Store and call settings for TV and DVB

[Lotesdelere]

Since we can't use a playlist anymore for storing and calling on the fly DirectShow and DVB settings, it would be nice to have a feature allowing to save these parameters and thus being able to easily switch channels without the need to open several menus for this simple and basic purpose.

[dionoea]

all parameters except sout (or anything that could output data on the local filesystem) should already be saveable. If they aren't, then please list those that don't work and I'll fix it in the upcoming bugfix release. (If you're really fast they'll make it in 0.9.3 which should be out in a day or two)

[Lotesdelere]

You can save only ONE frequency at a time.
But, for instance, for DVB-T you have several channels on one frequency and all channels are covered by different frequencies (transponders).

Example:
Freq. 642000 = Channels 1, 10, 12, 36
Freq. 490000 = Channels 2, 3, 5, 7, 13
Freq. 730000 = Channels 6, 9, 11, 31, 32
Freq. 514000 = Channels 8, 14, 15, 16, 17
Freq. 578000 = Channels 4, 33, 34, 35
etc...

So to be able to switch channels you must change the frequency in some cases. Which actually means if I want to switch from channel 1 to channel 2, and vice versa, I have to open the capture device menu, to select some options and to enter the new frequency I want to use.
Same goes for analog TV, you can save only ONE channel number in the options, not to mention people using DVB-S who want to change satellite and who have to change MANY different options.

This is not a practical way of use. It's slow, subject to mistakes, well to cut a long story short it's a pain in the behind.
With VLC 0.8.6 and nightlies 0.9.0 we could use the playlist to store and call these parameters making the channel switching easy. But now the same playlists don't work anymore with VLC 0.9.2, the commands are not allowed for security reasons.

I understand the security reasons but then another way to store these parameters for an easy and fast recall must be found.

[dionoea]

I guess that you didn't understand my reply. I'll make it possible to have all options which configure the input in playlists (.m3u). I'll send a patch to the mailing list tonight, wait for comments and then commit tomorrow. It most likely won't make it in 0.8.3 but it will in 0.8.4.

Cheers,

[Lotesdelere]

IIt most likely won't make it in 0.8.3 but it will in 0.8.4.

Wait a minute, just the time for me to remove the dust from my good old 0.8.4

OK I got it, thanks a lot

[dionoea]

Gra, I meant 0.9.3 and 0.9.4

[dionoea]

Patches sent for peer review on the mailing list (of course mailman managed to mess that up so I can't link to it ... hum, looks like Gmane got them properly: http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.vid ... evel/49063)

[Lotesdelere]

Great

If only we could have it for v0.9.3...

[kmf31]

In the vlc-0.9.3 the problem is still present. I also use a playlist for dvb-t settings and have the same problem.

[HolgerAusB]

dionoea's request for not saveable parameters is not answered yet. With vlc-0.9.4 on Asus-EeePC 901/XP I got the following error log for dvb-t:

Code: Select all

main error: unsafe option "dvb-bandwidth" has been ignored for security reasons main error: unsafe option "dvb-fec" has been ignored for security reasons main error: unsafe option "dvb-fec" has been ignored for security reasons main error: unsafe option "dvb-modulation" has been ignored for security reasons main error: unsafe option "dvb-transmission" has been ignored for security reasons main error: unsafe option "dvb-guard" has been ignored for security reasons main error: unsafe option "dvb-hierarchy" has been ignored for security reasons main error: unsafe option "dvb-frequency" has been ignored for security reasons main error: cannot pre fill buffer

Important is 'dvb-frequency' and maybe 'dvb-bandwith'. The parameter 'program' seems to be parsed properly, but without frequency it won't work

We need to have back the '--m3u-extvlcopt' commandline-parameter, which vanished at vlc-0.9.2 without notice.

[libop]

Are there any news on that issue ? Will it be ok in the next release ?

It would be awesome if we were able to use playlists settings to store our dvb-t settings to watch and stream direct tv from that very nice app. Please let us know about the fix !!

[VLC_help]

VLC 0.9.5 should be out soon, so someone test this and report here if it works or not.

[libop]

Thanks a lot... I look forward the answer

[HolgerAusB]

I checked nightly builds. In vlc-0.9.6-git-20081030-0204 the parameter --m3u-extvlcopt is still missing and the opts are still rejected.

trunk versions vlc-1.0.0-git... are not starting at all on my windows vista.

[VLC_help]

trunk versions vlc-1.0.0-git... are not starting at all on my windows vista.

known issue.

[libop]

The problem is still here on version 0.9.6...

--m3u-extvlcopt seems to be unrecognizable, and the following messages are still here...

Code: Select all

main error: unsafe option "dvb-frequency" has been ignored for security reasons main error: unsafe option "dvb-bandwidth" has been ignored for security reasons

I tried 1.0.0 git versions too, on WinXP, the problem is not fixed in those version either...

Any hope for a fix soon ?

[libop]

Hi everyone,

A small post to bring this request up !!

Have a nice day...

[starbright]

There is also a need for a DVB scanner to search for channels. At home I could program this stations manually, but if I am abroad ....

[Lotesdelere]

Fenrir gave us a solution in this post:
viewtopic.php?p=173355#p173355

So what you need to find out is the Service PID, aka SID, of the channels. The Tools -> Messages box will help you to find them out. When you open a frequency you should see things like these in the messages log (example from french DVB-T):

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ts debug: new SDT ts_id=1 version=10 current_next=1 network_id=8442 ts debug: * service id=257 eit schedule=0 present=0 running=4 free_ca=0 ts debug: - type=1 provider=GR1 name=France 2 main debug: EsOutProgramMeta: number=257 ts debug: * service id=260 eit schedule=0 present=0 running=4 free_ca=0 ts debug: - type=1 provider=GR1 name=France 5 main debug: EsOutProgramMeta: number=260 ts debug: * service id=261 eit schedule=0 present=0 running=4 free_ca=0 ts debug: - type=1 provider=GR1 name=ARTE main debug: EsOutProgramMeta: number=261 ts debug: * service id=262 eit schedule=0 present=0 running=4 free_ca=0 ts debug: - type=1 provider=GR1 name=LCP main debug: EsOutProgramMeta: number=262 ts debug: * service id=301 eit schedule=0 present=0 running=4 free_ca=0 ts debug: - type=1 provider=Nat name=France 3 main debug: EsOutProgramMeta: number=301

So you can build a playlist like this:

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#EXTM3U #EXTINF:1,TF1 #EXTVLCOPT:program=1537 dvbt://frequency=642000:bandwidth=8 #EXTINF:2,FRANCE 2 #EXTVLCOPT:program=257 dvbt://frequency=490000:bandwidth=8 #EXTINF:3,FRANCE 3 #EXTVLCOPT:program=301 dvbt://frequency=490000:bandwidth=8

service id=257 ==> #EXTVLCOPT:program=257

[starbright]

Would great to have somewhat like a scanner doing this job.
This is ok for a fixed location, but not if you are abroad with your notebook/netbook.

[DGMurdockIII]

A Kaffeine patch adding S2API and DVB-S2 support, written by one of that application's authors, has been included in the Kaffeine SVN repository. It is available here: http://linuxtv.org/pipermail/linux-dvb/ ... 29839.html

linux DVB S2API documentation http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/S2API

[starbright]

Bad luck for a me as I am one of this fu** Windows users
So, no scanner in VLC planned? Or as an Plug-in ?

[liverpoolatnight]

Fenrir gave us a solution in this post:
viewtopic.php?p=173355#p173355

So what you need to find out is the Service PID, aka SID, of the channels. The Tools -> Messages box will help you to find them out. When you open a frequency you should see things like these in the messages log (example from french DVB-T):

I get the frequency bit #EXTVLCOPT:program=301 i dont get, Were did you get the program:301 from?? and Can you do me an example for SKY THREE? heres my list for winter hill transmitter

Bad luck for a me as I am one of this fu** Windows users
So, no scanner in VLC planned? Or as an Plug-in ?

Yeah that would be sweet that

[Lotesdelere]

Were did you get the program:301 from?? and Can you do me an example

Read my post you have quoted carefully again. Don't forget to read the logs from the same post as well.

[Lotesdelere]

So you can build a playlist like this:

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#EXTM3U #EXTINF:1,TF1 #EXTVLCOPT:program=1537 dvbt://frequency=642000:bandwidth=8 #EXTINF:2,FRANCE 2 #EXTVLCOPT:program=257 dvbt://frequency=490000:bandwidth=8 #EXTINF:3,FRANCE 3 #EXTVLCOPT:program=301 dvbt://frequency=490000:bandwidth=8

service id=257 ==> #EXTVLCOPT:program=257

This trick doesn't work properly anymore with VLC 1.1.0.
So what is planned to easily store and call DVB channels on Windows with the upcoming version which is in Pre stage already ?