Streaming video from UPnP Server

[ddichiera]

I have a Media Server with DVBViewer Recording Service running on it which I use to stream radio and television around the house.

I can access it via my PCs which have the client player installed (although it also works to WMP in Win 7) and I can access it from my Samsung TV via plug 'n play.

I can access it on my Joggler via Tools>Connect and Play and I can access recordings and live streams, but it won't actually play any video, live or recorded; Radio is ok.

I did some tests with recordings on a usb stick and here's what I found:

The original video recordings are in a .ts container (Transport Stream). These will not play.

I transcoded them to an .mpg container using ffmpeg and they play ok.

It seem as though the Joggler doesn't know how to open a .ts file - on a pc I would acheive this with something like Haali splitter. Does anyone have any experience with this?

[Mevi]

For the factory OS, you will be limited to a choice of codecs. There may be a way of including more codecs, other people may have that info for you.

If you're open to running a different OS off a memory stick, internal or external, you have endless options for your Joggler(s). Android might be one to try if you want to keep it simple and touch based. Linux and Windows XP are other options if you like to tinker.

[ddichiera]

Hi Mevi,

The codecs are ok. It's the container (or wrapper) it doesn't seem to be able to open.

I transcoded the files with ffmpeg using -vcodec copy and -acodec copy so the video and audio streams therein are exactly the same ones; just copied to a different wrapper.

I tried some SD recordings with MPEG2 video and MP2 audio. They played ok in an .mpg wrapper. I also tried some HD recordings (BBC HD etc) with H264/AVC video and AC3 audio which also played in a .mpg wrapper, albeit rather jerkily.

So the system has the necessary codecs, but doesn't seem to able to open a .ts wrapper. It gets more confusing because I also tried .mkv (Matroska) and the Joggler didn't even see it as a valid file type i.e. it didn't list it, all of which suggests it recognises the .ts as a video file but not the .mkv.

[Mevi]

Sorry, yes, just the container. Nothing exotic about the contents. Not surprised that the .TS don't play on the Joggler, though.

I'm not familiar with the media server you're using, can it transcode to other formats on the fly? Does a simple rename from .ts to .mpg work on the joggler? If it works, you could schedule a batch file to rename them at the server end (something like 'if exist *.ts ren *.ts *.mpg')and you might find that you don't lose compatibility with the other machines around the house.

[ddichiera]

Miraculously this is now working, albeit with stutter.

The only thing I can think of is that since I last tried, I updated Squeezeplay to the latest version from birdlikewires; though why this should have an effect on a separate program is beyond me.

I can now stream live and recorded video (in .ts format) from the server although it's all a bit jerky. These are all live or recorded streams off Astra 2 (satellite 28.2E) which happens to have SD material in MPEG2 and HD material in H264.

SD/MPEG2 material plays smoother than HD/H264, but they both stutter.

BTW: I tried renaming the file to .mpg and the Joggler still didn't see it, which suggests to me it does more than just look at the filename.

[Mevi]

Glad it's working now. Jerky is better than nothing and I suppose if it was something really important you wanted to watch, you'd chose something bigger than a 7" screen.

[ddichiera]

I think I might have given the wrong impression, it's not usable.

It plays for a minute then drops to black and takes up to ten seconds before restarting, sometimes on a different channel (actually it goes back to the first channel in the list). I tried tying up the receiver cards by simultaneously streaming to another PC, but it didn't help.

I just want to watch BBC News in my kitchen - perfect for a 7" screen. The iPlayer streaming option doesn't work any better, with significant interruptions to the signal.

I'm going to try the Ubuntu option when I get time and see if the Myth front end works better.

[Mevi]

I didn't have problems watching live streaming BBC on pimped stock OS, but that was a long time ago. I'm watching your progress with interest, as I'll be trying something similar sometime soon, only with a Joggler as the server and the HTPC as the client.

[spoyser]

@ddichiera

If you look in the directory where you installed iplayer there is a file called iplayer.cgi, towards the bottom of this file is this line

Code: Select all

./tango "http://www.bbc.co.uk/emp/10player.swf?config_settings_bitrateFloor=0&config_settings_bitrateCeiling=10000&config_settings_guidance=passed&config_settings_skin=black&
config_settings_autoPlay=true&config_settings_transportHeight=65&playlist=http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/playlist/"$app &

Try lowering the config_settings_bitrateCeiling to say 1500 (or even lower) .ie

Code: Select all

config_settings_bitrateCeiling=1500

This should lower the bitrate of the stream without much loss of image quality (10000 basically means no limit, 1500 is SD quality)

HTH

[ddichiera]

Thanks for the tip, but after days of looking, I can't find iplayer.cgi (I'm using the find command)

BTW I didn't install iplayer, I bough the unit with it already loaded or should I say BBC Live loaded, not iplayer.