DM500 videolan client

[stu56]

Anyone any expertise on use of Videolan client ?

i have setup linux server running the videolan server with web interface enabled. Tested ok with a client on my laptop.

Am running a gemini image with vlcf installed. Configured ok to browse the filesystem, can select avi files from harddrive, progress bar for buffering shows on the tv screen then nothing !

i can see heavy load on server and also dreambox, but no picture.

anyone any ideas how to fault find this ?

stu

[beady]

Unfortunately the vlcf plugin is notoriously unstable. I had a similar setup to you, streaming from a Linux box to the dreambox. I eventually got it to work okay. As you've said the buffering completes, then at least you network settings are okay. Try increasing the buffer size for vlcf. I think it's in the blue buttons.

Also, no matter what I did, some files just refused to play. I ended up having to transcode them on the server to a compliant xvid using mencoder, then stream that. That can only be a vlc issue. What version are you using? I seem to remember I used 0.8.6c, but I'm away from home so I can't check. Can you post what settings you've got in the xml config file for transcoding? Try reducing the bitrate and audio rate, and make sure the video is set to 25fps.

You could also try connecting to the server with something like mplayer, just to check the video stream is what you expect.
It's a while since I set it up (and not having it to hand makes it difficult to give you exact settings), but I think the most awkward settings were on the server, not vlcf on the dreambox.

The brand new pli jade image has an updated 'movieplayer' plugin that is apparently better than vlcf, so you might want to give that a try. Not used it myself since I no longer have my dreambox.

[stu56]

Thanks for the reply

i'm running vlc 0.8.6i
the vclf on the dreambox is configured for avi as below. i halved the video and audio rates, but same behaviour....

root@dreambox:/var/tuxbox/config> grep -i avi vlcf.xml
<setup name="File" pic="divx.png" ext="AVI" Videorate="1024" Videotranscode="1" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="64" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />

[BlueJ]

Hi Stu56,

I use vlcf with Gemini 4.2.
Does the loading bar get all the way to 100%? Or does it crash before it gets all the way to the end?
Do you get any sound?

I have sometimes had problems with vlcf if the filename used an 'illegal' character (ie. ?/!$? etc). If the filename has any characters you are not sure about maybe try renaming the file.

Good Luck!

[stu56]

hi bluej

usually get to 6 or 8 % before the box reboots....

what versions of the vlc / vlc server are you using ?
im running Gemini_0440

[BlueJ]

Hi Stu56,

I am running VLC 0.8.6f.
I use an Apple Mac. I assume you are on a PC? I set it up on a friends PC and found it was most stable when using VLC 0.8.6.c. It might be worth switching to this version of VLC if you have not already.

When a file stops at 6 or 8% it usually is a problem with the filename or what is called the AVI index.

To see if it is the index open the AVI file into VLC on your PC (not through the dreambox). If there are any problems with the index VLC should warn you and ask if you would like to repair the file. If so say yes. Then try the file again.

I really recommend checking your filenames to make sure they have very simple names. Sometimes if you download a file it may have - dashes or _ underscores. These can give VLCF serious problems. Have you tried renaming one of the files to say "my film.avi" for example and trying it again?

Hope any of this makes sense / helps!!

Good Luck!