SnapStream PVS - troubleshooting, tips and tricks

By: Chris Kaminski 

Date: Sep 11, 2001

Version: 1.5 reviewed

SnapStream has done everything in it’s power to make sure it’s software works without any manual configuration but they can not compensate for everything. Here are some tips I discovered while reading the message boards and from my own trial and error.

When using the hardware configuration wizard, only 2-3 cable tv channels are found:

Your cable provider may be using an HRC encoding method on the line. This is uncommon, but it happens (like to me!). Configure SnapStream for cable TV, then manually type in all the frequency ranges from THIS document .

I have a broadband router acting as a firewall. How do I get to my SnapStream server from the internet?

You need to use the ‘port forwarding’ or ‘virtual server’ feature of your router. Here is an article explaining port forwarding. The default port for snapstream is 8129.

I installed SnapStream and now the web server that is running on that computer is not working.

SnapStream will automatically try to bind to port 80 so it can forward requests to the SnapStream server. You can turn this port 80 binding off in the Configure>Web Server screen. Set Port Forwarder to NO.

My CPU sometime maxes out and I get dropped frames.

Try switching your codec ISO MPEG-4. MPEG-4 uses less CPU time than the Windows Media Video codec’s. This is done in the “Quality Profiles” editor.

I have an ATI video tuner and I experience: Lockups, frames skipped or dim video.

ATI did not implement their drivers correctly and therefore many video applications have these problems. Check the official SmartStream FAQ and their discussion boards for up to the minute details.

TIP:

Timing the recording of shows can be tricky if your system clock is wrong! Try synchronizing your system clock to an Internet time server. The DNS2GO client will do this for you for free. So will countless other programs from here - most are shareware.

 

Snapstream PVS supports serial port interfacing to RCA and Sony set-top boxes for channel tuning.

PVS Personal Video Station

PVR Personal Video Recorder

PTV Personal Television

DVR Digital Video Recorder

PC-TV Personal computer-Television

.asf advanced streaming format

EPG Electronic Program/Programming Guide

What do I want to see SnapStream PVS do? VCD support. I think it would be awesome to be able to quickly convert and burn my recorded shows onto VCD’s so I can watch them in my DVD player. At $0.25 or less per CDR, VCD recording is less expensive than video tapes these days. Look for a future article about converting your recordings to VCD’s. For now, start with this link http://www.vcdhelper.com/

 

 

SnapStream PVS - troubleshooting, tips and tricks