DVR causing network congestion

[bdcusa]

Recently, I have been having problems using my network and I have finally figured out what the problem is: the bloody DVR!  Whenever the DVR is both being used to watch TV and recording a show at the same time, it hoses the network communication to such a degree that a file that normally takes about three seconds to transfer instead takes nearly a minute.  This has not been the case until recently and this DVR has been in service for nearly two years.  Anyone have any suggestions about what to do here or should I get AT&T to send out someone to repair/replace this blasted unit? 

[aviewer ACE - Wizard]

bdcusa - I guess it is possible that the DVR is failing. Here is another possibility. You have a coax network & a component is failing.

Make sure all connections are tight. All cable ends should have been replaced with compression fittings on the install.

Do you have any buried splitters or barrel connectors or wall plates that connection could be failing.

It is best to connect the DVR to the RG via cat5.

[bdcusa]

My entire network is Cat 5e.  No RG6 anywhere in the network.  Being a network engineer and using this network for my business, I prefer to optimize the functionality as much as possible.  The DVR is on the 100Mbps segment of the network while the computers are all on the 1Gbps.  The attachment between the two segments is a Cat 5e line from one of the ports on the gateway to one of the gigabit switches.  All is fine save for when the DVR is both working to display TV and record shows.

[aviewer ACE - Wizard]

bdcusa - If it were me I would be calling for a new DVR.

[JefferMC ACE - Wizard]

bdcusa, let me be sure I understand this. From what you said:

1) Your DVR is connected directly to the RG with a Cat 5e cable.

2) You also have a Gigabit switch connected directly to the RG.  The rest of your network is connected to that gigabit switch.

Questions:

1) Is there a separate wireless access point or router connected to the Gigabit switch?

2) Are there any STB or XBOX running the Uverse software connected to this Gigabit switch?

[bdcusa]

(1) No, there are no other wireless routers or wireless access points on this network.

(2) No, there are no set-top boxes on the Gigabit switch as the only devices that are attached to the gigabit segment are only those that are capable of utilizing the entire bandwidth of that connection.  Further, I have no Xbox or other game console malarkey. 

[bdcusa]

I just spoke with AT&T and they are sending out a new DVR by UPS Ground without argument.  Hopefully that will resolve the issue as I suspect it will.

[JefferMC ACE - Wizard]

Cool.  Let us know how it works out.

[bdcusa]

Well, one and all, to my surprise AT&T's Customer Service actually exceeded what they said they would do: they told me during the conversation that the replacement DVR would be sent by UPS Ground and that I would get it in a few days.  Instead, it arrived yesterday which was only a single day after the order was placed.  AT&T shipped the unit from Texas by UPS Next Day Air Saver (the cheaper afternoon delivery option for those who are not familiar with the service).  I hooked it up and the problem of network congestion has disappeared when both recording and viewing functions are being used at the same time.

So, if anyone else has a similar problem, you might see if that is your issue.  The way that I found to test this was by timing how long it took to browse a website (I actually used the listing of topics in the U-Verse forums) when the DVR is turned off (the power button does not have its green ring around it) and again when it is turned on while also being used to record something (the red light is on).  I did this several times to verify the results and reliably each time the DVR was on and recording, the network performance went right down the tubes: the refresh of the forums page went from about half a second to over 90 seconds in most cases (the fastest was 43 seconds during my tests).

[hpmsrm]

That is great .... that your problem got solved.  Thanks for coming back and letting us all know.  A lot of posters with problems that get solved don't do that.  Your responses and those of the others that responded to you just might help any number of us in the future.

[RCSMG ACE - Master]

Thanks for posting your outcome.  Enjoy.