U-Verse Realtime v1.3.0.0

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

I don't currently have another update in the works at the moment, I'm kind of debating what else to add.  There's been a few requests for some things that I might try.

• One person wanted some U-Voice information, but since I don't have U-Voice it would be difficult for me to put this in.  Plus I'm not sure of what all I would display or how useful it would in troubleshooting.
• I'm debating making an operating point graph that combines all the line statistics onto one visual representation.  It would allow you to see if one of the line parameters is not consistent with the others.
• I have had requests to add logging of channels and channel changes, with reporting on how many hours of TV have been watched by a particular STB, report on what channel was being watched at a given time, etc.  This is difficult to do without a small SQL database, so I'm not sure I want to put this in.
• I do want to do some minor updates, such as revamp the autoupdater (the code is a mess), put in some code to migrate settings between versions, etc.
• I might put something in to make it easy to submit a channel into the channel database right from the program.
• I'm not sure what the reaction would be on this, but it's something I've thought about: I want to make it an option to submit your line stats for anonymous data collection.  It would report your line stats to my server, which would then make public a database of those stats so that we can see what the "typical" range of U-Verse installations looks like.  No personal information would be collected.

[RCSMG ACE - Master]

How about a way to check your service when you are away from home.  To see if it is operating correctly.  This would be hand to know if you are on vacation and have recordings scheduled.  I don't know if this would be an infringement issue, but a way to remotely reboot your equipment would be cool too. 

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

Funny you mention that.

I have toyed with the idea of a mobile application that would basically reflect some of the same service parameters.  e.g. be able to see the channels/streams in use on your phone.

I have never written an Android application but that's where I might try to develop this.

As far as reboots, I could reboot the RG, but I don't think I can do anything with the STBs, there's simply no interface with them over the network.

[ram1220]

 I love your program. Thanks. Also since I just bought a new Android phone I would be interested in a phone application if you do develop one.

 Bob

[JefferMC ACE - Wizard]

Hm... a way to see what the kids are watching when you're not at home...

[thereviewer_1]

I have been having problems with netflix streaming, I see a bit of red and orange on this tool.   But I have no idea what any of it means.  Should I be concerned, do you need to see anythign else?

[mibrnsurg ACE - Geek]

It means that you have no overhead on the 32/5 profile bitwise and should go back to 25/2 (to have headroom and probably avoid problems) if you are having any Uverse TV problems (not Netflix).   Surprising that 39M is a problem on 35/2, post the bit loading page to see if you might have a bridge tap affecting you.

Chris

_____________________________________________________________________

Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
I Call It Like I See It, Simply a U-verse user, nothing more

[thereviewer_1]

Here is the bitloading screenshot.

[RAPP81]

 SomeJoe7777:

Here are the channel / multicast IP mappings for the San Francisco / Oakland / San Jose , CA Market (My ZIP: 94547) to add to the database:

Channel	ID	IP
2	KTVU 2, Oakland, CA (FOX)	239.192.38.1
3	KNTV 11, San Jose, CA (NBC)	239.192.38.6
4	KRON 4, San Francisco, CA (MyNet)	239.192.38.2
5	KPIX 5, San Francisco, CA (CBS)	239.192.38.3
6	KICU 36, San Jose, CA (IND)	239.192.38.11
7	KGO 7, San Francisco, CA (ABC)	239.192.38.4
8	KTSF 26, San Francisco, CA (IND)	239.192.38.9
9	KQED 9, San Francisco, CA (PBS)	239.192.38.5
13	KDTV 14, San Francisco, CA (Univision)	239.192.38.7
19	KFSF 66, Vallejo, CA (Futura)	239.192.38.19
20	KOFY 20, San Francisco, CA (IND)	239.192.38.8
22	KRCB 22, Cotati, CA (PBS)	239.192.38.40
25	KTLN 68, Novato, CA (TLN)	239.192.38.30
32	KMTP 32, San Francisco, CA (IND)	239.192.38.29
38	KCNS 38, San Francisco, CA (IND)	239.192.38.16
42	KTNC 42, Concord, CA (Estrella)	239.192.38.12
43	KCSM 60, San Mateo, CA (PBS)	239.192.38.13
44	KBCW 44, San Francisco, CA (CW)	239.192.38.14
48	KSTS 48, San Jose, CA (Telemundo)	239.192.38.15
54	KTEH 54, San Jose, CA (PBS)	239.192.38.17
65	KKPX 65, San Jose, CA (ION)	239.192.38.18
1002	KTVU 2 HD, Oakland, CA (FOX)	239.192.38.23
1003	KNTV 11 HD, San Jose, CA (NBC)	239.192.38.21
1004	KRON 4 HD, San Francisco, CA (MyNet)	239.192.38.25
1005	KPIX 5 HD, San Francisco, CA (CBS)	239.192.38.22
1006	KICU 36 HD, San Jose, CA (IND)	239.192.38.28
1007	KGO 7 HD, San Francisco, CA (ABC)	239.192.38.20
1009	KQED 9 HD, San Francisco, CA (PBS)	239.192.38.24
1013	KDTV 14 HD, San Francisco, CA (Univision)	239.192.38.31
1019	KFSF 66 HD, Vallejo, CA (Futura)	239.192.38.35
1020	KOFY 20 HD, San Francisco, CA (IND)	239.192.38.27
1022	KRCB 22 HD, Cotati, CA (PBS)	239.192.38.34
1044	KBCW 44 HD, San Francisco, CA (CW)	239.192.38.26
1048	KSTS 48 HD, San Jose, CA (Telemundo)	239.192.38.33
1065	KKPX 65 HD, San Jose, CA (ION)	239.192.38.32

And here's the info for an international channel I receive:

3682

TFC, The Filipino Channel

239.192.5.189

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

thereviewer,

The bitloading graph doesn't look bad.  It looks typical for your distance ... no bridge tap that I can see.

I would say your Netflix streaming issue is pointing more towards a routing/Internet problem than a line problem.

Your line parameters from your other post show that your line isn't ideal for the 32/5 profile, but it's very close so there probably won't be very much of a problem.  However, you may want to have them lower you to the 25/2 profile just to avoid any issues.  But I think there's only a marginal change that would improve or solve your Netflix issue.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

RAPP81,

Thanks!  I'll get a new channel database together.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

New channel database released, version 2010-07-26-1841-001, 698 channels.

• Add San Francisco / Oakland / San Jose, CA locals.
• Add The Filipino Channel (3682)

For reference, here is the list of all local markets that are now in the database:

• Atlanta, GA
• Cleveland, OH
• Columbus, OH
• Detroit, MI
• Houston, TX
• Milwaukee, WI
• Nashville, TN
• Oklahoma City, OK
• San Francisco / Oakland / San Jose, CA
• Springfield, IL
• St. Louis, MO

If your local market is not on this list and you would like it to be, please post the channel numbers and multicast IP addresses, and your zip code and I will get them in the database.

[Glynne]

My bit loading looks a bit 'funky'.  Kind of uncleanly trails off, like an echo.  Ideas why?  Thanks.

Glynne

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

You probably have a bridge tap on that line.  It's causing the abnormally high attenuation in the upper frequencies.  Also, your downstream attenuation value doesn't really match the upstream power level, which is another indication that there's abnormal attenuation.

Because of the line conditions, your line can't really handle the assigned 25/2 profile either.

I would have the line group (I&R) come look for and remove the bridge tap.  It would bring the line into good working order by improviing the max rate and allowing the 25/2 profile to run correctly.

[electron32746]

My stats seem to be getting worse as the days go by, I wonder why.

7/16 - Stats

7/27 - Stats

7/27 - Bitloading Graph (it seems that the upper frequencies in yellow are missing)

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

Electron,

You are too far from the VRAD for the 25/2 profile.  You need to have your profile reduced to 19/2 for proper line operation.

The lack of upper frequencies on the bitloading graph is due to your distance.  The attenuation is too high for those frequencies to be useful.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

New channel database released, version 2010-07-27-2004-001, 800 channels.

• Add Greenville, SC locals (SD only)
• Add Hartford, CT locals
• Add Los Angeles, CA locals
• Add Miami, FL locals

[Skin_1]

Hi Joe,

I have had U-verse for almost 2 years. now and for the most part really like it up until a few months ago.  I am getting constant locks and the screen freezes up to 30 seconds at times and only between 8:00 and 9:30pm!! Now the weird thing is , is that it only freezes on the set that has the dvr hooked to it. I have two other set top boxes and they never lock up !!  If they do it's very , very minimal and can't remember the last time I've seen it.  Also my internet is terrible.  Once connected it's OK but I'm paying for the Max and my speed is very poor. Tech support doesn't know what to do with the speed so I'm sorta on my own.  If I put the cpu into a sleep mode until I use it the following day I have to pull the USB plug to the 2wire modem reconnect it and then it seems to connect to the internet and I can go my way.  Sometimes this doesn't work either the first time but after numerous attempts it hooks and works OK.

I'm really at the end of the line here and won't keep Uverse if I can't get this fixed. Oh and tech support told me the reason my picture freezes is because there is an interference causing it and it could be my neighbor doing something at that time or a street light coming on etc.  Is this for real ?

Any help would be appreciated!

Lost in Ohio   

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

Actually, this is one of the rare times that tech support may actually be correct.

When we've seen people report that they have a service disruption that occurs on a schedule (in your case it's 8:00PM to 9:30PM), it's almost always due to a periodic electric or electronic device that is cycling on/off at that time and causing interference, either one the VDSL or coax portion of the U-Verse system, or on the AC power lines.

Looks for a light on a timer (street light, backyard flood light, neighbor's safety light, etc.), or some other kind of automatic device.  Since the interference is only affecting one of your units (DVR), I would start looking on that circuit first.

Even an LCD TV could present a problem.  8:00 to 9:30 is the twilight hours, when it gets dark.  Many TVs have an automatic room brightness sensor and begin reducing the picture brightness as the room gets darker -- the modulation that LCD TVs use to reduce the screen brightness could be the interference culprit, either electrically or via infrared.  Try turning the automatic brightness feature of the TV off if your TV has this feature.

These are the areas where I would start looking for the problem.

[Skin_1]

Thanks Joe! I will start searching.  I'm shocked by you saying the LCD tv could be the problem because I just bought a new Sony LCD TV right around the same time the problem started!

Could it really be true and my problem be in this new TV??  I'll let you know in a few days what I find .

[perritterd]

Hello...could someone tell me why I have 5 MAC address here and I only have 4 boxes?  I named the one realtime just for info purposes.

Thanks,

Bob.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

You have 5 MAC addresses and 4 STBs.  The 5th MAC address is the residential gateway (the RG).

It is the source MAC for source ID 1, and the destination MAC for destination ID 1.  You have all 8 of those labeled as "Living Rm DVR", whereas they should be labeled "RG".

Your one labeled "Realtime" is probably the Master Bedroom, and the one labeled Master Bedroom is probable the Living Rm DVR.

Be aware that the MAC addresses in this tab (Coax/HPNA) are special MAC addresses used only for the HPNA interface on the units, and may not match the MAC addresses printed on the bottom of the units, and may not match the MAC addresses shown in the Channels/Streams tab.

[perritterd]

I guess I messed that up pretty good!  I'll follow your reply and relabel everything correctly.

Regards,

Bob.

[msdawg1113]

Hi! Here is the info for the Memphis, TN locals (38138):

SD:

3 - WREG (CBS): 239.193.74.1

5 - WMC (NBC): 293.193.74.3

10 - WKNO (PBS): 293.193.74.8

13 - WHBQ (FOX): 239.193.74.6

24 - WPTY (ABC): 239.193.74.7

30 - WLMT (CW): 239.193.74.10

50 - WPXX (ION): 239.193.74.12

HD:

1003 - WREG (CBS): 239.193.74.13

1005 - WMC (NBC): 239.193.74.14

1010 - WKNO (PBS): 239.193.74.15

1013 - WHBQ (FOX): 239.193.74.16

1024 - WPTY (ABC): 239.193.74.17

1030 - WLMT (CW): 239.193.74.18

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

Very cool, thanks!

I also show a channel 40 - TBN/Trinity Broadcasting Network.  This may be the same IP as channel 560.  Can you check if this is already in the database?  Tune to channel 40 and see if the description is already there.

[RAPP81]

SomeJoe7777,

I just noticed that our RSN's weren't being recognized except for one of the SD channels.  Here's what was being shown as "Not in database":

770 Comcast SportsNet Bay Area 239.192.5.271770 Comcast SportsNet Bay Area 239.192.5.2011767 Comcast SportsNet California 239.192.7.53  

[perritterd]

---

SomeJoe7777 wrote:

You have 5 MAC addresses and 4 STBs.  The 5th MAC address is the residential gateway (the RG).

It is the source MAC for source ID 1, and the destination MAC for destination ID 1.  You have all 8 of those labeled as "Living Rm DVR", whereas they should be labeled "RG".

Your one labeled "Realtime" is probably the Master Bedroom, and the one labeled Master Bedroom is probable the Living Rm DVR.

Be aware that the MAC addresses in this tab (Coax/HPNA) are special MAC addresses used only for the HPNA interface on the units, and may not match the MAC addresses printed on the bottom of the units, and may not match the MAC addresses shown in the Channels/Streams tab.

---

Hi-how do I determine if the Master Bdrm or the Guest Bdrm is #3 or #4 on the list in the Coax/HPNA tab?  Is it automatic or determined by the order  the installer did the install?  I've corrected all the other items you recommeded.

Thanks,

Bob.

[milkman]

SomeJoe777... here you go.   Madison, WI locals

SD:

3 - WISC (CBS): 239.192.142.1

15 - WMTV (NBC): 239.192.142.6

21 - WHA (PBS): 239.192.142.11

27 - WKOW (ABC): 239.192.142.16

47 - WMSN (FOX): 239.192.142.21

57 - WBUW (CW): 239.192.142.31

HD:

1003 - WISC (CBS): 239.192.142.36

1015 - WMTV (NBC): 239.192.142.37

1021 - WHA (PBS): 239.192.142.38

1027 - WKOW (ABC): 239.192.142.39

1047 - WMSN (FOX): 239.192.142.40

1057 - WBUW (CW): 239.192.142.41

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

Hi perritterd,

Matching the Coax/HPNA MAC addresses with actual units is difficult.  I have not been able to find a good way to do it automatically within the tool because the RG doesn't give me enough information.

However, this method does work, but is slow:

1. Write down what the list is currently showing.

2. Unplug one of your STB units.

3. Within about 5 minutes, one of the MAC addresses will disappear from the list in the Coax/HPNA tab.  Using the list that you wrote down, you can figure out which MAC address disappeared.

4. That MAC address is the unit that you unplugged.

5. Plug the unit back in, it will reappear in the list within 5 minutes.  At that point, double-click on it and rename it as you see fit.

6. Repeat this process with your other STB units.

If you don't want to wait the 5 minutes that it takes UVRT to update the Coax/HPNA tab, you can get the same coax/HPNA data from the RG using:

http://192.168.1.254/xslt?PAGE=C_2_5

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

Thanks, milkman!  Will get them entered.