VLC blocking network traffic

[tripletopper]

I noticed very funny behavior when I try to use VLC with HD PVR or my Hauppauge Rocket. My dad complains that he can't get his web-based movies whenever I'm preparing to stream. Not actually streaming but preparing.

Full disclosure: I plan to stream using an Android because my home base internet has a miserable speed for the whole household of 1.5 megabits in 400 kilobits out. I decided if I was going to have that lovan internet I was going to stress test some video games because video game companies were saying you can play some video games just not every thing. I put my reviews of those games they said how well I could play them on mine I don't website that shows I have a sense of humor about this situation: 56ok.org

I noticed it might be a problem because HD PVR is Mac software specific to Hauppauge, and it requires using VLC and tapping an IP address.

I think I know partial solution and one complete solution, but the partial solution isnot going to help me with reading text on Twitch, And the complete solution is basically asking the company who makes required software how to avoid them.

The Partial Siluruon is so completely unplug the computer from the internet both Wi-Fi and ethernet. I was thinking of buying a very cheap 2nd smartphone without a phone connection and use it as a local Wi-Fi connection to get internet and have it dictate the text to me orally so I could "keep my eyes on the road and not on the map."

The other solution is he there for VLC to fix itself so it doesn't use an IP address, but that sounds kind of harsh considering the L in VLC stand for LAN. Luckily I have found some capture cards that do not require LAN. They are easycap brand cards and their clones. their software is a direct capture and doesn't use an IP address.

The problem with that is that I've only seen a composite plus s video adapter, and HDMI adapter. I need to find an ntsc RF adapter and a component adapter.

I know when doing a light gun game on Twitch you have to make your path to the TV as unobstructed and direct is possible. Even a VCR causes a large enough delay the throw off your aim, even though with non-light gun games, a VCR is a perfectly acceptable device with otherwise unnoticeable ping.

I guess if nothing else better becomes of it, I could get a component to HDMI converter and put it on the long path.

That leaves ntsc RF. I do have a small 8 millimeter VCR but even that is too big. looking for an ntsc RF adapter that works with Mac OS 10.12, and just as importantly doesn't clog up the whole home network.

Just looking for help for what to do. I assume that it's a lot easier to offer alternatives than to fundamentally alter the nature of VLC without disappointing the fans who do like VLC as it is.

I just brought it up because I thought maybe VLC might be interested in a weird side effect that is so rare, because poor internet is that rare, that the best cure might be to avoid VLC. But I'm not the VLC doctor. The cure will cost me some extra money. Give it to me straight up. What's up doc?

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

VLC does not generate network traffic at all when it's neither playing from a network resource, nor retrieving metadata, nor checking for its weekly version update. You had the option to disable the later two at first start; and in any case, it's only a problem if you've got a large playlist.

And even when VLC does use the network, is not possible for VLC to "block" other traffic, especially not from other computers.

You'll need to be more specific about what VLC is doing that you think it shouldn't do.

[tripletopper]

I think one of the problems is that for my screening software OBS to work with a Hauppauge, it has to use software called HD PVR, and for some strange reason the only way OBS can grab the picture is if it uses an IP address local to the computer. They recommend 224.0.0.1:1234.

I noticed a very weird specific set of circumstances. If I preview streaming, meaning OBS is ready to go but his butt is not letting the computer do the actual broadcasting, my dad's movies get interfered with. Because it's either ethernet connected or wirelessly connected to the rest of the House Network and so is my dad's movie via Amazon.

The funny thing that happens is as soon as I cut off the ethernet port and Wi-Fi dad's movie continues right where it left off. But however I need the internet in order to read the text that people send me on Twitch.

I only have 1.5 megabits inbound 400kb outbound. The guys at Best Buy think as long as the local computer is touching the rest of the network that touches the Wi-Fi then this is always going to happen. The network will just be clogged.

and no I have no videos sort up in queue I'm just doing live streaming from the Hauppauge through the HD PVR program.

I guess I got two alternatives

1. I could disconnect my local portion of the network to the rest of the House Network and then buy a cheap smartphone that still has a browser and have that connected to the Wi-Fi, and have that just basically relay the messages to me.

2. Or I could use a capture card that doesn't rely on tapping an IP address to get its picture. Easycap I heard is one of the best multi console versions of such interface.

Of course this is tsums I can broadcast out on Twitch using an Android phone I'm going off phone data and not Wi-Fi data.

I understand it's more likely easier to work around its than asked you guys to fundamentally change the program because the L in VLC stands for LAN. and as long as there's a home network involved, there's nothing much we could do about that except cut it off from the rest of the network or get capture card that doesn't use LAN.

I understand most people don't expect to have sub-minimal internet.

Probably this problem is so rare that I have to feel this one out for myself. And what would be considered by me a flaw will probably be considered to most at least a side feature, or even the main point of it.

It may not be a VLC specific issue. It might be a Macintosh Hauppauge issue. The software forces you to play VLC and assigned video from the Hauppauge to a specific IP address and port. there's no other way OBS can recognize the video on Macintosh version of that software.

well at least it captures well by itself without a computer so that might be good for recording programs from the internet network or from Dish.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

Consumer-grade WiFi access points do not typically handle multicast very well. Don't do that. VLC does not require it, but I can of course not comment on the other components.

[tripletopper]

So my suspected cause and 2 solutions are correct then. Thank you for confirming that dad is not crazy. .)