The VideoLAN Forums

Recently my ISP started offering IP-TV at no additional cost, and I was even happier when I discovered that I could watch TV on my computer with VLC. I'm having some minor issues though, perhaps someone can help me out.

- Each channel has its own multicast IP address (the .m3u playlist can be seen here) so as I understand switching the channel means de-registering from one multicast group and registering to another via IGMP. The thing is that switching takes about 6-10 seconds, whereas the set-top box (AmiNET 110) hooked up to my regular TV set does it in about a second. Is there any way to speed up that process? It's probably the most irritating aspect of watching IPTV on the computer.

- A few channels don't have audio, although stream info says that it's regular MPEG audio just like all other channels. Any ideas?

- Some channels have subtitle streams (only telx codec, I believe) - but I have never actually seen any subtitles when I try to switch them on (subtitles can be seen on regular TV with the set-top box)

- This really isn't too important, but is there any way to use other features that the set-top box has? I'm especially interested in 'live' TV guides, but I don't know how that works and if any standardized protocols are used for that. It would be nice though.

Any help would be appreciated.

I was wondering if you could tell me how you were able to recieve the signal like how you set everything up and what vlc command you used. I also have the Amino 110 and I know that Myrio is used to send the signal to the boxes. Any help would be appreciated.

1: possible delays might be in larger system buffers. Also, the vlc proces introduces a considerable delay trough its "playlist" structure, which probably accounts for at least a second. However, it sounds like the amino is constently "TUNED" into several channels at once, making sure the multicast path can be setup faster. (on my iptv VLC setup it takes about a 1,5 to switch).

2: Sorry, you will have to provide more detailed debug (messages window) information for that.

3: VLC does not yet Teletext Systems yet.

4: VLC can and DOES receive SDT EPG information, it just doesn't present it in any way. Note however that many ISPs use "proprietary" unstanderdized protocols.

2: Sorry, you will have to provide more detailed debug (messages window) information for that.

Well, i have same ISP as frukt .I have uploaded 1 minute raw sample of stream that has no audio in VLC.Maybe it helps?
When i play that sample in MediaPlayer Classic it has audio.Strange....
http://toru.msn.ee/VIVA_28.05.2006_14-05-00.ts

I have two NICs, one for IPTV and one for internet. The weird thing is that the channel switching delay issue disappears when I delete the default gateway received via DHCP (for the IPTV NIC) from the local routing table and use my statically configured default gateway.

Here's the debug output when I switch to a channel with no audio:

ah, then the iptvbox uses the same gateway address as your statically configured one. Setting up the multicast stream requires gateway communication and this is considerably slower if the gateway still needs to figure out where to get the stream from.

And the stream in question is not a properly muxed MPEG-TS stream. The audio timestamps are simply incorrect and VLC therefor does not play the stream. You should take it up with the person who creates this stream.