1.06e which disrupts media streaming?

[leeguv]

At 02:21 this morning, a film I had been watching for two hours on LoveFilm abruptly stopped. It was as though the internet had disconnected. I paused and waited,and within a minute or so I was able to continue watching the film. When this happened previously I thought it was a connection problem, but on this occasion I *immediately* logged into the router, checked the system log and found this:

Jan 14 02:21:13 daemon DHCP SERVER: DHCP release from 28:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx

I have censored the MAC address because I'm not sure how revealing it could be from a privacy POV, but low and behold it is the MAC address of the device being used to watch LoveFilm and that DHCP release happened at the EXACT moment the film abruptly stopped.

I have assigned fixed addresses to all of my devices, so I'm wondering if I even need the DHCP server enabled.

[leeguv]

It's 2.10am (yawn) and this just happened again albeit with a different message in the system log, but it's interesting that there was router activity again at the *exact* time the film I was watching froze. Something else I realised: This only happens with films that run for over two hours. Seconds after the two hour mark is reached, the streamed film freezes.

Here are the entries of interest:

Code: Select all

  Jan 15 00:47:39  syslog  -- MARK --
  Jan 15 01:47:39  syslog  -- MARK --
  Jan 15 01:49:14  user  syslog: web: ::ffff:192.168.1.210 login 

The film froze at 01:47, and it seems a hourly " -- MARK -- " event occurred on the router simultaneously. What does that event mean? The 01:49 event is me logging into the router with my smartphone to see if there was any system log activity.

The ADSL2+ connection wasn't dropped and connection (as per usual) seems fine and fast.

[billion_fan]

The mark log, is just like a time stamp, it does not mean anything, and just logging a time with mark listed next to it.

The mark log normally appears when nothing has been logged for certain amount of time.

[leeguv]

What about the first one?

Is a DHCP renewal likely to interrupt media streaming?

If so, is there a way to stop that happening?

I've got all my devices (not just computers, but phones, a PS3 and internet tv) assigned to stated internal IP addresses, so do I need the DHCP server at all?

If this happens again, I'm going to switch back to the el-cheapo router provided by my ISP, and if the problem goes away with that I guess I'll have to return the Billion router as not fit for purpose and get another make/model instead. I'd rather not do that though because I like it in most other respects.

[tinytim]

Have you contacted LoveFilm about this? Could be something their end, especially as it's only 2hour+ films.

Also what if you do this earlier in the evening.

[billion_fan]

If all your devices are using static IP's then there is no need to use DHCP server.

This might be a pain when new devices are connecting, but is your choice.

Also the log you refer to, should be irrelevant as you are using static IP's and not the DHCP server.

You might want to check the devices DHCP table, here should list all devices using DHCP server, for a list of devices using a static IP, you can check the ARP table.

From looking at the second log, there is no mention that router has a issue.

If the issue happenes again, please try and surf the net on your device, to make sure all other browsing is fine, and issue does not lie with Lovefilm

[leeguv]

Have you contacted LoveFilm about this? Could be something their end, especially as it's only 2hour+ films.

Also what if you do this earlier in the evening.

It doesn't matter what time of day or night I watch LoveFilm movies. If they're over two hours long and being viewed via the Billion router, they will freeze at the two hour point. I have now managed to test this with a Thomson router provided by my ISP and it doesn't happen. It doesn't freeze at all after two hours.

Also, I have contacted LoveFilm and they say they've never come across this before, and having just signed up their two millionth subscriber I'm pretty sure their customers would be complaining all over the place if this was a common problem.

[leeguv]

If all your devices are using static IP's then there is no need to use DHCP server.

...

You might want to check the devices DHCP table, here should list all devices using DHCP server, for a list of devices using a static IP, you can check the ARP table.

The static IPs are assigned by the router, via the DHCP > Fixed Hosts section, and that first log entry suggests the DHCP server IS renewing statically assigned devices... which is why I'm thinking disabling the DHCP server *will* break my home network. Oh well, I can give it a try anyway and see what happens.

On the bright side, Amazon are offering a full refund if I don't get the problem solved.

[leeguv]

If the issue happenes again, please try and surf the net on your device, to make sure all other browsing is fine, and issue does not lie with Lovefilm

I missed this. All browsing is fine. I pick up my smartphone when it happens. It automatically loads the BBC front page when I fire up the browser. I then log into the router. Connection has not been dropped. Also, if I deliberately drop the connection then the PS3 (one of the devices through which LoveFilm can be streamed) will immediately fire up a message saying "connection was lost" and "logged out of Playstation Network". The two hour freezing isn't limited to the PS3 though but a Sony Bravia smart TV too, so it's not even like the problem can be blamed on one of those devices.

[billion_fan]

What I meant was on the device that has just dropped the connection to Lovefilm, once the movie has paused or stopped, on the PS3 try and use the web browser and see if the PS3 still has LAN connectivity. eg first try the net, then try the routers web configuration page.

But if the PS3 is stating the network connection is lost (difference between internet connection and network connection) then there might be a issue.

I assume your devices are connecting wirelessly to the router?

Have your tried to change the channel, channel width etc?