VLC v2.0.5 Streaming on Windows 7?

[martinleewin]

I need to stream MPEG-2 TS files out in multicast and unicast modes as UDP/RTP protocols over our local intranet for purposes of testing broadcast monitors. I have been able to stream unicast RTSP using Live555MediaServer, but that protocol requires more handshaking than the monitors can do right now, and would generate unnecessary numbers of streams on the network. VLC v2.0.5 (only version available as .exe right now?) on Windows 7 and XP PC's was able to play the RTSP streams from Live555. I am not sure our network is REALLY set up for multicast messaging at 224. thru 239. IP addresses, but I need to verify the VLC --sout for UDP is functioning to know for sure. I have tried MANY GUI and CMD line combinations for UDP, RTP and RTSP to unicast and multicast addresses to another PC, with no success streaming out of VLC v2.0.5 for Windows 7 or XP.
First, I tried VLC GUI Stream..., Add.. testfile1.ts for Source. Destination Setup as either UDP, RTP/MPEG TS, or RTSP ... always with Transcode OFF ... and matching protocol settings on the receiving VLC player. All combinations of port#s, port#s specified/not, filename specified/not were tried. The XP-PC displays to the GUI
Learning of the GUI's poor rep for this, I am now trying similar attempts using CMD line batch files. To consolidate, I want to send RTSP unicast (seen working from Live555 on VLC Open Network Stream as rtsp://192.168.1.87/testfile1.ts ... so I will know when VLC streams something out) AND a UDP stream for multicast testing.

vlc "testfile1.ts" --loop --sout #duplicate{dst=display,dst=rtsp{mux=ts,dst=192.168.1.173,port=554},dst=udp{mux=ts,dst=239.192.1.87}}

String above plays on the WinXP-PC's VLC GUI display, but XP has no network monitor for me to know if anything is going out. The Win7-PC's has a network monitor, but the same batch-file and test-file either crashes VLC and/or VLC reports "VLC could not open the file..." and "VLC is unable to open the MRL..."

Did I misinterpret the required syntax above? Any guidance beyond the VLC wiki would be greatly appreciated.

554 seems to be VLC's default port# for RTSP, and 1234 seems to be VLC's default for RTP, but I never know whether to include port numbers for the streamer, player, or not. Where should the port# be specified to assure socket binding?

Does v2.0.5 really stream out? A fellow engineer familiar with older versions could not get the GUI to work, either, and commented "that doesn't look right".

Is VLC not compatible with 64-bit Windows 7? (that would be very disappointing, because the target system is a Win7 Alienware i7 x8 with SSD; perfect for a budget broadcast media server)

[martinleewin]

OK, I have:
Discovered my GUI syntax errors (for multicast):
_ too much info in the server window- it only wants the IP addr for udp/rtp, like 224.2.2.2.
_ missing the "@" symbol in the player, like udp://@224.2.2.2:1234.
Realized my UDP unicast address misunderstanding (server points to target; target player points to its own IP addr).
And was able to stream out of an XP-box to others:
_ including W7 VLC players.
_ including multicast addresses such as 224.1.1.1 (proving our network is multicast-enabled).

BUT the same GUI settings AND Command Line will NOT stream out of (3) Windows7-boxes! And, of course, the target box for streaming is W7.

Since nobody responded to this admittedly lengthy and multi-question post, I will consider this one closed, and post a new streamlined post entitled "VLC v205 on W7 will not Stream..."