Shield / Web performance difference

Channels DVR Server
#1

I run Channels on a lightly loaded Synology DS1019+. Main client is a Shield on gigabit Ethernet and performance there is usually quite good (meaning that forward/back skip works with very little delay). However when I watch through the web on a machine on the same switch as the server, I get significant delays (5-10 seconds) when using ff. Server is lightly loaded, and I can copy files back and forth from the server at > 110 MB/sec.

Here are the settings on the admin settings page:

  • Hardware transcoder and deinterlacer
  • Adaptive streaming on
  • Cache is 3.67GB
  • Server quality is set to 1080/8mbps (lowered this from 10mbps but still slow)
  • Client buffer is 30 seconds

Troubleshooting page gives me all green checks.

Suggestions or tips for further analysis?

Thanks.

#2

Can you specify. Did you really mean 110 megabytes/s (880 megabits/s), or is that 110 megabits/s? This is one place where case matters.

#3

It would be MB Mega Bytes. 1Gb network. I get that speed with mine too.

#4

Turn adaptive streaming off, not needed on your local lan.
Change Server quality back to 1080/10mbps

Playing in a web browser will always remux or transcode and be slower to respond.
For Live viewing I recommend letting it buffer at least 10 secs before playing.
For recordings, I usually let it remux or transcode a few minutes before I start playing.

#5

Thanks for the suggestions @chDVRuser. Waiting a few minutes does improve the ff/rw experience within a narrow window (e.g. you get a few quick ones before it slows). Problem is my main use case is watching recorded sports which involves frequently skipping forward and back. For this browser playback is basically unwatchable.

Plex client on the same Windows machine has instantaneous response from the server. However I switched because their DVR was a disaster compared with Channels. I think the Channels guys have made the right choices about priorities: having an excellent living room experience using thin clients.

I guess the simplest answer would be to get another Shield for my desk. Flashback to the Xbox extender...