Re: Xbox Extender giving network congestion errors

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Todd Bowra [MSFT] (toddbow_at_online.microsoft.com)
Date: 02/04/05 

Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 20:33:17 -0800

It appears that your network is operating right on the edge of acceptability
(due to the drops in throughput to 0), which really makes no sense given
that it's 100 Mbps wired. Recovery from network congestion works slightly
different with Live content (vs. buffered content), which would account for
the two behaviors you see. Something to try:

1) Download and install the TweakMCE power toy (let me know if you don't
have this already)
2) Launch Media Center on your PC, navigate to More Programs and select
TweakMCE
3) From the main list, choose Extender and then Show Network Congestion
notification
4) Select Do Not Show Notification; click Save and then Exit
5) Restart your Media Center and your MCX
6) Attempt to play recorded TV again
7) If you still see the notification in the upper right warning you of
network congestion, repeat steps 2-6, but select "Show Notification" in step
4

note: this is a workaround only - it doesn't resolve the underlying issue
note 2: TweakMCE is an unsupported power toy and is not guaranteed to work 

-- 
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
"Kraig with a K" <kraig@kraig.kom> wrote in message
news:%23v$X50SCFHA.392@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Hi Todd,
>
> yes it does! ... what could it be?
>
> and yes Kraig = Craig :)  Different computers used while posting... :)
>
>
>
>
> "Todd Bowra [MSFT]" <toddbow@online.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:OPblHZMCFHA.1932@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> > Quick experiment to try - start a Live TV stream, pause for 5 minutes,
and
> > then watch it (5 minutes behind Live - do not skip forward). Do you see
> > network congestion issues?
> >
> > -- 
> > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> > rights.
> >
> >
> > "Craig in Montreal" <craigmtl@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:%23s8658LCFHA.1392@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> >> So I just tested mine.
> >>
> >> Crossover cable:  same problem
> >>
> >> Added second NIC with a D-Link DFW-538TX, disabled other.. tried
through
> >> a
> >> hub and switch:  same problem
> >>
> >> So now I'm back to the original problem - eveRy minute or so, I get 5
> >> seconds of Network Congestion.
> >>
> >> There is one thing I didn't mention earlier though: it is only on
> >> recorded
> >> TV.  I don't get the same problem on live TV.. so the network may not
be
> > the
> >> issue..
> >>
> >> Kraig
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> "Todd Bowra [MSFT]" <toddbow@online.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:%23Idfw2HCFHA.4008@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> >> > Another option that may be easier is to temporarily relocate the Xbox
> > near
> >> > the PC.
> >> >
> >> > Regarding the network usage graph - the fact that it drops to 0
> > indicates
> >> > that one of three things likely happened:
> >> > 1) Your PC stopped sending data
> >> > 2) Your network (router/switch/etc.) stopped relaying data
> >> > 3) Your Xbox stopped receiving data
> >> >
> >> > Based on previous observations, I'm inclined to believe that item 1
or
> >> > 2
> >> > is
> >> > at fault. You've mostly eliminated 2 as the source, but using a
> > cross-over
> >> > cable will confirm this. This leaves #1 as the likely cause. Before
we
> > go
> >> > to
> >> > far down that path, it would be best to eliminate #2. Let us know how
> >> > it
> >> > goes with the cross-over cable and we'll go from there.
> >> >
> >> > -- 
> >> > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> > rights.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "JW" <anonymous@Nospam.Iam> wrote in message
> >> > news:u5yJLsGCFHA.612@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> >> >> If you have a short x-over cable and a regular cable then just get a
> >> >> cable
> >> >> extender connector( 2 female connections) at RS it is a much more
> > useful
> >> >> adapter to have around the house.
> >> >> "Kraig with a K" <kraig@kraig.kom> wrote in message
> >> >> news:u8s9WYGCFHA.3416@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> >> >> > Hi Todd..
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >> Few questions:
> >> >> >> - Have you rebooted both your PC and Xbox recently?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Yes, I reboot every couple days - and often shut down the computer
> >> >> > if
> > I
> >> >> > have no scheduled recordings.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >> - What have you changed/installed/removed on your PC between the
> > time
> >> >> >> that
> >> >> >> things worked well and when the problem appeared?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I've done nothing, added nothing, installed nothing except Windows
> >> >> > critical updates.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >> - What is your full network topology, including all routers,
> > switches,
> >> >> >> PCs,
> >> >> >> etc.? What if anything has changed on your network between the
time
> >> > this
> >> >> >> worked and now?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Nothing has changed.    Topology:  Xbox over Cat5e network cable
to
> > my
> >> >> > usual Linksys WAP54G router. Firmware is the latest.    I've also
> > tried
> >> > it
> >> >> > with a Linksys EG0801W desktop Switch I borrowed from work.   DHCP
> >> >> > is
> >> >> > disabled, all static IPs.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I also have a Tosiba R100 laptop that connects wirelessly, but the
> >> > problem
> >> >> > does not change if the laptop is on or off. I have security
enabled
> > and
> >> > my
> >> >> > SSID is disabled - nobody is connecting to my wireless router but
> >> >> > me.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >> - Have you tried directly connecting your PC to the Xbox via a
> >> > crossover
> >> >> >> cable, eliminating all of your switches, routers, etc.?
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I don't have a 10 metre crossover cable I'm afraid, but I'll try
and
> >> > hunt
> >> >> > that down tonight.. (so no, haven't checked this yet).
> >> >> >
> >> >> >> - While TV is streaming to your Xbox, open Task Manager and click
> >> >> >> on
> >> > the
> >> >> >> Networking tab; next select View --> Update Speed --> High. Let
> >> >> >> this
> >> > run
> >> >> >> until you see the network congestion notification on your Xbox
then
> >> > check
> >> >> >> the Networking graph - are there any major drops in throughput
> >> >> >> (especially
> >> >> >> if they drop to 0) before you saw the network congestion
> > notification?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Yes it dropped to zero and then climbed back up to about 15% usage
> >> >> > where
> >> >> > it was normal.  Rollercoaster graph.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Thanks..
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Kraig
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> > "Todd Bowra [MSFT]" <toddbow@online.microsoft.com> wrote in
message
> >> >> > news:uIKNB$7BFHA.3528@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> >> >> >> The most common cause for this behavior is a buggy driver for
your
> >> >> >> PC's
> >> >> >> Ethernet card; this doesn't appear to be the cause in your case
> > given
> >> >> >> that
> >> >> >> this used to work and that you're running the latest driver. The
> > next
> >> >> >> more
> >> >> >> common cause is firmware issues with switches/routers.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Few questions:
> >> >> >> - Have you rebooted both your PC and Xbox recently?
> >> >> >> - What have you changed/installed/removed on your PC between the
> > time
> >> >> >> that
> >> >> >> things worked well and when the problem appeared?
> >> >> >> - What is your full network topology, including all routers,
> > switches,
> >> >> >> PCs,
> >> >> >> etc.? What if anything has changed on your network between the
time
> >> > this
> >> >> >> worked and now?
> >> >> >> - Have you tried directly connecting your PC to the Xbox via a
> >> > crossover
> >> >> >> cable, eliminating all of your switches, routers, etc.?
> >> >> >> - While TV is streaming to your Xbox, open Task Manager and click
> >> >> >> on
> >> > the
> >> >> >> Networking tab; next select View --> Update Speed --> High. Let
> >> >> >> this
> >> > run
> >> >> >> until you see the network congestion notification on your Xbox
then
> >> > check
> >> >> >> the Networking graph - are there any major drops in throughput
> >> >> >> (especially
> >> >> >> if they drop to 0) before you saw the network congestion
> > notification?
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> -- 
> >> >> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no
> >> >> >> rights.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> "Kraig with a K" <kraig@kraig.kom> wrote in message
> >> >> >> news:%23xP%23mU6BFHA.2568@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> >> >> >>> Hello all,
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> My Xbox extender has started to give me network congestion
errors.
> >> >> >>> It
> >> >> >>> was
> >> >> >>> working flawlessly for a few months, but now I can't get rid of
> > them.
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> I have a AMD 64, 1gb RAM, 200gb SATA drive.
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> I've changed all the network hardware - I'm using a Linksys
10/100
> >> >> >>> switch
> >> >> >>> now.    I've replaced the network cable from the Xbox to the
> >> >> >>> Switch
> >> >> >>> which
> >> >> >> is
> >> >> >>> about 10 metres away.
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> I've defragmented my hard drive.  I've tried disabling the
> > antivirus
> >> >> >>> real
> >> >> >>> time protection (Kaspersky).  I've updated the network drivers
> >> >> >>> (Chaintech
> >> >> >>> Motherboard on-board Realtek).  There are no additional
processes
> >> >> >>> running
> >> >> >>> and the Extender monitor has zero bars - only one when it's
> > attached
> >> > and
> >> >> >>> playing.  The computer is clean - I barely use it only to record
> >> >> >>> TV
> >> > and
> >> >> >> burn
> >> >> >>> files, there has been no major or minor configuration change in
> >> >> >>> months
> >> >> >>> on
> >> >> >>> it.
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> I installed Network Spy 2.0 to monitor the bandwidth and when
I'm
> >> >> >>> playing
> >> >> >>> recorded TV on the Xbox, it never, ever even goes beyond 20% of
> >> >> >>> the
> >> >> >>> bandwidth available.
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> I'm frustrated now, I can't watch TV very well on the Xbox -
every
> > 5
> >> >> >> seconds
> >> >> >>> it'll get congested, then it'll become uncongested for 1 minute,
> > then
> >> >> >>> back
> >> >> >>> to 5-10 seconds of congestion.. the cycle continues.
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> I've even tried reducing the recording quality of the shows to
> > "low"
> >> >> >>> and
> >> >> >>> that doesn't solve the problem either.   This has only started
to
> >> > happen
> >> >> >> in
> >> >> >>> the past 2 weeks...  the computer has all the available updates
on
> >> >> >>> it.
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> Xbox Live works perfectly - no network errors.  I've hooked my
> > laptop
> >> > up
> >> >> >> to
> >> >> >>> the network cable as well and there doesn't appear to be any
> > cabling
> >> >> >>> issues - but then again, I swapped cables with a new one to..
but
> >> > still
> >> >> >> have
> >> >> >>> the same problem.
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> Anyone else have any ideas?
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> Thank you
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> Kraig
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Xbox Extender giving network congestion errors
    ... Which of the following behaviors did you see after using TweakMCE? ... network problems ... You didn't see the notification, ... Recovery from network congestion works ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)
  • Re: Xbox Extender giving network congestion errors
    ... Have you rebooted both your PC and Xbox recently? ... What is your full network topology, including all routers, switches, PCs, ... until you see the network congestion notification on your Xbox then check ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)
  • Re: Detecting a new IP address
    ... "Jason Farmer" wrote in message ... Eventually I need to get this PC's network ... name - but I can easily achieve that, it the notification that the PC ... Usually I can put my completed app on a server, ...
    (microsoft.public.vb.winapi.networks)
  • Re: Outlook 2002 not delivering mail properly
    ... Windows XP-Based Clients Do Not Receive "New Mail" Notification Messages ... Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook] ... | My Outlook 2002 has all of a sudden stopped delivering ... I'm on a network and usually I will ...
    (microsoft.public.outlook)
  • Detecting a new IP address
    ... I am sure this is a solvable problem, but I don't know quite how to ... Eventually I need to get this PC's network ... name - but I can easily achieve that, it the notification that the PC ... don't want to flood the network with pings to achieve this. ...
    (microsoft.public.vb.winapi.networks)