[S922X] MINIX NEO U22-XJ unstable Lan speeds

[johny69]

Hi guys.
I have the latest Core elec version installed and I have a problem with my Ethernet speeds.

This is my #ethtool -i eth0 output:
driver: st_gmac
version: Jan_2016
firmware-version:
expansion-rom-version:
bus-info:
supports-statistics: yes
supports-test: no
supports-eeprom-access: no
supports-register-dump: yes
supports-priv-flags: no

and this is my #ethtool eth0:
Supported ports: [ TP MII ]
Supported link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
1000baseT/Full
Supported pause frame use: No
Supports auto-negotiation: Yes
Supported FEC modes: Not reported
Advertised link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
1000baseT/Full
Advertised pause frame use: No
Advertised auto-negotiation: Yes
Advertised FEC modes: Not reported
Link partner advertised link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
1000baseT/Full
Link partner advertised pause frame use: Symmetric
Link partner advertised auto-negotiation: Yes
Link partner advertised FEC modes: Not reported
Speed: 1000Mb/s
Duplex: Full
Port: MII
PHYAD: 0
Transceiver: external
Auto-negotiation: on
Supports Wake-on: ug
Wake-on: d
Current message level: 0x0000003f (63)
drv probe link timer ifdown ifup
Link detected: yes

I dont really mind the slow speeds (30mb/sec) as much as that it’s not stable.
What I mean is that for the first 10 seconds of transfers files from my pc to the MINIX, the speed is high (30-35mb/sec probably of the SD card although it is rated for 80-90mb/sec speeds) after that the speed drops to 0-1.2mb/sec for a few seconds and then goes back up again.
The same motive is followed until the rest of the file is transferred, keeps going up and down.
This is a major problem when I try to watch a movie through SMB share that is a large size (50gb)… it keeps caching.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[TheCoolest]

It’s likely your SD card. Try iperf to measure actual network speed.
Our team members have this device, and no one had any problems with network speed.

[johny69]

You might be right @TheCoolest!
I checked the card and wasn’t the one I thought so I ordered a new proper one U3 with 160 mb read and 90mb write.
Should be fine after that.

Thanks again!

[johny69]

Hi @TheCoolest!

So I bought a new MicroSD card which is rated at 160mb/s read and 90mb/sec write.
I tested it and it does 70mb/sec write.
So I transferred Core Elec there and things got a bit better but not much… I have the same problem when transferring files through SMB. Speeds reach 30mb/sec for a few second then goes up and down from 30-5mb/sec until the file finishes transferring.
The strange thing is that if I try to copy something back from the media player to the pc the speed has no ups and downs and speed is constant at 29mb/sec.
I think it might be a caching problem… is there a way to increase memory caching on Core Elec?
Also as an alternative is there a way to tell kodi to cache 1 minute of movie before it start? That way there wont be any interference from the unstable speeds.

Thanks for your time. I really appreciate it.

[johny69]

Never mind about the kodi cache… I found out how thanks

[johny69]

Hi @TheCoolest.

You told me that lots of you guys have this box and you dont have this problem.
Did you install core elec on the device memory or on a SD card?
Maybe if I install core elec on the device instead of the memory card I won’t have this problem?

Please help a guy out

[TheCoolest]

I don’t copy large files to my devices, especially when using SD cards as boot media.
Installing to internal should be make a significant difference when writing files to the device, but in the U22-XJ’s case, I have CE running from a SD card, so I can’t give you any first hand experience with it.