Hello!

My ISP besides internet and IPphone also provide me IPTV. VDSL modem splits
internet traffic in tcp/ip etc traffic and Multicast UDP. One port is
specialy configured for TV. This port receive multicast UDP mpeg-ts stream
according to my request for specific channel. This stream then go to STB
Amino110 via UTP cable and STB convert this stream into analog signal for TV.

I can allso receive same stream on computer over network interface card
without any need for TV tuner. VideoLanClient is capable to handle multicast
UDP mpeg-ts and show it on monitor. Channel select is done by VLC-s playlist.
Entry's in playlist looks like that:

#EXTM3U
#EXTINF:0,1 - RTV SLO 1
udp://@239.1.1.115:5000

#EXTINF:0,3 - Kanal A
udp://@239.1.1.8:5000

#EXTINF:0,4 - POP TV
udp://@239.1.1.9:5000
....and so on for 150+ channels

I was able to make WMP to play this with some tweaks and extra codecs.
I installed HDTV pump
http://www.wmplugins.com/ItemDetail.aspx?ItemID=770
and Elecard plugin http://www.wmplugins.com/ItemDetail.aspx?ItemID=1068

in WMP - file - open url I wrote path :

elecard://239.1.1.8:5000/udp

and it woked.
But I could not make it work in WMC. I tried to find some piece of SW that will fake may NIC into TV  Tuner recognized by WMC, but it looks like id doesn't exist.
My question:
Can somebody make plugin for this? Simple small plugin that would catch stream from elecard plugin and play it? There is no need for any codec integration, I allready have required codecs installed. I just need piece of code to tell WMC to go and look for stream on elecard path.

For testing purposes stream can be made by VLC, it's half a minute work, it can be coded with any codec as long as it is set as udp and mpeg-ts profile.

I'm willing to pay for this plugin.
Regards

Hi,

I'm also waiting for the same plugin, but have no programming capabilities, so I can't do it myself.

I guess a BDA-drive needs to be created that fools Media Center to think its an ordinary tuner.

I have a HAVA that does quite the same (www.myhave.com). good product !

I live in Belgium and digital Belgacom TV uses this method of broadcasting digital TV. However you can only receive unencrypted streams using VLC.

...

I just have seen this page: http://www.sinderon.com/software.htm they have a MCE-kit for their TV op IP distribution system that uses the same technology.

 

Interesting, but that is not what I need. I will assemble HTPC an I'm looking for frontend witch will suit all my demands, play local video and audio media, show some RSS and play TV withouth TV tuner. I'm receiving digital stream for TV and I really see no need for transfering this signal from digital to analog and digital again, I want it to be the same as I receive it.
I have no problem with using VLC, but like I said, I need frontend for HTPC. That means running everything in single program.
MediaPortal can allso do it, but when I have tested it it shows some bugs I don't like.
Regards!

Hi,

I hear you. I only mentionned HAVA (if thats what you are reffering to) because they do the same, wich prooves its possible. They also have a mediacenter BDA driver that emulates a local TV-tuner, but that actually streams the TV-signal over IP using the same multicast method as you mentioned (you can also use VLC).

I think the MCI-kit from Sinderon could probably give a solution in the near future, but we'll have to wait for that one.

I'm very excited about your work guys!  I have IPTV hooked up via Svideo cable.  Would be great to have MCE decipher the signal.  Where do I donate!?

I had contacted HAVA. They don't have what I need.
For Sinderon we will have to wait a little more.

Perhapse this could help us:

 

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/253414.aspx

I wonder if you could add a virtual channel in 7MC. They support web address (like MSN), and it seems like it wouldn't have a problem with that IPTV stream either. I don't know how you would get channel data on there though. Some other guys have been working on that though.

Channel data is stored in playlist, but it depends on what plugin du you use. For VLCentries in playlist look like this:
#EXTINF:0,3 - Kanal A
udp://@239.1.1.8:5000,

and if you use elecard plugin in WMP it look like this:
elecard://239.1.1.8:5000/udp

So this is not such a big problem. Basicly it's only path and protocol
I loked at thread mentioned above and xmmortal say that they are working in this. I only hope they will succeed.

This is very interesting. IPTV recently came to my neighbourhood. What are the normal encryption hurdles here? Is 5C employed in IPTV streams?

In my case (provider T-2.net in Slovenia) i don't think there is any encryption, becouse VLC has no problems with stream, even triple X programs for witch one need to input PIN in STB.

This would be amazing.... no hardware to buy (aside from NIC'S of course), full digital and HD channel lineups ect... It would even be far better than cablecard.

Hello,

I'm trying to do the same thing also. I'm not yet a customer of the belgian IPTV provider (belgacomtv) but I'll become one if this is possible.

However, we would only get access to encrypted TV channels, which is a big problem for me.
I don't think that they will ever authorize this kind of stuff because it would be the end of their GUI on their STB ("on demand" for 2€ / month, "pay per view", buy a football match, etc.).

I think that we will stuck with grabbing S-video signal coming out of our HD STB... :-(

Affirmative, no encryption on T2 in Slovenia. Yet :)

Just want to let you know that support for IPTV in MCE is coming soon :)

We have made some very good progress and will have a public beta available coming days. Please watch this thread and dvblogic.com for further announcements.