Hi there,

I got my Tvix 5100SH the other day and my joy is going a bit sour. I wanted to use to use the streaming function primarily to play .ts files from my Humax 9200 on the various tv's round my house (once i transferred them to my laptop), I also want to watch the various H.264 files I have. I picked the tvix 5100 specifically because the specs and some reviews I read said it could play the previously mentioned files without conversion, however my first attempts to do so have all ended in failure.

I've trawled numerous forums can can't seem to get a clear answer (other than convert it). Does anyone have any ideas what I'm doing wrong or point me in the direction of some threads that have what I need

many thanks for any and all help

Are the files not playing at all? Are you using the latest firmware?

I select them from the video menu and the screen comes up with the no subtitles bit then it goes back to the menu screen. I'm not sure there is even an error message, unless I'm not quick enough to spot it.

I think my firmware is v 1.3.5 which I believe is the latest (it was displayed on the top right of the sceen, I've not seen it anywhere else).

Firstly, this should be under the main tvix 5100 thread...

I should however stop ranting.
So you see the movies, is anything playing at all?
I'm think other formats, xvid/divx (avi), mpgs etc.

First you should make sure you are able to play the most common formats, so try that first.
Second, how do you stream the movies. You mention a laptop. Is it Samba or NFS? You problem are vaguely familiar and something I experienced when my NFS server was not 100% (Microsoft NFS).
Try using Netshare, as it is the easiest to setup on both PC and tvix. The FAQ in the manual or at tvix homepage should give you a good description.

Hope it will work out for you!

Meenenator

I've got some mpeg/xvid/avi stored on my Tvix and they all play fine. I've also streamed those file types from my desktop using NFS, that worked fine.

I transfer files from my pvr in .ts format to the laptop because its easy to plug it in (my pc is upstairs). I can then either download to the Tvix, stream using NFS or convert to mpeg and do either of those 2.

I've transferred files to the Tvix in .ts and h.264 format. They show up in the menu but won't play, no lead in or freeze up just a flick back to the menu screen, very odd.

I'll go and find the 5100 thread I promise :o

Ok, so streaming is working. You are using Netshare or another NFS server?

There might be something with the .ts files that messes up things.
Have you checked the files using the tvix manager tool (d/l from tvix homepage).
If there is indeed something wrong with your files you either have to re-encode them (a bummer...) or try a container change (TS to mkv or similar). A container change would not require re-encoding.
There are some tools in www.videohelp.com that might be valuable for you.

Your TS files, are those 264-based? I recall that the 5100 should play TS files with 264. Note that 264 is the codec used. TS is the container (which can contain various type of codecs (both audio/video)).

If you open one of the non-playable files in mediainfo(search google or look under tools at www.videohelp.com) what does it say?

I'm using the Netshare software, which seems ok.

I'll take a look at the bits and pieces you've mentioned (when I'm not at work :D) and see how I get on. I've got the Tvix Manager tool but to be honest had no idea what I was doing with it. will try it tonight.

appreciate your help

Ok some of the mp4 files (the ones I'm calling h.264) are unsupported due to pixel width, so thats fair enough.

However some of the files aren't even being scanned by the Tvix Manager. One file has these details according to mediaInfo

General #0
Complete name : D:\NFL 2007-8\Bengals @ Browns.wk2.x264.SPAX\Bengals @ Browns.wk2.x264.SPAX.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format/Info : ISO 14496-1 Base Media
Format/Family : MPEG-4
File size : 1.31 GiB
PlayTime : 2h 45mn
Bit rate : 1130 Kbps
StreamSize : 2.82 MiB
Encoded date : UTC 2007-09-16 03:53:16
Tagged date : UTC 2007-09-16 03:53:16

Video #0
Codec : AVC
Codec/Family : AVC
Codec/Info : H.264 (3GPP)
PlayTime : 2h 45mn
Bit rate : 1000 Kbps
Width : 512 pixels
Height : 384 pixels
Display Aspect ratio : 4/3
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.170
StreamSize : 1.16 GiB
Encoded date : UTC 2007-09-16 02:40:46
Tagged date : UTC 2007-09-16 03:54:11

One of my TS files has the following info

General #0
Complete name : G:\\20080210 1501 Agatha Christie's.mpg
Format : MPEG-2 Program
Format/Family : MPEG-2
File size : 2.58 GiB
PlayTime : 1h 58mn
Bit rate : 3113 Kbps

Video #0
Codec : MPEG-2 Video
Codec/Family : MPEG-V
Codec profile : Main@Main
Codec settings, Matrix : Standard
PlayTime : 1h 58mn
Bit rate mode : CBR
Bit rate : 2705 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 15 Mbps
Width : 704 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display Aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Chroma : 4:2:0
Interlacement : Top Field First

Audio #0
Codec : MPEG-1 Audio layer 2
PlayTime : 1h 58mn
Bit rate mode : CBR
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits
Writing library : Xing (new)

Is it as simple as changing my TV OUTPUT option? to a different size

Hmmm?

I see two things. 3GPP and MPEG-V. Not sure if those are supported.
At least not the 3GPP one. I do think you need to re-encode. Sorry...

I had one of those myself (3GPP) and it was not playable. I don't think I have taken it any further, i.e reencoded it.
There should be helpful guides at videohelp.com on how to convert them and what tools you need.

Others might have more ideas about codec support, and maybe other re-encoding tools. "Super" is a tool that can do a lot. Haven't played much with it myself, but it is user-friendly... and free.
You might need the x264 codecs if you intend to to some decoding/encoding (under tools/codecs at videohelp)