Issue with DVB TS with v0.9.8a

[steve333]

Sometimes when opening a (good) DVB transport stream VLC plays nothing (and cant find the valid program).

When this happens, the channel list (Playback->Program) shows all the DVB channels on the multiplex.
VLC is defaulting to the wrong channel (one that wasn't recorded).
However selecting the correct channel in the Playback->Program menu has no effect.

The data is all present (for example Project X has no problem with it).
If I demultiplex the TS then VLC will play the demuxed (or re-muxed) audio / video correctly.

The Media Information shows all the listed channels (for the mux) and one additional stream for each PID which is actually present in the mux. These additional streams are named "stream_1", "stream_2" etc.

It seems that VLC is failing to associate the streams it found in the mux with the channel names, and the channel list does not contain the "stream_1", "stream_2" names, so it is not possible to select them.

I never encountered this problem with the 0.8 version.

[VLC_help]

Could you share us sample file that shows this issue?

[steve333]

The problem is that the files are 2-3GB.
In Windows I don't have any way to cut them down without changing them (ie using a video editor).
Next time I see a problem file, I'll try to chop it on the PVR first, then send to you.
- what (max) size is acceptable?
- where should I upload it?

[VLC_help]

You can use any binary splitter to take small sample from TS file. You can upload it to
http://streams.videolan.org/upload/

[steve333]

Windows being Windows I don't have access to any binary tool (unlike unix/linux in which I could achieve the required split in about 20 different trivial ways) - unless you know of any command line function in XP which will "head" a file?
I suppose I could install Perl and write a script, but Perl has changed from a simple editing language into something more like a database server (or operating system) since I last hacked a Perl script (a dozen years ago).
Too much work, I'll try to find an example and edit it on the PVR source device.

[VLC_help]

If you have Java Runtime installed, you can use for example
http://www.freebyte.com/hjsplit/#java
that one.

[steve333]

Thanks - yes I have Java.

In fact the problem seems to be due to the file header, which is added by the PVR (this is one of my .rec files from Topfield PVR).

So I don't think it's really a serious bug in VLC (obviously VLC isn't specified to handle files which have a header with arbitrary data).

Curiously, version 0.8 never had this effect. So I guess some new added function is getting confused by the file header.
(I had assumed that VLC would ignore any data until it found a good packet).

When I cut the first minute of the 'problem' recording (using the PVR) to make an example for you, the problem went away.
The cut piece has a different file header (I don't have tool to say what the difference is).

Are you still interested to have an example? (I guess it's not a priority.)

[VLC_help]

If you can provide non-working file, I can at least open a trac ticket for the issue.

[qmor]

i can post a non-working with VLC ts file recorded by dvbstream, but only tomorrow

[qmor]

i post file there http://rapidshare.com/files/203125492/1.ts.html

[VLC_help]

Is that sample from encrypted channel?

[qmor]

yes it is. It captured from intelsat\seasat w4 (36 east) with tt-budget-s2-3200 with CAM module.

[VLC_help]

Because my tools report that the file is still encrypted. VLC cannot remove paychannel encryption.

[qmor]

ok, how i can get dvb channel and decrypt them? what tool i can use for it? Valid card insered in CAM module, and if i start VLC like viewtopic.php?f=13&t=56023 the channels are displaying, but VLC crash in short time.

[VLC_help]

Usually DVB software allows you to save files without encryption if you have proper CONAX or similar card available.

[qmor]

I have i VIACESS card and channel encoded by Viacess, for grab a .ts file i use a program called "dvbstream" and it program save and send stream encoded. What program except vlc can decode stream by CAM module and save or stream it.

[VLC_help]

I don't know about Linux/unix programs. Under Win32 ProgDVB should have some modules for live decrypting but I am not sure if it can decrypt already save transport streams.

[qmor]

O no, i don't want decrypt saved ts, i want decode a dvb channel directly