Live TV Broadcast

[Skouperd]

Hi guys

I want to do something but I am battling to get it to work, granted, I haven’t spent a lot of time researching the optimum solution as yet but figured somebody here might have gone through the pains already and provide a shortcut.

My intention is to stream live television (or with say a 1 minute delay for instance) from my DSTV decoder via a media PC to a file server to the rest of the LAN. The PC that I want to use for streaming the video is as follows:

CPU: AMD 3000+ (single core)
Motherboard: Cannot even remember
RAM: 2GB DDR1
GPU: NVidia 8400 (or something equally bad, but more than sufficient to watch normal TV on)
TV Capture Card: Leadtek TX2000XP Deluxe (http://www.leadtek.com.tw/eng/tv_tuner/overview.asp?lineid=6&pronameid=94)
OS: Windows XP 32bit professional
Network: NForce onboard 1Gb
HDD: Internal 160GB Sata 7200RPM (nothing fancy)

Because this pc is obviously not powerful enough to compress video / audio in real time, I intend to allocate say 200GB or so, for continuous uncompressed raw data (or very limited compression) recording on the file server.

The file server’s spec is as follows.

CPU: Intel Quad Q9400
MOBO: Intel Skygarde
RAM: 3GB DDR3 1333MHz
HDD: 5x500GB, 1x750GB. (Several RAID 0 stacks)
OS: Windows Server 2008 64bit
GPU: Cheapest NVidia card I could find.

If need be, I could increase the amount of RAM, but I haven’t had the need to do this as yet.

From a hardware performance perspective, the media pc is able to record uncompressed video / audio to the fileserver without many problems, might need to enable a little bit of compression if throughput becomes too much. However, when too much compression is turned on, then the CPU suffers a little bit. The file server is not doing much in terms of CPU usage so it should be able to compress the stream if need be, before it is broadcast to the rest of the network.

I want to achieve the following at the end of the project:
1. Get a continuous uncompressed (or limited compression) stream from the Media PC to the file server.
2. The file server to broadcast the continuous recording (in compressed or uncompressed format haven’t decided yet) to the LAN. (The network uses 2x24port 1Gb SMC switches)
3. The LAN PC’s to be able to watch the broadcast from the fileserver
4. The LAN PC’s (which is proper gaming machines) to be able to time-shift the video broadcast
5. If possible, the LAN PC’s to individually time-shift the stream

The reason for wanting to do this is the fact that
1. I want to watch TV on my computer
2. The computers are not located on the same floor / room as the TV/DSTV.
3. It sounds like a FUN project!!!! ;-)

What I need some input on.
1. Have anybody else done something like this before?
2. What software would you recommend to use, the software that shipped with the card is not really doing what I want it to do.
3. I have a decent linux machine (AMD 3800 dual core, 4GB ram) acting as the firewall / NAT router etc (thank you telkom!), which I could potentially use for the fileserver to do the broadcasting from (I will need to get linux expertise in then).
4. Any pitfalls I need to watch out for?

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

Adios
Skouperd

[Megageth]

:hmmm:
By broadcast what exactly do you mean?
If you map a network drive from the Media PC to the File server, you should be able to stream there direct, assuming your network can handle the bandwidth requirements. If you map a similar path from each LAN pc then they will have easy access to that file, but broadcasting implies continuous feed regardless of whether a device is ready to receive or not and I am not sure how that would work over a LAN.

[SlipperyDuck]

MMM, I think you should look at VLC....the best Media Player IMHO:

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/streaming.html

And download:
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

It's easy ;)

[Skouperd]

> By broadcast what exactly do you mean?

Basically, that what is showing on TV now, I want to view that on my computer that is sitting in a different room. Preferably with PVR cabalities included. I.e. pause the TV, fast forward through the adverts etc.

> If you map a network drive from the Media PC to the File server, you should be able to stream there direct,
> assuming your network can handle the bandwidth requirements.

I use DFS from the server. So yes, I am already mapping the drives without a problem. The network should be fine as well.

> If you map a similar path from each LAN pc then they will have easy access to that file,

Agreed. This is the method I use for streaming video, but broadcasting is not quite the same.

> but broadcasting implies continuous feed regardless of whether a device is ready to receive or not and I
> am not sure how that would work over a LAN.

Now this is eactly what I want... ;-) Basically, I type in an IP addy in Internet Explorer or Windows Media Player, and I am greated with a live video feed from my TV.

[Skouperd]

Thanks Leelo, I currently use VLC, but for some reason it does not recognised the card, I'll play around again with it tonight. I do agree, it is a nice piece of software and I do think it will be to solution at the end of the day.

Have you done something like this before?

[Megageth]

If you are running a 1Gb LAN then it should handle the traffic, thats an interesting project...

Uncle Google has this to say:

" http://www.jtvlan.org/ "

Please keep us posted on your progress... very interesting.

[Skouperd]

Leelo, I've updated VLC, installed it, but still have not figured it out. My next step on this is to RTFM... then I'll try it again.

Mega, I've downloaded JTVLAN, but I see it needs JAVA and I wasn't in the mood to install that yesterday. Will first try and fix up VLC, and then move on the JTVLAN.

Other suggestions included MYTHTV, and http://xbmc.org/ but haven't had time to look at either. I fooled around with MYTHTV a couple of years ago, got frustrated, deleted, and reinstall windows. If neither of the windows solutions work, then I'll delegate the job to a linux buddy of mine... ;-)

Thanks for the feedback, advise and comments. I'll keep you guys informed.

Adios
Skouperd

[SlipperyDuck]

Streaming is Easy as pie, to Windows Media Player Machines.
Do this and you should be up and running.

(*note you’ll probably have to fiddle to get it to work for your capture device.)

Open VLC and choose streaming:
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee8/leelo0270/VLCSTREAM1.jpg

In my case I’m going to stream a file (you will probably just choose your Capture Device):
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee8/leelo0270/VLCSTREAM2.jpg

On the Next screen I setup to Stream to Windows Media Player Machines, just choose the dropdown to select WMV. (note IP adddress should just be your machines IP Address) http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee8/leelo0270/mediaplayerstream.jpg

* NOTE - I found that the default quality was a bit poor, I simply changed the [Windows wmv/asf] to Custom then changed to the “Video Codec” Tab, changing the Bit Rate from 800 up to 2600. Seemed to improve the quality by leaps and bounds
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee8/leelo0270/codecoutput.jpg

Next is simply to open Windows Media player from the PC’s and open the Stream:
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee8/leelo0270/help4.jpg

Now type in IP address that I used to setup the Windows Media Stream, using mms://
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee8/leelo0270/help5.jpg

Worked great on my network.. . .

[Skouperd]

Nice write-up Slippery. soryr, but I haven't played around this weekend as much as I wanted to but I have managed to stream files previously using very similiar steps you describe there, my problem is for VLC to pick up my capture card. Which is the RTFM portion I need to do still.... ;-)

Adios
Skouperd

[Skouperd]

Hi GRRR

Ok, remember this topic guys... some time ago, I asked about broadcasting live TV around my house. After various failed attempts, some frustration, lots of swearing, I have finally found a solution and it works great.

The solution is called a HAVA box, you could read up more about the product here:
http://www.myhava.com/product_hava_titanium_hd.html

You basically connect your DSTV (or any other media-source) into the HAVA box. You connect the HAVA into your network (RJ45). Install the software on a pc, follow the instructions on screen, and you are ready.

The nice thing about this is that several people could watch tv similtanously from their individual PC's, and each person could independantly pause / rewind / forward (live TV) without impacting the other people. It also have the obvious stuff like recording etc and you could control the chanel from your pc. (if you change the channel then you will impact the other guys obviously...)

One of the added benefits, which I haven't used as yet (thanks Telkom) is the ability to broadcast your life tv over the internet.

Any event, if anybody wants to do the same as what I've done, I could recommend the above product. You could order it from www.wantitall.co.za and it goes for around R2500 (give or take).

Adios
Skouperd

[Stu]

hi Skoupie,

Just regarding the below, you managed to set this up? I would be instered in the steps employed and or either the technology behind this. Are you running this in a Linux enviroment or Windows based enviroment or mixed enviroment?

Just sounds like a very interesting project, not that i have DSTV or anything like that but perhaps someday I will investigate this kind of project.

I look forward to speaking with you in this regard.

Many thanks

[Skouperd]

Hi IceFlame, sorry, only seen your message now (refer to me not being THAT active).

I've set this up in a pure MS environment. The setup process is very simple, all you do is you take the HAVA box, which is approximately 20cm x 3cm x 15cm (dimensions from memory). The supplied cables (component) included then connect to your input source (in my case DSTV). Output from the HAVA is then by another set of component cables that effectively goes to where your DSTV used to go to (typically to your TV) with the other ouput is RJ45 (ethernet). So, DSTV goes into HAVA, HAVA goes into Ethernet and goes into TV.

The next step then is to go to your pc, insert a CD (supplied) which will then automatically scan your network, connect to the HAVA box, upgrade the HAVA box to the latest firmware, ask you a couple of basic questions (or you could go to advance and define IP's etc if you so inclinded) Finally, the CD will install the media player (HAVA media player) on the said PC. (you could install this software on any number of PC's you want to). You don't need to use the HAVA media player but I am happy with it, so I left it at that. Some people use VLC / Media Player and I don't know what else.

Opening up the HAVA Media Player, automatically connects you to the HAVA device enabling you to watch on your PC whatever the input (DSTV) source is providing to it. Changing channels, sound etc on your DSTV is done via your pc (or directly via the DSTV), the technology behind controlling your DSTV from your PC is simply two IR connectors from the HAVA box that submit an IR Beam to DSTV.

With the media player installed on your pc, you get various additional options like recording TV, pause tv, forward tv etc. This is done by writing a cache file on your PC or a mapped drive. I've streamed to about 5 PC's simultanously without any form of hiccups from the network (granted I am sitting on a Gb network). Should you need to stream to more computers, (I have no idea why) but some people have "recorded" the stream on a server and then "re-submit" the stream via the server to many more computers. I never had the need for that.

Ice, just remember the HAVA box is marketed as a device that streams live tv via the internet. This is something I have not even started to explore given SA's high cost of bandwidth (and because I am not that keen to be sitting in the office to watch TV).

Join us at the LAN (Refer to GENERAL) and I could show / explain this for you in a lot more detail. I now need to get back to work.

Adios
Skouperd

[SlipperyDuck]

I've got a TV Capture card in my Media center machine with DSTV attached to it. I use Media Portal's TVServer to stream the content to my network and Media Portal's MP TV Client for ANY machine on my network to pick up the stream and watch it.

Dirt Easy.

In fact theres LOADS of software out there now that can do this

[SlipperyDuck]

I've been told ORB is excellent:

http://www.orb.com/en/download_orb

[SoSheOhPathix]

Dude.... You have Superman on your machine?
:gay:

[SlipperyDuck]

ever heard the phrase 6 year old?

[Megageth]

So with Orb, you could buy those large local ADSL packages and leech DSTV from a friend? Or, setup 10 pc's streaming the best channels and charge people to stream? (Theoretically of course.)

BTW who here has DSTV?

[SoSheOhPathix]

Children shouldn't watch drivel like Superman.
They should be watching all the zombie apocalypse films, so they will be better prepared to defend themselves when zombies take over the world.
Or the Saw films...

Yes, I have DSTV.
No, you can't stream it to your house.

[Megageth]

Sports and docu's thats all I wanna watch. Oh and of course Hannah Montana. Thread hijacked.