stutters with with MP4 file streaming

[newbie2007]

Hi. I have a mp4 video file. mplayer output shows that the video codec is AVC1 (h264)

VIDEO: [avc1] 720x576 24bpp 25.000 fps 0.0 kbps ( 0.0 kbyte/s)
ID_VIDEO_CODEC=ffh264

and the audio codec is AAC. When I copy the file to PS3 harddrive, it plays fine. When I use transcoding, it plays fine. However when I stream the file (no transcoding), there's stutterings every few seconds (the transcoder buffer status is always empty). The debug file is attached. Could somebody help me with no-stuttering streaming?

Thanks
PS: it can not be network related because I can stream DVD over my Wifi smoothly. This file has much smaller bitrate ( ~ 1mbps or so).

[newbie2007]

FYI, my machine is a laptop with Core 2 Duo CPU 1.86Ghz, 2GB memory, 54Mbps Wifi connection.

If I copy the file to PS3 harddrive or if I use transcode (avisynth/mencoder), the video plays smoothly.

If I streams only (the transcode buffer is always empty), the video playing pauses every few seconds.

[shagrath]

it's ps3 related... AVI and MP4 streaming is broken since some firmware revisions, and it's noticeable over wireless connections (but not on wired ones)
when you transcode, you are streaming mpeg2, who is fine

[matryx]

This is exactly what happens to me when I try to stream a MP4 file. I haven't found a fix yet though. Share if us what you did if you got it to work.

[robharper]

Same problem here.

[newbie2007]

I connect the PS3 to the router using wired connection. My laptop (where PMS resides) still uses wireless connection and the stuttering is gone. Stupid PS3 !!!

[Subject2Change]

Wireless on the PS3 is pretty bad, as well as any sort of network usage can cause video stuttering. Run wired always if you can, and being you are on a laptop it should be easy enough to use a router between your laptop and PS3 by simply bringing it into the same room.

[newbuyer17]

Hi,
I have the same or similar problem, only avi files aren't great either. MP4 are particularly bad though. Putting the file on a USB stick works fine, so I know the file and PS3 compatibility is OK.

I have tried wireless 54G and it stutters, I have also tried 84Mps homeplugs and it still stutters. A laptop with software confirms I get ~70MBs with the homeplugs yet it still doesn't work.

I have managed to get it to work with either a ethernet cable direct into router or using 200Mb homeplugs. I'd prefer wireless to work though, and believe it should do. Have tried different PCs, different streaming applications, two different routers, even linux and windows, but seems the bottleneck has to be the PS3. Both PCs are dual core.

A friend can play the same file on his PS3 without any issues.

His is an older playstation (60GB I think) wheras mine is a newer 80G one. COuld Sony have changed the networking specs?
Should I be able to play the file below over wireless or is it too high bandwidth - I'm no expert on all this.

Any way I can see what speeds I am actually getting on the PS3?

Sony have been no help whatsoever, but have offered to exchange the console. Should I take them up on this, or is it just the norm?

Is this a hardware issue, or firmware/implementation issue that may be resolved? I've heard the way it tries to play mp4 just floods the network unnecesserily? Is that corent?

File details below.

It was created from a DVD I own using handbrake on Linux, syntax:
/usr/bin/HandBrakeCLI -i $file -o /VIDEOS/$file.mp4 -e x264b30 -E faac -2 -b 800 -B 128 -t 1
:
mediainfo film.mp4
General
Complete name : film.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42
File size : 919 MiB
Duration : 2h 18mn
Overall bit rate : 930 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2009-01-04 12:54:03
Tagged date : UTC 2009-01-04 14:20:11
Writing application : HandBrake svnexported 2008122801

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Baseline@L3.0
Format settings, CABAC : No
Format settings, ReFrames : 1 frame
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 2h 18mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 800 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 288 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 2.500
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Minimum frame rate : 12.500 fps
Maximum frame rate : 25.000 fps
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.154
Stream size : 790 MiB (86%)
Writing library : x264 core 65
Encoding settings : cabac=0 / ref=1 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=hex / subme=6 / psy_rd=1.0:0.0 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=0 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=3 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / bframes=0 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40(pre) / rc=2pass / bitrate=800 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 /qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date : UTC 2009-01-04 12:54:03
Tagged date : UTC 2009-01-04 14:20:11

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version : Version 4
Format profile : LC
Format settings, SBR : No
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 2h 18mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 167 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits
Stream size : 126 MiB (14%)
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2009-01-04 12:54:03
Tagged date : UTC 2009-01-04 14:20:10

Thanks in advance. Whilst I could buy some 200M homeplugs, I'd rather just use wireless, especially as this works for a friend.