vlc player settings

desm52

Hi can anyone tell me how to use vlc player to watch dtt on my laptop? I have a freeview usb box connected to my laptop and I'm picking up the audio of the tv stations in its supplied software but no video. I read that using vlc player might work, but I'm no sure what settings to use. My transmitter is Holywell Hill I think, definitely channel 30.

Bob_Harris

Assuming your device uses BDA drivers,

Open VLC.

File > Open Capture Device

Set Capture Mode to "DVB DirectShow".
Set Device Selection to DVB-T
Enter in the Frequency of the channel you want to tune into (see here if you don't know the value)
Set bandwidth to 8MHz

Click Play.

Once tuned in (seems to go to radio 1 by default) go to Playback > Program to select your channel.

You can create a desktop shortcut to automatically tune in, by appending this to the VLC shortcut. You will see your frequency at the bottom of the VLC window.

- dvb-t://frequency=666000000

Remember to set De-interlacing to On or Automatic.

John mac

is it mpeg 4 ?

or if its mpeg2 you will only have sound.

gtg60

desm52 wrote: »

Hi can anyone tell me how to use vlc player to watch dtt on my laptop? I have a freeview usb box connected to my laptop and I'm picking up the audio of the tv stations in its supplied software but no video. I read that using vlc player might work, but I'm no sure what settings to use. My transmitter is Holywell Hill I think, definitely channel 30.

You need an MPEG4 (H264) Codec, it's been discussed here MANY times, do a search.

desm52

Bob_Harris wrote: »

Assuming your device uses BDA drivers,

Open VLC.

File > Open Capture Device

Set Capture Mode to "DVB DirectShow".
Set Device Selection to DVB-T
Enter in the Frequency of the channel you want to tune into (see here if you don't know the value)
Set bandwidth to 8MHz

Click Play.

Once tuned in (seems to go to radio 1 by default) go to Playback > Program to select your channel.

You can create a desktop shortcut to automatically tune in, by appending this to the VLC shortcut. You will see your frequency at the bottom of the VLC window.

- dvb-t://frequency=666000000

Remember to set De-interlacing to On or Automatic.

Thanks for your comprehensive reply, it was exactly what I was looking for, unfortunately it looks like my freeview stick doesn't have bda drivers.

Bob_Harris

desm52 wrote: »

Thanks for your comprehensive reply, it was exactly what I was looking for, unfortunately it looks like my freeview stick doesn't have bda drivers.

What brand, model or serial number is it. If you bought it on-line could you provide a link?

Sometimes a device will have two sets of drivers. BDA (Broadcast Driver Architecture) which allow the device to be used in various applications, and then they can have "closed" drivers which allows the device only to be used in their own software.

As mentioned above, depending on the quality of the software which came with the stick, you may just have to install an MPEG4 decoder. In the settings of the software it should allow you to select your preferred codec.

Have a look here for more info about decoders.

watty

Use Prog DVB (paid version) and Core AVC.

You can see first if radio stations work in Free Prog DVB to test Driver, then add Paid Core AVC and paid Prog DVB.


VLC is great, but the last thing on earth to use with a tuner.

lucernarian

gtg60 wrote: »

You need an MPEG4 (H264) Codec, it's been discussed here MANY times, do a search.

I wouldn't mind a rather impertinent post but for the fact it's wrong. You do realise that VLC has codecs for H.264? The main issue with VLC is that it is a very basic program for watching DVB-T on.

Furthermore, there's a wide variety of configurations of software that work for some people but other people do not like. This is compounded by a lot of good software not coming with h.264 or else a fully-paid version needed to activate h.264. I would understand someone's confusion to be honest, it took me a while to get a reasonably optimised software + codec and I would be pretty familiar with computers to say the least.

STB

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

I wouldn't mind a rather impertinent post but for the fact it's wrong. You do realise that VLC has codecs for H.264? The main issue with VLC is that it is a very basic program for watching DVB-T on.

Furthermore, there's a wide variety of configurations of software that work for some people but other people do not like. This is compounded by a lot of good software not coming with h.264 or else a fully-paid version needed to activate h.264. I would understand someone's confusion to be honest, it took me a while to get a reasonably optimised software + codec and I would be pretty familiar with computers to say the least.

VLC has its own built in h264 decoding. They call it x264. It works but some dont find it very user friendly. It does work out of the box however and is an excellent program for streaming on the fly.

As watty said DVBViewer will also work. You do need the codec though. You can download the Cyberlink Power DVD trial which will allow use of the h264 codec even when the trial period ends and works with DVBViewer.

If you have Windows 7 you dont need to be downloading codecs as it natively supports H264.

Bob_Harris

STB wrote: »

VLC has its own built in h264 decoding. They call it x264. It works but some dont find it very user friendly. It does work out of the box however and is an excellent program for streaming on the fly.

As watty said DVBViewer will also work. You do need the codec though. You can download the Cyberlink Power DVD trial which will allow use of the h264 codec even when the trial period ends and works with DVBViewer.

If you have Windows 7 you dont need to be downloading codecs as it natively supports H264.

Watty said Prog DVB not DVBViewer.

But with Prog DVB €25 and DVBViewer only €15, I'd recommend DVBViewer.

It's the best software I have tested, and I've tested them all when building my HTPC :pac:

watty

If you don't need HD, ProgDVB is free and good for very complicated Diseqc setups. (Satellite).

You will (hopefully) need HD for Soarview.

http://www.dvbviewer.com/en/index.php
I remember looking at that long ago. I can't remember now why I stuck on ProgDVB in preference! Maybe no free version for SD satellite?

yes http://www.dvbviewer.tv/forum/topic/42222-how-to-get-new-credentials/

So anyhow to test you have BDA driver and thus card or stick works any software you can download free version of ProgDVB, If it works then you can buy DVBviewer or ProgDVB in knowledge that all will work. Then also if not Windows 7 you need H.264 AV MPEG4 codec. CoreAVC is worth it.

mossym

watty wrote: »

So anyhow to test you have BDA driver and thus card or stick works any software you can download free version of ProgDVB, If it works then you can buy DVBviewer or ProgDVB in knowledge that all will work. Then also if not Windows 7 you need H.264 AV MPEG4 codec. CoreAVC is worth it.

just to provider a push one way or another, when ITV HD launched first and was not being identified as a standard video stream(it was identified as an ATM interface protocol i seem to remember), many of the video players/tv software has a lot of trouble with it, basically it didn't work. DVBviewer worked with it right away, i was watching itvhd from the very start to it, including being able to watch the united/chelsea European cup final before itvhd was readily accessible by most software