Stuttering streaming video

[MNJack762]

Specifically MLB.com highlights.

I'm running Lucid 5.2.0 USB install on an Acer Aspire One Netbook N450 processor. 1 Gb Ram. Using Chrome browser.

Is there anything I can do to smooth out the video?

It works fine on Windows 7 Starter, but stutters in Puppy.

[Béèm]

If I remember well, 5.2.0 showed this behavior.
Better to install 5.2.5 or even the 5.2.8 also called Two Headed dog. (deratives section)

[MNJack762]

Thanks Beem,

I booted into my Dell laptop and it plays much smoother. Nearly perfect.

I knew I would upgrade versions eventually, but I've learned nearly everything I know about Linux from 5.2.0 and I'm a little attached to it.

I'll try 5.2.5 and then maybe add another gig of ram to the netbook and see if that smooths things out.

[Béèm]

I don't think that buying an extra 1GB will help.
If you can get one free for testing go ahead, but still I don't think it's a lack of memory.
It is always useful to report the full techn specs of your computer(s)

Also I am not quite in favor of the Chrome browser → streaming video (probably through flashplayer)

[MNJack762]

OK the Acer netbook specs are:

Aspire One 532h.
N450 processor 1.66 GHz 512K L2 Cache single core running Windows 7 starter in 32 bit
1 GB Ram
160 GB HDD

The Dell laptop:
Vostro 1000
AMD 64 Athlon X2 1.9 GHz 2X256K L2 Cache Dual Core processor running XP pro in 32 bit
1 GB Ram
80 GB HDD

I'm running Puppy 5.2.0 installed on a 4 GB USB drive, using JWM as my windows manager.

I'd love your opinion on browsers. Which one have you found works best with Puppy?

I'm downloading 5.2.5 right now. I'll report back today or tomorrow if that makes a difference in streaming video. I'll change one thing at a time to see what works. I'll start with the version update and make other changes from there.

Thanks for hanging out in the beginner forum, Beem. I appreciate it.

[MNJack762]

OK I'm updated to 5.2.5.

Stuttering video continues on my netbook but it is better than 5.2.0. Video plays very well on my laptop.

I tried firefox and opera too but they play exactly like Chrome.

I will try the ram next, but it will be a few weeks before I can get around to that.

Is there anything else that I can do?

[bigpup]

Post a link to something you try to play.

[MNJack762]

Here you go. I usually listen to the game on the radio live, then watch the highlights the next morning.

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/video/pl ... d&c_id=min

CPU hits up to 90% while I'm playing videos on the netbook. Ram stays around 20-25%. I'll check what those numbers look like on my laptop. It could be that this processor just won't quite be enough to work well. Although the videos do play smooth in Windows 7 Starter on the netbook.

ETA: The laptop's processor never goes above 80% while streaming the videos. Ram is in that same 20-25% range.

[Béèm]

Belonging to the techn spec's is also the processor speed. You didn't mention it.

The video plays well for me.

What is the speed of your internet connection?
Do you have an issue playing a video locally?

[MNJack762]

Updated processor speeds above.

Internet connection is Qwest DSL 3MB Service. When I test it on speedtest.net I get 2.5-2.8mbps most of the time.

The MLB videos on the netbook are my only issue. Other streaming videos lke youtube, vimeo and such play fine.

I'll have to check about local video and get back to you. I'm booted into the laptop at the moment and I don't have any videos on my usb key. Local video plays fine on the laptop in gnome player. I'll try the netbook again and get right back...

ETA local video plays fine on the netbook too using gnome player.

[stu90]

try add this to the end of your /root/.bashrc file

Code: Select all

function flash-video() { 
 mplayer -cache 1000 $(stat -c %N /proc/*/fd/* 2>&1|awk -F[\`\'] '/lash/{print$2}') 
 }

now when you watch a video start it playing them immediately pause it so it keeps on loading then open a terminal and enter the command: flash-video

This will play the video in mplayer and not the web browser so should be a bit lighter on resources.

[Béèm]

Your processors are more powerful then mine (only 1.4Gz)
I have now stuttering also and checked my internet speed.
I dropped to 1.4Mpbs. I should have at least 4Mbps.
When I did the test first time, I think I was at my full speed.
Yours being 2,5-2,8 maybe a bit too slow.

[MNJack762]

try add this to the end of your /root/.bashrc file

Code: Select all

function flash-video() { 
 mplayer -cache 1000 $(stat -c %N /proc/*/fd/* 2>&1|awk -F[\`\'] '/lash/{print$2}') 
 }

now when you watch a video start it playing them immediately pause it so it keeps on loading then open a terminal and enter the command: flash-video

This will play the video in mplayer and not the web browser so should be a bit lighter on resources.

Stu90,

That plays the video perfectly, even when I fullscreen it! Thank you!

Is there a way to watch all streaming video using mplayer without having to type the flash-video command in a terminal every time?

Thanks again!

[Béèm]

Nice solution Stu90.
Is it normal that mplayer only has the playing window without command control?

[postfs1]

To reedit up to date.

[01micko]

Nice solution Stu90.
Is it normal that mplayer only has the playing window without command control?

Yes Béèm, however it could be possible to use the gui of gnome-mplayer by replacing mplayer in the script with gnome-mplayer.

EDIT: I may have misunderstood though, you should get keyboard control of mplayer, eg: q = quit, spacebar = pause etc.

[stu90]

try add this to the end of your /root/.bashrc file

Code: Select all

function flash-video() { 
 mplayer -cache 1000 $(stat -c %N /proc/*/fd/* 2>&1|awk -F[\`\'] '/lash/{print$2}') 
 }

now when you watch a video start it playing them immediately pause it so it keeps on loading then open a terminal and enter the command: flash-video

This will play the video in mplayer and not the web browser so should be a bit lighter on resources.

Stu90,

That plays the video perfectly, even when I fullscreen it! Thank you!

Is there a way to watch all streaming video using mplayer without having to type the flash-video command in a terminal every time?

Thanks again!

If you open a few web browser tabs and play/pause the videos in them then run the terminal command it should play through all the videos with out having to re do it each time.

[stu90]

Nice solution Stu90.
Is it normal that mplayer only has the playing window without command control?

Hi Béèm,
It is normal for mplayer to have no gui controls - like 01micko says you should have some keyboard controls.

f = toggle fullscreen
arrow keys = seek forward / back
p or space bare = play / pause
( ) = volume down / up
q - quit

[MNJack762]

I forgot to come back and say thanks!

I would not be using linux at all if it weren't for Puppy and this forum.

A huge thanks to you experts that hang out with us newbies!

[Béèm]

Nice solution Stu90.
Is it normal that mplayer only has the playing window without command control?

Hi Béèm,
It is normal for mplayer to have no gui controls - like 01micko says you should have some keyboard controls.

f = toggle fullscreen
arrow keys = seek forward / back
p or space bare = play / pause
( ) = volume down / up
q - quit

and @01micko.

Yes I found out that f.e. the cursor key left do fast forward the video.
Forget about the gui frontend gnome-......