’t an issue with your HUB, I would move the SMP to where your HUB is and then set a static IP to your SMP and see if it’s having the same issue. That should rule out any issues with your network cables
You should also make sure that the SMP is actually connected as a wired connection. If you are not selecting wired connection in the setup and you have a wireless signal, many times it will connect to the wireless connection.
I have moved the SMP to where my hub is and it did the same thing. I didn’t however change the IP to a static so I could try that. In the network setup it is setup to use wired connection and there are lights on the back signaling connectivity. I will try setting a static ip.
