dvb-t tuner issues: switch freq/program, stay fullscreen...

[grozea]

Hi, I already know how to start VLC and view dvb-t, like this:
C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe dvb-t:// :dvb-frequency=522000 :dvb-bandwidth=-1 :program=3010

Some further VLC dvb-t playback questions/issues:

1. command line use: can we reliably and as silently as possible change the dvb-t frequency and program for a currently running VLC instance through command line? (note: I need to change both frequency and program, not just program, since some channels are on another mux) What is the exact syntax? (example please). Problem: if VLC is already running and I run the command line above then I get this error message (happens no matter if I have preferences > allow one instance checked or not):

Code: Select all

Your input can't be opened: VLC is unable to open the MRL 'dvb-t://'. Check the log for details.

As an alternative, I've tried to switch channels via playlists. I manually add all dvb-t paths into a playlist, save the playlist, later start VLC with that playlist and try to switch channel (program+frequency) by switching playlist items. But then there are new problems:

2. How do I as silently as possible switch to a specific item in the currently loaded playlist (say item number 6)?

That problem led my to try another alternative: manually add each dvb-t path into its own playlist. save the playlists to files, start VLC with one playlist, try to switch channel (program+frequency) by loading one of the other playlists. That works but I still have no way of silently switching channels. I can use an external script to: send control+O ("open file"), paste path to a playlist file, send enter. But that's not silent.

Further questions:

3. When switching frequency and program (regardless of what method) VLC goes out of fullscreen mode for a second or two. Can I force VLC to stay in fullscreen mode, perhaps displaying just a black screen until the switch is done and the new channel is up and running in fullscreen mode? How?

4. For each dvb-t stream I play the VLC overlay and statusbar show only "dvb-t://" as title. Can I change that so that for each channel it displays a name of my choice?

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

It's dvb://

[grozea]

What is?
Do you mean that the path should be as below? That does not work when I run it. VLC opens but nothing happens. No dvb-t stream is played.
C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe dvb:// :dvb-frequency=522000 :dvb-bandwidth=-1 :program=3010

edit: In trying to look for commands to manually add to the playlist file, I ran into problems finding details. The .VLC generated xspf playlist files includes this line:

Code: Select all

<playlist version="1" xmlns="http://xspf.org/ns/0/" xmlns:vlc="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/playlist/ns/0/">

But both URLs are broken. Can someone point me to to the syntax for these playlist files?

edit again:
The multiple playlists approach that I described above does not work either. VLC seems to have problems switching frequency when starting from playlist. Or is there something missing in my syntax (I started from the autogenerated playlist and trimmed it):

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <playlist version="1" xmlns="http://xspf.org/ns/0/" xmlns:vlc="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/playlist/ns/0/"> <title>Playlist</title> <trackList> <track> <location>dvb-t://</location> <extension application="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/playlist/0"> <vlc:id>0</vlc:id> <vlc:option>dvb-frequency=522000</vlc:option> <vlc:option>dvb-bandwidth=-1</vlc:option> <vlc:option>program=5840</vlc:option> </extension> </track> </trackList> </playlist>

The above works fine IF AND ONLY IF the last channel played was on the same frequency. If not then VLC does nothing when the playlist is executed.

third edit: tested some more just now. To clarify, when I close VLC and then run this same command from the command line then the channel plays, so there must be some program with the playlist import.

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe dvb-t:// :dvb-frequency=522000 :dvb-bandwidth=-1 :program=5840

[grozea]

Found some helpful information in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52770&start=0 (BTW, it is impossible to search the forum with the phrase "dvb-t")

My separate playlist files alternative works if the filelists are made in .m3u format, like so:

Code: Select all

#EXTM3U #EXTINF:1,CHANNEL_NAME_TO_SEE_IN_OSD #EXTVLCOPT:program=6160 dvbt://frequency=626000:bandwidth=-1

I then play switch to the channel like this:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe "___some_path_____\file.m3u"

[grozea]

After some more searching I now found this other thread asking about staying in full screen mode between clips/channels:
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4360&p=182186&hilit ... en#p182186
The answer there is that the feature is not implemented yet but will likely be in version 1.0. It is not said if it will work for any and all playback (including switching between two dvb-t programs on different frequencies) or only for playback of non-streamed sources like a number of separate video clip. I'll ask that explicitly in the other thread.